Kenzai - Asian Kitchen & Lounge — Restaurant in Bengaluru

First off, let me acknowledge the positives. The ambience at Kenzai is quite lovely. The interiors have a cozy, modern vibe that makes for a relaxed dining experience. Whether you're coming here for a casual meal or celebrating an occasion, the restaurant strikes a good balance between casual and upscale. The soft lighting, comfortable seating, and neat table arrangements created a welcoming atmosphere. It's the kind of place you can unwind in without feeling hurried or cramped, and that deserves mention.

Now, onto the food. I ordered a variety of dishes to get a feel for their menu, and while everything was prepared well, nothing really stood out as exceptional. To start, the appetizers were fairly decent. The sushi rolls, though fresh and well-presented, didn’t have that ‘wow’ factor. They were good, don’t get me wrong, but just a bit too predictable. The flavors seemed to play it safe rather than taking any bold steps, which left me wishing for more adventurous twists. I also tried the tempura prawns, which had a nice crunch, but again, they lacked the distinctive seasoning that would make them memorable.

For the main course, I opted for the Chicken Katsu Curry and a plate of Teppanyaki Noodles. The Chicken Katsu was well-cooked with a crispy coating and tender meat inside, but the curry sauce, while flavorful, felt a bit one-dimensional. It was tasty enough but didn’t have the depth of flavor I was hoping for. The Teppanyaki Noodles, similarly, were enjoyable but a little plain. The noodles had a good texture, and the vegetables were fresh, but the seasoning felt a little underwhelming. There was nothing technically wrong with the dish, but it lacked the kind of punch that would make it stand out from the sea of similar offerings in the city.

On the service front, Kenzai did not disappoint. The staff was courteous and attentive without being overbearing. They made sure our water glasses were always full and were more than happy to accommodate any requests we had. The food arrived promptly, which is always a plus, especially when you’re hungry and eager to dig in.

One thing I should point out is that the pricing at Kenzai feels a bit steep for what’s essentially an average dining experience. While the quality of the ingredients and the care in preparation are evident, the overall flavor profile and creativity just didn’t quite match the higher price point. I wouldn’t say the meal was overpriced, but it definitely left me questioning whether the value lived up to the cost.

In summary, Kenzai is a perfectly fine choice if you’re looking for a decent meal in a pleasant setting, but it doesn’t exactly push the boundaries or leave a lasting impression. It’s the kind of restaurant where you’ll walk away satisfied, but not necessarily rushing back for a repeat visit anytime soon. If you’re in the area and craving some Japanese-inspired dishes, it’s worth a try, but don’t go in expecting to be blown away.

That being said, I still give it 4 stars because while the food might not have been extraordinary, it was consistent, well-prepared, and delivered in a comfortable and welcoming environment. Sometimes, that’s all you need for a good meal – even if it’s not...

Had high expectations to try some good pan Asian food as we were fasting. Highly disappointed with this place, the FOOD ,the service all of it. Mainly COCKROACH in our food!!!!! Firstly, as we stepped in… the place was empty ..we found a table and seated ourselves post which no waiter came up to us until we went in search and called her. There was one person on the whole floor.. extremely rude and unwelcoming. Secondly, we asked for the menu and glasses of water… Quickly placed an order for chicken soup 2 by 4 as we were fasting… in the mean time shortlisted the following: Sushi platter, Prawn and fish appetiser Lamb and beef stuff as well.. GUESS WHAT? To our shocker.. no meats were available expect chicken said the waitress…so we again compromise our choices and shortlisted Javenese chicken Grill prawns( suggested by the waitress) Chicken bao Singapore chicken noodles(spicy suggested by the waitress) HERE IS THE SHOCKER…. COCKROACH in the NOODLES!!!!!!!!!!!! The appetisers were below average. Chicken appetiser was a basic chilli chicken Grill prawns was a joke- it was ghee roasted with curry leaves. When the cockroach was spotted in the noodles followed by one on the table …we immediately asked for the manager or head chef… to our NOTICE both were on leave. We asked who cooked our food? We got no response for a pretty long time … the waitress tried calling the manager … got no response… Another waiter appeared and tried to convince us that the cockroach wasn’t in the food ..must have crawled up the table. I mean WOW. The confidence. SINCERE REQUEST: PLEASE DO NOT...

Today was my first time here at Kenzai and it was totally worth it. I don't understand why people would want to miss out on a place like this. Brilliant Sushi, and amazing staff. Super affordable, fresh food and decent quantity. It's a great place of you are coming in big groups. The variety of dishes on the menu was amazing. Truly pan asian. I started off with a clear soup with prawns and had katsu uramaki and Sashimi. The preparation was appropriate. All the flavours were just perfect. Even the drizzle had just the kind of hit I wanted. Me and my partner were craving to eat some sushi (wasabi in particular😂) We have an acquired taste for it and we just recovered from common cold and wow the platter with extra wasabi was the perfect blast 😛😂

Mr. Karthi was really helpful and generous. We even spoke to the chef for recommendations and we walked home with the most delicious Mongolian beef curry. Location wise the place is excellent. 5th floor of Garuda Mall. A real steal. Affordable japanese food. Don't miss this....