Adrift Kaya And Yuzu Bring Fresh Japanese Flavours To Indian Cities

Seasonal Japanese Menus And Nikkei Flavours Redefine Dining

From bustling temaki counters in Delhi to innovative Nikkei dishes in Hyderabad, India’s dining scene is evolving with exciting new restaurant launches. Recent openings in these cities showcase fresh takes on Japanese cuisine, one redefining the contemporary izakaya with seasonal ingredients and hand-rolled sushi, the other introducing Japanese-Peruvian flavours as a unique culinary expression. 

Here’s a closer look at the concepts, menus and culinary voices behind these additions.

Michelin-Starred Chef David Myers Introduces Seasonal Japanese Menu At Adrift Kaya

Adrift Kaya, led by Michelin-starred chef David Myers, unveiled a new seasonal menu, bringing an updated approach to its contemporary izakaya format in Delhi. 

A key addition is a dedicated temaki section, offering hand-rolled sushi as single pieces or three-roll sets. Guests can enjoy options like ebi, spicy tuna, California-style, salmon, unagi and sea urchin, prepared to order and served with complementary elements such as tobiko, mayo, tenkatsu, wasabi, ginger and shoyu.

The wider menu maintains a flexible izakaya structure, featuring small plates, grilled items, noodles, rice bowls and fun bites. Notable dishes include spicy BBQ chicken with Japanese pickles, steamed spinach with sesame and chili, golden eye snapper with passion fruit, Japanese eggplant tartare, miso-glazed preparations, hamachi kama with citrus and salt, and sole with black bean and ginger. Comfort dishes like roasted duck soba, teriyaki, and unaju with grilled eel provide familiar flavors alongside seasonal offerings.

Desserts now include options such as frozen matcha mousse with black sesame and grapefruit yogurt, and cherry jasmine chiffon layered with jasmine ganache, cherry compote, and cream. The seven-course omakase remains available, offering a chef-led progression guided by seasonality.

Yuzu Debuts In Hyderabad With Japanese–Peruvian Nikkei Cuisine

Yuzu has opened in Hyderabad, introducing Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine to the city as a permanent fixture in the pan-Asian dining scene. The menu combines traditional Japanese techniques such as raw preparations, robata grilling, precise seasoning and steam cooking with influences from Peruvian, Thai, and Chinese cuisines.

The restaurant is led by Chef Palden Sherpa, who brings over a decade of experience across professional kitchens, trained under Chinese, Japanese and Thai chefs, with stints at The St. Regis Goa, Hyatt, Accor, and Marriott. The menu emphasises technique-driven cooking, with Japanese formats forming the foundation while other Asian influences are applied with clarity and balance.

Nikkei dishes highlight citrus-forward raw preparations. Examples include Tokyo Tiradito with hamachi, avocado, sesame and yuzu ponzu; Salmon Bonito Ceviche with Scottish salmon and bonito; and a plant-forward Beet Ceviche cured for seven days with miso soy mousse. Robata-grilled items, such as Yuzu Fire Robata and char-grilled NZ lamb chops with quinoa pop, showcase controlled open-heat cooking and precise seasoning.

Sushi, sashimi, and steamed preparations extend the menu’s offerings, including Salmon Aburi torched with yuzu soy, and Yuzu Maki finished with 24-carat gold leaf. Traditional Chinese techniques appear in dishes like Charcoal Jiaozi and Mariscos Siu Mai, while Thai-inspired salads and curries provide fresh flavors and gentle heat.

The beverage programme complements the cuisine, offering cocktails and zero-proof drinks inspired by Asian ingredients. Highlights include the Wasabi Sunset with tequila and gari, Shogun’s Old Fashioned with burnt butter and spices, and Zen Chaos with coconut, passion fruit, and matcha. A curated selection of sake, Japanese whisky, and international spirits is also available.

With its focus on technique, open-heat cooking, and a carefully curated beverage menu, Yuzu establishes itself as a full pan-Asian dining destination at Hilton Hyderabad Genome Valley Resort & Spa.