Kaiho Sushi Restaurant — A Japanese Chef’s Best Kept Secret

Tucked amidst a cluster of old buildings in a driveway off the Orchard area is a building called Cuppage Plaza — home to one of the best but low-key jewels of Singapore: Kaiho Sushi Restaurant. The building houses a number of karaoke/KTV bars and has that stuck-in-time air to the place.  However, let not the facade nor the ambiance get in the way of plates of thick slabs of melt-in-your-mouth sashimi.

My husband discovered this place  when I gave him a challenge to research and find very, VERY good sushi.  Singapore has a lot of them, actually but I can be extremely picky with the texture, taste and freshness of my raw fish.  Stumbling upon Kaiho has been the best find we’ve had thus far, thanks to Chef Bernard’s welcoming countenance and sought-after skill.  And one of our must-haves would be a plate (or two!) of this…

and this:

delectable maki with torched mayonaise stuffed with soft-shell crab and thick chunks of fresh tuna.

There is nothing fancy about this place, really.  In fact, it could look like any aged sushi bar in Tokyo.  The only things  missing are the low ceiling, the hazy lighting from cigarette smoke and men in black suits.  Nonetheless, three chefs have gone to Kaiho upon our recommendation (and left in a totally dreamy state!) — one of them happens to be the humble but lauded executive chef of a US-based celebrity restaurant.

My husband’s favorite is the juicy but fatty otoro (supreme tuna belly):

I don’t think the photo above needs much explanation, no?

Just look at that.

Too bad all we have for this post are iPhone pics 🙁

Chef Bernard is one generous sushi chef who does not scrimp on portions.   I’ve had sashimi in supposedly reputable restaurants that serve disappointingly scant pieces, or barely there slivers.

Also, what I like best about Kaiho is the taste of their hamachi (yellow tail/amberjack) which I typically don’t order in average restaurants as it could have that overly fishy taste you don’t want in your sashimi.

Another thing: what we would pay $70/head for in less-that-stellar restos, Kaiho can give even more for a starting price of $40/head.

If there is one this that Kaiho and all the Japanese restaurants in Cuppage can boast of, it’s the fact that it’s  where Japanese chefs of Singapore dine after work!

That in itself, I think, is the best affirmation any food establishment can hope for and definitely speaks volumes about the culinary treasures of Kaiho.

Note that the place is small so calling in for reservations might be wise: 6738 1315.   Kaiho Sushi Restaurant is located at 5 Koek Road, Cuppage Plaza, #03-01/02, Singapore 228796.

Itadakimasu! (Let’s eat!)