[Advertisement]

Shimai asiatisches Restaurant Muenchen c

The entrance of the newly opened restaurant shimai

shimai Munich – Modern Asian Dining | Best Asian cuisine since mid-May 2018 – When owner, operator, and chef Hai Pham told me he had opened another restaurant in Munich, I didn't need to be asked twice to stop by. I've since dined at shimai (pronounced shi-ma-i), which opened in mid-May 2018. It's Hai Pham's second restaurant. "shimai" means "siblings," cleverly linking it to his restaurant, already a well-established Schwabing institution. #shami It was beaten when its little sister, shimai, now enriches Munich's Theresienstrasse with its culinary offerings. My visit was only a few days ago, but I want to take you along on my tour of "Modern Asian Dining" at shimai.

Shimai asiatisches Restaurant Muenchen b

The front part of the restaurant shimai

Arrive, enter, take a seat

Upon entering the newly opened Shimai, that is, after crossing the inviting terrace and passing the life-size gold and red statue at the door, fans of #shami will quickly recognize that Shimai is owned by the same person. And that's intentional. Here, too, you'll find a very chic interior, great design, and appealing details wherever you look. There are dark wooden tables made specifically for the restaurant, Asian decorative elements such as vases, waving cats, and fresh orchids on the windowsills, dark patterned ceilings, Gaultier wallpaper, and a perfectly harmonious overall impression.

The rear part of the restaurant shimai

The restaurant is divided into a cozy front seating area with seven tables of varying sizes and a view of the small bar, also located at the front. The terrace, which is private from the street, can also be seen from the tables along the window. Walking down the narrow corridor – past the kitchen, the heart of shimai's workspace – to the back, you arrive at the restaurant's second, slightly larger dining area. Here, too, there are subtle Asian touches, without being overpowering or overwhelming. Nine more group tables of varying sizes are arranged on a checkerboard floor, and the room features an impressive ceiling and Asian art on the walls. A feeling of well-being is immediately apparent here – thanks in part to the pleasant background music and soft lighting. A friendly greeting and table service ensure a pleasant start to your visit. The food and wine menu (…still somewhat finalized, as the restaurant only opened three weeks ago and was originally planned for the end of June…) is then presented.

The dumplings – delicious!

Food and wine menu at shimai Munich

The food and wine menu is handed out in the form of DIN A4 sheets in a clipboard shortly after the opening and before it is really fully finalized. The menu is divided into "Asian Lite Bites" (small starters; from €3.90), "Cold Starter" (from €6.90), "Dumplings" (from €5.90), "Salads" (from €4.90), "Soups & Noodles" (from €7.90), "Wok Chef" (wok dishes; from €13.90), "Red Curry" (with duck, chicken, or vegetables; from €13.90), "Fresh Catch" (two different fish dishes; from €14.90), "Bun" (Vietnamese rice noodles with fresh salad, herbs, peanuts, Thai shallots, and lime-chili dressing, including a spring roll; from €13.90), and "Self Rolling for 2" (rice paper, dips, grilled chicken, duck, lemongrass beef, shrimp, fresh herbs, salad, and...). Rice noodles for rolling yourself (17 euros per person) and two desserts (from 3.90 euros). A good mix that offers something for every fan of Asian cuisine.

At shimai (as well as at #shami), the freshness of the ingredients, their potential regional sourcing, and the variety offered on the menu play a major role. While browsing the menu, I had a similar reaction: "Oh, I could try that!...mmmh, that too!...hm, that sounds good as well...oh, and I actually quite like tuna..." So I let Chef Hai guide me and served me a dish that gave me a good overview of the restaurant's culinary style and approach. From 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, you can experience shimai's cuisine through a smaller lunch menu.

Shimai asiatisches Restaurant Muenchen -11

„"Chili Ika Crunch"“

We started with a homemade strawberry-basil lemonade (so delicious and refreshing!) and three different starters or small snacks. The "Chili Ika Crunch" (€7.90) brought me squid with kaffir lime, sambal, pepper, and chili, as well as a wasabi mayonnaise. The "Shimai Gyoza" dumplings with pork, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, and leeks on a tomato-ginger sauce (€7.90) were my favorite of the first course, followed by the fresh Vietnamese-style tuna salad with fish sauce and fresh cucumber. Delicious! For my main course, I chose the "Beef Lemongrass," either Simmental entrecôte (€19.90) or Black Angus beef (€15.90) with lemongrass, chili, and vegetables. A rather spicy dish with a very interesting flavor profile, created by the combination of vegetables, tender meat, chili spice, and fresh lemongrass. Finally, for dessert, I followed the recommendation at the table and was served "Pandan Creme"—an Asian vanilla cream with caramel, fresh mango, and passion fruit. Delicious, and not too sweet.

The sweet finale: Pandan vanilla cream

I deliberately abstained from alcohol that evening, sticking to water and homemade lemonades and enjoying my meal. Of course, I couldn't resist taking a look at the wine list – which wasn't quite finalized yet. It featured red and white bottled wines (0.75l, between €28 and €69) from Germany (Palatinate, Rheingau, Nahe, Rheinhessen), Austria (Vienna, Burgenland, Lower Austria), Italy (Veneto, Tuscany), South Africa (Stellenbosch, Swartland), France (Loire, Rhône, Provence), and Spain (Rioja). There were also two red and two white wines available by the glass. The restaurant clearly placed great emphasis on a diverse wine list. Asian cocktails (from €6.90) such as the classic "Mai Tai" or the "Mango Sticky Rice" with Nep Moi, Pampero Especial, mango, vanilla, coconut cream and sesame (€9.90) are also on the menu, alongside sherry, champagne, grappa and other Asian spirits. Take a look at the gin menu too.

I like it! (Here with "Beef Lemongrass")

Personal review

My favorite among the appetizers were the dumplings mentioned above. A very interesting combination that takes some getting used to. I like to try to identify the individual components of a dish and to taste it sometimes with and sometimes without a side dish, sauce, or herbs. Hai's dumplings at Shimai are definitely a perfect start to a meal with special culinary impressions. I couldn't have chosen better for the main course. The combination of high-quality meat with vegetables and the variety that can be created with the right touch and additional ingredients was demonstrated by my "Beef Lemongrass." Next time, however, I would venture to try the "Spicy Basil Prawn," which is prawns with pineapple, basil, and pepper (for €16.90), or the organic pork belly with vegetables and a tamarind glaze (for €15.90) – the latter was Hai's alternative suggestion. My meat was tender and supple, not stringy or tough. The vegetables had a good bite and retained their individual flavors. Being able to clearly taste individual components is always important to me when I eat out. When it comes to desserts, I prefer something with a bit of bite, so I rarely order mousse, creams, or soft cakes, but I really enjoyed the very fresh vanilla cream. It only took a couple of spoonfuls – one with mango, one with passion fruit – and I was delighted. But you absolutely mustn't miss the homemade lemonades. And don't forget about Shimai, especially on warm days. The terrace is truly inviting, and with its selection of drinks, cocktails, and light meals, it's also perfect for a nightcap.

+++ This article was created in cooperation with shimai. Thank you! +++

Contact for inquiries

shimai | Theresienstraße 87, 80333 Munich
Website
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
(with a small, changing lunch menu)
and 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm (hot food served)
Become a Facebook fan and don't miss a thing!

Contact via telephone: 089 66549268

Pictures: