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Kissajin of the Les Amis Group offers affordable omakase at S$68

Gaelmaine Hoong | October 31, 2022

The Les Amis Group launches a delightful new Japanese concept, Kissajin. The establishment will be offering a unique omakase experience at relatively affordable price points, starting from S$68 for lunch. 

Officially launched on Oct 10, Kissajin is one of the group’s 25 concepts. 

It draws on the spirit of “kissaten”, a typical Japanese tea and coffee house that provides its patrons with a quiet getaway space. Curiously, it doesn’t serve coffee, nor does it have extensive tea offerings. 

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Instead, the restaurant offers traditional Japanese dishes presented in novel ways. The highlight would be trying the restaurant’s version of yoyo tsuri, a common festival game in Japan that mimics fishing. 

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Yoyo tsuri is a Japanese festival game that involves fishing up balloons. Photo: Gaelmaine Hoong/HungryGoWhere

A large glass bowl filled with balloons floating in iced water is presented to the table and diners attempt to fish one out. Afterwards, you pop the balloon with a toothpick to reveal the glistening orb of goma or sesame tofu within.

A space for zen

Kissajin is characterised by darker colour palettes and a medley of songs comprising 80s J-Pop hits, playing into its laidback atmosphere. 

While an omakase dining experience can often feel slightly intimidating due to its elegance, Kissajin creates a sense of comfort with its ample space and its use of natural materials in its interior.

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Kissajin’s zen-like interior. Photo: Gaelmaine Hoong/HungryGoWhere

Simplicity is the key to its menu

The menu is curated by head chef Ryo Yamaguchi and executive chef Makoto Saito. 

A seven-course lunch will set you back S$68, while an eight-course dinner would cost S$98 – a reasonable amount considering that the menu is refreshed quarterly so consumers get the freshest, in-season ingredients. 

However, if you are looking to be blown away by distinctive and sophisticated dishes that use unorthodox ingredients, you may want to pay its sister restaurant, Jinhonten, a visit instead. 

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Grilled salmon is one of the current offerings on the lunch menu. Photo: Gaelmaine Hoong/HungryGoWhere

The most unconventional dish served was the goma tofu from playing the yoyo tsuri. The tofu is homemade and infused with a strong black sesame flavour. 

It’s similar to a burrata with a smooth exterior and firm, curd-like interior. When combined with the assorted seaweed and yuzu dressing it’s served with, you get a light but flavourful dish with soft and chewy textures. 

The most unconventional dish served was the goma tofu from playing the yoyo tsuri. The tofu is homemade and infused with a strong black sesame flavour. 

It’s similar to a burrata with a smooth exterior and firm, curd-like interior. When combined with the assorted seaweed and yuzu dressing it’s served with, you get a light but flavourful dish with soft and chewy textures. 

Kissajin_HungryGoWhere_yoyo tsuji goma tofu
Housemade goma tofu on top of assorted seaweeds, topped with yuzu dressing. Photo: Gaelmaine Hoong/HungryGoWhere

Yet the award for the most well-executed comfort dish was the chawanmushi, a Japanese-style steamed egg. It ticked all boxes – silky, smooth and bursting with umami flavours from the broth sitting on top. 

Kissajin_HungryGoWhere_chawanmushi and sando
The chawanmushi is served with a katsu pork sando and an egg sando. Photo: Gaelmaine Hoong/HungryGoWhere

At the bottom of the cup, there were bits of lotus to add some crunch to the dish, providing a contrasting mouthfeel that served only to emphasise the smoothness of the egg. 

A surprising close second was the cream anmitsu — a Japanese dessert bowl made of agar jelly and other toppings. This rendition is served with a small dollop of light and airy cream, with only a hint of sweetness. 

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Kissajin’s rendition of cream anmitsu features red bean and seasonal fruits such as pear, pineapples and oranges. Photo: Gaelmaine Hoong/HungryGoWhere

When eaten with the sweet azuki bean paste, seasonal fruits and brown sugar syrup, we got a refreshing dessert that was sweet with a tinge of acidity from the oranges. 

 

Book a ride to Kissajin. 

Kissajin

Shaw Centre, 01-11, 1 Scotts Road
Nearest MRT station: Orchard 
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm) 

Shaw Centre, 01-11, 1 Scotts Road
Nearest MRT station: Orchard 
Open: Monday to Sunday (12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm) 


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Gael comes from a family of picky eaters and she also likes to talk a lot. So, writing about food seems like a reasonable pastime for her.

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