Tempura Shikisen | Restaurant Review

“For the love of Tempura.”

Tucked in a quaint little house down School Lane in Bambalapitiya, Tempura Shikisen is a new addition to Colombo’s ever-growing Japanese dining scene. But the real question is, how authentic is the food? Tempura Shikisen pays homage to the four seasons of Japan with their curated menu. Rather than going for a modernised approach to their dishes, what you will find is a traditional experience resembling Japanese home cooked meals.

Appetisers

Ebi No Shioyaki (Salted Grilled Prawns) – LKR 1,800 (4/5)

Let me start off by saying, you will need to go in willing to get your hands dirty for this one. The two grilled prawns were huge, oozing with flavour and cooked to perfection. Getting the meat out of the shell took some serious effort but it was all worth it in the end.

Tempura Platter – LKR 2,800 (3/5)

Since we were dining at Tempura Shikisen, there was really no way we could have foregone the Tempura Platter. The tempura itself was crunchy, the prawn – juicy, the vegetables – tender, and the sauce – flavourful, especially after the addition of radish and salt. Given how delicious the platter was, we hoped for a more generous portion that resonated with the price.

Kaisen Maki Sushi (Seafood Mix Sushi Roll) – LKR 1,800 (5/5)

If you’re someone that is just starting to get into sushi, this is definitely a good place for you to start. The dish came with eight pieces of sushi and it was surprisingly filling. The roll itself held together really well and the tuna was exceptional. Overall, we can’t complain this was some pretty good sushi.

Sanshu Mori (Mixed Sashimi Platter) – LKR 5,800 (5/5)

As someone that’s tried a fair share of sashimi in their time, this platter easily shared among two was one I could definitely vouch for. But fair warning, if you’re someone that is just getting into Japanese cuisine and isn’t really comfortable with the idea of eating raw fish, stick to the sushi as that’s a better starting point than the sashimi. For us however, all the elements tasted exceptionally fresh, and our personal favourite was definitely the tuna – it’s almost as if it melts in your mouth.

Mains

Kaarage Meal – LKR 2,700 (5/5)

The Kaarage Meal, complete with kaarage chicken (Japanese fried chicken), sticky white rice, a Japanese croquette, fried green beans, ‘hijiki’ and – surprisingly – spaghetti, was truly the star of the whole show. All these elements with their varying flavours blended so well together – including the little portion of spaghetti on the side. The Japanese fried chicken was crispy, tender and came in a hefty portion. The ‘hijiki’ or ‘hiziki’ – a brown sea vegetable that grows wild on the rocky coastlines of East Asia – brought a salty, umami flavour to the meal. The best we could compare it to was a really good brinjal-moju, but far lighter. The sticky white rice, sprinkled with the salty ‘ume shiso’ was also the perfect base in bringing all these elements together. All in all, this was definitely worth the money spent!

Chicken Katsudon – LKR 2,800 (4/5)

Now here’s a generous meal to write home about! The Katsudon was a pretty big portion and the chicken itself was crispy on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside. The rice had a very mild flavour that set a complimentary undertone to the succulent chicken. Overall the whole meal felt like a big, warm hug.

Omurice (Omelette Rice) – LKR 1,800 (4/5)

So here’s the thing, we were super excited to order the Omurice given how this Japanese Omelette Rice has been trending all over social media over the past couple of months. But turns out, this was a more authentic version of the recipe. So while there were no theatrics like in the viral trend, the dish itself was a welcome change from the rest of the dishes we ordered. The rice tucked under the omelette was the start of the show, and it had an almost sweet and sour flavour to it, which we definitely enjoyed.

Tempura Udon – LKR 2,400 (3/5)

The Tempura Udon had a nice bite to it – cooked until just right – and the tempura, once again, did not disappoint. However, personally, the soup base was lacking an intense punch of flavour. If you’re looking for a dish that is comforting and not too overwhelming, dig into this hearty bowl right here.

Ambience

The interior of the restaurant felt very intimate and exuded the elegance of a Japanese home. The main dining area itself was rather small but they do offer a number of private dining rooms for large groups. And something I must add is that the staff here are exceptional. Their service was very welcoming and their knowledge on the nitty gritty of each dish was a welcome surprise.

All in all, Tempura Shikisen invites you to a very personal and homely experience of Japanese cuisine and culture.

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Source From Pulse.lk
Author: Maneth Samarasinghe
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