Published in Travel Sri Lanka magazine, May 2004.
By Laurie Ashton
After walking through the gate at Sakura Japanese Restaurant, if you look to your right, you’ll see a bench surrounded by greenery. To your left, there’s a bridge in a miniature Japanese garden. Already, I feel myself relaxing as we leave the city behind. We walk into the restaurant where customers are greeted in Japanese, adding to an authentic Japanese experience.
After passing the sushi bar, decorated with Japanese lanterns and Japanese artwork, we’re brought to one of several smaller rooms. We take off our shoes, climb onto the tatami mats, and seat ourselves on cushions at the traditional low table. The walls look of the traditional rice paper set in wood frames and overhead were paper lanterns.
Sakura came into being because the owner spent years in Japan and fell in love with it. He became a cook there, and decided he wanted to give Japanese tourists in Sri Lanka an authentic experience.
Sakura’s has been in operation for twenty-two years with about 90% of its customers being Japanese tourists. They’re frequently sent by travel agents who are aware of Sakura’s reputation, and the Japanese come to Sakura for a leisurely traditional Japanese meal, often staying for hours and forgetting they’re even outside their home country.
All staff are Sri Lankan. How, then, do they get such an authentic ambience and taste? Every year, the cooks are sent to Japan for training to keep current with new Japanese trends, and anyone who interacts with customers take Japanese language lessons.
Looking through the menu, I appreciated the layout – pictures of all the dishes were clearly labeled in both Japanese and English, and on the back, there were descriptions of each dish – a definite plus with foreign food! Everything looked so good and the menu was so extensive, I had a difficult time deciding what to order.
Choices included Suna Mono – vinegared cucumber and prawn salad (Rs. 190), Buta Noshoga Yaki – grilled pork with ginger sauce (Rs. 290), Kani Kora Age – backed crabs (Rs. 340), Yosi Nabe – chicken, seafood, and vegetable in hot Japanese soup (Rs. 460), and Suki-Yaki – prime beef and fresh vegetables in Japanese sauce (Rs. 440). There’s something for everyone.
My dining companion and I ordered Chicken Katsu – Batter Fried Chicken Fillet With Vegetable Salad (Rs. 390), Tamago Yaki – Rolled Japanese Egg Omelette (Rs. 160), Mizo Shiru – Japanese Miso Soup (Rs. 90), Tempura – Battered Fried Prawns & Vegetables (Rs. 360), Beef Katsu Don – Deep Fried Beef on Rice (Rs. 360), and assorted sushi and sashimi.
The Chicken Katsu was crisp and crunchy with tender chicken on the inside. The Mizo Shiru is simplicity at its finest and everything I’ve come to expect in miso soup. The tempura was crunchy, and the prawns were easily the largest I’ve ever had and flavorful to boot with a sweet dipping sauce that was the perfect accompaniment. The Beef Katsu Don was tender with a sweetish taste that complemented the beef. Each dish had its own distinct flavor, yet went well with the other dishes. I was in heaven!
We also had assorted sushi and sashimi. I’ve been craving sushi for months, and this hit the spot perfectly!
I, the nervous foreigner, asked about how the fish was stored and handled, and how safe was it to eat? After all, this is raw fish we’re talking about, and I think it’s reasonable to have concerns. The manager of the restaurant, Gamini Priyashantha, assured me that the fish is purchased daily directly off the fishing boats and it’s used that day. Mr. Priyashantha also stated that, in the 22 years the restaurant has been operating, there hasn’t been even one complaint. I feel much better.
I was reluctant to eat the sashimi, which included mullet, cuttlefish, shrimp, and salmon – eating raw fish seems a little strange to my Western palate. I’d had it a few times before, and for me, it’s an acquired taste and texture that I hadn’t yet acquired. But this time? I’m getting used to eating raw fish – I found the sashimi splendid, very fresh and flavorful, and I enjoyed every bite. I can understand why Sakura’s is so famous for their sashimi.
It’s obvious that a lot of effort goes into making this restaurant as authentic as is possible outside of Japan itself, and it’s equally obvious that it works.
Prices are reasonable, the ambience is relaxing and comfortable, and the food was excellent and everything I’ve come to expect in Japanese food. This is one restaurant I’ll be visiting again and again.
Sakura Japanese Restaurant
14 Rheinland Place
Colombo 3
Telephone: 573877, 074-515877
10% S/C and 10% VAT added to prices.
