Reviews Chisou Japanese Restaurant

My husband booked for us to come for my birthday meal last night as i love japanese food and we loved it. The food and service was outstanding and the chocolate fondant cake with a candle was a lovely touch, thank you!

Absolutely fantastic. 100% recommended. It is worth every penny.

Very Good, nice food, but very very nice Service. Mr. John very professional person

Amazing food, amazing staff. Deffo going back!

My prime destination in London

Best of the best

The last time I went to Chisou, I wasn't particularly moved. But as life comes with second chances, I decided to give it another go. And then another. And I'm so glad I did. . I've come to realise that sitting by the sushi counter actually makes a difference to the dining experience. It's a bit more interesting to watch the sushi chefs prep your meal.

With it’s three London locations, Chisou restaurants are experts in Japanese cuisine, tailoring menus to flatter both the eye and the taste buds. We visited the Knightsbridge location on Beauchamp Place last week to review their latest offerings of stunning Japanese food. Most notable before even sitting down at our traditional benched table was the impeccable service. Our coats and scarves were taken to the cloak room, we were directed personally to our table, seated and provided with menus all in absolute style. The sommelier John, who is Italian/ Filipino, and Peggy, who is Japanese, both looked after us talking through each dish and drink in detail.

We started with the house sake, which is nothing like your house wine. “Our house sake works as a bridge between wine and traditional sake”, said John. With notes of apple, oak and a clean finish the crystal clear house sake went down very well – I actually had about five glasses! The glasses and carafe were also both very beautiful. We were also given a gorgeous appetizer of seaweed, carrot and sesame to prepare our palate for the next courses.
We started with the house sake, which is nothing like your house wine. “Our house sake works as a bridge between wine and traditional sake”, said John. With notes of apple, oak and a clean finish the crystal clear house sake went down very well – I actually had about five glasses! The glasses and carafe were also both very beautiful. We were also given a gorgeous appetizer of seaweed, carrot and sesame to prepare our palate for the next courses.

Next we tucked into a gorgeous (and insanely healthy!) spicy prawn salad; this is a salad like you’ve never seen it before. The spinach leaves, which are my favourite, were arranged in a striking overlay formation with a mound of orange and pink prawns in the centre. This dish was as tasty as it was textural; exploding with chili heat and tangy orange while the spinach gave an earthy crunch. Our second ‘starter’ was a truly decadent dish of yellow-fin tuna sashimi with truffle and black truffle infused soy sauce. The texture of the tuna was unlike any sashimi I’ve ever eaten: perfectly firm but really soft in the mouth. The truffle, which John told us some customers can find overwhelming, brought a very earthy feel to the fish, kind of like an opulent surf ‘n’ turf.

After several more glasses of sake our next dishes of seared tuna with carrot crisps and shiso cress, and deep fried soft shell crab arrived. One of my good friends is absolutely obsessed with soft shell crab, but I had never tried it. “How on earth do you eat the legs?” I exclaimed to Peggy and John. Well very easily it turns out. Due to the crab’s soft exterior, all parts that are served up are edible and because you are effectively eating the parts that on a hard shell crab go into bisques and stocks, the crab flavour is outstanding. The texture is also really interesting, blending crisp tempura batter with a soft, almost melting centre. Each mouthful is a real delight, and if you only visit Chisou for one dish please make it this one.

The seared tuna and carrot crisp was another fabulous take on surf ‘n’ turf. The tuna had a fresh out the sea flavour with gorgeously caramelised edges which brought a sweet note, while the carrot crisps brought crunchy texture and earthy flavour. The presentation of the dish was also stunning with bright, glistening tuna slices, orange carrot crisps, white crisp shiso cress and a thinly sliced lime portion which brought a real zing to each mouthful. 

We were also treated to a delightful display of seared beef steak in a sesame dressing and topped with crispy shiso cress. The beef was really tender and easy to eat, while the dressing was hearty, earthy and smoky which works excellently with the beef. The mix of textures with the added crisp shiso was a great mouthful and helped us move onto the next course by introducing slightly cooked food. 

We were presented with a silky soft squid tempura dish complete with deep-fried mini peppers and lemon, and a crispy baby octopus tempura. The difference in texture between the squid and baby octopus really altered the flavours and the experience of each dish, despite the two ingredients being very close anatomically. I preferred the texture of the octopus dish, but the seafood flavour was really strong in the squid version.

Our final course of savoury dishes was the absolute best. Wagyu beef is well known throughout the world for it's impeccable texture and flavour thanks to how well the cattle are looked after. The meat is fully marbled with fat giving a soft, melting texture once cooked and is, of course, best served rare. Chisou serve their stunning wagyu beef steak rare with a mix of shiitake and shimeji mushrooms in a rich teriyaki butter sauce. The beef had a stunning texture unlike any I have ever eaten before, and if you reduce this dish to it's component parts, this was simply the best beef and mushrooms I have ever eaten. 

