5/6/23 - KIN Craft Ramen & Izakaya
16185 Brookhurst St.
Fountain Valley, CA
92708
If I walk into a restaurant an hour after it opens on a Saturday afternoon and there’s a wait for lunch, chances are it’s going to be a good spot. Kin Izakaya was one of those places. I gave my friend four or five restaurant options. He’d already been to all of them. He said Kin Izakaya was great, so that settled it. It sits in a large strip mall, along with several other Kei Concepts restaurants. With many of these restaurants rooted in Asian cuisine, Kin Izakaya is Kei’s take on ramen and Japanese bar food.
As we walked in, I notice the brightly lit interior and open floor plan. It’s lively, modern, and bustling, but not chaotic. Wooden tables, track lighting, and an open kitchen give you a nice view of what’s to come. The wait wasn’t long, maybe five minutes. Their cocktail list was unique, with drinks ranging from an Ube Colada with rum-infused sake to a Sakura Sour, with cherry blossom tequila-infused sake. Cocktails are generally my go-to, but I opted for a beer. We both ordered the Japanese Lager by Harland Brewing in San Diego. Similar to a Sapporo or Asahi, but not as dry and mildly sweeter. Perfect on a hot day like this one. It was refreshing.
For our appetizers, we sprang for edamame and the chicken karaage. The edamame was nothing to write home about. Steamed, but with no flavoring, not even salt. I didn’t expect any soy garlic sauce or something since the menu didn’t mention it, but you gotta salt your edamame. They were also dry. After a few, I was done. Don’t get these. The chicken karaage made up for them, though. This was some of the best I’ve ever had. The batter was reminiscent of Korean fried chicken. It had a great crunch. The pieces were noticeably larger than what I generally see when I order chicken karaage. I bit one of them in half and looked inside. There was no excess fat, gristle, or cartilage. It was all tasty chicken thigh. It came with a side of Dijon mayo. Slightly tangy and slightly sweet, it made for a great pairing.
Soon after our appetizers came, our ramen arrived. Way too soon. I appreciate quick service, but I also like pacing myself and not feeling like a cog in a machine, being rushed through my meal. Given how busy they were, this must be how they go through so many customers in a day. I wasn’t ready for it, but the ramen was sitting in front of me so I dug in. I love spice, so I opted for the spicy miso ramen with chashu pork belly. It came with standard ramen toppings: bean sprouts, menma, green onions, and cabbage. And a shoryu egg, of course. Mildly sweet with a gel-like center. The perfect soft-boiled egg.
The first sip of ramen was super meaty. This was the most pork-forward ramen I’ve ever had. And that’s not a bad thing. It made for a unique flavor. This was less miso and more pork, but not overwhelmingly so. And for the spiciest ramen on the menu, I’d say the spice level was just right. Enough to enjoy, but you don’t feel like you’re eating it for sport. The pork was juicy, tender, and flavorful. The fat which circled its way through the meat enhanced the flavor but wasn’t overpowering. It came with three pieces, which was enough, considering I just ate a bowl of chicken karaage.
If you’re looking for a new ramen spot, Kin is worth trying. They’re not reinventing the wheel. Just offering quality ramen. Order one of those drinks from the cocktail menu and let me know how they are. If I go back, I’ll have to try one… or five. Kin Izakaya was a fantastic first impression of Kei Concepts restaurant group and I’m already looking forward to my next meal with them.