Sushi / Japanese Restaurants in Capetown

So sushi is extremely popular in Cape Town. Who would have known! Almost all restaurants offer it, most commonly as an appetizer.

As a sushi snob, I found that the quality of the sushi is not as good as you would get in the U.S. or Asia. The fish is very fresh, but the cuts are not done right. Here's a brief review in general of the restaurants I ate at. If you only have a few days in Cape Town, don't bother with the sushi. Anyway I don't think Cape Town is known for its sushi.


Tank Review
This restaurant is in the recently developed Cape Quarter. It has several restaurants situated in a courtyard and the ambience is nice on a summer's evening.

Tank was more about being seen then the food. The restaurant is interestingly decorated with large fish tanks at the front of the restaurant. The food was somewhat expensive and average. We should have tried one of the other restaurants in the courtyard instead.



The Tank Restaurant | Sushi Bar
Cape Quarter, Cape Town
Phone: 021 419 0007

Benkei Sushi Review
I found this description on Oaktreelodge website.

"In fact, on his recent trip to South Africa, world-renowned chef, Nobu Matsuhisa, rated Benkei Cape Town as one of the top Japanese restaurants in town. Benkei is well supported and very popular amongst lovers of Japanese cuisine. "

They must be kidding right? Anyway I suppose it is "best" in Cape Town and Nobu is rather last year. We went to Benkei it was really just OK. The restaurant wasn't very crowded. I had the chirashi and some sushi. There is also a sushi buffet some evenings if that is your thing.

Benkei Sushi
Shop 3
Paramount Place
105 Main Road
Greenpoint
8001

Minato Japanese Restaurant Review
This warrants a longer discussion. Click on the link for my review.


Willoughby & Co.
This restaurant at the V&A waterfront has gotten some raves for its sushi. I haven't tried it so I can't really comment.

Las Vegas Restaurant Reviews

Bouchon
Jean Philippe Patisserie

Vegas Eats - Jean Philippe Patisserie Review

Where: Las Vegas Strip! (Bellagio)

I really wanted to go to Bouchon Bakery (Venetian) again for breakfast but found Jean Philippe Patisserie (Bellagio Hotel/Casino) on Yelp. Since it was closer and very highly rated (4.5) we headed there instead. As with all things Vegas, the setting was more ostentatious than elegant ...



I was certainly not disappointed with the offerings however! Check out the spread.



The patisserie offers a variety of breads, coffee, and crepes made to order. We ordered a Bananas Foster Crepe, Caramel Macchiato, and a Nutella Brioche.

All three were decadently delicious! The crepes were well cooked, the batter was light, and it did not come out too thick. The brioche was buttery and chock full of nutella. The caramel macchiato was really expensive ($6!) but at least it was good with some frothy milk at the top, or so I try to tell myself.



Sadly, I have some disappointing news. Gorgeous as the cakes look, I didn't end up trying any. BOOOOOO. Here's why, the cakes were displayed in the back of the shop and I didn't see them till after I'd ordered :( After consuming the above 3 item with enough sugar to make me diabetic I decided to pass on the cake till later in the day.

Anyway you guessed it, we didn't have time to make it back for the cakes. I guess another trip back to Vegas is in order!

Chomp Meter:
Jean Philippe's is worth a trip if you are in Vegas. Almost everyone stops by the Bellagio right? There's the cool fountains in front ... I hate to admit it but the fountains are quite spectacular (even if it performs to Celine Dion's "Heart Will Go On" :P Eeeeps ... )

Jean Philippe Patisserie
Bellagio
3600 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 693-7111

Bouchon Review - Las Vegas

Where: Las Vegas!

Since I haven't yet been able to score French Laundry reservations, Bouchon will have to do. If you don't already know, Bouchon is also owned by Thomas Keller.

Bouchon is at the Venetian (Hotel / Casino) and is tucked away in a rather obscure corner. Hard to find if you aren't staying at the hotel. The restaurant was only serving items from the Brunch Menu when we got there in the afternoon.



Here's what we ordered. Some of the Bouchon photos are from our Vegas trip last year. We were feeling rather uninspired this time and as you know searching for a good restaurant requires quite a bit of effort and trawling the web. Bouchon was a known quantity and so we decided to head there again. Boring I know!

Garlic Soup (L) Crab Salad (R)


Steak Frites


Tartine du Tuna


Oysters and Mussels (L) Croque Madame (R)


Chomp Meter:
Clearly, I don't mind going there again seeing that I've been twice! The food is consistently good and well executed, though it's not particularly spectacular. OK value for money however bearing in mind that things in Vegas are a tad overpriced. Oh yes, and not forgetting the yummy fries (as seen on No Reservations)!

Bouchon
(Venetian)
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 414-6200

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco
Cheung Hing Chinese Restaurant(Inner Sunset)

East Bay
Korea House (Concord)


South Bay
Liou's Gourmet Chinese Restaurant (Milpitas)

All South Africa Restaurant Reviews

The comprehensive list is below. Or you can view restaurants sorted by location: Camps Bay, Kloof Street, Long Street, V&A Waterfront
, Winelands

Cape Town Restaurants
Benkei Sushi (Green Point)
Bukhara Indian Restaurant (Downtown)
Cafe Paradiso (Kloof Street)
Jimmy's Killer Prawns (Seapoint and Kloof Street)
Mama Africa (Long Street)
Manna Epicure (Kloof Street)
Minato Japanese Restaurant and Sushi (City Bowl)
Nando's Chicken (Camps Bay and Sea Point)
News Cafe (Various locations)
Ocean Basket (V&A Waterfront)
One Waterfront (V&A Waterfront)
Tank Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar (Cape Quarter - Gardens area)
The Cod Father (Camps Bay)
Vida E Caffe (Various locations)

Winelands Restaurants
Le Petite Ferme (Franchoek)
Moyo (Stellenbosch)
Reuben's (Franchoek)

Others
Cape Farmhouse Restaurant (Cape Point)


Sunset at Camps Bay, Cape Town