Spicy, sweet and sour flavours of Southeast Asian cuisine were on the cards for Apple Sharma, as she headed to BO.SABI at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa to sample the restaurant’s latest offerings.

There are few things more comforting than the warm, tantalising flavours of the Orient on a cold, wintry afternoon. Add the good company of a friend and I was sold – the perfect way to end my week on a Thursday at the awardwinning BO.SABI. We were invited to try a selection of newly introduced delights alongside popular dishes that still firmly hold their place on the menu.

Walking in from the cold, windy outdoors to the warmth of BO.SABI felt like a welcome homecoming. Restaurant Supervisor Anuka and her team greeted us with genuine smiles, and the friendly service comforted us throughout the meal.

With bamboo accents, high ceilings of wooden beams, matching furniture and Oriental-style wall art, the interiors transport you to Far East Asia, while pop art-inspired paintings add a modern, funky touch. Dome-shaped ceiling lights cast a warm glow and the cushioned seating sets a relaxed ambience.

The restaurant is also home to an impressive bar in one corner. Opposite it is a stage for live music, set against a feature wall glowing with the BO.SABI signage and a trickling waterfall underneath. Overlooking the pool outside (with heaters at this time of year), the whole place feels cosy and elegant – an ideal spot for lounging with friends or enjoying an evening out with the family.

Feeling sufficiently warm (thanks to the blankets provided by Anuka – a lovely touch), we scoured the new menu, which offers Asian favourites from Japanese and Chinese to Thai and Korean. We began with salads, presented as beautifully as they tasted.

The BO.SABI Speciality Salad arrived first, with ponzu shrimp, creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, pomegranate and baby lettuce, finished with crispy crab on top. Fresh and flavourful, the shrimp was well-cooked with a bright ponzu dressing that was light, zesty and mildly savoury. The pomegranate added little bursts of sweetness and the crispy crab brought a lovely crunch. The Beijing Duck Salad followed, featuring Peking duck breast with a mango roasted tomato dressing. This was a real hit at the table – the meat was perfectly tender, juicy and packed with flavour, while the vibrant sour-and-sweet dressing provided a lovely contrast and cut through the richness – a marriage made in flavour heaven.

My favourite, however, was the Khmai Phak Salad: avocado with mango, zipping cucumber, lettuce, vine tomato, green scallion and peanut aioli. It tasted as good as it looked – freshness on a plate and every bite brought a little surprise. The creaminess from the avocado and sweetness from the cubed mango were delightful, all brought together nicely with the nutty, vinaigrette-like aioli.

While we waited for the next course, mocktails arrived: a virgin Piña Colada with creamy coconutty goodness, a fruity Strawberry Mojito, a deliciously refreshing Ginger Hibiscus and the perfectly sweet Lychee Delight.

Soon enough, two platters of sushi landed on the table. Crunchy Salmon Skin Maki was an unusual one for us, as we had never tried salmon skin in a maki roll. Stuffed with the crispy fish skin and topped with Japanese mayo, avocado and a spicy sauce, it delivered a surprising crunch and a slight kick of heat. Huks Hamour Maki, filled with fresh hamour was equally enjoyable. The little battered cubes of fish were crispy and slightly sweet, elevated with the drizzle of creamy, savoury Japanese mayo.

Hot appetisers came next, and Dragon Prawn Ball was a big hit. The juicy prawn balls, with chopped ginger, garlic, water chestnut, oyster sauce, sesame oil, bell pepper and basil leaf, were wrapped in thin juliennes of crisp-fried noodles – delivering a gorgeous crunch and bursting with flavour. The water chestnut added an extra bite and the sesame brought a subtle nuttiness.

The Thai Smoke Prawn soon arrived, pan-fried with basil oyster sauce, fish sauce and lemon juice. Cooked with the shell on, the shrimp stayed juicy and flavourful, with a sweet, tangy finish and a little crunch that kept us reaching back in. Kanpoongi Chicken was hard to miss – crispy golden pieces coated in chef’s special sweet-and-spicy sauce. Crunchy, flavourful and irresistable, it struck a satisfying balance of heat and sweetness.

From the wok station part of the menu, we tried Tsing Hoi Chicken – most definitely the spiciest dish of the day! Tossed with colourful veggies in a tomato sauce and served with steamed rice, the bite-sized pieces of chicken had a fiery kick from the dry red chilli and Sichuan pepper. Some found it a tad hot but that didn’t stop them devouring it.

Next up was a lovely dish from the teppanyaki and grill selection – Black Cod Miso. Marinated for hours in sweet Saikyo miso and paired with Japanese oba leaves, the tender buttery fish had a subtle umami taste and a velvety texture, falling apart at the touch of the fork. Served with bok choy, asparagus and mushrooms, it was simple, but packed full of delicate flavour.

As we were rating BO.SABI for its excellent offerings, my colleague insisted it wouldn’t be fair leaving without trying his favourite dish: Grill Ebi Yaki. Charcoal-grilled king prawns served with bok choy butter and garlic sauce, it proved why he swears by it. The prawns were perfectly grilled but it’s all in the sauce – smothered in butter and garlic, they were finger-licking good and didn’t disappoint.

For me, the two vegetarian stars were the Gochujang Potato and Gochujang Noodles. I absolutely love veggie Korean dishes and these reminded me why. Both used gochujang – the sweet, savoury and spicy Korean chilli paste – but each delivered it differently. The potato version saw chips smothered in a gochujang-garlic butter coating, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. I could have eaten a bowlful of these and struggled to share them! Meanwhile, the thick, silky udon noodles (my favourite) with chilli garlic and pak choy were just to die for – simple, yet packing a serious punch.

By the end of the meal, I was completely satiated – my stomach and heart full. BO.SABI delivered warmth on a plate and an ambience to match, and as I walked back into the wintry evening, I was already planning my next visit. ✤

GO: CALL OR WHATSAPP 3811 1474 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION.