Yukiita
Gourmet friend's birthday celebration, where should we go? With too many options to choose from, I decided to try something different and went for a Mexican Birthday celebration. Located in a quiet residential area about a 10-minute walk from Ebisu Station, this stylish creative Mexican restaurant is run by Chef Taiichi Kiya, who trained at "American Clubhouse," Ebisu's Italian restaurant "Ikra" (now known as "Hare"?) and "i-table." The restaurant opened on August 1, 2018. The name "KIYA" is spelled as is, named after Chef Kiya. I wanted to enjoy a conversation with the chef, so even though it was my first visit, I requested a seat at the counter. The counter at this restaurant is spacious, so you don't have to worry about being too close to others. I recommend sitting at the central kitchen counter to interact with the chef. The course consists of only one chef's omakase course. This time, I also asked for the alcohol pairing. First, we started with a warm soup that was quite spicy, with tomato soup topped with chicharron (pork skin crackers). Next, we had fresh bonito with avocado sauce and fermented tomato sauce, followed by Tostadas - crispy fried tortillas with toppings. The Carnitas Tacos (pork tacos) were delicious, as expected. The Foie Gras and Mango Tacos were a luxurious treat, with creamy foie gras and sweet mango. The Beef dish didn't leave much of an impression. The Charcoal-Grilled dish featured a variety of meats, allowing us to compare the flavors and textures. The pasta, a Mexican-style spicy pasta, was enjoyable. We ended with a homemade pudding and tequila. The wine pairings were Grape Republic Dela Fritzante 2018, Domaine de Bellevue Muscadet Granit Les Perrieres, Suiemon sake from Iwate, and Pino Rose 2017 from Hokkaido. The owner chef Kiya, chef Sato, and Carlos (who is still learning Japanese) make a great team, creating a welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant is so cozy that I ended up having a great time chatting with two cute girls sitting next to me. For first-time customers, they serve a course menu to ensure you have a variety of experiences, but regulars can simply order "5 tacos!" It's a place where you can have a lot of fun.