Kaiyo - Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Hamburg

Key take aways: Too expensive for the food (bad Quality/Price ratio), though food is overall good. Atmosphere : decent but a bit too dark Nice staff

Context: we went to this Japanese restaurant to get some nice meals and sushis during the evening (note: they have a lunch menus with nice deals but it is still expensive though).

The overall conclusion of this restaurant is that they want to make you feel like it is a premium / high-end restaurant, very chic and all the fancy stuff but for me the food was not as « high-end » as they want to sell to you.

I have tested many sushis around Europe (bad ones and excellent ones) and for the price, really this is a joke. Don’t get me wrong, the taste is good though, overall decent. But the price you pay for it is indecent.

We looked carefully at the menu and despite the price we wanted to give it a try (as we were also hungry).

As the sushis (even as menus) were too expensive in our opinion, we went for the ramen (see pictures). Overall they were good, the broth was nice, veggies were plentiful and the noodles also. But we were not amazed by the ramen. It was good, but for a very popular dish in Japan that normally costs around 9€ there, 8-10€ in Paris, and 12-14€ around Europe, we were a bit disappointed by the staggering 18€ asked.

As I really wanted to get a true feeling of the place and to check if the sushis were worth the price, i ordered two nigiris (see pictures).

The rice was well made, the vinegar as well was well seasoned and didn’t taste like a cheap sushi. The fish was fresh but the piece was so small that I couldn’t have the full flavor.

All in all, this is disappointing, everything is made to make you feel like a premium sushi place but the quantity and the prices are so off of what it is really that you get disappointed.

The atmosphere is also quite bizarre as they have these « rooms » that gives an intimate feeling (in addition that you are in the basement floor, not the ground floor) but it was so dark that I was not enjoying myself when I ate at this place.

The restaurant in general feels like if you don’t mind pricy food and you don’t mind spending a lot (with almost unlimited budget) this is for you.

But if you are like me, that tried many other sushi restaurants, especially in Paris where the quality was excellent for around 25€, i advise you to pass.

The restaurant is also located nearby the city hall, and rents might explain the prices, but really, there are better cheaper alternatives elsewhere (even in Hamburg).

Staff is very friendly and reactive, 5/5.

Beer is cheap, but this is normal, we are in Germany.

Hence my 3/5 in general, too pricey for what you get, although it...

🌟 Unexpected Gem in Hamburg 🍱 🌟

This restaurant was a delightful surprise! From the outside and menu, I wouldn’t have considered it—too many dishes and an underground location—but wow, how was I wrong!

For starters, about the food: I had the Tonkatsu. The mayonnaise sauce stood out as a bit unconventional—it had shichimi mixed with Kewpie mayo, which wasn’t entirely my taste but still acceptable. The real highlight was the tonkatsu! It was thick, tasty, and very satisfying for the price. While it wasn’t as crispy as it could be and slightly moist, these are minor details of me being picky since I am comparing with the best ones in Japan. The tonkatsu sauce with sesame and the crispy lettuce salad with a great dressing tied everything together amazingly.

Although the restaurant might not be authentically Japanese in terms of the chef and staff, the execution was outstanding regardless. As a japanese I will definitely come back and recommend to others.

🏮About the interior🏮

It was impressively spacious and very comforting. The slightly dim atmosphere added a cozy vibe, perfect for a relaxing meal. The layout featured different sections, minimizing noise from other guests, and the Japanese-themed decor was beautiful. 🎎

👨‍🍳The staff👨‍🍳

Were all super friendly and attentive. They checked in politely at just the right moments to ensure everything was perfect.

🌟Tips for a Better Lunch🌟 🍴 Must-try: The tonkatsu—it’s the star of the menu! Also just 16 EUR during lunch!

🌸 Review made by Pedro and Fiorella. 🌸 This is an independent review; we hope you enjoy your visit as much...

A divine dining experience!!! My gf and I, we were recommended trying the food here by a Japanese friend's, and it turned out to be the worthy choice for a Japanese night. Beautiful restaurant, the menu is rather simple but traditional, food and drink are absolutely authentic.

The staffs are well-trained and very friendly from the beginning til the end. You will be warmly welcomed at the entrance and be led to your table. If you have no clue what to have, they are also willing to give you some recommendation without any hesitation. For us, we were suggested having a bottle of Sparkling Sake with our starter. It was amazing, long-lasting bubbles and slightly sweet fruity taste. A simply brilliant combination!

Food are outstanding, high quality fresh fish, especially the bluefin tuna. Everything is made very minimalistic and natural but meticulous presented and has their own flair and charm, so we were able to enjoy the quality and freshness of the ingredients. We highly recommend the Nama Chocolate, this dessert was really great!

The drink menu, including the wine and premium sake selection, are well sorted and fair prices, everything is completely Japanese! All in all, a wonderful evening for two. You definitely want to...