Café Nihonbashi is an offshoot of Nihonbashi, the defining Japanese culinary experience of Sri Lanka founded by Dharshan Munidasa. Located at my new favourite place in town, the Promenade at ODEL, Café Nihonbashi has done justice to the brand, retaining a fair amount of what we have come to know and revere as the best Japanese in Colombo. 

A much more casually inclined affair, the restaurant combines the best of many worlds in its compound and serves up a storm whether it’s midday or dinner that you happen to visit for. Perhaps one of the best features of the location is the ability to mix and match cuisine for a small group in case some are not particularly feeling like Japanese food. Alexandra and Ward is also placed at the same compound and serves some of the best café mainstays, bespoke burgers and a range of authentic Neapolitan pizza. 

1. Chicken Gyoza (Dumplings)
I’ve come to know that Dumplings are a personal favourite of many people, so if you’re one of them, Café Nihonbashi is your lucky place. The Gyoza is chicken filled and served fresh from the kitchens of Nihonbashi. From what I’m told, the supply is limited, and the dumplings are prepared on the same day. The dish is served on its own or as part of a set, whichever you prefer. 

2. Temaki
The hand rolled sushi is not quite as commonplace in Sri Lanka as it should be, but Café Nihonbashi does an interesting personalization of it that should be tried out. Customers can custom-make their hand-rolled sushi by selecting three ingredients in three categories. The first category of mains offers a selection of Salmon, Prawn, Grilled Cuttlefish, Tuna, Crab Stick and Grilled Chicken. The second category - Veg offers a range of Lettuce, Radish, Avocado, Cucumber and Green Pepper. The final selection is the type of Mayo from Teri Mayo, Chillie Mayo, Kimchi Mayo, Wasabi Mayo and Ketchup Mayo. Mixing and matching the Temaki is not just fun but a treat for the taste buds. 

3. Shake No Aburi Sushi
If you want to form a mental image of the Shake No Aburi Sushi, imagine – straight up Nigiri topped with Norwegian Salmon served in twos and blow torch the fat trimmings. Yep, I said blowtorch. Pitched as an ideal introduction to sushi, the dish is not just impressive in the presentation but also an experience in itself for the foodie and Japanese culinary enthusiast. 

4. Tuna Salad Maki
For anyone with a love for the classics, Café Nihonbashi serves a select range of favourites including the Tuna Salad Maki. Unsurprisingly, the familiar taste is still a standard and a favourite.  The selection of Sushi rolls at Nihonbashi spans from Tekka (Tuna), Crab, Shake (Salmon), Kappa (Cucumber) and Chicken. Palatable and reminiscent to me of my introduction to Japanese food, a while back at the Nihonbashi then housed in the ODEL shopping complex, it was good to know that not much has changed except for the location.

5. Tori Kotsu Ramen (Chicken Bone Ramen) 
The culinary equivalent of a trump card, the Chicken Ramen served at Café Nihonbashi is distinctive on a number of accounts, the first of which is that the dish claims the title of being South Asia’s only Chicken Ramen. A staple item on the Nihonbashi menu since 1995, the Tori Kotsu Ramen draws from Japan’s soul to deliver an authentic yet delightfully unique rendition of the more conventional Pork based Ramen in a Chicken based variant. 
A treat for anyone with a taste for Ramen, the dish is served with a Soy base, fresh noodles, egg and chicken bathed in the slow-cooked and reduced chicken bone broth. 

6. Onigiri
An interesting presentation of the much-loved Nigiri, Onigiri is a ball of rice presented in seaweed with a filling of choice.  What I imagine is suitable to be a main for a quick lunch; the item is not just filling but filled in generously, mixing wonderfully with Soy Sauce. 

7. Edamame 
Not a big fans of beans, but I was lucky enough to have visited with a friend who was. In between her excitement and going through the beans (no pun), she was kind enough to tell me that the Edamame beans are difficult to source and from her reaction to them, seemingly something of a delicacy. For any Edamame fans, Café Nihonbashi stocks a well-sourced stock of them and serves them cold with home baked sea salt. 

By Dilshan Writes