Fine Japanese Dining at Kyo-Sakura, Shunyi

I took a trip to Euro Plaza this week, for the first time in a while. It was 11.45am and I was ready for an early lunch. What I was really craving was sushi. I’ve heard a lot of great stuff about Kyo-Sakura Japanese restaurant, so I decided to give it a try. Sandwiched between Costa Coffee and Starbucks, it’s in a prominent position on the ground floor of the shopping mall. You have a choice of dining inside the bright and very comfortable restaurant, or out on the terrace. I opted for inside, to escape the lingering summer heat, and chose a table beside the open plan kitchen. Wait staff were polite and very efficient. 

There’s a choice of two menus, the lunch sets and the main menu. Lunch sets include tempura, sashimi, sushi, pork cutlet, and chicken teriyaki. Sets include soup, rice, salad, and pickled vegetables and are good value at RMB 88-108. There’s a children’s set too for RMB 58, plus a range of grilled dishes, sashimi, tempura, sushi, and plenty of sea urchin. Tempura is a weakness of mine, so without hesitation I ordered the shrimp tempura. At RMB 40 for two pieces I had high expectations. Those expectations were not only met, they were exceeded. The tempura pieces were huge, with a crisp and incredibly light batter enveloping two perfectly cooked shrimp. I was in tempura heaven, only wishing I’d ordered more.

Sushi rolls include California, tempura shrimp, eel, and a duck liver parfait (RMB 68-88). The salmon and mango roll incorporated soft avocado, crab, and shredded radish, rolled and topped with smoked salmon, mango, and roe. The salmon was delicately flavored, and the thin slice of mango gave the roll a wonderfully fresh and light taste. Looking at other dishes the chefs were putting out, presentation is very impressive, with a real attention to detail.

Kyo-Sakura
1/F Euro Plaza, 99 Yuxiang Road, Shunyi District (8046 1397/1398, 138 1187 2809)

This article first appeared on our sister site beijingkids.

Photos: Sally Wilson