Review: Japanese Restaurant KIBOU launches stunning spring/summer menu

Louise Cummings is transported to the eclectic streets of Tokyo with a tantalising selection of exquisite Japanese dishes at KIBOU, from premium sushi to miso marinated salmon

From the minute you step inside KIBOU restaurant and bar, housed in an iconic and characterful Grade II listed building on Jesus Lane, it’s wall-to-wall wow-factor.

The Mirror Room is dominated by a spectacular central Japanese cherry blossom tree, flanked by plush emerald green seating, with colourful reflective murals adorning the walls.

Ideal for nighttime dining, the neighbouring Oak Room features a cascading wisteria installation and a vibrant digital animation display bathing the room in radiant light.

The wow-factor extends beyond the décor and onto the plate, as my husband and I discovered on a recent lunchtime sojourn.

Tasked with trying out the new spring/summer menu (I know; it’s a tough gig!), we perused the extensive array of dishes, from sushi platters to softshell crab tempura, steaming seafood ramen to Wagyu truffle nigiri, whilst seated beneath the bows of the cherry blossom tree.

The team are clearly passionate about the cuisine, which blends tradition with innovation, giving us pointers on KIBOU favourites such as chicken karaage, pork gyoza and katsu curry. New dishes including the beef sirloin with truffle teriyaki, premium bluefin tuna chutoro, fiery chicken zangi and Maze Udon (KIBOU’S revamped ramen), were also highlighted.

In the spirit of conviviality, we decided to order a variety of dishes to share.

Two of the new premium ‘Tokusen’ sharers arrived first; the black pork katsu, made using Kurobuta pork, known for its depth of flavour, was incredible. Panko-fried, the pork was so succulent, complemented perfectly by shredded cabbage, pickles and tonkatsu sauce.

The yuzu miso marinated salmon was, without a word of a lie, the best fillet of fish I’ve tasted. Infused with Japanese citrus and umami miso and topped with shiny orbs of ikura, it was so tender and packed with flavour.

I adore prawn toast so couldn’t resist KIBOU’s street-food-inspired sesame prawn toast bao, which elevates the traditional starter to a whole new level.

The toasted bun, branded with the word KIBOU (impressive!), was delightfully pillowy and soft, whilst the tiny seeds arcing around the bun provided a lovely crunch.

Sushi is a firm favourite in our household, and another menu newcomer, Urumaki Snow Crab, arrived at our table an absolute riot of colour, the California rolls filled with thinly sliced cucumber and avocado and topped with pink crab, delicate red chilli circles and fragrant coriander. They tasted as good as they looked.

I’d heard much about KIBOU’s classic volcano rolls, which are salmon and avocado sushi rolls, with tempura flash fried so each mouthful is a luscious combination of fresh ingredients with crispy batter, drizzled with sriracha mayo, sweet chilli and unagi sauce. These were arguably the highlight of our whole dinner!

Inquisitive about what a Japanese dessert entails, we concluded our fusion feast with Hojicha crème brûlée, a classic twist on the famed French dish. Infused with roasted green tea, it was an unusual taste on first taste, but became so Moorish it was a race as to who got the last spoonful!

The apple gyoza, the cutest little crimped parcels, topped with dainty edible purple flowers, were equally delicious, flavoured with cinnamon and a sweet salted caramel sauce.

If you’re yearning for some wow-factor Japanese dining in elegant surroundings, KIBOU should be top of your list! Enlist some friends and get sharing.

KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar is at 7a Jesus Lane, Cambridge. Find out more at kibou.co.uk