Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs introduces new late-night menu

Of all the new restaurants at Disney Springs, Morimoto Asia is my favorite place to go to celebrate while enjoying a meal with family and friends. While the main menu is fantastic, I reserve highest praise for the Forbidden Lounge late night menu which recreates some of the Chef’s favorite items from Japan. We experienced the new menu items along with five new Summer cocktails on a recent visit for a media sampling party.

Of the new food items you won’t find any disappointments. I really enjoyed the Kushiyaki, “meat on the stick,” which comes with two chicken skewers, one pork skirt steak skewer, and a miso marinated black code skewer. The taste is is not bold like some of the other flavors on the menu, but the pairs well with the hour.

Also new to the late night menu were the beef bulgogi nachos and chashu pork quesadilla. Both are fun twists on food you might expect at a bar, but with Chef Yuhi’s own Japanese street-food spin.

If you’re looking for more of a ‘nibble’ than a ‘nosh’ then you’ll find the Shichimi spiced edamame, shrimp chips and dip, or blistered shishito peppers perfect for sharing among your group. I loved the wasabi creme fraiche for the shishito peppers (the cool with the subtle heat is great) and the shrimp chips are something unique. Definitely try them with the wasabi cocktail sauce.

We also had the pleasure of sampling five of the new summer blend of cocktails served in the Forbidden Lounge. The mixologist at Morimoto Asia is one of those inventive experts who creates drinks you’ll be talking about all night with your friends.

I never would have thought to combine tequila and tonic, but Morimoto Asia makes their own chinese 5-spice toni and pairs it with patron tequila for a real star of a drink. The Yuzu Sidecar will satisfy those who like a little old-fashioned, but the use of courvoisier puts it over the top. It’s unusual to see a white cocktail, but don’t let that detour you from the Kunsei smoked coconut. A tropical mix of dobel smoked tequila, cruzan coconut rum, and topped with toasted coconut, it’s a glass full of fun. The Watermelon Soyokaze is the definition of a summer cocktail with it’s flavors. Finally, I’m a huge fan of the Kyuuri Gin Blossom Martini. If I have to have a gin martini, I want cucumber and elderflower liqueur in it. You could drink this all night, but you better have Uber on speed-dial.

Great friends for this tasting menu

The late night menu at the Forbidden Lounge is meant to be that perfect end cap to your day. They start serving it around 10pm and keep it going until 2am.