Sake Bar Kushi [Japanese]

I have been meaning to try Sake Bar Kushi (also known as Kushi Izakaya) since they first opened but never made it due to it's not so ideal location. Last weekend, I was so lucky to be invited to try their new and improved menu and I was more than thrilled to oblige.

As we walk in, we immediately felt in love with all the wooden booths and the long communal table in the middle with the sake bottles as dividers. The booths really gave dinner some privacy and the whole place was pretty quite unlike most izakaya.

Always love izakaya menu, love the square format. Here's the sake list and there's quite a bit of variety with different price point. Quite a few of my faves available.

Spinach Gomaae

~ blanched spinach w/ sesame sauce

Love how this had just the perfect amount of sauce/dressing and it was light a not overly salty. I must have tried so many places where it's drenched in overly salty sauce.This was perfect.

 Ebi Mayo

~ Deep Fried prawn served with mustard mayo sauce

Tasty but wish it was the whole shrimp with the shell still on. It's way more tastier.

 Draft Sake Shiboritate 180ml

Personally not my fave sake, will def choose something else

 Pork Belly & Chicken Leg Skewers 

~ one each w/ sea salt & terriyaki sauce

Have to say that we were both disappointed with these skewers, it was rather dry and bland. The one with the terriyaki sauce was a bit better since it gave them a bit of moisture and flavors.

Kodako Karaage

~ Deep Fried Baby Octopus served w/ chilli mayo

Love this, wish more restaurant would served these. Nothing better than deep fried dishes while drinking (^_^) Perfectly crispy thin batter with perfectly tender baby octopus.

Grilled Squid 

~ charcoal grilled squid with terriyaki sauce

You can definitely taste the difference when it's charcoal grilled and this was also perfectly cooked. So intense, full of that yummy charcoal smokey flavor.

 Cheese Okonomiyaki

Deliciously addictive, topped with huge amount of bonito flakes (Katsuobushi) and the perfectly crispy slightly burnt bottom.

 Bulgogi Ishiyaki Bibimbab

~ steamed rice with marinated beef and vegetable in sizzling stone bowl

Ben made the mistake of pouring all the sauce in at once and it was way too much. Unlike the Korean version, their sauce is less salty and a bit on the sour side.

 Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich

Instead of the usual cookie, they use thin steam boa which was very appropriate and gave it an Asian Japanese flare. But although I like the idea, I find that the bao lack the crunch that's much needed in an ice cream sandwich.

 Love the wooden menu with the big hardware.

 A big room at the back which is perfect for bigger group

Verdict:

Loved it, although we didn't like the skewers everything else was pretty perfect.

Will def come back to try the rest of the dishes and have some of my fave sake.

The service was more than perfect, all the staff was incredibly attentive, friendly & always had a big smile on their faces.

*** This meal was complimentary but opinions are my own ***