Okay I kid :P There is absolutely no need to choose between the two 'cause both are equally awesome! In fact, Torontonians just can't seem to get enough of the pair - Japanese ramen shops and izakayas are popping up left right and centre. They are pretty much invading our entire city! I'm not complaining nor exaggerating. Really ;)
Following the footsteps of Guu Izakaya / Sakabar, Kinton Ramen, Hapa Izakaya, and Ramen Raijin , Kingyo Toronto is yet another Japanese restaurant to descend upon us from Vancity. Opened last December in Cabbagetown and replacing the previous "Stonegrill on Winchester", this Toronto location is Kingyo's first outpost (side note: I'm glad Stonegrill is gone, that place was a complete disaster).
The sign above the restaurant's front entrance is the restaurant's name "Kingyo" written in Kanji (or Chinese Han characters). Kingyo means "goldfish".
Kingyo's (Twitter: @Kingyotoronto, Facebook: Kingyo Toronto) large space can accommodate up to 120 people; a welcoming change compared to other tiny ramen shops and izakayas in the city. Kingyo is spacious and cozy...thanks in part to the warm woods and tall banquettes.
Bright and fun, Pachinko machines from Japan are used as wall decor at Kingyo.
A view of the bar where my friend Jason and I had dinner.
A live "kingyo" on the table (anyone care for some sashimi? :D)
VANCOUVER FAMOUS CHEF SADA'S SEA URCHIN SHOOTER ($7.8)
Shiso, sticky Yamaimo yam, sea kelp, sushi rice, yuzu orange and sea urchin.
RED TUNA & BLACK TIGER PRAWN AVOCADO TARTAR ($10.8)
Wasabi flavoured tartar served with garlic toast
SPICY SOFT SHELL CRAB SUI CHOY SALAD ($11.8)
Spicy shell crab with sui choy, snap peas, dried okra & salty kelp
SALMON OYAKO BATTERA ($12)
West coast salmon & salmon roe "Oyako (family)" battera box sushi
PORK TANTAN RAMEN ($10)
Kingyo's original spicy pork ramen recipe
TSUKEMONO PICKLES ASSORTMENT ($6.8)
Assortment of daily rice bran pickles, house original kimuchi tomato and Osaka style spicy Oi kimuchi cucumber.
EBI-MAYO ($8.8)
Deep fried prawn with chili mayo sauce
UME SEAWEED HOTATE CARPACCIO ($10.8)
Scallop carpaccio with plum & seaweed sauce
A mini vase of fresh flowers and frozen grapes came with our bill. Very pretty and thoughtful!
Our favourites that night at Kingyo were the first three dishes, namely the sea urchin shooters, the tuna & prawn avocado tartare and the soft shell crab salad (although more dressing would've been nice). These three plates were polished, thoughtful, and beautifully presented (I would also add the Japanese Caesar and the assorted crisp pickles to my own "LIKE" list). Everything else afterwards were decent but nothing spectacular. We thought the salmon-to-rice ratio was off in the salmon & salmon roe sushi as there was way too much rice. The ramen had a great springy texture with a nice chewiness, and the broth was spicy and very tasty. However, the bowl falls way short in the meat department. There was not enough pork; any visible pork were tiny morsels of minced pork and very minimal (this is seriously a sharp contrast to the large pieces of pork shoulder / belly that usually comes with, well, pork ramen). Aside from the scallop carpaccio, we steered away from the sashimi - we simply weren't impressed by how all the fish looked. Typically, a sushi bar would showcase its finest selection of fresh fish with gleaming, shiny pieces of thick and delectable fillets and if you happen to be sitting at the bar, the pure sight of all the sashimi would be so visually appealing that it would make your mouth water. Both Jason and I however, did not get this feeling at all at Kingyo's kitchen bar. The sashimi just didn't look that enticing to us.
Despite the hit and misses at Kingyo, I still enjoyed our meal because, well, nothing was actually bad. With its large menu, I'm confident that I will find something else I like the next time I'm at Kingyo. Like I've said earlier, Kingyo's large space works in its favour and serves to differentiate itself from the other izakayas in Toronto (its "noise" level is very manageable as in, you can actually have a conversation with your friends without having to yell).
