Mallorca is certainly a tourist hotspot with a mass of restaurants that cover cuisines from across the globe. If the recent spurt in the number of Asian restaurants in the area is any indication, Wasabi could be termed a trendsetter as it has now been serving modern and creative Japanese fare since 2004.

Executive Chef Raúl Aránguiz hails from Santiago, Chile, and has trained extensively with Japanese chefs and learned all about their cuisine. He now applies his knowledge of the traditional kitchen techniques of Japan and adds modern flair to every dish. Aránguiz also heads up the newly opened Wasabi Blue, located in Ciudad Jardín, which has created a niche for itself by not choosing to remain under the shadow of its older sibling.

The minimalist interior provides a warm atmosphere and the emphasis is on great service and quality food. With ingredients coming directly from Japan and the use of locally sourced fish, the scarcity of tables on weekends comes as no surprise. The menu features some special sushi rolls such as magura with tuna, asparagus and cucumber; shake with salmon and cream cheese; Californian with avocado and crab sticks, or the salmon skin roll with cucumber and eel sauce. There are combination platters of sashimi, nigiri and hosomaki, rice rolls covered with seaweed.

Start with some cheese and prawn wraps with vinaigrette of sesame oil, rice vinegar and soya sauce or deep fried prawns in batter. Their hot dishes include miso soup with tofu and seaweed; sautéed chicken with teriyaki sauce, and prawns, vegetables and salmon cooked tempura-style, while the tuna tartar with caviar is ideal for a sunny day. A touch of fusion is evident in the loin of beef with soy sauce and garlic, sautéed veal with teppanyaki sauce and the Japanese version of empanadilla, known as gyoza dumplings, filled with shrimps and cheese. Finish with some chocolate cake or green tea ice creams.

There is a good selection of Spanish wines, which include Jaume Mesquida 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Crianza, Coto de Imaz Reserve 1999 and Condado de Haza Reserve. Japanese beers such as Kirin and Sapporo are also on offer in addition to Sake and Oroya Sushi wine.

Literally meaning Japanese horseradish, wasabi is an essential condiment found in every kitchen in Japan and you will be forgiven for thinking it is guacamole except for its fiery flavour. So after a meal at Wasabi expect to find a tingling sensation in your taste buds.