Cape Town is a culinary hotspot loved by foodies all over South Africa. Here, they will find an assortment of eateries that reflect a multitude of cultures, including Japanese restaurants.
Indeed, the Mother City boasts numerous Japanese restaurants that serve sumptuous dishes – made from the freshest ingredients and elegantly presented – for you to savour.
You name it, they’ve got it: ramen, onigiri, sushi, donburi (rice bowls), mochi and much, much more.
JAPANESE RESTAURANTS FOR THE FOODIE’S SOUL
So, if you’re hankering for authentic Japanese cuisine, you’d better head on down to these five Cape Town-based gems!
1. HOW’S YOUR ONI?
If you’ve ever visited a Japanese convenience store, read manga or watched anime, then you’ll be quite familiar with onigiri. They’re sushi rice parcels that contain fillings like tuna mayo or pork, all wrapped up in nori (AKA seaweed).
On the Main Road in Green Point, How’s Your Oni? gives onigiri a gourmet makeover. The portions are larger than life and feature fillings like wagyu miso, spicy shrimp and honey butter chicken.
You can also expect other delish dishes on their menu, including miso soup, takoyaki (savoury flour balls containing squid or prawns), okonomiyaki (a type of savoury pancake) and udon (noodles).
2. NOBU
Nobu Hospitality boasts world-class restaurants around the globe. Currently, Cape Town is the only South African city where you can indulge in a marvellous fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines.
At Nobu – which is located at the One&Only hotel at the V&A Waterfront – you can dine on hot and cold dishes such as Chilean seabass dry miso, beef Toban Yaki, Toro tartare with caviar and Atlantic scallop tataki.
There is also a wide range of nigiri, sashimi, sushi maki and kushiyaki (grilled skewers) to choose from, as well as desserts like Nobu cheesecake and deep-fried mochi ice cream.
3. OBI
Nestled on the corner of Long Street, Obi is the domain of sushi-making legend Hatsushiro Muraoka, better known as “Papa San”.
Together with fellow chef and co-owner Ben Bettendorf, Papa San has whipped up a menu that spotlights nigiri, maki, handrolls, inside-out rolls (vegetarian, tuna, salmon and so on) and sashimi galore.
Be sure to try one of their sushi specialities, which promise amply flavoured pieces to sate your appetite. Follow it up with mochi truffles for a sweet finish.
4. TJING TJING HOUSE
For a real Japanese experience, step inside Tjing Tjing House, which you’ll find on Longmarket Street.
There are several layers to this Harajuku-styled establishment. Firstly, there’s Torii, the ground-floor eatery where you can indulge in street food-inspired fare, including ramen, yakitori, donburi, tebasaki (chicken wings), gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) and mochi doughnuts.
The first floor features the more upscale Momiji restaurant – which prides itself on its sushi-led omakase menu – and the Momiji lounge. Finally, there’s the rooftop bar, which serves cocktails with names like Shibuya, Tokyo Rose, Kasai and Nigai Jin.
5. YATAI RAMEN BAR
South Africans love ramen noodles. As you can imagine, Yatai Ramen Bar on Bree Street is the perfect place for you to get your noodle fix.
A blend of tradition and innovation, Yatai’s ramen bowls are the stars of their main menu. There are different variations you can try: miso dashi tofu, tonkotsu (which contains pork belly slices), miso kingklip and more.
There’s also gyoza, small plates, udon and robatayaki (Japanese barbecue) to try. As a treat, there are desserts like matcha tiramisu and black sesame ice cream to nosh on, plus organic teas to wash it all down.
JAPANESE RESTAURANTS: A TASTE OF THE FAR EAST IN THE SOUTHWEST
Whether you’re a foodie or looking to try something new, Japanese cuisine offers something for everyone.
These restaurants are a great starting point, as they each offer diverse and delicious options, all packed with flavours straight from the Far East.
Be sure to give them a try when you’re in Cape Town, and let us know which ones were your favourite!
