(TEMPORARY?) COVID-19 CLOSURE - Kiku Sushi (Japanese)

Update 2021-Aug.-28: Sadly, Kiku has been closed since at least May 2020, as evidence by the photo showing a foreclosure notice affixed to the front door. Google Maps still shows it as being "Temporarily" but I doubt it's that; Kiku's phone # is also out of service. I am therefore removing it from the active list, and will follow up periodically and restore it should it return to AYCE status.

Kiku Sushi is located at 808 York Mills Road at Leslie in an outdoor mall. Kiku appears to be related to “Sushi Kiku” in Thornhill which we have reviewed as it has the same stylized lotus-flower logo, but its name is reversed. Kiku uses iPad menus, and unfortunately disposable chopsticks so we brought our own as usual. Kiku’s interior is modern with booths and benches in addition to regular seating. Soy sauce at table is all green-lid low-sodium, and actually tasted like it; it was fresh and flavorful. AYCD pop is available for $1.69.

Miso soup was good but a bit muted... at least it was fresh. Beef sukiyaki soup was both similarly quite tasty but also a little bit muted, possibly just dilute, but I still enjoyed it. Mishy said the wakame salad was pretty much the same as other places. Seaweed soup was quite good, resembling the beef sukiyaki without the beef. Mishy described the beef ramen soup as average though I liked it and it was a bit spicy. House dressing salad (yes, it is actually called that) was good in an original dressing although like the sauce for the scallops later it was slightly confused but not to the same degree.

Shrimp tempura was not very light and flaky, but was also not oily and quite good, and the dipping sauce was excellent. Yam and mushroom tempura were similarly good. Orange peel chicken was very good with a nice flavor, the sauce being somewhat better than the chicken itself, and we enjoyed it. Chicken teriyaki was quite good in a not sweet sauce highlighted with black pepper, which worked well and we both enjoyed it. Sirloin steak was a wonderful and welcome addition to the lunch menu; the sauce really didn't do it justice but the meat itself was fantastic. Garlic teppanyaki sirloin was even better because of salty garlicky sauce which brought the flavor... another wonderful lunch item. Breaded shrimp was very good and the sauce was delicious. Breaded scallops AKA surimi were good but the sauce, although flavorful, was a bit confused as to what it wanted to be.

Mishy's favorite salmon rose was present which is very welcome, and it was good although it was loosely put together and fell apart easily so beware. Salmon nigiri was good and fresh and did not have the same issue with the rice. Red snapper AKA tilapia had a slight fishy odour, but was still fresh enough and tasty. Albacore tuna nigiri so-called was the same escolar that other restaurants call butterfish, however it was fresh and good. Crab aka surimi nigiri was good, although it was very slightly less than fresh. Surf clam nigiri was very good, good texture and very fresh.

For dessert, Mishy loved the chocolate ice cream so much she ordered seconds and thirds. Strawberry ice cream was very good and fresh with bits of real strawberry. Red bean had that amazing flavor that I love and so many do not have. Mango ice cream was also amazingly tasty and wonderful. I agreed with Mishy that the chocolate ice cream was fantastic. Vanilla and green tea ice cream were both good, as was banana tempura. Weekend lunch was $19.75 and it was a very good value for this in comparison to other places, considering the presence of the sirloin dishes and salmon rose on the lunch menu. A 10% service charge is added to the bill; I don't mind this anymore as then it's my tip (and less than I would give usually.) With some mild shortcomings, we had a very good lunch and would return.


Rating: 8.5/10