WASUTA PASTA || Hidden Gem Japanese Pasta Spot in Richmond with Scallop and Uni Cream Pasta
I had you at uni pasta, didn’t I?
I discovered this hidden gem with the help of my sibling. My brother had excitedly called me at work on a weekday and requested we visit this pasta spot in Richmond for dinner. Well, ok then.
I remember hurriedly leaving work a bit earlier than usual, hoping to avoid rush hour traffic, but got stuck in traffic nonetheless. With my expert alleyway navigation skills, I still got there 10 minutes past our reserved time.
The concise one-page menu made it easy for me to quickly skim the delicious items on offer. We settled on the Fettuccine with Scallops and Uni Cream Sauce, Spaghetti Mentaiko Carbonara, and Spaghetti Pomodoro. We also ordered the Crab Cream Croquette and Burrata Proscuitto di Parma to start. I had also wanted to try the Sicilian Style Hamburg Steak, but I only have so much room in my stomach!
Crab Cream Croquette
Burrata, Prosciutto di Parma
The Crab Cream Croquette reminds me of the ones my landlord lady in Osaka used to make. I like the home-style taste of it.
The Burrata and Prosciutto come with a fluffy and soft house-made focaccia instead of the usual toasted sourdough bread you would get elsewhere. My personal preference is actually the fluffy bread because it’s easier to bite through and chew (yes, I am practical when it comes to eating!)
Spaghetti Mentaiko Carbonara
Fettuccine Uni Cream Sauce
The starters were already quite filling, but we were eagerly looking forward to our plates of pasta. For those who love a good cream mentaiko pasta, this one delivers. A generous portion of mentaiko is placed atop a bed of nori, so you can mix the mentaiko into the cream sauce.
If you love uni, like my brother, you would enjoy the Fettuccine Uni Cream Sauce. I snuck a small bite from the plate and the flavours were rich and delightful. It’s a must-order on the menu and we saw many tables had this dish too.
Spaghetti Pomodoro with tomato sauce
Overall we enjoyed all the dishes we had and will be returning to try other items. It’s also likely to become our go-to spot for authentic Japanese pasta since we prefer the flavours and texture of the pasta here. It’s cooked perfectly al dente firm to the bite.
A note that there is indoor and outdoor seating, but if you’re visiting on a sunny day it’ll be really warm on the patio as the sun sets. So unless you are looking to enjoy great food while also getting a tan, we suggest you call ahead to book a table for indoor seating.
