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| - I hate to compare it, but being the pioneer of the izakaya movement in Toronto, it's inevitable that we compare all similar Vancouver based restaurants to Guu. KINGYO is like the grown up version of Guu. It's got the izakaya feel and vibe, with a bit of class, quiet, originality and fun.
We walked in to its high ceilings and blinking antique pachinko machines along the wall and a silent projection of Doremon reaching for his red bean pancake on the wall. This place is going to be fun.
The servers are extremely attentive, knowledge and friendly. Food came quickly and with good timing between them, not too close together and far apart enough for us to digest.
The menu has a lot to offer, and lots of unique dishes. Not a lot of fried tempura stuff which is really an easy cop out.
Their presentation of the food is really nice, with different ways of containing some of the side dishes. Although repetitive with the banana leaf on everything it made for some nice photos. This is like AsiansTakingPhotosOfFood heaven.
What we ordered:
- LOTUS ROOT - Renkon Kimpira (okay, good to share not amazing, not spicy)
- TAKE WASABI, pickled octopus in wasabi to wrap in seaweed (if you don't like wasabi skip this, also if y)ou don't like slimy foods would skip it too)
- SEA URCHIN SHOOTER. I wanted to try this egg with shiso, yam, yuzu and sea urchin.. It's awfully expensive at $7 and really have to be adventurous to like this one. You would be able to share this with a close friend or partner
- STONE GRILLED BEEF TONGUE ($10) - it's quite gimmicky cooking your own meat on a stone, but it's a great way to impress people who have never seen it before (my first time too). Impressed this rock stays so hot, and almost instantly cooked the thin pieces of meat. A good sharing plate
- BIG SHORT RIB - they weren't kidding, this thing was huge. It came nicely at the end of the meal and filled everyone right up. A sweet and tangy vinegar sauce made the braised meat crunchy, sticky and tender. Get this one.
- PORK BELLY - Cream Buta Kakuni - This had to be the best dish of the night. So fatty it was creamy. But so much flavour it was explosive, almost. Get this too
- CHICKEN KARAAGE - the first dish that landed on our table. Whatever this magic powder is, I want some. At $8, it was one of those that was worth its value for sure. Good for sharing (ask for a knife). Soft and succulent inside, and perfectly crispy on the outside. Get this three.
- KINGYO YAKIUDON - this was off their special menu. I love kimchi udon and since starting to make it at home my husband feels that it's not special anymore and wanted to try something more plain. But this was anything but plain - filled with mushrooms and beef and seasoned with their magic powder (no really, how do I get some of this)
- UNAGI DON - off the special menu - best unagi don I've ever had. something about the unagi mariande gives it a sweet soy based flavour. served in a stone bowl, it was hot and cripsy without me having to leave the rice in there and pressing it so it will cook.
- GRILLED SQUID KABAYAKI - off the special menu - wasn't amazing. It was a little tough, and not that tasty.
We skipped the sashimi this time because of cost and the fact we wanted to try so many other cooked dishes. Based on the careful preparation of all the food here, I'm sure it will be amazing and worth the price tag.
They also have a special vegan menu that is limited and is an all day lunch box. Worth a try for $15
For dessert, they had only a few.
ALMOND TOFU - soft and silky, but still prefer the one at Guu
EGG PUDDING - a creme brulee basically, still very good
CASTELLA SPONGE CAKE - you know the cakes you get from the Korean supermarket. It was this drizzled with some sweet sauce and served with ice cream. It wasn't spectacular.
We skipped the dessert on the special menu but maybe we should have gotten that too.
After all was said and done, 5 people, a few pints of Sapporo and a bottle of sake with all this food, it all came out to about $45pp which was a lot less than my first outing at Guu. I think this is quite reasonable! We were full and waddled out of the restaurant with shouts of ARIGATOGOZAIYEEMAAASSHEETAA!!!
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