CENSU, a popular French-Japanese fusion restaurant from Hong Kong, has opened its Tokyo branch called SENSE Tokyo near the National Stadium in Jingumae on July 24th. As a fan of innovation, I visited the restaurant right away. The day of my visit happened to coincide with the Jingu Fireworks Festival, so the area was bustling with people in yukata and the night sky was filled with fireworks and fire art, creating a festive summer atmosphere. The restaurant was also lively and in a festival mood compared to usual. The dishes were a mix of innovative gastronomic creations and simple, casual fare. The flavors and sauces were original and sometimes boldly unconventional, offering a unique and enjoyable dining experience where Japanese, Western, and Chinese influences freely collided. The visually striking signature dish, the sea urchin onigiri, was served like a risotto mixed with abalone broth sauce. The handsome staff, reminiscent of Ikuta Toma, added to the fun atmosphere of the dinner. It was a bit unfortunate that the restaurant was a bit too lively due to the Jingu Fireworks Festival overlapping with my visit, but I still enjoyed the summer night vibes while taking a stroll after dinner. Overall, it was a great experience. Thank you for the delicious meal!

A popular restaurant from Hong Kong has opened in Tokyo! They serve a unique mix of French, Japanese, and Chinese cuisine with a twist of junk food. Everything I tried was delicious, but the caramel corn coated with caramel and the uni sushi are a must-try!

What the heck is this... Each dish is of high quality, but the course menu has too many sweet dishes or overly rich flavors one after another, making it tiring. It's not that bad, but... And it took a whopping 4 minutes for the first four dishes to be served after ordering the course menu. This could be a Guinness World Record. At this point, I lost interest in drinking alcohol (also because the alcohol pricing is high and they rush you to eat). I noticed that there were many kitchen staff members, all looking busy, and then I realized that they were all preparing the dishes for this table. Shocking. The food is delicious and the skills are there, but the overall satisfaction of the course menu was surprisingly low. I actually wanted to leave early. My advice is to try the course menu from the customer's perspective. And go for the full portion. I won't go into detail, but there were numerous small mistakes. I had 8 dishes and left the restaurant in just 1 hour. It's a shame because there is potential for this place to be really great, but it's being wasted. Maybe it's better to order a la carte next time.

Before I knew it, this is the 700th review... It's quite nostalgic. I probably haven't written reviews for all 700 visits, but still. I wanted to go to the restaurant a few more times before writing a review, but I couldn't resist writing it for this special occasion. The exterior of the restaurant is trendy and casual, with a stylish Japanese vibe. Inside, the energetic staff members are conversing in English. Truly international, coming from Hong Kong. It was my first time at this restaurant, so I decided to go with the 8,800 yen course. Since the course details were unclear on the website, and I forgot to mention that my partner doesn't like raw oysters, they were able to accommodate us on the day of our visit. The dishes had familiar names, but they were presented in unexpected ways, and not only were they creative, but they also tasted delicious. They exceeded my expectations in a good way, and it was a truly happy time! However, since I didn't know the course contents, I was constantly unsure of where we were in the course, and the dishes being served were slightly different from the ones at the neighboring tables. Even when I thought we were approaching the end, more and more dishes kept coming out, each with generous portions (laughs). I confirmed multiple times that we had ordered the cheapest 8,800 yen course, even asking again at the time of payment, because the value for money was so high (laughs). The Hainan Chicken Paella as the final dish was the best Hainan chicken rice I've ever had! It was so delicious that I couldn't finish it all, but they kindly offered to pack it up for me to take home! Next time, I want to bring my own Tupperware and take on the challenge of finishing it all! I love it!

