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Category: Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Park SlopeUnion St (M, R)
Bergen St (2, 3)
7th Ave (Q, B)
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After a long day of sightseeing throughout Tribeca, SoHo and Manhattan one can work up a mean appetite. So, what do you do while walking along 5th Avenue in Brooklyn? Look at your many, many options for new dining experiences. I probably walked along this street for about 10 minutes with friends before we knew what we were craving. Talking for weeks about going out for sushi the meal choice was apparent. It doesn't take long before you are running into every different type of exotic food known to man. In previous reviews I've mentioned I have yet to understand the whole Asian Fusion Cuisine but I'm beginning to get my head around it. Or at least I think I am.
Here at KIKU you are treated to a tiny eatery, fancy decor, beautifully displayed food at moderate prices. Its sushi so you have to remember it's going to be pricey. I'm use to the sushi buffet at home where I can choose from many different types in front of me. But here you have to carefully read the descriptions from the menu and make a selection. Be bold! Try something inexpensive that you think you would like and keep an open mind. I'm partial to tuna sushi but I too ordered an appetizer of Duck Spring Roll that came with fries...FRIES?! Okay, that was different. Everything tasted great and there were no leftovers.
If I was a resident of this area I would come here frequently. The atmosphere was warm, charming and friendly. Being summer time the doors are wide open along with the only bay window. Seating is limited and looks like it can only seat maybe under 30 or 40 people.
First of all, it's empty on a Monday night. There were 2 parties when we came in. We were a party of five.
When we got inside, no one noticed us for a good 5 minutes. We ordered our food, everything seemed to be going fine, 2 more tables are filled. We are right next to the sushi making station, and it's been probably a good 45 minutes, and I notice that the 2-top at the window is served what looks to be our tray of sushi. And wait...that's weird, because I thought we ordered before them? But, you know, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. So then, the other 2-top is served their sushi, and they definitely sat down a good 15 minutes after we ordered.
At this point it's been an hour of us waiting for sushi, and it's obvious that something is up; however, when we question the waiter he says that it's coming. He doesn't offer any apology or explanation why the other two tables were served first, and even has a bit of an attitude about it.
We finally get our rolls (served on 2 different platters--if something didn't go wrong, then why separate platters?), and they are decent, but by that time I was starving and it didn't fill me up.
To sum it up: I'm never coming back here again. There are a myriad of restaurants on 5th avenue, and I'd rather go to one where they seem happy to have us.
Four stars for the food - we got the spicy tuna, California, salmon, Tempura Shrimp & Rainbow rolls. All were good, especially the Rainbow roll and the spicy tuna.
But the service! It was beyond bad. The server almost certainly brought our 5 rolls to a two person table that had come in about 5 minutes prior. I know this happens accidentally in busy restaurants, but there were 3 tables in the place and one server. Come on.
When we asked where our food was AFTER AN HOUR the waiter was very snippy and said it was 'coming.' Time continued to pass, sans sushi. The table next to ours had an issue with their bill which the waiter argued with them over, as we still waited for our food.
An hour and forty minutes later, our sushi arrived. As I said, it was good, but there is absolutely no way that it took them that long to make it, unless they were catching the fish fresh from a pond out back. Highly unlikely.
No apology, nothing comped, never coming back.
We didn't have the number for Kiku and wanted to know if they were open for brunch because Helios wasn't answering the phone. We called Kiku's other location asking for the 5th ave number and they told us there was no 5th ave restaurant. At that moment, we drove up to the 5th ave restaurant. Good thing too, because whoever answered that phone didn't know jack.
It's very appealing inside and the jazzy, hip dance music is to die for. I was feeling really mellow and wanted that playlist really bad.
The place is pretty clean except for when I picked up the soy sauce container and it was filled so high that my slightest tip forward sent black liquid all over the table and my jeans. Minus one star, Kiku.
The waitresses were very sweet and adhered to our needs like stars. They were great even though they can't fill soy sauce containers worth a damn.
The salad is the salad you always have everywhere you go. But the sushi was pretty good. Didn't change my life or anything, in fact the shrimp tempura roll fell apart and we had to eat it messy style. I hate eating rolls messy style. The spicy crispy white tuna roll was average. The salmon teriyaki box was okay with delicious shrimp shumai.
In my opinion, Kiku is a good enough place to go for your Japanese cuisine needs, especially at night when most of the other places in the area are too darn loud.
Okay bye.
One of the best sushi places I've tried. Particularly good for the East Coast, and not nearly as pricey as gawdy joints like Sushi Samba. Try the Angell Roll, it's fantastic. Their salmon is some of the freshest I can recall. I particularly liked their hamachi as well. Get a nice miso soup to go with your meal, a bottle of Asahi, and you are set. Come to think of it, a good cold beer goes better with sushi than probably any other food. Even chicken wings!
