Saikou

If you find yourself craving a night of teppanyaki and whisky while in Timaru, point your nose to Saikou. Located right across the road from beautiful Caroline Bay, and around the corner from the high end of the town’s main street, this is a restaurant with great atmosphere and delicious Asian fusion food.

Red leather seating, bamboo features and large-scale traditional Japanese cartoon art, form a great backdrop to an evening of enjoyment and indulgence. Dim lighting and a glimpse of the views add to the mood, as does the open kitchen and bar.

The restaurant is owned and operated by a young local couple, Jacob Stonehouse and Ola Latu, who both come with plenty of hospitality experience and a huge drive to make Saikou a true destination for locals and visitors alike.

The menu at Saikou has been designed around sharing, and most of the tapas style cooking happens in plain view of the restaurant-goers. Gather a group together and settle down for an evening of good food and catching up, or find a quiet corner for an intimate meal with a special someone. Watch the flames rise and fall as the chefs create various delicacies for your taste buds’ pleasure, and sip an authentic Japanese whisky, craft beer, sake or a gorgeous cocktail.

A seasonally changing menu and a near-weekly varying drinks list keep options interesting for frequent customers and visitors alike. The bar takes pride in offering a large selection of rare bottles of whisky from special distilleries, as well as a range of comparatively inexpensive drops. With one of the best views and vibes in town, Saikou is a definite must-visit when at the Riviera of the South, Timaru.