Another spanking new Japanese restaurant in the Les Amis Group's portfolio is Kissajin. Taking a page off the Japanese Kissaten culture of traditional tea and coffee houses, this contemporary omakase presents a refreshingly interactive experience that definitely lets your camera feast before you do. Seasonal produce remains a focus for chef Ryo Yamaguchi where elements of nostalgia and fun are served up in beautifully presented courses on fixed menus during lunch ($68) and dinner ($98).
It begins with a game of yoyo tsuri – often played during Japanese festivals – where you get to fish out a balloon of your choice in a glass fishbowl. Once you pop the balloon, a smooth orb of Goma tofu appears and lands on top of a bed of seaweed dressed with zesty yuzu – priming the cameras and your appetite for what’s to come. The trendsetting act is soon followed by five bite-sized appetisers where the tamago-esque tazuna sushi and the smoked scallop stood out.
The whimsical vibe soon sinks in. In the background are 80s J-pop tunes that remind of the streets of Shibuya and Harajuku. That is when the crew brings over the okamochi – a tiered steel box traditionally used to deliver food from door to door – and serves the food tableside. In the next few courses, expect the likes of Japanese sando of mildly sweet tamago and crispy pork katsu, silky chawanmushi bejewelled with mushrooms, seafood and meats expertly grilled or fried.
The last savoury course is one that satiates. It is an indulgent bowl of homemade Japanese curry with succulent slices of Kagoshima Wagyu served with either rice or Inaniwa udon that is spiced with shichimi togarashi. An expression so simple and yet comforting at the same time. Before the meal concludes, chef Ryo reimagines the cream anmitsu featuring delicate cubes of jelly, sweet azuki bean paste, rich cream and a handful of prime season fruits for a sweet ending.
While it is no secret that omakase is rarely convivial, Kissajin is definitely one that seeks to introduce this playful approach to just about everyone. Of course, there isn’t theatrics like the finer sister concept of Jinhonten but what you do get is fresh produce and quality treatment of ingredients without breaking the bank.