This place gives Taro Sushi a run for it's money. I think i might even prefer it over Taro. The salad dressing is much better here, and their tea is delicious. Their fish is great too.
I love their lunch specials -- very filling and affordable.
Very quaint restaurant with friendly staff. Really enjoyed dining here (during the cold months, however, it needs a buffer zone at the entrance to ward off the freezing temperatures, which I experienced sitting so close to the door as it opened and closed).
The food was quite delightful. Standouts include the golden dragon (eel with mango...yum!), fried calamari (lightly battered and served with an awesome peanut sweet chili and mango sauce), the miso glazed Chilean seabass (fantastic presentation and flavor), the kanpachi, and the king crab California roll...all accompanied by an iced cold Asahi made for a relaxing dinner. Thumbs up!
I should start by saying that if there were half stars, I would definitely give Kiku 3 1/2.
This is a great local option for fresh, fresh sushi presented very beautifully in a serene, friendly place.
I was most impressed by the unique starter we tried: a Lobster and Tuna dumpling. The lobster was presented in salad form, mixed with avocado crunchy and spicy mayonnaise. The salad was then carefully wrapped in raw tuna, which was executed in the traditional Chinese dumpling style (round and pleated at the top). The overall presentation was really beautiful: two glistening red dumplings were set on large leaves (grape leaves, I think), garnished with long chives and served with jalapeno mango salad and seaweed salad. The flavor of the appetizer was fresh, spicy, crunchy, and creamy all at once. I was quite enamored.
The sushi rolls were good (you could tell that they really knew how to cut and present their fish). I also ordered a shrimp stir fry that was, unfortunately, pretty bland and kind of soggy (Pepper Corn Shrimp: avoid).
Overall, a good place. $53 for an appetizer, two entrees (big), tea, and tip.
I'm a fan of their delivery. I ordered 5 rolls which came to 22$. They took my credit card over the phone and they delivered in about 30 min. The sushi was fresh and good for the price. They packed it very neatly with all the needed fixings. Also they threw in a fruit cup for a finishing touch. I will order from Kiku again. I recommend the tuna/avocado roll, the eel/avocado roll, and the spicy crunchy salmon roll. Don't get the california roll, it was blah.
Finally ate IN this restaurant last night and had a pretty good time. I'm a big fan of the hot sake, hot tea and the hot towelettes, especially in 16-degree weather. One complaint. They put us by the door that kept opening and closing (brrr) when we were only one of two parties in the establishment). Uh...why?
Everyone enjoyed their food--Village Roll, Spicy Tuna, Hibachi Chicken, etc.
And one of their male waiters is one of the hottest Asian specimens I've ever seen in my life.
I've gotten delivery from here about a half dozen times, though I've never been in the actual… Read more »
With outposts on Smith, 5th and 7th, Kiku has somewhat of an inescapable presence in south Brooklyn! Fortunately, the 5th Ave location sets a good precedent. Sunday lunch was easy-breezy with patio windows wide open and friendly $8.50 lunch specials (entree, soup/salad, cali roll, shumai, edamame). The beef teriyaki has great texture, not dry at all, though I'm not crazy about the strong honey flavor in the sauce. I could've done without the shrimp tempura rolls, but the spicy crunchy white tuna roll was great. Chalk another notch on 5th Ave for another great lunch find! (3.5 stars)
With about a hundred sushi places within walking distance of my apartment, this is THE ONE.
They have lots of delicious vegetable rolls, and don't upcharge you for asking for brown rice. The sweet potato tempura roll, and the shitaaki-cucumber rolls are so amazing, I want to marry them. I'm vegan, so I can't vouch for any of the fish here - but the veggies are always fresh.
The prices here are great too, it's a nice little date spot!
It's my new "local"... soooo good. I thought after a few recommendations, we had found our new Park Slope sushi joint, but my last one to try was "kiku". This is why you should always try and try again. Just when something is good, two doors down, its better and named Kiku. Luckily, I now have my 5 star rating now, and this is my new neighborhood spot that will get me back every time I need a yummy, fabulous raw piece of fish. =)
Oh, and did I mention their presentation is freaking fantastic? So colorful and fun - I hate the places with beautiful plates and no taste. Kiku backs it up...
I've only done the lunch special here, but it was an insane amount of food, delivered for cheaply and quickly. One of my favs for when I'm at Viva Radio (in the Flatbush American Apparel). I usually get the sushi or sashimi lunch which comes with a bunch of bites of things which I can never finish alone. The fish is fresh enough to be recommended. Not sure if it's worth it for dinner, however.