Next to our wagyu beef fillet was a stunning cut of black cod in a white miso paste with miso sauce and a fresh green salad. The fish was perfectly cooked, flaking beautifully away from the meat and the sauce works epically well without over powering the gentle flavour of the fish. 

Our final dish was the classic Japanese gyoza - my absolute favourite Japanese dish. With a crisp yet slightly soft pastry and particularly crisp edges these gyoza were absolutely delicious. They were filled with a yummy mix of chicken and vegetables, which sounds very simple but was rammed with flavour. Alongside the garlic and sesame dip these gyoza were gorgeously savoury and a perfect way to end our meal.

Some of you know that I spent a significant part of my childhood in Tokyo and would move back there in a heartbeat. I get quite nostalgic about my time in Japan, the country, the people and of course the wonderful, varied cuisine that I can’t get enough of.

I was invited to dine at Chisou Knightsbridge a few days ago and chose the always willing Mr. A to join me for the review.chisouinterior

Chisou is an Izakaya style restaurant located on the well-known Beauchamp Place in Knightsbridge. An izakaya refers to a casual Japanese drinking establishment serving food. Chisou has an intimate sake/cocktail bar upstairs (open on weekends) and a cosy dining area on the main floor.

Chisou means ‘feast’ and the large menu certainly tempts you into doing just that. As if the variety wasn’t enough to leave one greedy and confused, Chisou also have a healthy menu developed with Bodydoctor Health & Fitness. This special menu includes a range of Chisou’s healthiest dishes along with an explanation of their benefits – have a peek at the menu here: http://www.bodydoctor.com/partners/sushi.php

After much deliberating and with some help from our friendly server, we ordered a number of Chisou’s signature dishes.

Kaiso Salad – a selection of seaweed served with a sesame dressing

Yellowtail Sashimi in Black Truffle Infused Soy Sauce : Our waitress informed us that this was one of their signature dishes and unique to Chisou Knightsbridge. I loved the use of black truffle and the sashimi was a brilliant combination of flavours and textures. My favourite from the night!

Sanpin Sashimi: Tuna, yellowtail and salmon selected by the chef. As delicious as it looks.

Spicy Tekka Maki: Chopped yellow fin tuna, tempura flakes, green chilli and spicy mayo rolled inside out with sesame seeds. This was superb and I would go back to Chisou just for this fabulous roll. One of the best I have had in a long time.
sushichisou

Saikyo Yaki – Grilled black cod marinated in miso paste.Chisou was generous with their miso cod serving when compared to other popular restaurants in town. The fish was grilled to perfection and well presented but lacked the sweetness of the miso. I wouldn’t call it disappointing but a little more miso would definitely help.

Tempura Moriawase A medley of king‏ prawns, fish and vegetable assortment in a light batter served with traditional tempura sauce.I still remember the divine tempura I had in Ginza on my last visit to Tokyo so I’m afraid I’ve been spoilt. The tempura at Chisou was good but heavy on the batter and not too crisp.

Fondant Au Chocolat Sprinkled with Macha and Served with Wasabi Ice Cream: Gooey, molten chocolate is always a sure-shot hit with us. The wasabi ice cream was unique and delicious.

Yukimi Daifuku: Japanese rice cakes filled with an assortment of ice-cream Our server suggested we also try the Daifuku and I am so glad she did. The trio of ice cream flavours included vanilla, caramel and green tea all encased in sweet rice cakes.

We enjoyed this lovely meal with a flask of cold Junmin sake – a great accompaniment to the fantastic flavours.

Chisou also have restaurants in Mayfair and Chiswick serving a similar menu with a few variations. Prices are certainly high but you pay for the quality and the authenticity.

Chisou is an izakaya so don’t go in expecting a scene like Nobu or Zuma. The restaurant was extremely busy on a Wednesday night and we noticed several Japanese diners which is a great measure of Chisou’s credibility.

Chisou Knightsbridge is intimate, cosy and a perfect spot for a catch-up with friends over delicious Japanese food and sake.

Great intimate spot for some exceptional sushi. The quality of the food is delicious and the staff are friendly and helpful. Probably want to come here to enjoy great food and good conversation. Their house sake is delicious! Try to arrive before the lunch rush to get a good place. Service is included at 15%.

Absolutely amazing food. Freshest fish. Great flavors. Sake from small producer. An absolute delight of a place. I will definitely go back.

The decoration is authentic and some tables offer a nice separation from the rest of the place l. I have been to Chisou at least 4 times, it never disappoints. My all time favorites are mackerel rolls and the deep fried veggie which are quite delicate. Sake is good as well!

Amazing food and fantastic service. The sashimi we had had great variety and very good freshness and flavour. The nigiri was good too, so was the alcohol. The dessert bento was also plenty & the chocolate dessert was very rich, contrasted very well with the fruit. I’m definitely coming back here again!

This spot has been on my list for so long, finally made it here and it didn’t disappoint. Great food through and through!