The return of bento boxes, sushi delights and more
A feast of delicate Japanese flavours and below, the renovated restaurant. Pix by M.D. Nissanka
After a long hiatus, you can finally get your lunchtime bento boxes and satisfy those sushi cravings at Ikoi Tei once again!
The much loved restaurant, located right at the entrance of Dutch Hospital, closed its doors for renovations in April 2019. After almost a year out of commission, they will be open to the public on March 17 and will operate on Tuesdays through to Sundays for both lunch and dinner (closed on Mondays).
Ikoi Tei is known for its relaxed atmosphere and its delicious food, and is a popular lunch spot for the working crowd around the Fort area. Whether you’d like to enjoy a good meal with friends, or host a working lunch in their private dining space, the quiet charm of Ikoi Tei will suit your needs.
Japanese Chef Hikaru Takahashi and his expert team also took this opportunity to present their new style — combining the simple, traditional Japanese flavours and cooking methods with a modern-style presentation. The modern twist keeps the menu vibrant and exciting without losing the core flavours that make it great.
Chef Takahashi has also created his own signature soy sauce, aged for four years. “Aged soy sauce is like good old wine. Wine needs to age to get the full flavour out of it, so we’ve done the same with the soy sauce,” says Executive Chef of Hilton Colombo Robert Mujagic. The rich, salty, umami flavour of the sauce, makes it the perfect addition to almost any dish on the menu.
The menu itself is quite extensive, with over 90 dishes available to choose from including five new ones. Ikoi-Tei is particularly known for their meal sets that are filling while eliminating the sluggishness that comes after a heavy meal. They offer a wide selection of bento boxes, set meals, sushi sets, donburi sets and teppanyaki sets — with meat, seafood and vegetable options available.
For an appetiser, the Agedashi Tofu is a great way to begin your meal. The tofu is cloud-soft, while the miso broth packs a flavour punch. For something a little heavier to start with, the Assorted Tempura has a satisfying crispness to it. If you’re a sushi lover, the menu offers a wide variety of sushi, nigiri and sashimi, using ingredients so fresh you can taste the clean flavours.
If you’re willing to mix and match your dishes, the fragrant Garlic Rice pairs well with the teriyaki options. The Teriyaki Seer and Teriyaki Chicken in particular are more delicate than you might think, with perfectly balanced and subtle flavours. The use of the signature soy sauce in the sauces, broths and marinades in most dishes certainly elevated them to even greater heights.
Explore Ikoi Tei’s extensive food and drinks menu from March 17 onwards.