Indochinoise Tokyo

▪️Indochinoise (Kuramae)
▪️Southeast Asian Cuisine (Dinner Course: ~10K)

Tucked away in the upper floors of a residential building in a quiet part of Taito-ku, Indochinoise is ran by a Japanese couple who used to live in S.East Asia. The eclectic course includes stunningly colorful dishes inspired from Laos, Khmer, Vietnam cuisines.
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Now, I am in no place to comment on the authenticity of the food. In this case, I don't believe it's a metric of significance either. What I can say is that, I have never experienced the flavors Indochinoise kept throwing in front of me anywhere else in Japan. Besides the striking visuals, each dish was so "vibrant", bursting with fresh and spicy aromas. The "zing" element I got introduced in the eateries of Thailand was elevated to new heights here, through the chef's unrestrained cooking style.
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The opening dish - a khmer salad with boiled octopus - already opened the gate to a new world of flavors with its addictive green chili based spiciness that kept me devouring each spoon whilst I struggled to stop the tears in my eyes. The mix of fresh, fruity, spicy, nutty flavors and the variation of textures created a unique and unforgettable plate. The following dishes continued in the same vein, not because they were spicy but because they presented an exceptionally rare interplay of potent flavors mingling with each other without any restraint.
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In terms of other notable dishes, it is worth to note the Laotian "Laab" served with glutinous rice. A terrific mix of fresh greens and spices. Overall, it is incredibly rare to find the likes of Indochinoise, a restaurant that can truly transport you out of Japan by the mere ingenuity of its cooking. A must-try for every adventurous foodie in Japan.

Thanks to @hiro.yummydays for the invite! Less