More Than Sushi: The Chisou Dishes Our Guests Love

When people think of Japanese food, sushi is often the first thing that comes to mind. At Chisou, it is certainly an important part of what we do, but Japanese cuisine extends far beyond the sushi counter.

Our menus are designed to showcase the breadth of Japanese cooking, from carefully grilled fish and tempura to comforting noodles, rice dishes and beautifully prepared meat. In fact, some of our most-loved dishes have nothing to do with sushi at all.

Here are a few of the dishes worth discovering on your next visit.

Black Cod Miso

A Japanese classic for very good reason. Black cod is rich, buttery and delicate, with the sweetness and depth of miso bringing out the natural flavour of the fish. It is one of those dishes that demonstrates just how much can be achieved with a few carefully chosen ingredients and a great deal of precision.

Wagyu Beef

For something a little more indulgent, our Wagyu is a favourite. Japanese cuisine has a wonderful ability to make the quality of an ingredient the centre of attention, and Wagyu is a perfect example. Rich, tender and full of flavour, it is a dish to savour slowly.

Tempura

Light, crisp and delicate, good tempura is all about technique. The batter should provide just enough crunch without overpowering what is inside. Our tempura selection is ideal for sharing, whether alongside sushi or as part of a meal in its own right.

Gyu Tataki

For meat lovers, Gyu Tataki offers a completely different experience. The beef is lightly seared, leaving the centre beautifully rare, before being served in thin slices. It is elegant, full of flavour and perfectly suited to the Japanese approach of allowing excellent ingredients to speak for themselves.

Udon

Sometimes the best Japanese dishes are the simplest. Udon offers something comforting and substantial, with thick, chewy noodles providing a satisfying contrast to a carefully balanced broth and accompanying ingredients.

It is also a reminder that Japanese dining isn't always about delicate pieces of fish. There is a wonderfully comforting side to Japanese cuisine too.

Braised Eel

Unagi, or freshwater eel, has a long history in Japanese cooking. Slowly cooked and paired with a sweet and savoury sauce, it has a rich, distinctive flavour that makes it particularly memorable.

Horenso Salad

Not every dish needs to be rich or elaborate. Horenso, Japanese spinach, makes a beautifully simple side dish and provides a fresh counterpoint to grilled dishes, tempura and richer flavours.

A Different Way to Experience Chisou

One of the best ways to enjoy Chisou is to forget the idea that a Japanese meal has to revolve around sushi.

Choose a few dishes from across the menu. Perhaps some tempura to share, Wagyu or Gyu Tataki for the table, Black Cod Miso or grilled fish, followed by udon or a rice dish. Add a little sushi if you fancy it — or don't.

Japanese dining is about balance, variety and sharing, and there is a whole world of dishes to discover beyond the sushi counter.

So next time you visit Chisou, take a look beyond the sushi menu. You might just discover a new favourite.