Stallone Tjia
Oct 20, 2025
Café Kissa, part of the ISMAYA Group, invites diners on an exciting new culinary adventure with the launch of its Itameshi Series, “Kissa No Gusto.” This special menu celebrates the harmonious meeting of Italian passion and Japanese precision—creating dishes that are comforting, creative, and refreshingly unique.
Café Kissa Introduces the “Kissa No Gusto” Series
Rooted in the concept of Itameshi—a contemporary Japanese culinary style that blends Italian techniques with Japanese ingredients—this series reimagines comfort food with an inventive twist. Emerging in Japan in the late 20th century, Itameshi became a beloved movement as chefs combined Western flavors with Japanese sensibilities. Think creamy pasta infused with dashi, seafood accented by yuzu, or gyoza inspired by the elegance of ravioli.
At Café Kissa, “Kissa No Gusto” brings this culinary philosophy to life. The name itself captures the spirit of the fusion: Kissa reflects the cozy, café-style warmth of Japan, while Gusto embodies Italy’s joyful enthusiasm for food. Together, they represent a playful dining experience where East meets West in every bite.
“Innovation has always been at the heart of ISMAYA. For us, it’s not just about creating something entirely new, but also about transforming the familiar into something exciting. With the Kissa No Gusto series, we’re turning everyday comfort dishes into playful experiences—flavors that surprise yet remain warm, approachable, and full of joy. Itameshi gives us the freedom to reimagine comfort food while staying true to the cozy spirit our guests love at Café Kissa,” shared Cendyarani, President Director of ISMAYA Group.
Featured Dishes from “Kissa No Gusto”
Cacio Tsukemen – Chilled noodles served with a rich parmesan-dashi cream and shoyu garlic butter, topped with a soft-boiled egg, chives, and micro herbs.
Yuzu Calamari – Crispy marinated calamari with tangy yuzu kosho aioli and teriyaki glaze, finished with seasoned seaweed and fresh herbs.
Ravio Gyoza – A delightful fusion of ravioli and gyoza, filled with prawn, scallop, and parmesan, served in buttery yuzu-dashi sauce with salmon roe and tobiko.
Matcha Pasta – Japanese-style noodles tossed in creamy edamame-matcha pesto with parmesan and dashi, served with marinated chicken and chili oil for a flavorful kick.
Crab Aglio Olio – Black noodles in ginger-garlic oil and shichimi togarashi, topped with crispy panko crab, orange tobiko, and French beans, finished with shoyu and micro herbs.
The “Kissa No Gusto” series showcases Café Kissa’s dedication to culinary creativity—melding indulgent Italian flair with the delicate precision of Japanese cuisine. The result is a dining experience that is sophisticated yet soulful, familiar yet thrillingly new.
With Kissa No Gusto, Café Kissa welcomes guests to discover the best of both worlds—where every plate is a story of innovation, warmth, and the joy of savoring life’s flavors.
