There’s a new addition to Cambridge’s food and drink scene! Kibou is a small chain of contemporary Japanese restaurants with a menu inspired by the eclectic streets of Tokyo. Cambridge is Kibou’s fifth location after Cheltenham, Clifton, Solihull and Battersea.

Kibou has made itself right at home in the historic University Pitt Club building on Jesus Lane (bye bye Pizza Express). It launched in mid-August 2023 and it’s been a hit from the get-go! I was there to celebrate the grand opening and get a sneak peek at the menu and opulent interiors. I recently returned to enjoy the full experience of a leisurely dinner.

Their extensive menu features sushi and sashimi sharing platters, A5 grade wagyu, tempura, gyoza, bao, ramen and a range of other classic and contemporary Japanese dishes.

It’s worth noting that Kibou work with sustainable fish suppliers. Their salmon is sourced from the Loch Duart small scale fishery in Scotland that practices Ikejime, the traditional Japanese method of killing fish quickly and humanely. Their tuna is pole and line caught and their yellowtail comes from recognised sustainable suppliers in the Indian Ocean.

The bar offers a selection of Japanese whisky and sake along with Japanese brewed beers, highballs and signature Japanese inspired cocktails.

The whole place oozes sumptuousness and elegance, without being pretentious. The restaurant is divided into various areas, each with its own chilled vibe, striking artwork and individualised decor.

The magnificent dining areas include the bright Mirror Room with its pillars, cherry blossom trees and reflective murals, as well as the sumptuous Oak Room with its reddish hues, digital animations and wisteria.

There is a laid back cocktail lounge / more casual dining area for drinks by the standalone bar and views of the open sushi and hot kitchen.

Even the loos are beautifully decorated. I couldn’t resist a bathroom selfie!

For our dinner, we were seated in the Mirror Room. Staff were friendly, welcoming and happy to provide further information on the dishes and drinks. There is a lot to choose from!

We started off with drinks: I had their Signature cocktail “The Kibou”, made with gin, bergamot, lychee liqueur, rose vermouth, bitters, lime, sugar. It’s served in an impossibly tall glass!

Paulo ordered Akashi-Tai Honjozo Tokubetsu sake, served warm. There is the choice for it to be served cold.

From the “Sharers” menu, we enjoyed a parade of delicious dishes made with fresh, high quality ingredients:

Ika Furai (Japanese 7 spice fried squid with sriracha mayo).

Takoyaki (Osaka street food batter balls with a small piece of octopus in the centre, tonkatsu sauce, sriracha mayo and bonito flakes).

From the “Bao Buns” menu, we ordered three different bao with these fillings: Dynamite Prawns with miso sweet chilli sauce, Marinated Duck with teriyaki sauce, and Chicken Karaage with sriracha mayo. All were filled with finely sliced raw cabbage and served with beni shōga.

The “Mixed Platters” featured various combinations of sushi, sashimi and rolls, including a vegetarian option. We chose the Salmon Zukushi mixed platter with 4 salmon sashimi, 4 salmon nigiri, 4 salmon & avocado california rolls.

From “Kibou Signatures” we enjoyed the Volcano Roll (10 piece futomaki, salmon, avocado & tobiko, dipped in tempura batter, fried and drizzled with special KIBOU sauces).

We’re glad we saved room for their desserts. The Yuzu Cheesecake (yuzu curd topped mascarpone cheesecake with a classic biscuit base) was heavenly. Paulo enjoyed it with a proper espresso.

I went for the decadent Japanese Garden, a chocolate ganache topped with sesame mousse and finished with chocolate soil.

There’s some exciting news! Kibou have just added a Japanese-inspired Afternoon Tea to their menu, which I will definitely be checking out sooner than later.

Kibou is a great place to celebrate a special occasion, enjoy date night or meet up with friends. There’s definitely a sense of occasion about going to this fabulous restaurant. Booking is highly recommended.

AD – PR INVITE: I was invited for a complimentary dinner for two. I did not receive compensation for my review. All views are my own.

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