What kind of genre should we consider this cuisine to be? According to Tabelog, it is categorized as "French", but it's quite enjoyable. It's a new and unique restaurant. The dishes are ones that you might occasionally see at Japanese izakayas, but they are finished with a sense of flair by French chefs, making it enjoyable. It's already a popular restaurant. On the first floor, there is a large noren curtain, and the upper floor has a structure resembling a bon dance tower with lanterns lit up. It has a very Japanese atmosphere. By the way, there are terrace seats on the second floor. If it's summer, I might want to go wearing a yukata. The first floor has counter seats. You can enjoy watching the chefs with a lively atmosphere. I tried a nostalgic ramune drink. There is also an à la carte menu, but since it was my first time, I made a reservation for the 8800 yen course. The names of the dishes were explained verbally, so they may be a bit approximate, please forgive me. For detailed descriptions of each dish, please check the blog ☞ https://ameblo.jp/sakura-beautiful/entry-12817008332.html [8800 yen course *varies depending on the season] ・ Steamed chicken and okra sandwich ・ Sea bream carpaccio ・ Caprese ・ Angel shrimp sandwiched with green apple ・ Caramel corn ・ Shrimp toast ・ Grilled yellowtail collar ・ UNIGIRI ・ Mango dumplings Although it may seem like Japanese izakaya menu items, rich ingredients are used, or it may have the taste of Japanese soul food fused with Hong Kong cuisine, or at times you may smell the scent of anise reminiscent of the streets of Hong Kong, or feel the Vietnamese landscape with nuoc mam. A new sense of fusion that makes you feel the atmosphere of various Asian countries. There were also some junky flavored items, and I was giggling while eating. It's quite enjoyable. When you sit at the counter, you can't help but be curious about the dish the person next to you is eating. I was really curious about this Southern Chicken Paella w. This time it was a course, which was quite voluminous and had a sense of value, but there were many enjoyable dishes on the à la carte menu, so next time I want to go eat this dish and another one that caught my eye, the potato salad. 😉

In Hong Kong, there is a popular restaurant called "CENSU" where there is always a long line. The first store in Japan has an elegant and stylish interior with a warm wooden feel and a counter seat. The dishes ordered were UNIGIRI with sea urchin, fresh oysters, spinach with sesame dressing, caprese salad, tempura of zucchini flowers, chicken wing dumplings, and a cheeseburger. For drinks, they had seasonal sour drink (with giant grape flavor), CENSU Hyakutai special junmai sake from Shinshu, and Daikura 3 grains summer junmai kasumi nama sake made from Yamada Nishiki rice. The UNIGIRI with sea urchin was luxurious and delicious, the oysters were fresh and served elegantly, the spinach with sesame dressing was rich in flavor, the caprese salad had a unique twist with kombu sheet, the tempura of zucchini flowers had a crispy texture with three types of cheese mousse and scallops inside, the chicken wing dumplings were filled with a mix of chicken, pork, and beef, and the cheeseburger was a surprising twist where it looked like a spring roll but tasted like a cheeseburger when eaten. The creative French-based fusion cuisine was delicious!

I realized halfway through that there was no warm drink after the meal, as this is a French restaurant with a Hong Kong twist. The first floor has a counter, the second floor has table seats and a large high table. The dishes were made with high-quality ingredients such as prawns in an anise-flavored sauce and oysters from Akkeshi, which were delicious and innovative. However, there were also typical izakaya dishes like boiled spinach and potato salad. The course meal was overall a bit oily, resembling izakaya food more than carefully prepared French cuisine. There is an a la carte menu available, so ordering individual dishes might give a better sense of the restaurant's true flavors. The dessert consisted of green tea meringue ice cream and mango coconut dumplings. It would be better if they changed the plates after each dish instead of the chopsticks. The food and drink menus were taken away quickly, as there seemed to be a shortage of staff. The location, staff, and customers were all young. This place is recommended for the younger crowd. Thank you for the meal!

Opened in June 2021, the second branch of the new concept restaurant CENSU in Hong Kong. The restaurant's concept is "French-based cuisine incorporating ingredients and techniques from Japanese, Western, and Chinese cuisines." The restaurant is shrouded in mystery. It looked fun and since it's Chinese, I decided to give it a try. [Atmosphere] The exterior has a Japanese feel, while the interior is more like a Chinese restaurant. The first floor has a counter, the second floor has group seating and balcony seats. It's quite hot with fans blowing. The kitchen staff seem to have experience abroad as they speak English. The staff's attire is casual with T-shirts and aprons, giving it a vibe similar to a bar overseas. Since it's a new opening, there were many industry people and acquaintances. The clientele is also on the younger side. [Menu] You can choose from a course menu (8800 yen) or a la carte (individual items starting from 680 yen). I made a reservation for a table only through TableCheck. I found out that you can also opt for the course menu on the day itself. People who chose the course menu often found the flavors too strong, so opting for a la carte was a good decision. The menu includes sashimi, paella, onigiri, tempura, chicken wing dumplings, and more. The specialty is "Uni-giri (grilled onigiri topped with sea urchin and abalone sauce)." A bit too much layering, haha, didn't order that. [Dishes] - Namero (1380 yen): Sashimi ends of yellowtail, sea bream, etc., mixed with cucumber and yuzu miso, topped with grapefruit and edible flowers. The idea of yuzu miso is great, with a citrusy taste reminiscent of ceviche. However, the fried dumpling skin used as a canape was too oily. Needs improvement! - Zucchini Flower Tempura (1980 yen): Stuffed with scallops, prawns, and a mousse of three cheeses, then deep-fried. Absolutely delicious at this point, haha. Topped with truffles and a port wine-based mushroom sauce. Intensely rich and satisfying. I wish they had bread to soak up the sauce! - Hainan Chicken Paella (3980 yen): Made with Sanhuang chicken. I underestimated the portion size, but the chicken was surprisingly large. Even just the chicken could serve four people. If you can't finish it, they offer takeout too. Cooked with scallop broth, the Sanhuang chicken is aged for three days and then grilled to perfection. I would go back just for the paella.

