3 New Openings: ma-ia-ki, Oliang Bangkok Bistro, Efes

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Vos Families group opens ma-ia-ki, a yaki restaurant in Surpass Court, Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro at Hengshan 8, and Turkish restaurant Efes expands to Puxi.


ma-ia-ki (This venue is now closed)

Address: Bldg 2, Surpass Court, 570 Yongjia Lu, near Yueyang Lu 永嘉路570号永嘉庭2号楼, 近岳阳路
Tel: 17521730213
Hours: Sun-Wed, 6pm-11:30pm; Thu-Sat, 6pm-12:30am

ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

From the Vos Familles group comes ma-ia-ki, a yaki restaurant in Surpass Court. (Vos Families is the same group behind SOiF, Suzie, le Daily, Ottimo, and theWarehouse.)

ma-ia-ki (read: my-yaki) opened late last year. It’s a relatively small restaurant with an open kitchen counter that seats 16. There’s also a private rooms for six, and al fresco seating on the terrace that’s waiting to be utilized once the weather cooperates. The vibe is casual and unpretentious, made lively with a groovy, upbeat playlist.

ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

I say “yaki restaurant” because the focus at ma-ia-ki isn’t just chicken (yakitori), but also dry-aged pigeon (yakihato). The pigeon, which is dry-aged for seven days, is undeniably the star of the menu. Other dishes, which range from chicken skewers to sushi and even cuts of A5, are also worth their salt.

ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Chef Guo Wenfei, pictured above, is the master behind the grill. He’s spent 17 years in Japanese restaurants practicing the art of grilling.

ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Pigeon Aged Thigh (¥68) – Crispy skinned and juicy, served with mountain pepper jam and fig and wine soaked pear.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Pigeon Aged Breast (¥68) – Grilled to perfection. Deep flavors, tender, and crispy skinned. Served with bourbon marinated apple and finely diced leek.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Chicken Oysters (¥30) – Dense, rich dark meat that’s tender and juicy. Topped with julienned shiso.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Chicken Neck (¥28) with herb dressing.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
They also have a “rare” section of the menu, which refers to “unusual or rare cuts” rather than “doneness.” If you’re feeling plucky or have an attuned palate, they also have liver, neck, shirako, diaphragm, and ventricle.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Nodoguro (¥188) fillets grilled over binchotan.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Wagyu A5 Rib-Eye (¥358/100g) – The butter-cut of steaks, served with kimchi and garlic chips.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Rice with Foie Gras (¥108) topped with salmon roe. Luxurious.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Sashimi (¥298/five cuts) – Extremely thick cuts of sashimi; sweet ebi, trevally jack, otoro, mackerel, scallop.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Cured Duck Breast (¥68) – Housemade duck charcuterie that’s been cured for two months, topped with parmesan and dusted with chili spice. A bit too much spice for my liking, which masked the rich, natural flavors of the duck.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Wagyu Spring Roll (¥58) – Satisfying morsels of juicy wagyu in a deep-fried vessel.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Squid with Cream (¥78) – The “cream” actually refers to the squid gonads, which when cooked is creamy in texture. Squid served sautéed with seasonal vegetables and mushrooms. Tasty and recommended.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Cherry Tomato & Pineapple (¥38) – A good palate cleanser of marinated cherry tomatoes and fresh pineapple in a light syrup.
ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Rice Cake (¥26) stuffed with cheese. Don’t miss out on these chewy, cheesy treats.

As for drinks, ma-ia-ki has a selection of wine and sakes curated by group sommelier Yonex Zhang, an extremely talented somm. I interviewed him here. In addition to his extensive knowledge of wines, Yonex is also well versed in Japanese liquors, and has spent a year in a Japan brewery to sharpen his palate. If he isn’t at ma-ia-ki, one of his understudies will surely make a recommendation.

ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

I highly recommend trying the Chiebijin Koucha, a black tea umeshu liqueur from Japan. It’s quite special, and has sweet, fragrant, and floral notes, suitable towards the end of the meal. It’s the bottle on the right in the photo above.

ma-ia-ki, a yakitori restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Autumn Breeze (¥98) – Shochu, pear, osmanthus, cream, lemon, nutmeg.

ma-ia-ki also has a handful of signature cocktails as well as classics and highballs.


Oliang Bangkok Bistro

Address: No. 107, Bldg 5, 8 Hengshan Lu, near Wulumuqi Nan Lu 衡山路8号5号楼107单元, 近乌鲁木齐南路
Tel: 64411117
Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm

Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Oliang Bangkok Bistro is a casual Thai restaurant in Hengshan 8. It’s a modest eatery run by a close-knit Thai team, some of which are of Chinese descent.

Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Overall, the food was pretty tasty. The pork neck stood out, as did the fish custard, a steamed dish similar to that of otak-otak, a Malaysian variation.

Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Grilled Pork Neck (¥128) with toasted rice powder. Pork neck with some powerful flavors; fish sauce, tart and sweet tamarind, and spices. Sprinkled over with toasted rice granules for crunch. Fantastic, and would order again.
Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Stir-Fried Squid (¥128) with chili paste and salted egg yolk. Standard and delicious.
Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Hor Mok Thai Curried Fish Custard (¥128) – A custard made with fish, mussels, and prawns, fortified with aromatics of lemongrass, kaffir lime, and spices, topped with coconut cream. It’s light and fluffy with delicate flavors.
Thai restaurant Oliang Bangkok Bistro. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Massaman Curry Beef (¥168) – The curry was sweeter than I prefer. Chicken is also available for ¥138. Rice is ¥6 a bowl.

Service was brisk, but very friendly and polite. Good for a casual, tasty meal.


Efes (Puxi)

Address: 600 Huashan Lu, near Wulumuqi Zhong Lu 华山路600号, 近乌鲁木齐中路
Tel: 18121161177
Hours: Sun-Thu, 11:30am-10pm; Fri-Sat, 11:30am-10:30pm

Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Turkish restaurant Efes finally expands to Puxi after 10 years serving in Pudong.

Located in a quiet section of Huashan Lu, the décor at Efes is modest if not plain, and the service is warm and welcoming. It’s not as polished as Pasha, but it’ll do in a pinch if you’re craving Turkish food in the neighborhood. They also have two covered terraces that flank the entrance, which are dog-friendly.

Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

On the menu are Turkish classics with an emphasis on kebabs and grill platters, featuring meats in the form of chops, shish, and kebabs. They also have pides with an array of toppings, and a couple of seafood options.

Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Fluffy house rolls
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Stuffed Vine Leaves (¥88) – Vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat, served with homemade fresh yogurt and tomato sauce, served hot. There’s also a cold version (¥68), stuffed with rice, currants, pine nuts, and parsley.
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Small Mezze Platter (¥98) – Eggplant salad (baba ganoush), haydari (strained yogurt), hummus, and baked beans.
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Lavash (¥22) comes with yogurt dip.
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
They have a multitude of mixed platters to share, featuring lamb chops, jumbo prawns, chicken chop, beef shish, and chicken shish. Starts from ¥298.
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Minced Beef Kebab (¥148)
Turkish restaurant Efes opens in Puxi. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.
Efes Chocolate Dessert (¥64) – Dark chocolate with walnuts and crumble.
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