Kakurega Omakase wins Best Hideaway: Wallpaper* Design Awards 2021

A patch of jungle on Mexico’s Pacific coast is an unlikely site for an omakase restaurant, but artist Bosco Sodi (W*260) and his cousin, engineer Luis Urrutia, thought it the perfect plot.

‘Normally you find omakase in the big cities of the world, in places like Tokyo, London and New York. This is the opposite, omakase in the middle of nowhere. The space is open to the senses – you can feel the wind, see the sunset, hear the crickets at night, and take in the scent of nature alongside the food,’ enthuses Sodi.

Their idea has now materialised as Kakurega Omakase, designed by Alberto Kalach and operated by boutique hotel developers Grupo Habita. As befitting the name, which means ‘hidden’ in Japanese, the building is well concealed within the landscape, sandwiched between the ocean and the verdant Sierra Madre del Sur mountains. Visitors pass through low wooden gates, and meander along a dirt path that cuts across a garden overgrown with shrubs and cacti, until the two-level restaurant at the far end of the plot comes into view.

Crafted from local materials by the same artisans who built the nearby Casa Wabi, the restaurant is characterised by a prominent palapa roof – thatched from dried palm leaves according to an old Mexican technique. Underneath, the upper level, which houses a 12-seat chef’s table, is framed in charred wood in a nod to Japanese tradition. Meanwhile the lower level, which houses a reception area and additional kitchen facilities, is a combination of brick (made from Oaxacan clay) and concrete.

‘The proportions of the building take inspiration and pay homage to Japanese culture,’ says Kalach. ‘But it’s still very much Puerto Escondido in its craftsmanship, materials, and sense of place. ’The two levels are connected via a pair of sculptural, open-air stairways, one on each side of the building, that runs parallel to the brick façade, so the panoramic views are gradually revealed as visitors climb the steps, heightening the sense of ascending to a temple of nature and food.

Carlos Couturier, co-founder of Grupo Habita, explains that Kalach was given free rein on the plot: ‘Alberto doesn’t really take briefs from anyone!’ he recalls. ‘He designed it by himself, and achieved what is hardest in any field: minimalist simplicity. We all liked it since day one.’

As with the building process, the menu was conceived with the goal of helping local communities. Despite the menu being Japanese, ‘all the fish and produce we serve are completely local,’ says Urrutia. ‘We don’t serve salmon because we’d have to buy it in Mexico City and bring it here. Everything is fished or bought in local markets on the same day we serve it.’

For executive chef Keisuke Harada, who hails from Kyoto and has been with Grupo Habita since 2005, the insistence on regionality was a welcome challenge. Peppers, a Mexican staple, turned out to be an ideal complement to Japanese flavours – jalapeño goes well with ponzu sauce and yuzu, while habanero pepper offers just the right kick when mixed in with ponzu and mayonnaise for tuna tostadas. Harada even found a local replacement for daikon radish, which is served with sashimi as a palate cleanser. Inspired by the surroundings, he is now using jicama.

Despite the pandemic-induced slowdown in tourism, Kakurega has had a long waiting list since its opening in August. ‘The concept is ageless; it lasts due to its simplicity and authenticity’ reflects Couturier. ‘Oaxaca gives Kakurega its identity, but its originality gives the place universal appeal.’

On his part, Sodi explains that Kakurega is a major step in his ambitious plan for the development of Puerto Escondido. ‘We are complementing the cultural project that is Casa Wabi, together with the new architecture of the region, with a culinary element. It completes the circle of experiences that we can provide here.’

A view of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains from the upper level of Kakurega Omakase.

INFORMATION

boscosodi.com
kalach.com
grupohabita.mx
@kakurega_omakase