A wonderful restaurant suddenly appeared in the neighborhood. I remember there used to be a Japanese soba restaurant called Maruya in that location. This new restaurant is a Hong Kong import, and all the dishes were beautifully presented and delicious. The staff were also very hospitable, making it a pleasant experience. I am very satisfied with having such a great restaurant nearby.

Sense at the National Stadium. It's about an 8-minute walk from Gaienmae Station, located slightly off Gaien Nishi Street where crepe shop PARLA and bistro Tirowa are situated. It's right in between the two shops. This restaurant is run by a popular restaurant in Hong Kong, offering a new and innovative cuisine that incorporates a mix of Japanese, Western, and Chinese ingredients and techniques based on French cuisine. I visited the restaurant with high expectations. There are seating options on the first and second floors, and on this day, I sat at the counter in front of the kitchen, which provided a lively and enjoyable dining experience. The menu offers à la carte options or two chef's recommended courses. I chose the recommended course "Ume" (6800 yen) and added two extra dishes along with wine. The dishes included Hokkaido oysters with yuzu and three-cup vinegar, white kimchi with onions and radishes, yellowtail sashimi with tomato ponzu and green onion oil, caramel buttered corn, chicken wings with minced wagyu and pork and smoked egg yolk sauce, potato salad (additional), tempura of zucchini flowers with port wine and shiitake mushroom sauce (additional), and almond tofu dumplings with jasmine and mango. The dishes were as creative as rumored, with interesting combinations of ingredients and cooking techniques. The flavors were rich and delicious, making me want to try more dishes. Watching the dishes being prepared right in front of me made everything look even more appetizing. I look forward to visiting again to try new dishes. It was a delicious meal. Thank you.

I visited a new restaurant that recently opened. It is a reverse import from a successful restaurant in Hong Kong. While it is based on French cuisine, it has a hint of Chinese flavor and a casual izakaya atmosphere. The food was very delicious, living up to the reputation of its success in Hong Kong. It was quite an interesting dining experience. #Thank you for the meal #Owner: Ikuo Kanamori #Gourmet #French #National Stadium #First visit #Just between us #The staff enjoyed the meal #That's all from the field.

Popular restaurant in Hong Kong, CENSU, representative Mr. Shun has finally opened CENSU TOKYO in Japan with an impressive background. French + Japanese/Western/Chinese fusion style, a new and unique concept. The combination of French cuisine with Chinese seasonings is intriguing, showing an impressive sense of creativity. The concept of spreading camaraderie through meals like a fan is interesting. The French sauces are incredibly delicious and bring out the best in the ingredients. The beef with shiitake mushrooms has a wonderful aroma, and the chicken paella is outstanding with its flavorful broth. The zucchini tempura with edible flowers is unbelievably delicious. Finally, the Hong Kong sweets are amazing. Definitely a must-visit restaurant that is sure to become popular. Highly recommended. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I was introduced to this restaurant on its opening day by a friend and decided to visit. I ordered the plum course for 6,800 yen. From the potato salad to the caramel popcorn ice cream, every dish was incredibly delicious and I was impressed from start to finish. It was the best dining experience I've ever had. The dishes were so delicious that I was in awe throughout the meal. I almost don't want to recommend it because it's so good. I'm sure it will become impossible to get a reservation soon. I will definitely be visiting again next month. ♡

The restaurant, which opened in July, had a great atmosphere. There is also a terrace on the second floor, which would be perfect for the upcoming season until autumn. We ordered a la carte and tried two types of orange wine. Each dish had a unique twist and was delicious both in appearance and taste. The standout dishes were the salt-grilled yellowtail collar, sea urchin sushi, drunken clams, and butter caramel corn. I highly recommend trying them. There were also three tasting courses available, so I recommend trying those if you're unsure what to order.