The Almond Hotel Group is opening a Japanese restaurant, Kanji, in mid-March, and has recruited Japanese expat Satoru Yasuike as manager.

The hotel owns three Yi Sang Chinese restaurants of good standing in the city, but Kanji will be its first foray into Japanese cuisine.

Satoru Yasuike said the restaurant will serve a range of traditional Japanese dishes with a modern touch. This, itself, provides little to set Kanji apart from other Japanese restaurants in the Penh.

But Kanji also provides a seasonal menu that changes every few months.

“The food we serve will reflect each season in a unique and traditionally Japanese way, while at the same time allowing us to use only the freshest ingredients,” said Satoru.

The restaurant will be divided into sections for various Japanese food, including sushi and sashimi, tepenyaki, and noodles and tempura.

Satoru emphasised the importance of using only the best ingredients and promised that Malay-born Japanese chef Mike Wong will provide a Japanese culinary experience unseen in the Kingdom.

Wong has been specialising in Japanese cuisine for over 20 years and has worked as a chef in several countries.

Kanji is on Sothearos Blvd, next to the Almond Hotel, which has received gold and silver medals at the CamHotel and CamFood exhibition, as well as claiming the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard Award 2010.