Koto Sanpo allows Gold Coasters to eat like a Japanese geisha with matcha and temari sushi

Gold Coast residents can now eat like Japanese geishas thanks to a Kyoto-inspired cafe based on their special superfood: matcha. Here’s where to find it.

Mari Kamada from Broadbeach displays some Japanese fare from Koto Sanpo in Pacific Fair. Pic Tim Marsden

Gold Coast residents can now eat like Japanese geishas thanks to a new Kyoto-inspired cafe.

Koto Sanpo in Broadbeach offers customers Japanese high tea, desserts, drinks made with matcha green tea powder and a seasonal menu showcasing cuisine from the culturally rich city.

Owner David Kim says Kyoto had its own unique character that he wanted to replicate at his Pacific Fair store.

Mari Kamada, 30, from Broadbeach displays some Japanese fare from Koto Sanpo in Pacific Fair. Pic Tim Marsden

One of their particular dishes is the temari sushi as part of the high tea. The special sushi are round and bite-sized pieces laden with either king prawns, Hokkaido scallops, egg omelette, seasonal vegetables, salmon, seared salmon, mango, tuna, barbecue eel or nori truffle.

“In Kyoto, anyone who knows the geisha knows they spend a lot of hours doing their makeup, especially their lips,” David says.

Matcha? Yes please! Pic Tim Marsden

“It’s very hard for them to open their mouth, therefore they eat the temari sushi.”

The cafe also boasts a large offering of matcha drinks, using the green tea imported from Uji, close to Kyoto.

There is the traditional matcha green tea as well as more modern offerings such as matcha with shiratama — a type of dumpling — and azuki beans or a cold matcha yuzu mix.

“We didn’t ignore our modern base,” David says.

Time to try a little Kyoto-culture. Pic Tim Marsden

“We also have east meets west in a Japanese croissant and in our pasta dishes.”

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He says the menu at the Gold Coast store would change each season to bring different Kyoto flavours to the Coast.

David says his chef had worked at internationally renowned Nobu restaurant in Tokyo, while he had more than a decade experience in Japanese restaurants in Sydney.

A second Koto Sanpo is expected to open in Brisbane in the coming months.

Koto Sanpo is open from 9am seven days a week at Pacific Fair, Hooker Boulevard, Broadbeach