Visiting the Holiday Inn & Suites is always a comforting experience, as the hotel is deeply entrenched within the fabric of local society. You always feel like you’ve come home after a trip abroad, only to be deeply spoiled at their enticing dining outlets. Here at bazaar, we’ve always been longtime fans of Sakura at Holiday Inn & Suites for our fix of authentic and delectable Japanese and Asian fare. This is why we were elated when we were invited to experience the all-new Sakura at the iconic hotel. We couldn’t wait to see the restaurant’s new look and to sample some of the new additions to their beloved menu.
Walking into the new Sakura at Holiday Inn & Suites in Salmiya is a sight to behold. The decor is extremely zen-filled, you instantly feel like you’ve stepped into an oasis of calm amid the always bustling Salmiya. A pristine Bonsai tree greets you as the space’s grand centerpiece, and right behind it is the Teppanyaki Bar, where diners may choose to sit to observe all the culinary action. Following a minimalist, wabi-sabi aesthetic, organic elements surround you, from stone to bamboo throughout the restaurant, grounding us and mentally guiding us to appreciate the foray of flavors we were soon to enjoy. We also loved how the natural light floods the entire space, thanks to its well-picked location next to the hotel’s gardens. We especially appreciated the wall art of stone chopsticks, and the special private dining cabins, fashioned after authentic Japanese dining rooms.
Sakura is not just all about serving us fresh and handmade sushi since the early 90s, as its menu boasts an impressive expression of both Japanese and Asian dining. They’ve always offered the very best in the art of sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki, and perhaps some of Kuwait’s tastiest Teriyaki specialties! The reason behind this iconic establishment’s lasting success is credited to its dedication to only using fresh ingredients, and retaining the most masterful chefs in town to always deliver a consistently delicious and unforgettable experience. If you’ve always trekked to Sakura at 360 Mall or the Crowne Plaza Hotel, then you will revel in this special Salmiya destination at Holiday Inn & Suites Kuwait.
Our experience begins with a theatrical performance of our chosen beverages at our table. We got lucky and opted for a beautiful, sun-filled table by the windows. Choosing to pair our Japanese fare with vibrant Mojitos, we deeply appreciated the love and care presented in the preparation of our delicious Strawberry and Passionfruit Mojitos.
We started with a classic, beloved Kani Mango Salad, and loved the crunch of carrots and green mango alongside the morish crab sticks, all balanced out with a fragrant creamy coriander dressing.
Appetizers are always aplenty at Sakura, with classic favorites like the Rock Shrimps, Seafood Gyoza, and Edamame making regular appearances on our orders. However this time, we decided to try their new Crispy Tuna Tartare (also available in Salmon) alongside the Panko Baby Corn. We adored the tartare. Three pristine cuts of sushi rice are topped with mixed and chopped fresh tuna, fired up with sriracha, fresh spring onions, and sesame oil, garnished with purple shiso. As for the baby corn, who doesn’t love a good tempura? We loved the special spicy sauce that accompanied this appetizer, we couldn’t get enough and we know this will be a quick favorite with little Sakura diners.
We then delved into Sakura’s finest fresh fish selections. Enter the world of Sushi and Usuzukuri. Their new Hamachi Usuzukuri features a vibrant, thinly sliced yellowtail topped with ponzu sauce, spring onion, and Japanese chili. The ponzu here cut through the richness of the yellowtail. Not to be missed! Classic Temaki also features on the menu, but of course, one cannot ignore Sakura’s special Maki. With enticing flavor combinations, there are plenty of options to choose from. However, we settled on the Muma Maki, the colorful Fuji Maki, and the sultry Caramel Maki from the House Rolls.
For the Muma Mki, the creaminess of the avocado perfectly balanced out the chopped tempura, crab, and crunchy spring onions. The Caramel Maki is always a hit as we can’t get enough of the caramelized crispy crabstick, and well for the Fuji Maki, the color of the beautiful fish alone makes us feel like we’ve traveled to Japan!
You can also opt for Sakura Platters when dining in a group, choosing between a salmon-only platter for Salmon lovers, Sakura Lovers Platter, and the Spicy Lovers platters for those who appreciate a feisty kick to their sushi rolls. For bigger gatherings, Sakura also has a masterful array of platters to choose from!
But we were in for more theatre at Sakura, especially when it came to the performance of the incredible Beef Teppanyaki. Prepared using succulent US Wagyu Beef Tenderloin, we loved watching the iron griddle get fired up and seeing the chefs at Sakura do what they do best! Served with grilled vegetables, the Teppanyaki here is always a delight! There are also specialties like marinated beef Yaki, and the new Chicken Katsu, but the kid-friendly portion! Kiddos also get to enjoy new Noodles, such as a creamy rendition as well as a more classic Tonkatsu sauce version. For the big kids (that’s us) we can revel in the new Beef Curry Ramen!
For dessert, we ended our Asian feast with a delicate, authentic Mochi ice cream plate in various flavors, including vanilla, strawberry, and lovely matcha! It’s safe to say that we are delighted with the new Sakura at Holiday Inn Kuwait, and we can’t wait to go back.
Find Sakura at The Holiday Inn & Suites Kuwait in Salmiya. Make sure to follow them on Instagram @HolidayInnKw. For the latest on Sakura, head to @sakura_kuwait on Instagram and please call 1847 777 for reservations.
