Morimoto Asia Restaurant Now Open at Disney Springs

<21 style=”text-align: center;”>Morimoto Asia Restaurant Now Open at Disney Springs

Tuesday September 29th was a big day. Downtown Disney was renamed Disney Springs. Morimoto Asia celebrated it’s grand opening. And I got to meet my childhood cooking hero. To say that the newest Disney Springs restaurant opening was “grand” would be an understatement. From delicate eats to the longest sushi hand roll I’ve ever seen, check out what made our evening with Legendary Iron Chef Morimoto so memorable.

1. Upscale Décor

Remember Mannequins? That Pleasure Island Dance Club of old may be just a memory for this section of Disney Springs, but if you look closely, you can still picture the spinning dance floor. But the transformation of the old nightclub definitely has the feel of an upscale Asian Fusion restaurant. The hanging light fixtures are definitely the first thing you notice. The 2 levels provide an open atmosphere. Featuring bars on both floors, a sushi bar and open air private dining rooms, there’s quite a bit of experience to take in.

2. Iron Chef Morimoto Loves Mickey Mouse Too

It’s one thing to see Morimoto on TV. It’s a completely different thing to see him in person. Then it was a completely different level to hear him speak. Bursting out into song (did you know that he’s a big fan or karaoke?), paying homage to Mickey Mouse (who ironically has the same birthday as Morimoto’s wife), and the excitement on his face, you could tell that he felt the Disney magic too. Even wore an embroidered Mickey on his kimono robe for the evening 🙂

3. Sake Barrel Ceremony

You never quite know the experience to expect when attending a grand opening event such as this one. And I would say a sake barrel and mallet ceremony definitely set the tone. Toasting to the guests, Morimoto ended his speech with grand style.

4. Iron Chef Show….Live!

And if I wasn’t having flashbacks to my childhood show Iron Chef already, then Morimoto got down to business. Tying back his ceremonial outfit, his hand and knife skills were put to the ultimate test as he broke down his own gigantic tuna. I could hear the sounds of kitchen stadium as sou chefs bustled around to help the legendary chef clean and prepare the fish for the evening.

5. Longest Sushi Roll Ever

So if filet-ing your own fish wasn’t enough, Masaharu Morimoto then assembled one of the longest sushi roll lines I have ever seen. Seaweed, rice, tuna and a bunch of attendees all lined up to try their hand at sushi creation. Not as easy as it looks…but definitely fun!

6. Delicate and Delectable Asian Inspired Dishes

And the bites for the evening? Delicious. The passing of trays continued all night long, but these were my favorite standout dishes.

Tuna Pizza

A great starter for the evening. Tuna sashimi on top of a crispy tortilla with tomato, jalapeno and anchovy aioli

Orange Chicken

There was a distinct sweetness with this bite, Florida oranges. This lightly battered and fried chicken with a sweet orange sauce was a welcoming classic dish. Served with broccoli

Morimoto Spare Ribs

So. Much. Goodness. Slow cooked, falling apart and topped with a sweet hoisin chili sauce. Yes, please.

Chicken Shumai

I don’t normally rave about dim sun, but this chicken shumai bite was perfectly steamed and filled with delicate chicken and mushrooms.

Morimoto Peking Duck

This was my friend’s favorite dish of the night, and you could tell it’s the signature dish. Perfectly roasted and displayed from the kitchen, this carved duck is served with apricot sweet chili and hoisin miso sauces.

7. The Souvenir

Opening night at one of Disney spring’s newest and upscale restaurants would definitely be a highlight of my blogging career. But my fandom for not only the famous Japanese show but my ultimate favorite Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto transcended beyond one night. All of my cooking dreams relived, the gracious Morimoto stood for a photo with me. I could feel Chairman Kaga patting me on the back for this moment.

“Allez Cuisine!”

A fabulous evening? Not even close. For a grand opening of the swankiest Asian cuisine at Disney Springs, it was Disney magic!

Morimoto Asia is now open to the public and is located at Downtown Disney Disney Springs across from the Raglan Road Irish Pub. I highly recommend reservations (call 407-939-MOTO). I hear that reservations are already into November! Be sure to ask for a private dining room if you can 🙂 Check out the full website for more information and menu options (even kids meals).

Would you and your family visit Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs?

I was invited to attend a special media grand opening event. All opinions are my own. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for Disney updates, family travel moments and more.

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