Kota’s Kitchen, Shanghai

まいど Kota’s Kitchen Maido 徐汇区斜土路2905号(近零陵路) 2905号 Xietu Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, China +86 21-64812005 www.kotaskitchen.com

Kota’s is a small yakitori restaurant near the Shanghai Stadium. This establishment combines the western culture of the Beatles with the traditional Japanese setting. This cozy place bring intimacy with the patrons and the friendly interactive staff.

A favorite of friends, Kota’s does simple yakitori well without the unnecessary flair. The menu has pages of skewers, mostly of chicken, with a couple of bowl offerings of rice and ramen. Their extensive sake and shochu selection warrants at least another look. You’ll notice on the wall all the saved bottles of loyal customers. Western restaurants and bars don’t offer a bottle saving service, where it is a common place at Asian ones.

The more popular skewers for the western palate include chicken breast, chicken wings, and quail egg. While the more authentic ones, though not for the squeamish, include chicken gizzard, chicken heart, chicken liver, and beef tongue. The appeal of the traditional ones include not only taste, but texture and mouth feel. Personally, I am not a big fan.

The non-skewers that we got included the chicken meatball with quail egg, the mackerel, and ramen. The meatball was quite good with the surprise hardboiled quail egg. This was one of my favorites. The mackerel was a unique presentation with the torch flame searing and cooking the fish in front of us. The taste was different as well. I like it, but I am pretty sure not everyone would. The ramen, was also quite yummy. The broth was light and flavorful. The noodles were of the right texture. And it was just right. I hope to find a decent ramen house – with this quality of ramen, here in Shanghai, soon.

Anyways…I hope to return again. Another good thing about Kota’s is that they aren’t the All-You-Can-Eat type of place. I tend to believe that AYCE’s quality of food and ingredients can’t match the non-AYCE’s, like Kota’s. Also, one last note, make sure you get reservations, cause this place is small and fills up fast.

What to Order: Any of the Sakes or Shochu’s. I hear that the owners has his own home-brewed sake – so he knows his alcohols. Make sure you also get the ramen. What not to Order: Almost everything at Kota’s is great. But I wouldn’t order the chicken cartilage, again.

Rating 3 Pigs Price Range 2 $/¥/NT

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