Trying out Kyoto Garden Sushi: A Japanese delight

Do you ever visit a restaurant and wish you could basically live there, so that you could eat their food everyday? Well, that happened to me recently. Cape Town has no shortage of restaurants, that’s for sure. But after recently trying out Kyoto Garden Sushi based in Gardens, well I think it’s pretty clear that this restaurant stands taller than many out there. If you’re a fan of anything seafood, you have to read on.

Kyoto Garden Sushi basically stock every type of fresh seafood fare available. From your more traditional seafood like oysters, crayfish, mussels and prawns to exotic items like sea urchin, farmed abalone, Mozambican conch, scallops and even Alaskan king crab! So if you’re feeling adventurous and wanting to try something exciting – you’ll definitely be at the right place. Everything is as fresh as possible, and only the best quality has been sourced.

Drinks

Every good restaurant experience starts with a good cocktail! (Well, in my opinion!). Cocktail lovers are spoiled for choice with their drinks menu! I started my evening with the Kyoto Cosmo, which is Kyoto Garden Sushi’s own variation to the contemporary version. The drink includes fresh lime and triple distilled vodka mixed with a raspberry Sake and a dash of Bombay Sapphire Gin. It was delightfully fresh and definitely tasted different from your usual cosmo.

Later on in the evening I also tried their version of the mojito. You can never go wrong with a mojito!

Starters

We were lucky enough to get to try a few of their different starters. From oysters to sushi to miso soup – you’ll be sure to find something you’ll enjoy! My personal favorite that I would recommend is the miso soup and the ceviche. The miso soup has tempura scallops in it, which are incredibly soft and tasty. The ceviche was so fresh, light and so lightly seasoned. If you like sushi – they also have a fabulous sushi menu and you could always order a few pieces for starter.

Mains

We got to experience their new grill experience, which was really unique. The grill happens at your table so it’s very interactive and you get to participate. They bring a plate of raw meats, seafoods and vegetables to your table and they grill it for you at the table.

Pictured above on the grill was the scallops. The scallops were incredibly soft and not rubbery at all. You can literally taste how fresh all the seafood is. What amazed me as well was that both the owner and the waiters know exactly where the specific meat is from, exactly which area! This thoroughly impressed me.  Some of the other meat that we experienced on the grill was duck, wagyu beef, prawns and fish.

It was also my first time to try wagyu beef. I’m terribly afraid that it’s ruined me forever- because I now have a new standard for how truly delicious and soft beef can be. We also tried some of their sushi after our grilling experience (mostly salmon pieces, as that’s our favorite!) and once again – everything was so fresh! Cam was totally flabbergasted at the wasabi that they offer – it’s fresh and the original, real wasabi from Japan (not a powdered mix like you usually get in most restaurants!). He said the highlight of his evening was the sushi. (Mine was the wagyu!)

Dessert:

I feel bad to admit this, but I am not a fan of green tea flavored anything. I’ve just never enjoyed the green tea taste all. But, I have to tell you – their green tea crepe with green tea ice cream was one of the most delicious things I’ve tasted in a while. The thinnest pancake I’ve ever tasted, with the most perfect balance of flavours. I can also highly recommend the cherry blossom ice cream, it has the perfect mix between sweet and sour.

Concluding Thoughts

I honestly don’t think that one part of our evening was in any way less than fantastic. The food quality at Kyoto Garden Sushi is absolutely impeccable. Everything is presented perfectly, the seasoning is light but perfect. The atmosphere is relaxing and romantic. And the flavor combinations are out of this world. I really don’t think I could find or pick any faults. The only thing I can mention is that because this restaurant is extremely high quality, consequently the prices you pay for that will be higher. But every cent will be worth it, I promise. One bite of a scallop and you’ll be hooked! This is definitely the right place to go for a date night, anniversary or birthday special.

Restaurant Details

Address: 11 Lower Kloofnek Road, Cape Town

Call: +27 21 422 2001

Open Hours: Monday to Saturday 5.30pm-11pm

Type: High end, romantic