Ariake, a hidden gem of Japanese culinary delights

It’s fair to speculate that the majority of us enjoy when a nice surprise reveals itself. Discovering something previously unknown, experiencing something for the first time, typically brings a rush of excitement, achievement and contentment. This was exactly the case recently when my dining partner and I had the pleasure of visiting Ariake restaurant.

Situated in the grounds of the sprawling Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort in Karon, Ariake could easily have been lifted from the backstreets of Tokyo and repositioned in the lush surroundings of Phuket – its quaint exterior appearance and clean, precise interior screams of Japanese authenticity, with not a hint of tacky cliché in sight.

As we were to savour the full delights of the Teppanyaki experience, we are seated in prime-time location in front of the chef’s hot plate. Although we are the only diners at this stage, the intimate seating configuration of eight makes for a perfect small group dining experience, up close and personal with a master chef at work.

To start, we are brought a palate cleanser of slightly seared tuna topped with black roe, and finely sliced cucumber in a delicious teriyaki glaze. It’s sumptuous and perfectly loosens up our taste buds for what is ahead.

Next, we are treated to some of the finest sushi and sashimi I have enjoyed since the days of living and dining in Tokyo; generous slices of Shake Sashimi and sweet prawn Ama Ebi Nigiri that taste unbelievably fresh, while the Dragon Rolls of tempura rock lobster, avocado, mango and teriyaki glaze are simply delectable. A prominent chef in Tokyo once told me you can gauge the standard of a sushi restaurant by the freshness and quality of its thinly sliced ginger known as Gari, which accompanies most dishes. The Gari on this occasion was fresh and delicious, a sure-fire sign as to the quality of the place.

With the starters having set the tone, we then move onto the main course – and it really is a centrepiece occasion, overseen expertly by charismatic Chef Aek who demonstrates his dynamic cooking style by drizzling oil across the hotplate before prompting an impressive outburst of flames. You feel the heat (from a totally safe distance of course) and it’s a thrilling component which sets the excitement levels for what’s to come.

The stars of the show that Chef Aek prepares and cooks are the Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Beef Striploin from Japan and the MBS 5 Rangers Valley Black Angus Beef 270 Days Grain Feed Ribeye from Australia. Cooked to perfection with a combination of butter and garlic, both are cut and served along with an array of freshly cooked vegetables and a fried rice made from scratch.

Experience

It’s easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment (in this case quite literally!) but having had time to reflect on the dish I can safely say that both steaks were among the finest I have ever had the pleasure to savour – my partner even stating it was the best she has personally ever experienced. That may sound overly enthusiastic and generous but, believe me, it is not. It’s a genuinely honest take on an expertly crafted, beautiful dining experience. 

And that is the word to perfectly describe dining at Ariake: experience. The authentic setting transports you to Japan itself while Chef Aek brings clear expertise and knowledge to his craft, perfectly interjected with the right amount of personality and humour. Whether he is slicing and dicing ingredients, juggling his cooking utensils or literally lighting things up, he is a joy to behold. We have all been in restaurants where the chef’s attempts at customer engagement veer into the awkwardly absurd, making for a very uncomfortable experience. Chef Aek makes sure the experience at Ariake couldn’t be further from that and all the better for it.

However, numerous other small things add to the experience. What particularly struck me was the interaction from staff delivering an array of sauces and condiments, each with its own unique explanation and recommendation of how to use to best enjoy. It means the experience doesn’t stand still, it’s constant and thrilling, fun like a fair ground ride; your eyes, ears, nose are constantly engaged, meaning it’s not just a pleasant assault on your taste buds but all senses that are invited along for the journey. As a dining experience it’s unique, with the decor, lighting, appropriate music, attentive staff and deliciously refreshing Japanese Highball mocktails only enhancing things.

The travesty is most people either visiting or living in Phuket will not be aware of Ariake. Tucked away in the grounds of the secluded Le Meriden resort, it seems like a venue that one would only know about by word of mouth or personal recommendation. This needs to change because Ariake is the real deal and more people deserve to uncover this gem to enjoy one of the finest and most memorable dining experiences the island has to offer.