Some meals captivate with flavour. Others move you with artistry. At Loca Niru, the magic lies in how both worlds come together, transforming dinner into a quiet exploration of craft, memory, and seasonality. For diners who seek more than a meal, this 8-course journey reveals the heart of contemporary Japanese fine dining through thoughtful storytelling, impeccable balance, and ingredients chosen with intention.
Loca Niru’s seasonal tasting menu is a reflection of philosophy rather than trend. Every course draws from nature, heritage, and emotion, inviting guests to experience food in its purest, most expressive form. With only a handful of counter seats, each evening feels intimate. You sense the rhythm of the kitchen, hear soft conversations, and feel completely present. It is a space where ingredients shine and where the creative vision of Chef Shusuke Kubota becomes deeply personal.
A Closer Look at the Signatures of the Season
Loca Niru’s tasting menu is designed as a journey; one that moves with the rhythm of the seasons and blends Japanese heritage with Southeast Asian expression. Each course is intentional, elegant, and rooted in the restaurant’s philosophy of craft, clarity, and quiet creativity. Here are the highlights that define this season’s menu.
A Gentle, Balanced Opening
The experience begins with a welcome drink and Hassun course that set the tone for the evening – a trio of delicate snacks, each reflecting Loca Niru’s cross-cultural approach. Bright, citrus-driven seafood, a refined brandade reinterpreted with sturgeon and caviar, and a crisp kadaif-wrapped frog roll show the team’s talent for layering Japanese technique with Southeast Asian produce and French influences. These bites reveal the chef’s playful side while staying elegant and precise.
A Celebration of Local Terroir
The Oyasai course shines a spotlight on Southeast Asian produce, offering warmth, acidity, and natural sweetness through ingredients like burdock, yacon, tomatillo, and Sarawak white pepper. It’s a thoughtful pause in the menu that is lighter, greener, and deeply comforting.
Craft, Competition, and Culture
The Isaki course, inspired by the chef’s participation in the RED-35 competition, showcases crisp-skinned Japanese grunt fish and a Nyonya-style beurre blanc. It’s a refined plate that speaks to the chef’s evolution, balancing technique, memory, and regional flavours in one story-driven dish.
A Signature Bread With Soul
Loca Niru’s Buah Keluak Bread has become a quiet star of the menu. Soft, aromatic, and deeply earthy, it represents what the restaurant does best, which is taking beloved Southeast Asian flavours and elevating them through Japanese craft without losing their cultural heart.
More Than a Meal: An Invitation to Discover
Loca Niru is not simply about dining. It is about immersion. It is about rediscovering the quiet pleasure of being present with every course, every aroma, and every detail unfolding before you.
For diners seeking a culinary journey that goes beyond aesthetics, our 8-Course Tasting Menu at $298++ offers connection. You sense the seasons, the chef’s history, and the subtle interplay between culture and creativity.
Book Your Experience
Ready to explore this season’s tasting menu and its beautiful stories?
Reserve your seat at Loca Niru and let each course reveal a new expression of craftsmanship, creativity, and flavour.