Asia / Japanese / Smart
It’s easy to miss the entrance of Kyoten with its nondescript exterior. But slide open the Shoji doors and you’ll find yourself in a charmed setting where service is jovial and the mood is merry. Located in the quaint Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, Kyoten is a precious gem of a Japanese sushi restaurant amidst the sea of hipster cafes and ice cream shops. And the sushi here meets the mark.
The premium sushi platter, for instance, steers away from the usual fare. Instead, expect the unexpected in the forms of lesser known fish with unique pairings—fatty barracuda, golden eye snapper with yuzu pepper, and the star of the show: a meltingly tender Kama-toro sushi, expertly sliced from the neck of bluefin tuna. Also good is the white shrimp sushi, a jigsaw composition of tiny shrimps artfully pieced together into an edible collage, and served on top of Sasanishiki rice.
Chef’s nimble fingers at packing the fish and rice tightly together is a sight to behold. It certainly takes skill to put together the uni handroll that has made its rounds on Instagram grids. A generous heap of Murasaki and Aka uni threatens to spill over from its bed of seaweed and rice, yet somehow holds together while you finish in two bites.
Kyoten may be new to the neighbourhood for now, but they are quickly carving out an identity that is distinctly their own.
Address: 5 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168643
Opening hours:
Tue-Sun, 11.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6223 0213