There’s a new arrival in town that’s set to shake up the CBD dining scene going by the name of Kid Kyoto, an upcoming Japanese restaurant from the people behind uber popular inner city restaurants Méjico and Indu.
Opening for lunch and dinner on Bridge Lane later this spring, the vibe of Kid Kyoto will be a nod to informal, izakaya-style dining, with food that’s inspired by “the rocking sounds of the '80s and '90s – cue Nirvana, Radiohead and Beck”. Seriously, they're using the grungy soundtrack of your youth to inspire their cooking.
Seb Gee (China Doll, China Diner) has been named as head chef, but apart from that operators Sam Prince Hospitality Group (Méjico, Indu) are being coy with the specifics, which means we’re left to our imaginations regarding what food inspired by Gen X rock bands might look like. Will they only be serving the angstiest kingfish in the tank? Will there be oblique references to Björk lyrics in every dish name?
If the group’s other ventures are anything to go by, we’re likely to see familiar staples made with Australian ingredients and given a modern twist. At vibey Mexican joint Méjico they’re topping ocean trout tacos with pickled watermelon-blood orange salsa, yuzu and thyme yoghurt, while over at South Indian fusion eatery Indu they’re grilling fish with a native bush masala. One dish they have revealed at Kid Kyoto is an “udon noodle”, that on closer inspection turns out to be sous-vided squid, cut into strips and served with a smoked tomato dashi. They’re cooking by their own rules.
The à la carte menu will consist of raw seafood dishes and share plates, while a traditional charcoal robata will be pumping out slow-grilled meats. There’ll also be an omakase menu, which takes ordering out of your hands and leaves it in the hands of the chef.
There’s certainly no shortage of Japanese restaurants in Sydney, but if the food is as fun and inventive as it is at Méjico and Indu, and the ambience as relaxed and buzzy, Kid Kyoto is set to be a welcome addition to suit-and-tie-heavy Wynyard.
If nothing else, it means that there’ll be an easy plan B down the street for all the punters who give up waiting in line for Mr Wong.
Kid Kyoto will open for lunch and dinner on Bridge Lane later this spring.
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