After reading Yelp reviews to determine which sushi spot in Park Slope I wanted to go to with a few friends, I decided on Kiku, and I'm so happy that I did. The food here was fantastic. The miso soup was delicious (not overly salty like many places), the avocado roll must've had an entire avocado in it! The hot sake was very reasonably priced (and really hit the spot!). My friends had nothing but great things to say about their food (they ordered an atlantic roll, unagi, and shumai) The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating, the bathroom is lovely, the interior has a great vibe, and the wet hand cloths we received upon entering really left a great impression on our group. I would totally recommend this spot, and look forward to returning :)
Have you ever heard of the saying, "the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach"? well, this restaurant proves that the saying rings true for females too; i give myself as exhibit A.
I don't know what it was: the intimate yet modern decor, the fact that 2-person groups were given 4-person tables despite a wait for a table, or the unexpected satisfaction with the Japanese dishes with an adventurous edge suitable for the Americanized palate. Whatever it was, this place had me at hello.
The lobster tuna dumplings were RIDICULOUS. Practically palm-sized, each "dumpling" was wrapped in a thin tuna skin, bulged from the crunchy lobster inside, and boasted a confetti of caviar. The Ocean Rolls were Japanese style fried goodness: shrimp, scallop and lobster rolled up and fried. The sashimi appetizer revealed several buttery cuts of tuna and salmon, beautifully presented with 2 cucumber "bowls" offering a raw and cooked seafood salad of sorts.
Sushi/sushimi a la carte was forgettable, but the rolls we ordered were perfectly constructed (salmon skin and tuna). Good sake prices.
This is not your typical traditional Japanese place, so don't walk in expecting omakase or even to sit at the sushi bar. This is fusion, not traditional. Oh yeah, and if you arrive before 8pm on a weeknight and beat the crowd, beware of sitting at the first table next to the cute waiting area - people WILL be drooling over your food!
My cousin lives in L.A .and is out for a visit. We decided to meet up with friends who have a a year and a half old son. The ambiance is great. Dark benches and chairs are contrasted with luminescent candles.
The wait staff attended to us right away. However, be prepared for them to come back often if you are unfamiliar with the menu and aren't ready to order right away.
The prices are quite affordable. I had the avocado salad which had more avocado then I was prepared for. It felt like 3 avocados worth were sitting on top of a small bed of greens. I shared it with my friends because it was a bit much for one person. My cousin ordered a plate of a variety of seafood, I'm not sure what it was called but I devoured his eel. It was fresh and had great texture. I'd definitely go back, there is more I want to try. Besides, it was easy on the pocket book, I spent less than $20 bucks.
That's rare for a night in Park Slope.
Old people love lunch specials.
Good neighborhood option; not worth a trip in its own right.
I'd stick to the sushi/sashimi and the classic Japanese main courses. I'm a big fan of their unagi (eel), which is a hard dish to get right and prepare properly. Their seasoning is some of the best I've tasted. But the rice -- the real heart of any Japanese meal -- isn't all it should be. Great Japanese rice should be slightly sticky; outside of the rolls/sushi, Kiku's sometimes tilts too far in the direction of Chinese rice. (a heinous offense!)
Good, relaxing place for a meal that's a cut above, but not outstanding.
We wandered in as three hungry travelers en route to a birthday party. We wanted to eat quickly as we were already late, and figured sushi was relatively quick. Well, in that sense, yes, it was quick, as they were closing and basically shoved us food and then the check. One and a half stars off for how rushed we were, basically.
The presentation was fantastic, and the food overall was quite good. I got the tuna tartar, which tasted a bit fishy. The green lady roll, however, compensated for that very quickly! Spicy tuna wrapped in avocado was heavenly.
Maybe I should return for one of their yummy looking lunch specials, or some time not directly before closing, and the service will be less rushed. One of the waitresses took the plate out from under my friend's chopsticks as he lifted the last piece of sushi to his mouth. Come on now, at least let us finish chewing before you grab our wallets and kick us out the door!
Since I don't eat fish, I typically order veggie rolls when it's time for sushi. Kiku wins the veggie roll challenge!!! Peanut and avocado roll? Yes please! A roll with spinach and tomato? Yum.
Great little spot. Can't wait to try more rolls. I'm thinking that this will be one of take-out staples.
5th Avenue Kiku is fantastic! I've been eating sushi/sashimi here and in Japan for 30 years, (well, one summer in Japan!!;-) and mirabile dictu, this is some of the best I've ever had.
