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    Home » Recipes » Blog

    Kid Kyoto Sydney - New Kid on the Japanese Grunge Block

    January 24, 2018 By Sara McCleary Updated March 16, 2022 - This post may contain affiliate links

    What do you get when you cross a Japanese izakaya with 90s grunge and plonk it in Sydney? Kid Kyoto of course.

    Only open a couple of months, Kid Kyoto is the latest addition to the Sam Prince Hospitality Group. They are the guys behind popular Indu and Mejico. Hidden away in Sydney's CBD in Bridge Lane, opposite end to Mr Wong. Just look for the "KK Unplugged" sign and you know you are in the right spot.

    Kid Kyoto located in Bridge Lane Sydney
    Innovative Sydney cocktails at Kid Kyoto
    How to find Kid Kyoto in Sydney

    Kid Kyoto came to be after a visit Sam paid to Japan. The gritty 90s grunge music, popular in Kyoto, and the whole vibe lent itself to amazing food in dark cosy izakayas. I totally get it. There is no secret that I am moved by my visits to Japan and I'm also that age group that lived, ate and breathed grunge.

    It was a sure bet that I was going to like Kid Kyoto.

    Kid Kyoto Restaurant and Bar Sydney
    Chefs working hard at Kid Kyoto Sydney
    Sydney has a grunge izakaya called Kid Kyoto

    The restaurant has a glam grunge feel to it. It's lunch, but it's still dark and moody as we walk in. We heak past the bar and open kitchen to the back of the restaurant and our table. It's back here that you encounter a lighter and brighter feel. Even with light flooding through the large windows that face on to Bridge Street, the raw distressed concrete walls, polished concrete floors and black wood panelling keep that darker vibe going. I like it.

    Nirvana fades into the Red Hot Chili Peppers as we sit and peruse the menu. Music is a big part of your Kid Kyoto experience with a specially curated playlist. Even the menu is divided into "Intro", "Raw & Unplugged", "Main Stage", "B-Sides" and "Encore".

    Kid Kyoto Sydney and those amazing etched windows
    Cocktails at hip grunge restaurant Kid Kyoto

    With so many interesting options on the menu, we decide on the omakase option. Kid Kyoto offer either an eight course ($65) or ten course ($80) omakase for a minimum of two people. The omakase menu is a range of chef's choice dishes.

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Cabbage & konbu pickle

    Cabbage & konbu pickle $6

    The cabbage and konbu are a refreshingly sweet and sour pickle to start those digestive juices flowing. They have a great crunch and do I need to comment on what a pretty fuschia they are?

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Kingfish ceviche, pickled watermelon, lemon aspen & roast wakame kosho

    Kingfish ceviche, pickled watermelon, lemon aspen & roast wakame kosho $22

    Weezer make an appearance as the Kingfish does. The ceviche is nicely balanced with a surprise kick of heat that sneaks up and lingers calmly on the lips. The crunch of sweet pickled daikon and crunchy karare rice pellets adds texture to the buttery kingfish.

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Preserved lemon chicken tsukune, onsen egg ‘birds nest’ & chilli rayu
    Kid Kyoto Popular Dish: Preserved lemon chicken tsukune, onsen egg ‘birds nest’ & chilli rayu

    Preserved lemon chicken tsukune, onsen egg ‘birds nest’ & chilli rayu $16

    A playful approach to one of my favourite izakaya dishes, tsukune. Instead of dipping your skewer of grilled chicken mince into a raw egg yolk, it's onsen egg all the way at Kid Kyoto. We let the gooey egg yolk spill into the fried leek nest and chilli ragu. It all gets mixed together and then enjoyed with the preserved lemon chicken tsukune.

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Carrot-aage, native pepperberry & orange kosho

    Carrot-aage, native pepperberry & orange kosho $14

    Another playfully named dish, Carrot-aage. Dutch carrots are deep fried and served with a punchy native pepperberry sprinkled on top and orange kosho with green chilli. Another tick in my book seeing the use of Australian native ingredients on the menu.

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Wok smoked mushrooms, walnut miso & barilla

    Wok smoked mushrooms, walnut miso & barilla $24

    There wasn't one dish I didn't like on Kid Kyoto's omakase menu. But it is easy for me to pick my ultimate favourite, the wok smoked mushrooms. This is the dish that I will keep coming back for. I will start a picket line out the front the moment Chef Seb Gee removes it from his delightful menu.

    It's a pretty uninspiring looking dish (sorry chef), nothing makes it look like it will be a knock out. Sure wok smoked mushrooms sound interesting, and they are. Pair those mushrooms with walnut miso and something magical happens via an umami explosion. This is then topped with fresh enoki and another Australian native ingredient, barilla bower spinach.

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Hot green bean 'shira-ae' Japanese curry, sesame & tofu crumb

    Hot green bean 'shira-ae' Japanese curry, sesame & tofu crumb $12

    As Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet" is playing who knew green beans could start another big riot in my mouth. The cooked beans retain a wonderful crunch, but it is the accompanying tofu that has me contemplating lick the plate.

    Kid Kyoto Main Dish: Saké Chicken, shiitake, kombu & katsuobushi
    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Saké Chicken, shiitake, kombu & katsuobushi

    Saké Chicken, shiitake, kombu & katsuobushi $30

    The main event that turns up with our B-Side beans is a tender and juicy sake chicken. Again another dish that packs a lot of taste. The surprise element is the pickled lotus root hiding under the dancing katsuobushi.

    Kid Kyoto Omakase: Toasted yuzu meringue tart, green tea & blueberry
    Kid Kyoto dessert, yuzu tart

    Toasted yuzu meringue tart, green tea & blueberry $16

    Our encore of the omakase menu was the yuzu tart. A crustless yuzu tart filled with blueberries and surrounded by matcha crumb, umeshu (plum sake) jelly and crisp meringue. All I can say is that it must have been good. We were extremely full but somehow managed to polish it all off.

    Obviously the lunch feel at Kid Kyoto is going to be different to evenings. From what I know Kid Kyoto can be one packed little princess in the evenings, so make sure to book. I have also heard that it can get quite noisy. At lunch you can expect a very chilled space with great food and even more chilled tunes.

    Sara xxx

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. The Napoli Alert

      January 27, 2018 at 8:44 pm

      Love the fit out. The banquet prices seem pretty good for the number of courses.

      Reply
    2. Agness of eTramping

      January 26, 2018 at 12:26 am

      Wow! Isn't this place the most awesome one in Sydney?! I love such places which have a soul. I fell in love with it thanks to your pictures, Sara!

      Reply
    3. [email protected]

      January 25, 2018 at 12:32 pm

      Definitely right about it getting loud in the evenings. We were so close to other tables it was bordering on uncomfortable. The Chicken Tsukune and Yuzu meringue tarts were a stand-out. But I don't know if I'd be rushing back.

      Reply

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    photo of Sara McCleary, Founder, Belly Rumbles culinary travel blog

    Well hello there! I’m Sara McCleary a food photographer, creative recipe developer, and avid traveller (when the World isn’t in a pandemic).

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