Kiyomi

We had dinner here last night, and ended up ordering a lot of dishes to share, everything was incredible. The food was genuinely amazing from start to finish. We started with the miso soup and temari sushi, and the tuna tartar was honestly the best I’ve ever had, so full of flavour. The chicken dumplings were delicious, the shrimp & lobster rice rolls were great, and the vegetable tempura was really good too. We also loved the chicken teriyaki, the Korean beef, and the eggplant makhani, not a single dish disappointed. The team were all super friendly and welcoming, and the overall ambience was great. The only downside was the hostess, who felt like she was rushing us both when we arrived and again when we were leaving. Aside from that, it was a fantastic experience and I’d definitely recommend it.

Kiyomi is a truly unique restaurant for Zagreb. From the moment you enter, you get a sense of class and sophistication. The hostess welcomes you and guides you to the restaurant, which is tucked behind a screen and not visible from the entrance. The walk past the glass-enclosed kitchen allows you to see the chefs preparing food with meticulous precision. As for the food — there’s nothing to criticize. The Japanese and Asian cuisine is exceptional, with flawless presentation. The staff are professional and friendly, always with a smile. Dining at Kiyomi felt like a truly world-class experience, and I look forward to returning. My personal favorite was the Korean skewer with kimchi — absolutely outstanding.

Solid Japanese–Chinese fusion spot. After a few days of tasting menus, I was craving rice and dim sum, so I decided to see what a highly rated Asian restaurant in Eastern Europe looked like. It felt less touristy than the well-known ramen shop in the main square, though that didn’t automatically mean better food. Getting a seat without a reservation was tricky. At 8 p.m. on a Thursday, the dining room was packed (all the other popular Asian restaurants were also super busy). I eventually settled for a bar seat. Service was quick, though I did wish the bar faced the open kitchen instead of a wall. The glass-walled prep area was right behind me, and it would’ve added some energy to the experience. Food was a mix of Japanese/sushi and Chinese, and most of the popular dishes seemed to be the latter. Along with the chirashi don and an eel hand roll, I got the lobster chang feun and the dim sum. People who sat next to me raved about the chang feun, but I thought the lobster meat was a bit rubbery and its flavors weren’t all that interesting. The dim sum, on the other hand, was genuinely good. Juicy filling, nicely wrapped, and topped with cooked fish roe for a fun texture. The eel hand roll was fine, and the chirashi don was better than expected. Generous with the fish, and I liked the shrimp. It wasn’t the delicate botan ebi I’m used to, but something firmer, probably local, with an oddly satisfying chew. Perhaps not the best Asian restaurant in town, but if you’re craving Asian food in Zagreb, this is one of the better options to scratch that itch.