Kushi-ya in Nottingham is a laid-back Japanese restaurant that we named our World Cuisine Restaurant of the Year 2020/21.

The restaurant specialises in kushiyaki – ingredients that have been skewered and grilled. The menu is short and simple, with dishes categorised as ‘snacks’, ‘small plates’, ‘skewers’ and ‘desserts’.

A highlight from the snacks options is the Furikake prawn toast – it is fat and luscious, putting thin, limp, sesame-clad prawn toasts to shame. Other delightful snacks include grilled edamame, soy, chilli; and nori & sesame crisps.

The skewers are unmissable at Kushi-ya, and there are plenty to choose from. The Tsukune (chicken meatball) – served with tare sauce and egg yolk – is soft, tender and bursting with umami. The cherry tomato, lardo and kombu salt is a superb combination of sweet and salty.

At Kushi-ya you get exquisite flavour combinations, authentic Japanese cooking and some incredible-value lunch offers and early-bird deals.

For opening times, check Kushi-ya’s website.


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