Freshness of fish, honest but beautiful presentation, and decent price all add up to one of my favorite sushi places of all time!
1-09-09
On a recent visit, everything had changed--probably w/the current economic situation, what used to be a trough of chirashi sushi is now a Las Vegas lit plate with a lot of shredded daikon. Other plates a little more white space showing too. . .
I shalt not cheat on Taro again.
Kiku is good though, small, pretty atmosphere - friendly servers, inventive mix of Thai and Japanese fusion cusine.
I had the special house roll, the Kiku, a delightful mix of Chilean sea basss tempura, spicy mayo, lettuce and ginger. It was a little TOO rich for me though, and I found myself painfully stuffed on less than one roll.
Perhaps that is a good thing, though, considering the roll was about a gjillion calories. I think I am best to stay to the traditional stuff.
I've been dreading my first New York sushi experience. Will my nightmares be realized, leaving me adrift in a city sea of mediocre fish? Will I manage my once-a-week sushi fix as I've done in San Francisco for the past three or more years?
For now, my sushi fears can take a back seat to more pressing ones, like finding an apartment, place to work, etc. Kiku treated me to freshness on par with your average San Francisco joint. I was even delighted to find a few new things on the menu, like sushi pizza and pepper tuna nigiri. (The latter turned out to be just what it sounds like: tuna with pepper on it. I don't know why I expected something more inventive).
Kiku didn't blow my mind, but it sure was a nice meal. Now I'm setting my sights on finding a place to really compete with my favorite SF spots. And who knows--Kiku might just be that place, but I'll need to give it a few more goes to find out.
Not to be confused with the evil Kiku of 7th Avenue (unrelated), Kiku is an incredible sushi restaurant to have in your neighborhood. Small, nothing too fancy, but great. Make sure you try the 'Kiku Roll' (cooked Chilean sea bass with fried onions and spicy mayo) as well as the 'Kiku's Spicy Tuna Roll' which has a ton of tuna in it and on top. Also, they barely mark up their small bottles of sake. I believe Ohyama is sold for $10 at the nearby wine shop and only $11 at Kiku.
Obviously I can't compare this to every sushi restaurant in the New York Area, but I love everything about it.
Ended up at Kiku again last night, seems that we go there at least once a week. Really love the atmosphere, the service is usually good but last night it was great, and I love their specialty rolls, especially the Valentine roll. It's so nice with the yummy yellowtail on top and the sweet, crisp apple slice rolled inside. There is nothing better...
Well maybe that's an overstatement as the salmon avocado asparagus miso salad is also amazing. What more can I say about it, the miso dressing is the perfect spicy/sweet compliment to the salmon, avocado and asapargus, I highly recommend it.
Great fish for the price. I couldn't find a deal like this in San Francisco, but this place is great -- it's right around the corner from where I live, AND they deliver outside Park Slope.
I've only done take-out and delivery here, but I've never gone back to a sushi place as often as I have to Kiku on Fifth. The one on Seventh is a little too scene-y for me; I like these hole-in-the-wallish places and Kiku fits the bill. Even if I'm getting the order to go, the lady who owns the place is more than happy to offer me a glass of water and chat about the day.
My one quibble? "Spicy tuna" isn't really all that spicy. But then again New York seems to be afraid of spicy.
The lunch special is a great bargain. For under $10 you can have fantastic sushi. What else would you want?
I'm excited about becoming a regular customer here. It's a nice spot when I'm in the mood for Japanese.
What started as an occasional indulgence in the $7 lunch special has quickly turned into a 4-days-a-week obsession with the even better $8 lunch special. And weekends. . . I'm lucky if I make it through the weekend without dropping $30 for home delivery.
I bought 4 pounds of edamame from the grocery store to try and curb my Kiku cravings, but it's not the same. I yearn for the salty satisfaction that only Kiku edamame gives me and I dream of that first beautiful bite of the succulent spicy crunchy shrimp roll.
Kiku is the gateway drug for sushi addiction.
On New Year's Eve, we were looking for somewhere low-key to grab a bite to eat after a day of recuperating from the previous night's partying. All of Park Slope, it seemed, had the same idea, and so all the mainstay eateries were packed to the gills. Kiku stood out as the only place that had good reviews and no wait for dinner.
Unfortunately, we quickly found out why there was no wait: there's really nothing worth waiting for here.
The decor is your typical Ikea-ish sushi bar chic: nothing much of interest there. The waitstaff were friendly, but too obtrusive.
