My time at Kimika was truly special, cross cultural experience in cuisine worth to have. Incredible and balance taste. Chef Christine brings technic and taste Into a unique journey of culinary.

+2

Amazing service and atmosphere ! Fabulous food ! Asked for a side of honey to go with pizza , and they kindly gave it to me. Amazing experience :)

+1

Great service! And amazing food! Good attention to detail with gluten free items and overall atmosphere was great too! We will return when back to NYC - thanks Tony G for the rec!

drinks were very delicious! staff was very knowledgeable about the menu. very excited to come back. would recommend the soy butter bigoli and the uni bread! the soft serve was great with the nice crunch :)

+1

Amazing food with complex flavors. Great service. Definitely recommend the Hamachi collar, Scallops and Apple Pie. Thank you Roberto for exceptional service & recommendations!

+2

You must be open minded to having an eating experience. Your taste buds are awoken as the dishes are full of flavor. Each dish is thoughtfully created. We had the fillet of bronzino. This night it was a whole fish filleted & gently bread and lightly fried. Tender and moist with a crunch. Served with two dipping sauces. As an appetizer we had the ahi tuna bowl. It comes in the bowl deconstructed, you mix it then enjoy on thin sheets of seaweed. We shared a truffle pasta dish which the kitchen was able to plate for two. This made it easier, instead of dividing it at the table. Not your typical Japanese or Italian restaurant but rather a typical NYC dining adventure.

+3

It was a fantastic outdoor brunch at Kimika on a sunny winter day - this is the right way to kick off a nice Sunday. The brunch started with an interesting mocktail - peach, basil and yuzu, which wasn’t very peachy, but the merry of basil and yuzu was enjoyable. Fig and prosciutto, spiced up with mint leaves, was a great starter. For entrees, we had baked farm eggs and porchetta panini. Both of them are amazing delicious. The bake eggs was an Italian/Korean style Shakshuka. It was a bit salty without the bread, but I enjoyed the powered up spicy cabbage with sweet sausage! The porchetta had the right amount of fat and was balanced very well with Chinese broccoli - How creative it was. The waiter was asking if we want to order matcha mochi French toast for dessert even at the first beginning. It must be good then, right? It was such a popular dish that almost very table get it. Of course, we have to go with the flow and I love the matcha mochi with citrus syrup. The staff was also very accommodating and let my friend and me park the bike and scooter inside of the restaurant. The food was so great that both of us were food coma and almost forgot the bike and the scooter. Lol~

+6

Not sure why the ratings aren't higher. Amazing and quite unique Japanese/Italian fusion. The mixed drinks are also top notch. The whole spot is connected to a hotel, which makes the ambiance a better but slightly more uneasy while inside. Will definitely be back!

+1

Excellent food - exceeded our expectations. The edamame was the best I’ve ever had - sounds simple, but it was great. The Branzino and scallop dish were also so flavorful. Our server Roberto was so kind and friendly, but also knowledgeable, and professional. The entire staff was incredible. Great vibe in the joint as well. Highly recommend.

The best!! Justin and team were so incredibly kind and we were so well taken care of. The food was out of this world and the service was unmatched. We will absolutely be back. You have to get the carbonara

I came for the name and stayed because it's wonderful. The first question on being seated was whether there are allergies to be aware of, and such care was taken to make sure I could eat everything. The staff are friendly and attentive, the drinks are beautiful, and the food beautifully presented and truly delicious.

Been trying to find a good time to dine at the this place for awhile and I was very impressed. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience from begining to end. Tuna tartar was a must have. Branzino was perfectly cooked (loved the lemons and various seafoods in and around it). Broccoli was so tasty. Ended the meal with the lovely Yakult soft serve. Also had the roe spaghetti and crispy beans!

+2

My first outdoor dining experience since lockdown at Kimika. There was a buzz in town that a Japanese-Italian Spot was going to join the Nolitan Hotel and no better spot than Kenmare & Elizabeth St, and led by the team that brought Wayla to LES. It was nice to see the space being occupied once again. My friend was there already so we got seated promptly & greeted by the friendly staff that were definitely smiling behind their mask. The outdoor dining had a homey interiors, a very comfortable and minimal design that goes well with the fusion place and whole area. The menu design was clear and had all the main ingredients listed, but moving on from aesthetics to the drinks and food menu [To be continued]

+2

Great experience first time dining here with a couple of friends. The food was outstanding, especially the uni pasta and rice cake lasagna. Excellent cocktails as well. One of the people in our group is celiac and our server was very thorough with making sure what she selected to eat was gluten free.

