H&Y: A Japanese kitsch-en on Maoming Lu

Maoming Lu is no longer a wild party street. Gone are the lascivious hostesses running around in a noisy chaotic fashion, challenging beer-drenched men to games of Connect Four. H & Y' s boss must have seen it all, because this low key Japanese restaurant is still going strong in this street after seven years. We enjoy this restaurant, because it has tasty, inexpensive Japanese food in a very casual environment. Inside, H & Y revels in Bohemian kitsch. It has "I heart you" sprayed on the mirrors, alongside kooky paintings, New Year emblems and Christmas lights. Expect to hear Eric Carmen or some Chinese power ballads as the soundtrack to your meal.

We like Japanese food, because it is simple and light so you don't feel like you need to have an enema when you have finished eating. H & Y has many of the dishes you would expect to see at a typical Japanese restaurant including rice sets, tempura, noodles and sashimi. However, the food is not as fussy as some Japanese meals we have eaten in Shanghai. It is presented and tastes like well-cooked family fare. We ate potato salad, salmon sashimi, mushroom yakatori and an eel rice set. All the food was delicious and dare we say it, almost hearty. The service was prompt, yet relaxed. At 100 RMB for two (including drinks), we are inclined to think that H & Y offers the best value Japanese food in Shanghai's city centre. One word of caution is that you should go with someone who can read the Chinese menu that has a wider range of low cost dishes.

H & Y can be found along Maoming Lu between Nanchang Lu and Fuxing Lu.

Cross-posted on www.catshanghai.com/blog.