The restaurant, located in Banani, has generated quite a stir for its unique offerings, especially some fusion ramens
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Michella Chowdhury: Japanese food is as diverse as its landscape. It is not always easy to appreciate the subtleties of their cuisine which is why most Japanese restaurants in Bangladesh offer a form of fusion.
The key to successfully providing fusion food is to ensure that all the dishes have outstanding flavours that complement one another, which Tokyo Kitchen does in spades.
The restaurant, located in Banani, has generated quite a stir for its unique offerings, especially some fusion ramens.
Speaking to its Head of Branding, Niaj Mahmud, he said: “At first, we served authentic Japanese food, but people who haven’t tasted the authentic flavours don’t get it and after realizing this, we changed to fusion to better suit the Bangladeshi palate.”
Food
The chicken gyoza – a Japanese dumpling is packed with chicken, cabbage, sesame oil, and pepper and topped with Yuzu sauce, is one of their starters.
The chicken is cooked through and properly seasoned, and the gyozas are tasty, but it lacks the wow factor, aroma, or any unique residual taste that you might be looking for.
The main component of their beef bulgogi – a bbq Korean dish is marinated flank steak, which is then seasoned with soy sauce, rice vinegar, light brown sugar, sesame oil, chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, and a dusting of thinly sliced green onions.
The bulgogi is sweet and smokey, and it recreates the complex bulgogi flavour that you will enjoy. The beef, on the other hand, could be a little more tender.
The bell peppers, bird’s eye chillies, peppercorns, and a big dose of the five-spice mix that coat the chicken in the Sichuan dish are responsible for the dish’s sweet flavour; the high quantity of peppers and chillies will lead you to assume that this dish is spicy. The chicken, on the other hand, is only mildly spicy, with the sweetness taking centre stage.
The plate’s vibrant poppy reds and light brown garnishing will have you wide-eyed in astonishment as soon as it is placed in front of you, and we’re here to assure you that they carry over into delectable flavours that promise to be just as good and is much more than a just aesthetic delight.
Their hot and sour Ramen is a crowd pleaser for a reason, with a variety of ingredients – shiitake mushrooms, sweet corn, juicy chicken, par boiled egg, scallions and tofu with a generous dollop of ramen noodles blissfully swim in a bowl of a spicy broth.
This bowl redefines “hot” with a degree of heat that will clear your sinuses, keep you toasty, and satiate your cravings for all things spicy.
The price for a meal at a Tokyo kitchen ranges from Tk480 to Tk1280.
Ambience
It is a cozy space with brown tones dominating the floor as you enter through wooden glass doors and are surrounded by biscuit-patterned walls and doors in Banani.
The seats are soft pink, blue, and crimson armchair sofas, with ceiling flora and softly illuminated ceiling lamps. The atmosphere emanates warmth in the same way that the food does.
Challenges
The restaurant has been through three significant crises since its inception in 2014. The first was the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack, which forced them to close for two years before reopening in 2018.
“We had to close down because most of our customers and partners were Japanese, and this was basically a Japanese club with authentic Japanese food, and every foreigner had left Dhaka at the time,” Mahmud explained.
Then, in March 2020, the Covid-19 outbreak struck, knocking them back even further; yet, they were able to survive through direct business with clients.
“We focused on how to reach the customers directly, and we launched new products that could be made and eaten with minimal effort at home,” he added.
Given the recent global inflation, the eatery was forced to hike up its prices. However, in the opinion of Mahmud, the new pricing is still reasonable.
“People have noticed that our prices have increased by 10% to 20%, and they have inquired about it, but I have assured them that we are still cheaper than our competitors,” he added.
Verdict
The pricing of the menu does seem a little on the steeper side, but can’t really blame them. Almost all the restaurants we have been to recently had a significant price increase.
If you like Asian fusion and want to go for a comfort food binge, especially after your Eid feasts, Tokyo Kitchen is a great option, and their Hot and Sour Ramen is a must-try.
Take our word for it, and you will not be disappointed.
