Originating from Shanghai Akasaka Pavilion Catering, it has brands such as Akasaka Pavilion, Guowu Xinyu, Akasaka Xiaoting, etc., which started with teppanyaki in Shanghai, and now its direct stores have expanded to Beijing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian and other regions. Nanjing's Banting Mansion is a high-end Japanese food brand owned by Akasakatei, specializing in dry-aged Wagyu beef roast meat and live crab dishes.
Yakiniku is a common cooking method in Japanese cuisine, and beef is the main grilled ingredient, and the price of yakiniku may vary greatly from one Japanese restaurant to another due to differences in the quality, part, and aging method of beef. Dry-aged beef is used in Banteongfu, which is more complex than wet ageing, and therefore has an increased cost. Dry-aged beef is air-dried due to the outer layer of oil, which can better lock in the moisture inside, the oil flowers are more concentrated, and the taste is more delicate and oily than ordinary beef.
China prohibits the import of Japanese beef, and domestic high-quality imported beef is mostly imported from Australia, New Zealand and other places. The beef parts of Banteongfu are divided into different parts, such as Wagyu beef eye, sirloin, beef short ribs, Wagyu T-bones, and diaphragm. Sirloin, also known as the New Yorker, is a slightly harder meat that is suitable for roasting because of its more exercise than filet, and its meat is fine and juicy. The beef eye is the meat between the seventh and tenth ribs of the cow's back, with a high fat content, red and white inlaid meat, marbling patterns, and an extremely plump and delicate taste. Beef tongue is mostly thickly cut and roasted, and the taste is more chewy. Customers can choose according to their personal preference.
There are four different flavors of salt prepared for different yakiniku in Banteifu, which is also a detail that distinguishes Bantei Fufu from ordinary yakiniku restaurants. There are four types of salt: Shichimi Salt, Rose Salt, Kombu Salt and Sansho Salt, and each salt can be seasoned according to a different part or adjusted according to personal preference.
Another feature of Banjeongfu is live crabs. There is a live crab pond at the entrance of Banting Mansion, including king crab and snow crab. King crab is suitable for a meal for many people, while snow crab is suitable for two or three people. The crab can be eaten as much as one crab, and the same crab can be made into sashimi with crab legs and claws, and the rest can be eaten after charcoal grilling, steaming or boiling soup. The crabs are all killed on the spot, and the price is calculated by weight.
Although the main focus is on roast meat and live crab, there are still many set meals to choose from in Banting Mansion, which cost around 700 yuan per person. The set menu is similar to kaiseki cuisine, including appetizers, sashimi, soups, sushi, and the signature dish of Bantei Prefecture, yakiniku pork, although the other dishes are not as elaborate as the Japanese restaurants mentioned above. It should be noted that there are at least two people starting from the order package, and the type of package needs to be consistent, which makes customers a little passive when choosing.
Located in Nanjing's Deji Plaza, the Bantei Mansion is built with a taste of the Edo period shogunate. Instead of a wood-colored design, the store opted for a black color palette, with the store's curtain almost blocking the interior of the store, and a replica shogun's costume standing outside the store, giving it a sense of the old Japanese shogunate. The first floor of the lobby is equipped with booths, and the second floor is a separate Japanese-style private room, all of which are tatami mat style, so that diners can relax their feet and eat without having to sit cross-legged. The environment of the store is free of oil smoke, the service is meticulous, and there are waiters who specialize in roasting. If you would like to reserve a private room, it is recommended to make a reservation three days in advance.
