TV Times

TV Times

‘Kouchi’: Authentic Japanese
By Sanath Weerasuriya
Chinese restaurants , though they are just fried rice Chinese, have become a part of city life in Colombo. “Chines food” is now can be found in almost every street corner. But Japanese dishes are still not a hot favourite of Sri Lankan.

popular authentic Japanese Restaurant at Koswatta, Battaramula,was inaugurated in April 2001 as the first branch of the oldest Japanese Restaurant in Colombo “Sakura’.Other than for the Japanese living in Sri Lanka, ‘Kouchi’ family restaurant has become the most attracted Japanese restaurant outside Colombo among the Sri Lankan culinary hunters.

Kouchi emblem, long tailed cock is the logo of Kouchi (Thosa) city in Japan. The location of the restaurant is by the new Colombo-Kandy road at Koswatta junction in Battaramulla, very close to the Parliament complex.

Though it is a Japanese speciality restaurant, Chinese cuisine was also introduced to the place from last year. Coming under the same management as “Kinjou Chinese Restaurant”in Colombo ,Chinese dishes were introduced giving its customers a great choice of authentic Japanese and Chinese cuisines under the same roof in a fully air-conditioned and attractive environment.

As you enter you will be greeted in Japanese and will be shown to the table or thathami by stewardess. After letting the guest refresh with a cold towel, colourful menus, with photos of all dishes, will be handed to the guest.

There are 66 traditional Japanese dishes listed in the menu including Sashimi (raw fish), Tempura (Batter fried prawns and vegetable.), Yakitori (grilled chicken), Teriyaki (pan fried seer fish in soy sauce), Sushi (vinegared rice with sea weeds), Sukiyaki (fried beef and veg. in Japanese sauce), Inarisushi (vinegared rice with bean curd) and Kani tofu irdashi (crabmeat bean curd).

There are 42 Chinese dishes are available on Chinese menu including crabs, prawns, fish, pork and almost all meat items. “Kouchi” is a tourist board approved A grade restaurant with a well stocked bar serving all international spirits and cocktails with Japanese favourites Sake as well.

The chef A. H .M. Y. B. Abeyrathna and sushi chef H.V.A.Upul are the two men behind all the authentic Japanese and Chinese food. This is a spacious restaurant with a Sushi bar of 20 counter chairs, with 4 special thathami rooms and two rooms with long tables on the ground floor and the first floor can accommodate 110 pax facilitating to host any type of private parties.

Kouchi is open from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm for lunch and 6.00 to 10.30 pm for dinner. Kouchi will be opening a branch in Nuwara Eliya very soon. The managers of the restaurant are Kamantha Perera.and G.M.Gamini Priyashantha.

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