Kinka Family strikes again! They brought in their izakya from Toronto in late 2014. This time around, they are bringing in another restaurant to Montreal from their Toronto playground. Ramen, yes! Kinton Ramen. Coming soon in 2016. I am very excited!

While waiting for that date to come, I was invited to try their tasting menu.

Before reading on, did you know that I went to Kinka 2 times before already and it is even on my 2015 restaurant list! Here are the links:

1. First visit
2. Second visit
3. Top 5 in 2015

Like usual, Kinka Izakaya was lively and loud, even on a Wednesday! Want a bit of action and recognition, just go there and it’ll boost your life energy quite a bit. Who needs coffee?

Alcohol is a great replacement, especially one that requires your own involvement. Because obviously I could then say “My drink tastes so much better now that I squeezed the right amount of grapefruit juice and pulp!” Yes, that was what I had that evening. It was called “Chu-High”. Made of what? Vodka, soda and my so well freshly squeezed grapefruit. (Actually, Mr. Butter helped me because obviously, my hand was too weak for this).

I know I know, you must be wondering what is that blue drink? It looks magical and it’s blue! Tokyo, but it tastes nothing like Tokyo. Maybe Okinawa beach with the taste of lychees.

Maguro Tataki was not the first time I ate at Kinka. Always delightful.

Karubi is grilled beef short ribs marinated with miso. It was addictive to eat, and don’t be shy and eat them with your fingers, because with chopsticks, the short rib might fly to your partner’s face. I’m not saying it happened, but it is very feasible. I could easily see Karubi pairing with beers.

Karaage is fried chicken marinated with soy sauce. These are some good friend chicken. Quite a reminiscent of Basak’s fried chicken. And you know how I love their fried chicken!

This had to be the most unappealing dish of the tasting menu. But, I learned in school that I should never judge a book by its cover. And this phrase never failed me. This grilled black cod, or on the menu is Gindara, is the tastiest dish of the menu. The fish was flaky, yet retained its moisture. It was flavourful too. If I had to choose one thing on the tasting menu, this is it!

Unagi bibimbap was the last meal before dessert. It seems like an Asian practice to serve noodles or rice last so it could fill up whoever hungers for more. This bibimbap was comfy food. But just like the last time I had it, I found there could be more pieces of unagi (or grilled eel) in the cast iron bowl.

Black sesame ice cream has to be one of my top favorite ice cream flavor, or simply top flavors for desserts. Really, can’t go wrong.

I don’t believe this tasting menu was the best tool to showcase Kinka Izakaya’s menu. If you are expecting more sashimi and sushi (or simply your palate is like me), my post here would help to show Kinka’s potential. However, this tasting menu does show how Kinka Izakaya menu can appeal to different masses, which I personally find this specific tasting menu does a great job at attracting American/Canadian palate.

Zuuchini