INTI - A Nikkei Experience — Restaurant in Kilimani division

[Edit: Reducing this from two stars to one star after noticing that this restaurant seems to pay for dummy reviews to boost its rankings and/or counter bad reviews.]

Giving two stars only for the ambience. Do not go to this restaurant if you have any special dietary needs.

We went to Inti last night for my birthday. My partner called ahead to ask if they could accommodate dietary needs / slight modifications for a diabetic (I am one). After confirmation that they did, we settled the reservation. Upon arrival, the hostess mentioned the diabetic-accommodation request under our reservation; we were very impressed.

Things started to not go well though as soon as we started to order. Much of the menu is sprinkled with things such as corn and potato, which is why we had called ahead in the first place. I quickly summarized that I just needed to not have any sugar or starch. I ordered the simplest appetizer I could: chicken wings. I was told, repeatedly, that I couldn’t have that because it was battered. I asked to just remove the batter, and this was declined twice. The waitress, who suggested sushi as an alternate (which has rice), then asked me to just order something additional from the grilled mains (I had already requested something there). Well, this was zero accommodation. You know, we could have gone somewhere else if they had been honest, so I pushed back.

I asked why wings couldn’t simply be fried / why not using the batter was a hard and fast rule, specifically since we had called ahead. The manager (who is actually a very good manager) was advised by the chef that I should eat boiled vegetables and grilled chicken to accommodate my diet. I let him know that was an insult, and the wings were eventually fried (and tasty).

For the house salad, I received it with no dressing. When I asked, I was given plain olive oil. Imagine being a restaurant such as Inti, with those prices, with allegedly good chefs, and not being able to whip up a simple unsweetened dressing (acid and fat, anyone?). At no point did we engage directly with the chef as well (talking to chefs happens in restaurants often when there is a misunderstanding or a specific request needs to be explained). The restaurant wasn’t that busy either, so a minute or two could have been spent.

Except for the manager, the service was pretty lackluster (also had missed cutlery, and had to request a couple of things more than once). I partially feel bad writing this review because the manager is great and even suggested that we can call him directly next time, but after reflecting on the recommendations on boiled vegetables and grilled chicken, the no dressing then olive oil only, I don’t want to go a restaurant where it’s acceptable to have this level of indifference. If you have any kind of condition that needs dietary accommodation, this is not the...

🌆 A Nikkei Experience to Remember – Nairobi’s Hidden Culinary Gem 🇰🇪🍣

From the moment you step into the sleek, glowing elevator marked “A Nikkei Experience,” you’re transported into one of Nairobi’s most refined and visually captivating dining destinations. Located high above the city with breathtaking panoramic views, this restaurant effortlessly blends Peruvian-Japanese fusion with a world-class ambiance that rivals any major global culinary hotspot.

🌸 Atmosphere: The interior is nothing short of stunning — bamboo ceiling fixtures, cascading crimson florals, and glowing art-deco palm lights set a warm, romantic tone. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a sweeping view of the Nairobi skyline, making this an ideal setting for both intimate dinners and upscale celebrations. Every inch is intentionally designed to immerse you in elegance without being pretentious.

🍽 Cuisine: We dove into a variety of dishes and were absolutely impressed. Highlights included: • Crispy Prawns Tempura with Huancaína Sauce: Coated in a creamy, mildly spicy Peruvian cheese sauce and topped with crispy quinoa and sliced chili — this dish is a showstopper both visually and in flavor. • Vegetable Maki Rolls: Fresh, vibrant, and perfectly rolled — these offered a crisp, clean contrast to the richness of other dishes. • Lomo Saltado Udon Noodles: Creamy, comforting, and full of umami, these noodles are a must-try fusion item. • Grilled Lamb Chops: Marinated in Peruvian spices and served with pickled cucumber and anticucho sauce — grilled to perfection and packed with flavor. • Saffron-infused Fried Rice: The perfect accompaniment, balancing spice, texture, and a slight sweetness. • House Cocktails & Mocktails: Refreshing, thoughtfully presented, and mixed with precision. We tried both berry and cola-lime concoctions that hit the spot.

📖 Menu & Service: The menu is carefully curated, offering just enough variety without being overwhelming. Prices reflect the premium experience, but every shilling is well spent. The service was attentive without hovering — a rare balance that made the evening flow naturally.

🌟 Final Verdict: If you’re in Nairobi and looking for a dining experience that’s both sophisticated and memorable, this Nikkei restaurant is a non-negotiable must-visit. From the first elevator ride to the last bite, it’s an immersive experience that seduces your senses and celebrates the beauty of fusion done...

We recently visited INTI as a family and we were all certainly impressed with the Decor and ambiance of the INTI. The food was presented superbly and was definetly delicious! In Nairobi this is certainly a unique experience but you certainly pay for it! INTI cannot be described as cheap! We did have some isses that did put a little damper to the evening though.

I have to say i was quite disappointed with the service. As we were dining as a family, it seems pretty obvious to me that food will be shared and therefore serving spoon should be provided without prompting. We ended up having to prompt multiple times and it seems there must have been a shortage of spoons as only 1 or 2 were brought at a time. I dont have any issues asking once as it can be an easy oversight, but it does become very frustrating if i have to keep asking for the same thing.

Additionally, the service time took too long. While the starters seem to arrive in an acceptable time, the mains took a little longer and then the deserts i felt took so long that all of us noticed the difference in time. I am sure that if there are any delays from the kitchen, then this information can easily passed on to the front staff who can relay this message to waiting patrons. This is simply a lack of communication i feel and it just spoils the experience.

Finally, I was shoked to find that all the chopsticks on our table were hollow. I have been to many asian restaurants around the world and have yet to see such a thing. (See picture) I would be amazed to find that these chopsticks are actually truly clean! As you can note from the attached picture, its very easy to get food stuck up there and i doubt anyone is looking through all the chopsticks in the restaurant at the end of service to ensure they are clean. Everyone on the table stopped using the chopsticks once this was discovered and we used forks instead!

Overall, i gave 3 stars to the whole experience as it did leave me unsatisfied. For the INTI experience to be advertised and portrayed as a high end and upmarket dining experience, i would expect much better service, more attention to detail and most importantly, better communication between front staff and the kitchen. I hope that overtime they can improve on this, but we certainly wont be visiting...