Kingyo Japanese Izakaya on Denman street has won many accolades in its short five year existence, including “Best Casual Japanese” Gold 4 years running at the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, slipping to Silver for the first time in 2011.
One visit to Kingyo certainly isn’t enough to get the full depth of the menu of small and shared plates, but it’s definitely enough to make you want to return for more.
Begin with a starter or salad, like the light but full-flavoured ‘Cha-Shu Rice Paper Roll’ – roasted pork, lettuce and cucumber wrapped in a rice paper on a thin sweet peppery mayo sauce.
Follow with small plates or share something from the seafood, meat, sashimi, sushi menus maybe adding on a rice or noodle dish.
We choose ‘Stone-grilled “Kakuni Bibimbap”‘ slow coked pork belly and Korean pickles on a bed of ‘Koshihikiri’ Rice served in a sizzling stone bowl. The intriguingly named ‘Our Famous Invincible and Undefeated Tan-Tan Noodle‘ made it a must try, the cashew pork and shrimp noodle broth had just the right amount of spicy flavour with0ut overpowering the sesame miso.
With so many options on the menu, a return visit or more is certainly in the cards. The daily specials, friendly staff and invitingly casual modern room make Kingyo a place to turn into a regular hang out.