Food Review: Izumi At Dusit Thani

Located in one of Egypt’s best hotels Dusit Thani, Japanese restaurant Izumi prides itself for its authentic dishes served with an Egyptian twist to accommodate all tastes. Izumi, meaning “water spring” in Japanese, guarantees fresh ingredients and overlooks Dusit Thani’s modern lobby. This new sushi spot is the place to go for a romantic dinner or a nice get together with friends.

One of the main highlights of this modern restaurant is its chef Sherwin Anib. The young chef from the Philippines is not new to Egypt. Chef Sherwin has previously worked at the Cairo Sheraton and the Intercontinental City Stars before going back to Manilla and working in Buddha Bar for a few years.

The 34-year-old chef started his culinary journey at 19, paving his way through different job positions in restaurants until a Japanese chef took him under his wing in the Philippines, after which he traveled to Saudi Arabia then to Egypt. Being acquainted with both the authentic execution of sushi and the Egyptian crowd’s particular tastes, Chef Sherwin’s dishes, which are exclusive to Izumi, plays with different ingredients and flavor blends. Watching Chef Sherwin work his magic is a joy.

Food Break Down: Must-Try Dishes

Salmon Avocado Salad: Fresh and moist, the perfectly sliced avocado pairs perfectly with the flavorful, raw salmon chunks. This salad bursts with lemon zest and crunchy garden-fresh greens. This is the perfect salad if you want a light and refreshing start to a meal.

Nigiri:

Hotate (Scallops): Scallops are best served fresh. The perfect batch yields scallops that are appetizing and strong in taste. Izumi’s hotate was soft, silky and absolutely delightful against the perfectly cooked, sticky sushi rice.

Unagi (Eel): if you are not an eel lover, this is not for you. The unagi had that sweet flavor with a savory kick. The fish itself was cooked well with a crispy outer layer, but the interior could have been more moist.

Ebi (Shrimp):  For a safe and enjoyable option, Izumi offers large, perfectly cooked shrimp on a bed of rice. What stands out is the freshness of the shrimp and how they were perfectly cleaned and cooked. This is good quality shrimp.

Sake (Salmon): Again, this is a safe option but still a rewarding, with a generous slice of salmon and sticky rice.

Maki Rolls:

Saki Maki (Salmon, cumbers, rice, wrapped in salmon): This salmon roll is shaped like a flower on a plate and topped with colorful red and back caviar on decorative greens. Yum! Salmon, cucumbers and rice hugged with an even bigger piece of fresh salmon form the perfect blend of soft and crunchy textures. This is the perfect dish for salmon lovers.

Izumi Creations:

Green Dragon Roll (Chunks of raw salmon stacked with slices of fresh avocado, wrapped tightly in seaweed and packed in neon green crunchy rice): Nothing is as appetizing as a mix of different textures. This roll sings with crunch, softness, saltiness and sweetness all combined. The soft sweet taste of avocado along with the strong savory taste of salmon and seaweed compliments the crunchiness of the green rice.

Izumi Cairo Roll (Deep fried crispy shrimp surrounded by avocado, seaweed and cream cheese wrapped in Izumi’s special konafa strings): This is by far Izumi’s signature dish. The deep fried shrimp along with the avocados and cheese burst with bags of flavor! The konafa strings are perfectly golden, glaze, fried and crunchy. Each bite dances with crisp. This is a “to die for” dish!

Service

The service is flawless, fast and accommodating. The waiters are presentable, well dressed and are very menu conscious and knowledgeable.

Display

The dishes are very creative and colorfully appetizing. However, the service cutlery might be a little bit challenging to use. It is very modern and very chic, but not necessarily practical.

Quality of Food

The food is extremely fresh and clearly the best available.

Ambience

Very modern chic. Perfect for an after-work gathering or a romantic, secluded dinner.