BWW Reviews: MOCU-MOCU: A Modern Spin on Japanese Cuisine

Mocu-Mocu brings modern flair to traditional Japanese cuisine and adds mouth-watering nuance to Hells Kitchen's culinary scene. Located on 51st street and Tenth Avenue, this Japanese café caters to on-the-go business folk with it's walk-up window for take out as well as the love-struck eye gazing daters with it's romantic banquette style seating.

We visited early on a Wednesday evening and thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality and overall experience. The ambience is sleek and modern with touches of vibrant colors to compliment the beautiful wood paneling on the walls and tables. The vibe is definitely not stuffy but refined enough to feel like a special outing. And the jazzy show tune standards playing in the background bring a certain calmness and Zen to the overall experience.

The menu is centered around two traditional Japanese favorites:

Okonomiyaki, one of the most popular savory pancakes in Japan, baked to perfection, mimicking the 'bread' of a sandwich, and served open-faced style with your choice of pork belly, coconut shrimp, or herbed chicken.

The pancakes are masterfully baked giving you a fluffy and savory little bite of heaven. Add the pork belly along with the pickled cabbage, and this dish is taken to another level. It is perfectly rendered, moist, and pairs beautifully with the chef's special sauces. This pancake 'sandwich' would rival any popular NYC delicatessen.

Obanyaki, another type of pancake, this time pleasing the sweet tooth, and leaving the palate completely satisfied with spongy sugary goodness.

These pancakes are almost tripled in thickness do to their sweet fillings that are baked inside. We had the pleasure of trying all the different flavors that they had to offer. Every bite was delicious but the apple compote with custard crème and the chocolate mint obanyakis were gone in seconds. With just the right amount of pancake mixed the fragrant flavors of apple, custard, or minty chocolate, this snack will melt the heart of any true dessert fan.

Along with these two signature items, Mocu-Mocu also had some other note worthy menu features:

The chilled edamame soup is creamy, light, and perfectly suited for a hot summer's day. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the white bean and sausage miso soup brings a heartier take on the typically broth-based Japanese staple.

The Summer Salad, although humble in ingredients, is elevated with the house-made chive-thyme yuzu miso Mayo Dressing. Say that three times fast. The dressing is definitely the star in this dish and in the end, had I not been satisfyingly full, then I would have ordered another.

What's a meal without a cocktail? We had the pleasure of trying the sake with berries and the cucumber mint. Both crisp, refreshing, and accompanied the meal exquisitely. This summer take a stop by the restaurant to escape the heat with these cooling refreshments.

All in all, Mocu-Mocu definitely has a lot to offer the eclectic movers and shakers of New York City. While paying homage to traditional values, it also provides a modern twist to help bring to life the Japanese cuisine in the heart of Manhattan.

Whether you are in a hurry or have all the time in the world, stop by this unique find to discover the savory and sweet treasures of Japanese culture.

MOCU-MOCU, 746 10th Avenue (between 50th and 51st Streets), 212-765-0197, www.mocu-mocu.com is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday - Thursday & Sunday 11:30am - 10:00pm; Friday - Saturday 11:30am - 11pm. Closed Mondays.