Absolutely delicious. We got Di Palo's burrata, truffle carbona, & steak cut fries. Service was great, shout out to Roberto for being a great waiter for our party

One of the most innovative and interesting meals I have had in a while! Every dish had such great flavor! Chef Christine really is outstanding! Can’t wait to go back again!

+6

Great spot overall- food was delicious and I’m really glad I snagged this reservation. Great drink menu with unique options and food highlights include the steak, the soy bignoli and the truffle carbonara pasta dishes. The flavors really popped! Service was great- Kara helped us and definitely helped us navigate through the menu

Our server Kara was so attentive! She overheard us not loving the drinks we ordered and came over to offer to change our drinks. The rigatoni and soy bigoli was very good and flavorful. The truffle carbonara was also very good but for my preferences, would have preferred more salt or cheese! Overall, I enjoyed the meal and experience.

Like others, this was our first proper dinner reservation since covid started. Kimika of course is well prepared with attentive mask wearing staff and hand sanitizer at your tables. Their drink menu impressed us as it actually had cocktails, low abv drinks and mocktails. Its nice to have the option of not getting bombed at dinner. Pros- The mind blowing tuna tartare and rice cake lasagna are reasons to live another day. Cons- Because the other dishes were exceptional, I found myself underwhelmed by the dry peaches and prosciutto, slightly dull Summer Squash pizzette and the cheesecake was more like angel cake. Overall a great experience. I'd prefer to give these guys 4.5 stars but that tuna tartare makes up for any flaws.

+1

Came here to celebrate a friend's wedding. Food was good, especially the soy butter bigoli. The scallops were cooked perfectly and very decadent. The waiters were kind and helpful, taking their time to make it a special moment for us.

We really enjoyed our experience at Kimika. The cocktails were amazing - unique with great flavors. I loved the kaga milk punch, shishitorita and the unami in kenmare. Dishes are a fusion of Japanese flavors in Italian style dishes, such as the sticky rice arancini served on a Japanese curry sauce. Other menu highlights were the tuna tartare, hamachi collar, truffle carbonara, rigatoni, and the steak. Dont miss the yakult soft serve for dessert! Staff were very friendly and helpful with recommendations. We were seated in a back room which felt private with so much space on the large tables.

+6

Absolutely adding to my favorite restaurant list. We had dinner for my husband’s birthday. Went with him and his mom. All staff were super nice and attentive. Me and my husband ordered uni toast, burrata and cavatelli to share. God. All of them were so delicious. Uni toasts were beyond my expectations. Burrata came with this wantan like thin bread (like pizza) which was super tasty. Cavatelli was good as well. My mother in law ordered soy butter bigoli which they substituted for olive oil as she couldn’t l eat diary, which was also delicious. The only thing I have to mention that it seemed the kitchen was backed up and our food took a little longer to come out. BUT all staff were aware of it and made sure we were still taken care of, which made up for it. (Which is only reason why I didn’t give 5 stars to food) But overall staff were all great, tastes were spot on and we will DEFINITELY go back.

+1

I always love coming to Kimika! It hits every time. The service is fabulous and the servers have great recommendations if you’re undecided, but really you can’t go wrong. Each item on this menu is carefully curated and tastes fabulous. This is a must if you’re in NYC! Kara was an amazing server.

Excellent food! My husband and I really enjoyed our experience here. He ordered the shishitorita margarita and it was amazing. We also had the crispy rice lasagna which was very good. The tuna tartare was my absolute favorite. The atmosphere was so relaxing and the staff were very kind and seemed so happy to be working there. Overall it was an experience we’ll never forget!

Ordered kanpachi, uni spaghetti, and skirt steak- all very nice! Great service too! It’s our first time here, will definitely need to come back to try out other food on the menu!

Underrated restaurant. Deserves a 4.5 imo Recommendations: Soy Butter Bigoli was very flavorful and full of umami! Tuna Tartare was my favorite appetizer. Uni Toast was pretty good but I thought it was a bit buttery! The Clarified Milk Punch Cocktail (forgot the name) was interesting and full of spices. The service was 10/10! I think our server's name was Kara!

