Kiki’s Japanese Restaurant | S. Colorado Blvd.
The modest atmosphere of Kiki’s Japanese Restaurant belies its authentic, tremendously varied menu. Traditional Japanese fare—sushi, tempura and teriyaki—is served for lunch and dinner, and there are rice bowls and noodle dishes. The set menus called teishoku-ya, consist of a main dish (i.e., a meat or fried seafood), a bowl of rice and small side dishes. But Kiki’s rocks some unique items you just don’t see in other Denver restaurants.
For appetizers, go with Agedashi Tofu if you’re a soy boy or bean queen—deep fried tofu in a hot dashi-based broth (a-ge means fried, dashi means broth). J.F.C. is Japanese Fried Chicken, which uses potato starch instead of flour, imparting a crispy (not K.F.C. crunchy) texture. If you believe, as the Japanese do, that a diet requires fermented foods, tack on an order of Oshinko, an assortment of salty, crisp Japanese pickles. I recommend the Spicy Beef Miso Ramen; Kiki’s serves cold noodle soups as well as hot, a tradition in Japan according to the season.
The killer find is Champon (pictured on top), a spicy seafood noodle soup specific to Nagasaki, where the Japanese allowed the Chinese to have a port during the 1600s. They brought noodles, and Champon is one of the more inspired culinary byproducts. You get ample portions of seafood and vegetables, and the thick, spicy broth is amazing, the kind you can only get from boiling bones.
Featured above is the delicious, sweet and salty Sukiyaki. Another solid entree is the Yakitori Don, skewered chicken pieces and vegetables broiled on a special charcoal grill. There are many selections of grilled fish—salmon is the easy choice, but go big with the Sanma Shioyaki, which is saury (a strong-flavored Pacific mackerel) coated with salt and grilled. You can wash it all down with a variety of Japanese sake and beer, wine and shochu (like soju, a distilled vodka-like rice liquor).
Sumo-size me, please.
2440 S. Colorado Blvd.; 303-504- 4043; kikisjapaneserestaurant.com
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