Ginza on the Edge – Authentic Japanese food with a serene view

Colombo’s well loved and well known Japanese restaurant, Ginza Hohsen, (formally at the Hilton Colombo) is now located at the Waters Edge in Battaramulla. The serene 180-Degree view of the surrounding water and lush greenery make it the perfect setting for that soothing and tranquil dining experience.

Apart from the location, nothing much has changed at Ginza. The menu, the staff including Chef Karu, Mahinda Weerasinghe, Manager and Richard Balasuriya, Chairman/Managing Director, Ginza on the Edge, as well as the high standard of food remains intact. The restaurant boasts of a Private Dining (Tatami) area, a Sushi and Sashimi Bar, a Teppanyaki counter, as well as a Yakitori Bar (which will be coming soon).

What Ginza has always maintained is a truly authentic Japanese dining experience. Yes, Battaramulla is quite far from Colombo, especially with the crazy Colombo traffic, but once you get to the hotel, you realise that it is all well worth it as you are instantly transported to a relaxed state of mind.

My experience at Ginza started with the amazing, Dynamite Maki which consists of Spicy Tuna Maki inside and coated with these bright orange jewels, that of Flying Fish Eggs! I loved the crunch of the Flying Fish Eggs and how it complimented the spicy tuna and the sticky vinegar rice. The Dynamite Maki is unique to the menu at Ginza and so is the Tuna Avocado Maki. As the name suggests, it consists of fresh tuna and avocado. The bright green of the avocado and the reddish hue of the tuna make this roll aesthetically pleasing and it tastes fantastic too! If you love your Sashimi, like me, then their Sashimi Platter consisting of fresh Tuna, Salmon, White Fish, Octopus, Crab Sticks and Sweet Prawns will be just right for you.

I was quite excited to try out something from their Yakitori Bar, namely the Chicken Skewer. This dish is essentially chicken and leaks grilled and topped with Teriyaki Sauce.  The soft chicken and the crunchy leeks infused with the tangy sweet Teriyaki Sauce was a sheer delight. I’d suggest you have this with some of their mouth watering Garlic Rice. This sticky rice dish, made with Jasmine Rice, has so much flavour and compliments the chicken to perfection.

If I think about it, there is very little I don’t enjoy, when it comes to Japanese food, and another of my favourites is Tempura. This light crispy batter goes with pretty much anything and what I was served at Ginza had the juiciest of prawns, cuttlefish and vegetables which included pumpkin and eggplant, just to name a few. These crunchy delights were accompanied with the usual, grated radish and ginger as well as the light Tempura Sauce.

My experience didn’t stop there! Two yummy desserts were up next that of the more traditional Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream as well as Ice Cream and Fruits. The latter was not your ordinary ice cream and fruits but a light and colourful combination of fresh fruit, Japanese moss jelly cubes, red beans topped with a scoop each of Vanilla and Strawberry ice cream. Firstly, it was so pretty to look at and secondly it was so light and not overly sweet, making it the perfect way to end my dining experience at Ginza on the Edge.

Ginza on the Edge is open right through the week from 11am to 11pm.

Ratings:

Variety of dishes: 5 stars
Friendliness of staff: 5 stars
Value for money: 5 stars
Cleanliness (Restrooms and Restaurant): 5 stars
Parking: 5 stars

By Natasha Fernandopulle
Pics by Kanishke Ganewatte