Sushi Kawasemi on Telok Ayer Street offers the much-beloved classic Japanese edomae touch to its fine-dining omakase.
Singaporeans are in love with Japanese food. And from the number of fine-dining Japanese omakase restaurants sprouting all over the island in the last few years – even during the days of the epidemic – that love affair seems to only grow from strength to strength. Among the slew of Japanese omakase restaurants that have opened up recently? Sushi Kawasemi, located along Telok Ayer Street in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District.
Sushi Kawasemi is your archetypal contemporary fine-dining Japanese sushi restaurant. Named for the kingfisher – the Japanese consider the bird a sign of prayer fulfilled – the entire venue is designed to be a transcendental experience. From the tastefully-designed entrance all the way into the wood-panelled inner dining sanctum where the chefs hold court, you’ll feel like you’re being transposed to a restaurant in Gion or some other fancy Kyoto quarter.
Sushi Kawasemi, like most high-end Japanese omakase eateries, specialises in Edomae-style sushi. Ingredients are carefully curated and sourced from all over Japan and shipped by air four times a week, so you can expect to taste your seafood in the right season. But like the best omakase joints, fish is also carefully aged here to reach their optimum flavours before they are expertly sliced, moulded onto premium Niigata koshihikari rice, and served to you.
Depending on the course you opt for – there are three different course options for lunch and two for dinner – the itamae (head chef) will select choice cuts for your dining pleasure.
Whether it’s sawara (Spanish mackerel), akami (lean tuna), nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) or tai (sea bream) – based on seasonality, of course – each get its classical treatment. The akami, for example, is marinated in soya sauce in what the Japanese call the zuke method, while your Toyama shiro ebi (white shrimp) would have been packed in kelp to preserve and enhance their sweetness.
Sushi Kawasemi also has a penchant for searing fish with a piece of binchotan charcoal for a couple of its courses. The application imbues the sashimi or sushi with a delightfully smoky aroma and flavour, and is commonly used for fattier fish. Think of it as aburi sushi, but is a lot tastier.
Like everything about Sushi Kawasemi, its sake selection is textbook. You’ll find your usual popular premium offerings such as Juyondai (十四代) to accompany your omakase course.
There are few surprises here at Sushi Kawasemi, but that’s exactly its draw. Classic Japanese fine-dining omakase done right.
Sushi Kawasemi’s lunch courses run from S$98++ to S$248++, and S$268++ or S$388++ for dinner.
Sushi Kawasemi
Address 120 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068589 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm Mondays to Fridays; 6pm to 10.30pm on Saturdays; closed on Sundays
Tel (65) 8505 4288
Facebook kawasemisg
Instagram @sushikawasemi
