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I have been looking forward to this one for a while! I was kindly invited to a VIP event for the grand opening of ‘Kibou, Japanese Kitchen & Bar’ in Cambridge.

Kibou is a Japanese restaurant that offers contemporary Japanese cuisine. Originally starting from a small basement in the Cotswolds, Kibou has quickly expanded to five locations across the country.

Kibou offers everything from sushi to bao buns, katsu curry to ramen, and even includes sake, Japanese whisky and beer. In other words, if it’s Japanese, they’ve got it!

All fish used at Kibou is sourced from ‘Loch Duart’, a small scale, sustainable fishery in Scotland. They practice a traditional Japanese method of harvesting fish called ‘Ikejime’, which they claim is more humane. Their tuna is ‘pole and line caught’ and their yellowtail is from recognised sustainable suppliers in the Indian Ocean. Everything is made to order and served straight from ‘kitchen to table’, giving you the reassurance that everything is fresh and as ethical as possible.

Kibou isn’t just about the food. It is also a chain well known for its bold, vibrant, and vivid interior, which proudly reflects Japanese culture. Having travelled across Japan myself, it reminded me of the traditional Japanese artwork with a modern stylish twist, often found walking through places like Harajuku.

In my opinion, Kibou is one of the most tasteful and uniquely decorated restaurants in the city and is a place that suits all occasions, whether that is eating with friends or having a romantic dinner.

The historic building itself is also gorgeous. Originally designed in 1863 with the intention of being a Victorian Roman bath house, I have always thought that this building was wasted as a Pizza Express and I am delighted to see it finally being used for something we can be proud of.

The evening started with a DJ playing live music with an open bar. This gave me a chance to sample some of the drinks we can expect on their menu in the future. Kirin Ichiban, a popular Japanese beer, was available. I was unable to confirm whether the wine was Japanese but Sake will also be on the menu.

The food was flowing from their bustling kitchen. Huge credit goes to the kitchen staff who were doing a superb job making sure that there was enough for everyone. They were working really hard and didn’t stop all evening! It was also reassuring to see the kitchen in full view.

There was a wide selection of sushi and other bite sized treats to sample. I must admit, I struggled to keep up with what it was eating, as there was so much going around but their signature ‘sirloin beef tatki’ particularly stood out. Another thing that caught my eye was deep fried sushi, something I have never heard of before. If I am honest, I couldn’t quite make up my mind on it. It tasted ok but had a more chewy texture. Everything else was delicious and presented really well.

The waiting staff were amazing! There was a real enthusiasm and energy about them that you don’t always find while dining out. It was great to see and everyone did a marvellous job. A big shout out to the lady who let me sneak a few extra off her plate! 🤣

We ended the evening with a ceremonial ‘kagami-biraki’ or smashing open of the sake keg. This was managed by Scott Paine, artisan sake producer from Akashi Tai. Once the keg was cracked open with the wooden mallets, the sake was then served to the guests. Sake can have a reputation for being quite sharp but this was the smoothest sakes I have ever had in my life. It was truly beautiful stuff!

The evening was a real success and a total blast! I can really tell that Kibou is going to be a huge credit to the Cambridge food scene. Even though there are a few other Japanese restaurants in the city, there is nowhere that offers such a unique experience quite like this. Inside and out, the building has such style and a character that perfectly reflects the dishes it is serving. My wife and I are already making plans to come back!

I really look forward to visiting again and completing a more in depth review of the menu!

Thanks for reading!