MINATO - bringing authentic Japanese food to Navan
MINATO, the new Japanese restaurant opened in October 2024, at Preston Place, Navan, and has done what many would believe impossible – Jackie and his team have brought together time-honoured culinary creations with the warmth of Irish hospitality.
When we met with Jackie, he explained the reason why he felt he is offering a one of a kind experience to everyone that visits Minato. He said:
“When we think about Japanese cuisine, the first thing that springs to mind is light and tasty, and accessible for anyone’s palate. What is offered here though is everything from tender, meat-filled Gyoza to rich, decadent Futomaki rolls and delicious stir-fried Yakisoba noodles, to assorted Sushi platters and Donburi rice bowl dishes, fresh Sashimi slices, Norimaki encompassing a variety of fillings and who could forget about the Ramen! In other words, just about everything from light bites to hearty comfort food and everything in between.”
The restaurant boasts an authentic Japanese feel, and to add to this the staff are incredibly friendly and accommodating and are on hand to help with a recommendation or two. Jackie sources all of his products from Irish companies and visits local markets regularly to ensure only the freshest of produce is used. “What we have here is 100 percent Irish beef, and we stand behind that,” said Minato proprietor Jackie Zhang.
“If you are looking for Japanese-style Tapas, it’s here. We offer six-piece bites of Prawn Tempura and Chicken Karrage and even in the quaint Edamame, everything is guaranteed to take you to new heights of flavour!”, said Jackie. Also on offer are a variety of Bento boxes, which is a perfect Japanese take on the classic lunchbox filled with tender rice, juicy meats and vegetables of choice along with fresh salads and so much more.
“We want all of Navan to know that our menu offers good value for money and with free parking after 6pm, we want to invite you to come and give your taste buds an experience that will have you craving more. There is a common misconception about Japanese food or sushi being purely about raw fish, but we have options here of both raw or cooked, which are both equally as flavour intensive, and we know that there is something on the menu for everyone”, said Jackie. “ We also have both Halaal and Vegan options”.
Minato is ideal for intimate evenings, family celebrations or friends just getting together. Open Sunday to Thursday from 12 to 9pm and Friday and Saturday 12 to 10pm, Minato in Navan is definitely worth a visit, but if you are the order in type of person, click-and-collect is also available online at https://www.minato.ie/ along with takeaway and delivery through Just Eat.