Brick & Wood Boutique Impresses With Creative Japanese Cuisine and Stunning Tableware

Newly opened on the seventh floor of China World Mall (next to Flo Bistronome and Migas Mercado) is exclusive, modern Japanese restaurant Brick & Wood Boutique. The name will be familiar to fans of Japanese cuisine, as Brick & Wood previously had a location on Qianliang Hutong (opened in 2013), as well as a more casual spin-off in Sanlitun. 

Brick & Wood specializes in what most would identify as kaiseki cuisine, although owner (and erstwhile) head chef Kevin Yang is reluctant to give it that label. The food is classically Japanese but with a modern twist or inventive cooking method here and there. There is no menu; rather, you pick a price point (RMB 380, RMB 680, or RMB 880), tell the chef if you have any allergies or dislikes, and then sit back as the dishes come out. The restaurant only accepts advance reservations (see the bottom of this post for the phone number) and only for groups of a maximum of six people – the better to pace the meal and ensure the highest quality ingredients, says Kevin. 

We recommend the RMB 680 menu, which will leave you full but not over faced. Since the menu changes every day, there's no telling what will be on offer on the day you visit (although if you get to know Kevin you can call in advance and request specific dishes). Our menu included dishes such as tempura Sichuan pepper leaves, charcoal-grilled Australian beef with truffle salt, ama ebi (sweet prawn) poached in a soup made from white miso and prawn shells, and a small piece of sea bream topped with crispy skin and a sprinkle of yuzu zest. 

The interior design is minimalistic yet cozy, with just 24 covers. However, the real highlight of the design of Brick & Wood Boutique is their stunning collection of tableware. Hand-picked (and often hand-carried back from Japan) by Kevin himself, Brick & Wood's colorful plates are as much an attraction as the food itself, especially for those with a yen for food photography. We particularly loved choosing our own sake carafe and matching glasses.

Brick & Wood Boutique offers interesting Japanese cuisine at surprisingly accessible prices and is a great choice for those looking for a semi-formal dining experience in the China World Mall. 

Brick & Wood Boutique
Open by appointment. NL-7002, 7/F, China World Mall (north zone), 1 Jianguomen Waidajie (6500 0907)
朝阳区建国门外的街1号国贸三期商城北区NL-7002

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Photos: Robynne Tindall