The food was the real downfall though. Edamame and seaweed salad to start were enjoyable, but there's obviously not much to that. When our sushi arrived, however, we discovered the place's limitation. My dining companion's tuna sashimi was rubbery, and she set it aside after one bite. All the rolls were made inside-out style, and there was far too much rice, which was overdone and mushy. The avocado cucumber roll was bland, the avocado peanut roll (somehow) mushy and dripping with liquid, and the vegetable tempura roll was inexpertly made. The one nice roll was the shitake cucumber roll, which was tasty and much better made than the rest.
Tea and sake were both great, but they didn't make up for the subpar sushi. I've been led to believe that JPan is the better 5th Avenue option, so that's where I'll be going next time.
My favorite sushi place in all of NYC. Creative rolls, fresh fish, good service, and not extremely expensive. The regular standard rolls are fine, but Kiku really shines with their special menu items.
My favorite items are the green lady and the angel roll. These are to die for.
Kiku is small and has a hip, intimate feel. I think this is a good spot for a small group or a date. The sushi and sashimi is excellent, and extremely fresh tasting. There is a good combination of traditional rolls and creative 'special' rolls.
The service was very good. My friend and I were even offered hot towels... TWICE!
The Spicy Crunchy Shrimp roll comes with the highest recommendations!!
ehhhhh, it wasn't that great. The words that came to our minds after eating here was expensive and boring. The rolls were uneven in size and my friend got a chicken hibachi that was really uneventful. Won't be coming back here, sorry.
My boyfriend and I are regular customers here. It's a tiny space, but the sushi is consistently delicious. I often like to bring guests here too.
Never a fishy smell, always tasty fish. Not outrageously creative, but excellent delivery of standard rolls and pieces. Great prices (the two of us always have a solid dinner including drinks for around $50).
I consider myself a regular here and have never had a negative experience.
Kiku for specialty rolls....Taro for everything else. Nuff said.
My faves are the Kiku Roll (you will feel fat after you eat this...but its so tasty and worth it!) and Valentine Roll (i love the apple! adds a nice sweetness).
ooh also the veggie rolls are good too...peanut avocado, sweet potato
I love that they deliver to Boerum Hill
Never been disappointed.
I live around the corner so in addition to eating out at this place, I order in. The food is ALWAYS fresh - Fish and Veggie Rolls. Normal rolls such as Alaska, California are priced very well. The special rolls aren't very inexpensive - but worth it! Plus, they do brown rice sushi with NO upcharge! Salad and soup are pretty good too...
No bad sushi here, or at the other Kiku on 7th b/t 11th & 12th. Reasonably priced for beautiful rolls (and gorgeous, thoughtful presentation).. the entrees were great too--esp. the soba and the hibachi steak. The chocolate bomb is a great dessert too. Excellent, attentive service. Nice atmosphere too (sometimes a little too heavy on the techno, but it's fairly quiet). I'm always game for this place.
This is my new favorite sushi place for delivery. It's very reasonably priced and so fresh and yummy. The Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll is amazing, I could have it every day. I often order the Sashimi Regular and each time it comes with different fish. It's always great, but I guess this means I can request the fish I prefer. I think the miso soup is the best I've ever had. They even give some fruit with dinner, to cleanse the palate, which is a nice touch.
My lunch delivery today arrived very fast, but dinner deliveries haven taken about 45 minutes. I live maybe 5 blocks away, so that's a little frustrating. Now I know not to bother if I'm starving.
This is one of my local places for take-out/delivery sushi. In fact, I've never actually eaten in the restaurant! They have some fun, inventive rolls, as well as more standard rolls, nigiri and sashimi. We've tried a number of rolls, including those wrapped with very thinly sliced cucumber instead of seaweed. I thought it gave the rolls a different kind of freshness, but not sure I'd order it all the time. It'd good and different though. The miso soup with mushrooms is good too.
Service on the phone (delivery) and in the restaurant (take-out) has always been efficient, and delivery has always been quick. All in all, many good experiences in my book!
Good lunch special. Not too pricey for take-out dinner. Good sushi rolls. Solid and in p-slope. Go for it.
like Aly W, i too felt like i was cheating on my usual sushi spot (for me it's yamato) when i ate here. as bad as i feel about that, i'm relieved to be able to say that i am now in a more educated position to declare that yamato is superior.
don't misunderstand, the food at kiku was good, it was decently priced, and i have no complaints about the service. but it wasn't outstanding food and the prices at my aforementioned favorite are only a buck or two higher -- and well worth it, in my opinion.
i might've given this restaurant 4 stars if it wasn't so close to other and better sushi restaurants. but it is, and so i don't think i'll be going back anytime soon.
10% off for Yelpers!
Neighborhood: Fort Hamilton
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Jersey City, NJ
Neighborhood: Windsor Terrace
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Windsor Terrace
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Japanese
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