Travel with Sushi Airways

Sushi Airways, located on Baghdad Street, is a Japanese restaurant serving quality food using ingredients specially flown in from Japan. As its titular name, Sushi Airways is the first aircraft themed restaurant in Singapore – providing patrons a gastronomic and immersive dining experience.

Sushi Airways is located on the second floor of a shophouse, accessible by steps resembling an airstair. Upon entering the compact restaurant, the interior design had taken my breath away with its likeness to the inside of an aircraft. The restaurant is decked in furnishing simulating an aircraft realistically. From the metallic tables and chairs, portholes overlooking the streets, to the identical flooring of a jet bridge, the intricacy of details is captured immaculately. A large screen has also been set up above the counter, displaying a 2D visual footage of panoramic scenery above the ground, adding yet another element to the realism. Notably, there is also the integrant of the Japanese beverages in the décor with the imported bottles of alcohol on display in the glass cabinets and counter racks.

While the counter seats provide a full view of the in-house kitchen, where patrons can watch the chefs prepare the various dishes with deft hands, I had opted for the spacious window seat instead. The menu, or more appropriately titled, the aircraft manual consists of chapters segregating into starters, sushi and sashimi, maki and hand roll, hot dish, rice and noodles, refreshments, and lunch. Alcoholic drinks are served in the restaurant, from the usual Sapporo and Asashi beer cans, sake, and to the winning Yamazaki Single Malt Whiskey which is available seasonally. ‘Omakase’ degustation menu is also available based on the seasonal specialities. I had then ordered the lunch set, Airways Bara Chirashi, with an additional top-up of the beverage, Passionate Fruit. All the lunch sets consist of a main with a bowl of salad, miso soup, and a scoop of ice-cream.

Bara Chirashi Don, served in traditional Japanese ware, has thick sashimi dices served on top of a bed of Japanese rice. The copious amount of freshly prepared sashimi, from salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, was an absolute delight. The don was also garnished with slices of ginger and lemon, enhancing the piquant flavour of the sashimi while adding a balance to the shoyu wasabi. Meanwhile, the sashimi was chewy, succulent, and absolutely fresh. While it may be daunting for some to relish in raw food, I have to assert that sashimi, when prepared correctly, has a rich taste that melts in the mouth. The pearl rice used for the don was soft and fragrant, and together with the sashimi, provided an ambrosial experience for me. The waitress had informed that the fishes used for the sashimi vary daily based on the seasonal ingredients from Japan.

The salad side consisted of garden greens drizzled with Japanese roasted sesame sauce, a whet for the main course. It was palatable with a strong fragrance of the sauce. The miso soup, identical to the authentic Japanese flavour, was a little on the salty side. Full-bodied with generous bits of tofu and seaweed, the soup served as a delectable after course. Finally, the satisfying meal was completed with a generous scoop of matcha ice-cream. The matcha ice-cream, made from powdered green tea leaves, was rich and creamy. The strong flavour of matcha pervaded my senses in a bitter yet welcoming sensation, refreshing and smooth, the sapid taste left me yearning for more.

The Passionate Fruit is a special concoction prepared by the restaurant. With a dollop of passionfruit syrup and Schweppes’s carbonated water, it had a distinctive taste. Putting a spin on the usual passionfruit juice, the beverage was invigorating and tangy with a bubbly aftertaste. It was sweet, sparkling yet smooth down the throat.

The restaurant is populated during lunch and dinner timings hence patience is the virtue to acquire great food here. The staffs are amiable, the waitress had answered my enquiries patiently with the chefs adding in an answer or two while they prepared the food skilfully. With excellent customer service, quality food, and remarkable dining experience, the restaurant is a must-try for food-lovers. Sushi Airways has indeed outdone itself, enabling patrons to have a quick ‘getaway’ aboard this simulation while they enjoy savoury food.