KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar Unveils its ‘Passport to Japan’ Campaign

KIBOU Japanese Kitchen & Bar are inviting guests to join them on a culinary trip to Japan with the launch of their new ‘Passport to Japan’ campaign. Running from May until the end of October, the initiative will see the restaurant focus on a different region of Japan each month, with a range of food and drink specials that tap into each area.

Known for its diverse selection of traditional and contemporary Japanese hot food, sharers and sushi, ‘Passport to Japan’ allows guests to explore the different regional flavours of the country and the heritage behind various dishes. A matching range of cocktails is on offer, courtesy of Japanese spirits group House of Suntory, along with some top tips on where to visit and what to eat in each area, presented by the restaurant’s team.

Chefs at each of KIBOU’s restaurants have developed their range of specials to convey what each region means to them. Kicking off in Tokyo, expect to find regional classics such as:

Tendon – Tempura rice bowls are popular throughout Tokyo, with many restaurants presenting their own twist and signature dish. KIBOU Cambridge will be serving their delicious rice bowls topped with either softshell crab, ebi (prawn), yasai (vegetables), or all three!

Monjayaki is a traditional pan-fried savoury pancake that’s hugely popular on the streets of Tokyo. Similar to the better-known Okonomiyaki, KIBOU Clifton will serve theirs with bacon, leeks, and cabbage, then topped with tonkatsu sauce and spicy mayo.

Unaju – “grilled eel in a box”. Grilled kabayaki eel fillets served with seasoned rice and unagi sauce. This dish originates from one of Tokyo’s oldest eel restaurants, Jubako in Akasaka of Tokyo, and is being lovingly presented at KIBOU Battersea.

Abura soba is “oiled noodles.” Originating from Western Tokyo, this ‘soupless’ ramen dates back to the 1950s. KIBOU Solihull will be serving their pan-fried soba noodles with tenderstem, pepper, and carrot, then topped with king prawns, sea bream, and squid in oyster sauce.

Anmitsu – A Ginza classic from the 1920s, this Japanese dessert is a favourite right across the country. A colourful dish that includes agar gelatin, sweet bean paste, black sugar syrup, fruit and dango rice dumplings. Dive into our versions of this dessert at KIBOU Cheltenham and Battersea.

These will be served alongside a Tokyo-inspired cocktail, Cool for Lucky Cats – or maneki-neko. A twist on Japan’s famous high-ball, this cocktail features blended Japanese whisky, Toki, which combines whisky from three House of Suntory distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita.

There’s also the opportunity to win a Feast of Japan worth up to £300 at each restaurant, with a menu that includes a range of the Passport to Japan food and drink specials.

To enter, guests can either pick up a physical ‘passport’ in the restaurant to get stamped each time they visit or log onto the restaurant’s WiFi whilst in the venue to obtain a digital ‘stamp’. The individual with the most stamps over the campaign period will be selected as the winner at each site.

For more information about the campaign, including menu details, how to enter the competition and how to book, visit www.kibou.co.uk/passport-to-japan.