KAJI, the fire-based dining hotspot perched slap-bang in the middle of Manchester's Bridge Street has just launched its brand-new spring menu and we were thrilled to try out a handful (or two!) of offerings on it.
Fronted by the likes of Chef-Patron Steven Smith, the new seasonal menu is comprised of a varied range of dishes made from the highest quality seasonal ingredients based around earth, land and sea.
Sushi
KAJI's sushi selection is where the neon-lit restaurant quietly flexes its authority on the Japanese delicacy. We began with the Scallop Sashimi (£16), three pieces of silken and super fresh shellfish that dissolved beautifully on the tongue. The Sea Bream Nigiri (£9), dressed with light but necessary zesting of lime, is simplicity perfected - clean, citrussy and a great start to the meal.
Moving on to KAJI's bolder take on the cuisine, the maki rolls are not a part of the menu you want to miss. The King Prawn Maki Rolls (£18), wrapped in crisp nori and seasoned rice, served alongside crispy sweet chilli and asparagus, perfectly walks the line between classic and crowd-pleaser, and wins.
Meanwhile, the Akami Maki Rolls (£19) offer something far more indulgent - lean tuna paired with pickled and smoked daikon, delivering an umami hit that lingers nicely.
Snacks
While that is already a fair few small plates before we get onto the bigger plates, we recommend not skipping the snack section as this is where KAJI and Chef Steven's playful side truly emerges. The My Signature Cheese Hotdog 2.0 (£8) is cheeky and inventive. The Lancashire bomb cheese expertly marries the truffle and kimchee in a notably funky yet incredibly moreish bite. This dish totally epitomises KAJI's bold approach to fusion.
The Blue-Fin Tuna Tartare (£8.50), meanwhile, is a cooler, more elegant affair. The clean heat of yuzu wasabi and the crunch of sesame-laced nori pave the way for a proper good one-bite wonder.
Mains
Kicking things up a notch, we opted for the Koji Aged Herdwick Lamb Rack (£32) which was an immediately standout on the menu. It arrived barbecue-charred but meltingly tender. Its richness was lovingly offset by tomato ponzu and a light touch of spring greens to add a pop of colour to the plate.
The Fish of the Day, a beautiful fillet of seabass grilled over Japanese coals and English oak, arrived on a bed of luxuriously savoury XO seafood hollandaise. Market price, yes – but worth every carefully charred forkful, especially with the grilled prawns and wakame seaweed carefully balanced atop.
Sides
It's clear that sides are no afterthought when it comes to KAJI. We were extremely intrugyed by the Jersey Royal Potato (£25). It was simply a potato in a lovely crockery dish - but it was how it was served which really makes this one to write home about. The yuzu sour cream and seaweed-miso butter provided perfect dipping while the imperial caviar offered a velvety burst of further indulgence.
The New Season Asparagus (£16) pairs tender green and white stalks with a chargrilled asparagus sauce, morel mushrooms, and wild garlic mousse. It’s a dish that expertly celebrates spring. We couldn't recommend it enough!
Dessert
We simply couldn't finish the meal without something sweet. The Poached Rhubarb was a no-brainer and is exactly what you'd hope for - tangy, sweet and scrumptiously nostalgic.
But the showstopper was surprisingly the Cheesecake lifted from the tasting menu – creamy, cool, and subtly tropical, it's a final flourish that proves dessert doesn't need to shout to impress.
Verdict
With ingredients that truly sing and a head Chef who is clearly unafraid to blend Japanese minimalism with British ingredients, KAJI has set the benchmark for Japanese dining in Manchester.
KAJI is offering 25% off for families on all bank holiday weekends through May. To make it even better, kids under 10 eat free as part of the Spring/Summer Family Time offer.
Find out more here.