Nampu Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Kuta Selatan

The Grand Hyatt is a large, fabulous resort in Nusa Dua, without doubt one of the loveliest hotels we’ve been fortunate to stay at anywhere in the world. We first holidayed there nearly 20 years ago with our two young daughters. We’re currently staying at a smaller but just as lovely resort hotel, The Laguna, a few minutes down the beach and last night we decided to push the boat out and return to one of our favourite ever restaurants, the Nampu Japanese restaurant at the Grand Hyatt for teppanyaki. One of our mantras is you should never go back, and we shouldn’t have gone back. The staff were warm, welcoming and friendly as only the Balinese can be. We chose the 8pm sitting but our table was already eating when we arrived 5 minutes early so ours was a booking rather than a table time. The next teppanyaki table to ours was filled by a family with noisy young children who were running around the restaurant. Not the restaurant’s fault, maybe, but this is expensive fine dining and we thought young families might be encouraged to dine earlier. Three tasting menus are offered priced at 7, 8 and 9 hundred thousand rupiah, a large amount to spend on dinner just about anywhere in the world but particularly in Indonesia. No a la carte is available. We chose the middle menu which began with a beautiful fish ceviche and a fish tempura. Chef started cooking our menu and we were served our ordered wine and sake. The ingredients were spectacular, with the very best fish, scallops, lobster and chicken. Our neighbours had jumbo prawns the size and freshness of which I’ve rarely seen before and her partner had a beautifully aged tenderloin. Our chef was highly competent and friendly and her cooking was spot-on. Taken together this should have been another magical dinner to remember. But at these prices our expectations are also very high. The room was very hot. Chef even opened a window. The neighbouring table was noisy and disruptive. But most of all we love the ‘theatre’ of teppanyaki and this was missing. I can cook scallops, steak, fish and prawns myself but a teppanyaki does it with panache, providing diners with entertainment as part of the experience. Two of our companions didn’t look up from their phones the whole mealtime it was so low key. As a tasting menu you get what’s on it whether you can eat it or not and I defy most customers could eat all that was cooked and served, such a waste of fantastic first-class produce. Now if this sounds like paradise to you then I have no doubt you’ll have a dinner of a lifetime, a meal to remember. But for us it felt unnecessary. The lack of any options, let alone a la carte selection, an atmosphere that was warmer inside the restaurant than outside, little or no cooking ‘theatre’, so much wasted food and the impression that the restaurant was just out to make a fast buck from their transient holiday customer base made our experience uncomfortable from just about beginning to end. As such, let mine be one of those well-intended reviews which might persuade you to eat elsewhere, and encourage the restaurant to change, just a little bit, and make all its customers happy to sign the check with a satisfied smile of an experience well delivered. It...

Nampu Japanese Restaurant was the perfect spot for my first dinner in Bali with friends, and it far exceeded our expectations. We decided to explore the Japanese cuisine offered at the Grand Hyatt, and from the moment we stepped in, we were captivated.

The atmosphere struck a beautiful balance between Japanese elegance and Balinese charm, creating a luxurious yet welcoming dining experience. The restaurant’s design and ambiance made it feel like a hidden gem tucked away in paradise.

We ordered sashimi, maki rolls, and a few desserts, and every bite was exceptional. The fish was incredibly fresh, with that authentic taste of the sea, while the rice was perfectly seasoned and packed with flavor. Our food arrived surprisingly quickly, and each dish was beautifully presented. The sashimi practically melted in our mouths, bursting with rich flavors. One standout was the tofu dish – incredibly savory and satisfying.

To end the meal, we indulged in dessert, and I can’t recommend the mango crème brûlée enough – it was divine. Creamy, smooth, and packed with the sweet flavor of ripe mangoes, it was the perfect finish to an already incredible meal.

The entire experience felt luxurious, but the price was very reasonable. At around SGD$50-60 per person, it was well worth it for the quality and experience we received. I’ll definitely be coming back the next time...

After searching for local Japanese cuisine, I decided on this restaurant based on the reviews and pictures. This restaurant is located inside the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and is accessible after walking through the beautiful open lobby.

The restaurant is divided into two sections. I chose to dine in the teppanyaki area. Beware, the area is NOT well air conditioned and heat from the surface cooker adds to the discomfort during dining experience. I was hot and sweating the entire time. This is probably due old equipment and to aging of the facility, which is apparent while walking through the hotel.

For my meal, I chose the most expensive of the three meal sets for my dinner. It is all served by traditional teppanyaki style where each dish is cooked by the surface grill and served immediately afterwards. Besides the beef, which did not look great and was not tender, I would say everything else was very good. Disappointed by the beef since it is supposed to be a star of the meal set.

The whole experience would have been entirely different if the beef was held to a higher standard. For the money, I would say there are many options...