Kai Izakaya — Restaurant in Oslo

Since I can’t give two reviews for the same place I would need to edit this one. Went there one year later also for anniversary as we had a great time before. However, this time the food was terrible. Again, we didn’t fancy ordering the set menu because the starter was cheap edamame bean, and dessert is deep fried, and we saw other people’s reviews complaining about too much deep fried food in the set menu. Therefore we ordered from the ordinary menu. The drink was ok. We have ordered nine dishes in total. The first was sushi and grilled squid, sushi was best among the 9 dishes. Squid was good, though my husband thought it was worse than last time. The rest were just nightmares. All of them were deep fried, and soaked in oil, didn’t even have paper at the bottom to absorb the oil. Some of them were mentioned fried in menu but turned out to be deep fried! Even the bao wrapping is deep fried?! I am not against deep fried food, but seriously for this price the food is even worse than the chicken kaarage from Koie Ramen.

The service is a bit better than last time.

First time review: Went here for anniversary, was quite surprised by how tasty and nicely presented the food was. Ordered 5 dishes plus kimchi and rice, comfortably full for two people. It’s a bit expensive for the portion. The taste of food was quite unique, but I wonder if so many dishes need to have the sour taste? Recommend all the dishes in the pictures plus the beef carpaccio, but not the beef brisket, which tastes too ordinary for the price. Anyway, will come back again.

Room for improvement: the waiter (or owner?) could probably show us where to hang clothes when he welcomed us. One of the glasses had weird smell and taste, probably leftover of detergents. The order of serving food could improve. For example the kimchi can serve as an appetizer. I appreciate that they served the beef brisket in the end because it’s quite oily and salty, but maybe also suggested serve the rice at the end with the beef? More umeshu on glass. Very confused about the location choice, for this price level why not choose a place with nicer...

Kind of disappointed after saw so many good reviews here.

We had 9 courses as they recommended but from beginning till the end there were all fried food except for 2 dishes (dumplings and shrimp). I have been to many Japanese restaurants but this is more like chinese food with Japanese style gimmick. Sorry to say but nothing wow and not worth the money. This review is about the food quality, the portion of each dishes, overall of the taste and the service .Cheap ingredients but make it looks fancy. Service was ok enough but didn't clean the table when it was dirty in between of new courses. Small scampi cut in a half to make it looks more than it is. Scallops in small pieces. Duck is like at Dinner (restaurant) but in small square pieces with thin slices of eggplant at the end ...overall all dishes really heavy oil fried the whole thing, nothing refreshing. Even the last course the dessert was fried pancake🤪 Even no option for none alcoholic but soda ( coke, sprite etc) worse than Mcdonald at least you can get juice there and none fried option. If you want to eat " junk food" but look fancy go ahead. Fried food is always good right?

PS.Thank you for reply below but I didn't get any offer when I asked is there any other option for none bubbles, and the waiter said no! She doesn't mention anything as apple juice nor any mocktail at all etc as you just replied here. Even it shows on the menu as you replied below...she could clearly recommend it, it's the waiter job to inform their guest! Your answer shows how unprofessional it is as a restaurant owner clearly don't know much about service. 🙄

And if it wasn't duck then it was clearly fried meat with typical hoisin sauce (if not it does taste as it) but with more sour taste compare to Dinner. No need to be a juice shop to have a juice alternative in any restaurant even small when you are doing omakase. Ceviche that size of small shrimp did serve whole in Italy + anywhere else in Europe. PS. I've also been to Peru! Overall fried tempura the whole menu wasn't appetize at all without any variation for the...

What a pleasant neighborhood surprise. Had dinner here with my parents last week.

Even though the menu probably could afford to cut a few courses... Most izakayas in Japan won't have half as many dishes. The food was presented with flare and great taste and texture.

Room for a bit improvement, not super impressed with the siu mai as an example. A mix of chinese dishes into this Izakaya menu is fine, but then please perfect it.

Service impeccable, the owner is super friendly and great company

Nice wine list, but needs more excitement on glass, and definitely some riesling kabinett / feinherbs to be added to the list. And I hope to come back to japanese beer on the menu. Kirin on tap should be great for this place.

All in all, definitely one of the best places to eat in the area -...