Located inside the Altira hotel in central Taipa, Kira is a contemporary Japanese restaurant with something for everyone. A long corridor lined with glass panels engraved with bamboo opens up to the teppanyaki dining room, where a lobster tank is on display. For dinner with a show, ask for a seat at the teppanyaki bar where patrons can watch the skilled chefs at work. Seats in the main dining room look out onto a beautiful landscaped patio with white rocks and bonzai.

The sushi and sashimi at Kira are jet-fresh and can be ordered a la carte or in assorted sets. The Hana sushi set offers a variety of assorted sushi and is a good value at MOP460. For a more deluxe option, try the Zen sushi set, which features premium nigiri sushi. The uni at Kira is luxuriously silky and fresh, served atop perfectly seasoned sushi rice. Teppanyaki is a main feature at Kira and all dishes are made to order using the freshest ingredients. Try the Australian wagyu beef fillet, which arrives covered with fried crispy garlic slices and a selection of dipping sauces. The vegetarian fried rice is expertly prepared with egg, green onion, carrots and onions. Another vegetarian delight is the grilled matsutake mushroom with salt and sudachi lime, which arrives on a bed of pine needles and is smoky, earthy and robust. For dessert, the fruits moriawase features the freshest and sweetest fruits in season and may include watermelon, pineapple, honeydew melon, strawberries and kiwi. For something a bit richer, try the pumpkin flavored dumplings served with sweetened red beans and vanilla ice cream.

The wine list at Kira is truly impressive with an especially strong Bordeaux and Burgundy selection. A carefully selected sake menu is also available. Diners opting for sake will be offered a selection of unique sake glasses to choose from.

The staff at Kira are attentive, friendly and knowledgeable about the food and wine menus. When in doubt, ask the staff for recommendations.

An a la carte dinner for two will cost about MOP1,800, excluding wine. There are various cheaper set menus featuring teppanyaki, which range from MOP380 to MOP1,580. An unlimited all-you-can-eat option featuring a limited selection of the full menu is available for MOP458 per person, or MOP558 including unlimited drinks, which is an astonishingly good deal.