In search of a lighter dinner, we came to Kid Kyoto for some small plates, excited to try their creative dishes which are described as "rebellious izakaya". You can opt for choosing the chef's set which is a predetermined menu, or order a la carte to create your own spread. We selected six items that appealed most to us which was the perfect amount for everyone in our group of four to get a taste of it all.
+ CORN RIBS (A$20): This fully vegetarian item was surprisingly my favorite of the evening. Ears of corn were cut vertically through the cob, creating spears that you could eat like ribs to bite off the kernels. The "ribs" were coated in caramelized miso butter and rolled in furikake. The corn was naturally sweet while the butter added a savory umami punch. This is my new favorite way to eat corn!
+ CHICKEN KARAAGE (A$20): Lightly battered pieces of chicken were meaty, tender and piping hot. The exterior was delightfully crispy and a sweet gochujang dipping sauce gave it a bit of heat and extra flavor.
+ WAGYU MB9 SKEWERS (A$28): Each skewer had four cubes of beef grilled and glazed in a sweet teriyaki sauce. The meat had a good char to it, but a few pieces were a bit chewy and fibrous, making them a little tough to bite. While I enjoyed the flavor, I was expecting the beef to be more tender, so I was a little disappointed with the quality.
+ EGGPLANT DENGAKU (A$26): Half an eggplant came with a sweet soy-based sauce and topped with sour cream, wild rice furikake and almonds. I personally didn't like the sour cream on top since it was quite heavy and overwhelming after we spread it across the eggplant. The texture was creamy and mushy, except for the sprinkles of crunch from the toppings. I normally love eggplant, but didn't care for this dish as a whole.
+ SCALLOPS (A$22): A grilled scallop was placed on a small disk of potato mochi, and two pieces came in one order. The scallop itself was smooth and tender but it did have a bit of fishiness to it. Other than that, this didn't have much flavor, so I personally would skip it.
+ GRILLED MOCHI (A$12): A creative plate of grilled mochi squares topped with crumbles of chicken skin furikake and a dusting of curry spice. The mochi had a nice chew to it and the salty chicken skin excited my palette while the curry added some warmth. I've never had anything like this before so it was quite unique.
Overall, I enjoyed my meal here and it was fun to try so many diverse dishes. Just be aware that some of their small plates come with just two servings (in our case, the skewers, mochi and scallops), so you may need to multiply your order to accommodate your table.
I appreciated the friendly and quick service. We were seated immediately at 6:00P on a Wednesday and with this restaurant being located in the CBD, it got busier as people ended their workday. The staff was friendly, greeted us promptly and was attentive to our empty dishes and filling our waters. While I didn't love everything we ordered, I recommend trying Kid Kyoto since the environment is perfect for a night out to unwind after work, or with friends on the weekend. If you're up for shareable plates perhaps with a drink, this is the place for you. read more