Sushi Airways

I have frequented this cosy restaurant several times over the last year and a half. Each time I go I am impressed by how it has improved and grown both in the variety of specials on offer and the quality of the food. Located in the charming Kampong Glam area, it is unique in being a theme restaurant that serves high quality sushi and Japanese food at reasonable prices. Sushi Airways has an interior that resembles that of an airplane, specifically a DC-3. The walls are lined with windows made of sleek stainless steel in the characteristic rectangular shape with rounded corners bearing authentic rivets, and the open kitchen and counter seating sport a similar look. The feel is intimate and cosy without being cramped. At one end of the restaurant a large TV screen plays video clips taken by the pilot of a small aircraft as he landed in places like the Faroe Islands and Naples. Watch them and you will be mesmerised by the beauty of the clouds, sea and mountains as the aircraft approaches land. Much thought has gone into the design of the menus which are illustrated with airplane blueprints, and I spotted two genuine airline trollies and many other features which hint at the attention to detail that has made this place such a memorable dining experience. Nevertheless it is not the interior design but rather the superb food which draws me back time and again. I used to go for the lunch sets which at $15 including miso soup, salad, green tea and ice cream are a steal. My favourite is the kurobuta tonkatsu but there are other choices which include chirashizushi, black sesame soba, salmon teriyaki and wagyu beef yakiniku. However of late I have been lured there by the fresh seafood and specials. The restaurant flies in fresh seafood four times a week and the chef expertly prepares some of the best hotate (live scallops) and uni (sea urchin roe) in town. Shirako (salmon milt) is another of the delicacies they offer. Indeed my recent dinner there was particularly good. My table of four started with the sashimi moriawase which Chef Wong can customise to your preference. Ours included otoro, ocean salmon, matsukawa karei (flounder from Hokkaido), sanma marinaded in ginger and spring onions and hamachi all perfectly sliced and beautifully presented on ice. We paired this with some delicious sparkling cold sake and everything disappeared before you could say “Hold your hotate!”. This was followed by superb oysters freshly shucked and seasoned in the chef’s special ponzu sauce. Sawagani came after, little perfectly formed ‘waterfall’ crabs which are deep fried till they turn a lovely orange. One crab makes for a flavourful, crunchy morsel. In spite of my many visits to Japan I had never before come across these, and my first time was in Sushi Airways. You certainly need to try them if you want to complete your Japanese dining experience! Then came the makis one, two and three. I have a special fondness for these and they are probably the reason I fell in love with this restaurant in the first place. The ebimaki is crunchy tempura prawn rolled in sushi rice, crusted with sesame seeds, and topped with crab mayonnaise, caviar and edible flowers. The double salmon roll is my personal favourite, the slices of salmon are blowtorched then topped with a crispy piece of salmon skin. The combined flavours and textures of the two as they enter the mouth are simply heavenly. Last but not least the lobster mango roll which has a generous piece of mango and lobster in mayonnaise atop wonderful brown sushi rice. I never come here without ordering at least one of these maki rolls and my kids absolutely adore them. We were pretty full after all that sushi but still had room for the chef’s off-menu special, a piece of tender rockfish braised with mushrooms and a hint of ginger in a flavoursome soya sauce, served warm and topped with spring onions and julienned cucumber. Comfort food at its best.  Our meal cost a very reasonable $230 for four, including service. Amazingly they do not charge GST.

The Mrs made a table reservation to celebrate our daughter’s birthday. The food was good and the service fantastic. The staffs are friendly and chatty without being intrusive. They knew we were celebrating our daughter’s birthday and presented her a little cake which was really nice of them.

Hiding upstairs, in a very interesting neighbourhood, is a sushi experience you've never had before! I can guarantee that you will want to go back and do it again, and again. Superb food. Very helpful and professional staff. Unique decor with street views of Kampong Glam.

Mains- unagi don- portion was very filling but kind of disapponted wf the unagi. It didnt tasted like what it cost. If want unagi, just go get from man man or places that specialise in unagi. Get their bara or chirashi don instead. Assorted sushi platter- this is really good n very filling. Good for sharing or used as mains for 1 person. I enjoyed the freshness n succulence of each fish/scallop slice chomped within the mouth. Hot skewer- its really good. Worth every bit of $ it cost. We ordered the chicken ball. The meat, you can taste it very well n the flavours were good. Can order more from this section as future notes. Desert- nothing much to commend. The accompanying mochi was rather unforgettable. Overall, a very nice experience although the place tries its best to look like the cabin of an airplane but it felt more like within cells instead. The decor is cute. I really liked the origami swan shaped chopsticks holder. The boarding pass is a cute souvenir but i wouldnt bother to take it away. Will end up as clutter in my house. Bring more friends to enjoy more choices of food! Their selection is so many n more people=order more and can try from more dishes!