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The Park Hyatt Niseko offers seven distinct dining options in addition to The Lounge and in-room dining. Particular highlights during my stay were dinner at Sushi Mitsukawa and dim sum brunch at China Kitchen, and I also enjoyed a hot pot dinner at Robata. In addition to an upgrade (confirmed in advance except for peak occupancy dates) TravelSort Clients enjoy complimentary daily breakfast for two as well as a $100 hotel credit per stay, which can be used towards any dining experience except for Sushi Mitsukawa and Molière Montagne, as these are third party restaurants.
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Sushi Mitsukawa
Hours and Reservations
Sushi Mitsukawa is open for dinner nightly 5-8pm (last entry), except Thursdays, and for lunch 12 noon-1pm (last entry) on weekends and holidays. It's critical to reserve in advance, and you'll be asked to select a menu at the time you make a reservation. During my stay, the Okimari included 10 sushi nigiri and one hand roll for JPY 10,000 + tax/service; the Nigiri included 15 sushi nigiri and one hand roll for JPY 15,000++; and the Omakase included 6 kinds of appetizers, 10 sushi nigiri and one hand roll for JPY 18,000++. Of course additional pieces of sushi may be purchased for additional cost after finishing your menu. Be sure to advise of any allergies and dietary restrictions when making a reservation.
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Sushi Mitsukawa Sushi
I arrived promptly for my reservation, was seated, and my requested menu, the Okimari, was confirmed. The chef then asked my drink preference (tea) and prepared my dish with gari (pickled ginger).
I liked all of the sushi pieces I was served, with particular standouts the hirame (flounder, sourced locally in Hokkaido); hotate (scallop); Chu toro (medium fatty tuna); marinated tuna; and uni (sea urchin). The hand roll of sea bass and pickled lotus root was also very good.
I particularly liked that the chef spoke some English and was friendly to me as a non-Japanese guest, which isn't something that you can take for granted at many of the top sushi bars, where non-Japanese guests can sometimes feel like second class citizens compared to Japanese patrons. After the first piece he checked with me that the amount of rice was what I wanted, and he was happy to provide more detail on the where each piece of fish was sourced. He also noted that kohada is one of the most classic sushi nigiri pieces; it's one that is often used as a barometer of a sushi chef's skill, because the fish is typically salted and pickled, with the amount and duration variable depending on the fattiness and size of the fish: it's crucial to get the balance right.
Here are the pieces in order:
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China Kitchen
Hours and Reservations
China Kitchen is open on weekends and public holidays for dim sum brunch 11:30am-2pm and for dinner 5:30-10pm (last order at 9pm).
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China Kitchen Dim Sum Brunch
After being seated with a lovely view of Mount Yotei, I was brought the dim sum brunch menu, along with peanuts and pickled ginger.
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Instead of carts, everything is prepared fresh to order; dumplings take about ten minutes, so I was encouraged to start with an appetizer. My server recommended the Cherry Tomato with Marinated Osmanthus as well as the Char Siu Pork. I wasn't particularly enthused about either (how exciting can cherry tomatoes be?) but the server was right and I was wrong: the cherry tomatoes were sweet and almost perfumed by the floral nature of the osmanthus. Incredibly refreshing. The char siu pork was also delicious, and since it was a generous portion for one person, it's just as well that there was a mix-up and the Steamed Bun with BBQ Pork didn't come, since it would have been too much meat.
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The first of the dumplings to arrive were the Grilled Pork and Vegetable Dumplings, essentially potstickers. These were juicy and good, but I ended up preferring some of the other dumplings.
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I don't normally care for Siu Mai, but I very much liked these ones, stuffed with prawns and topped with salmon roe.
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The Har Gau were very good, especially with a bit of chili oil.
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The Steamed Pork, Shrimp and Vegetable Yuba Roll were satisfying, although not my favorite, since I'm not a huge fan of oyster sauce.
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The Stir-Fried Spinach with Garlic was a generous portion suited for sharing, and perfectly cooked.
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Only spice lovers should order the Boiled Sichuan dumplings with pork, vegetable and crab in chili oil. Very tasty and hot. I was glad to have a couple remaining cherry tomatoes to chase it with.
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Robata
Robata, which means “by the fireplace,” serves dinner on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 5:30-10pm. A fun cook-it-yourself dinner is Shabu Shabu hot pot, with seasonal vegetables, 100 grams of Hokkaido beef (more can be requested for additional cost) and at the end, your choice of udon or soba noodles. Soy sauce, sesame sauce, green onions, and tofu are also provided. While I liked this dinner, my meals at Sushi Mitsukawa and China Kitchen were more distinctive.
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The Verdict
The Park Hyatt Niseko, while in a resort area of Hokkaido, is still fairly remote. I was pleasantly surprised by just how wonderful its culinary offerings are, particularly breakfast, dinner at Sushi Mitsukawa, and dim sum brunch at China Kitchen. It may also have helped that I visited in the shoulder season, before the resort gets packed full during ski season, so service was excellent and the restaurants weren't too crowded. Even in less busy times I still recommend making dining reservations in advance, and this is absolutely essential during the resort's busiest season of mid-December to March.
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