+2

Had an amazing Saturday brunch at Kimika! Loved everything we had! It was all so unique and delicious! I highly recommend ALL of the items we had. Trust me you’ll have no regrets! If I had to pick TWO favorites it would be Aglio e Olio and the tuna tartare 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 WOW. WOW. WOW. The service was also incredible. They checked in but weren’t overwhelming.

+5

Italian & Asian Fusion Food. The food was very tasty and service was great here. I came with family for my birthday. The Tuna Tartare & and Skirt Steak was my favorite. Also, desserts are unique here and I loved it! It is a bit pricey for the portion of food so it's not an everyday dinner spot. Below are the items order. Tuna Tartare with Nori Skirt Steak with Shishitos Peppers Steak Cut Fries Truffle Carbonara Sticky Rice Arancini Uni Toast with Ikura Scallops with Crispy Prosciutto Hamachi Collar Yakult Softserve with Crispy Chicken Skin Mochi Bomboloncini

+6

It was pretty spacious and not super crowded on Friday night at 730. Staffs were very friendly and everything was delicious! Will definitely come back to try other menus.

Food was delicious and i liked the vibe. Uni toast and tuna tartare were excellent. Truffle carbonara and soy bigoli were so yum. Would definitely come back to try other dishes! Also no wait on a Saturday at 8pm!

I had dinner here with my friends last night and I want to say I'm more than impressed by how good the service was. Everyone was so nice and welcoming and had very good suggestions with regards to what to order. The food was incredible - my favorites were the arancini, truffle carbonara and eggplant katsku. The drinks were insanely good as well - you could see how much effort went into the ingredients. We were way too full for dessert but we definitely plan on going back

what an underrated spot! i was pleasantly surprised by the quality and creativity of the food along with the drinks. perfect if you can’t decide between japanese and italian. i loved the tuna tartare as well as the salmon soba. will definitely be back!

Kimika is such a vibe — chic, cozy, and full of flavor. The fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine is done so well. The yuzu carbonara is rich yet refreshing, and the mochi bomboloncini are an absolute must — soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet. I also loved the uni pasta and the way every dish felt balanced and beautifully plated. The cocktails are fun and well-crafted, and the service makes you feel totally taken care of. It’s the kind of spot that feels both cool and comfortable — perfect for a girls’ night or a cute dinner date. 💕🍝🍸

I think about this place. Japanese and Italian? What a combo. Make sure to get reservations. Both inside and outside dining is nice. Great options for alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks. I've gone here twice with two different people. I wish I could say try X but their menu is seasonal. Make sure to always get a pasta dish. Didn't try a pizza yet but maybe that's next. Last time I went I didn't love the branzino since it felt kinda boring compared to all the other dishes but I really loved the seasonal corn dish I had in August. What I can tell you though is the dessert is out of this world, specifically the Yakult soft serve. Obviously it's seasonal so the flavor can differ but don't get weirded out by the fish skin. It really was a game changer for me. Wish they had the rice cake lasagna year around.

+2

Loved my recent dinner at Kimika. They’ve been open for a very small amount of time but already the service is excellent and pacing of the meal superb. Had a handful of dishes and enjoyed them all. The tuna tartare was not your typical style which was a pleasant surprise. The kakiage fritto misto with aioli was excellent. We skipped the pizzettes and had 2 pastas. The clams and linguine was tasty and made me wish I eating on an Italian cliffside restaurant. The standout dish for me was the crispy rice cake lasagna, which was cooked perfectly, just alil crispness on the top with some underlying spice from the sausage. I would recommend this over everything else I’ve tried. We finished with the branzino, which ok. In retrospect I would have tried the pork belly, but it was still fairly good. Overall o would def recommend eating here and look forward to dining again and trying other plates!

+1

This has got to be my new favorite restaurant. It is so delicious and everything we got literally melted in our mouths. japanese and italian inspired cuisine/fusion?! how unique and two of my favorite cuisines. the flavors were all there. My friend and I loved the hamachi collar - best and crispiest fish we have ever had. We absolutely LOVED the uni toast. the buttery toast with uni on top was so freaking good. i have never tasted anything so delicious. it was savory and sweet. the tuna tartare was 10/10 best tuna tartare i’ve ever had and the tuna tasted so fresh. you get to DIY yourself and top it off with seaweed snacks. the soy butter bigoli pasta was a mixture of asian and italian. their cocktails were also delicious and unique. it is quite expensive BUT it is so worth it. i can’t wait to come back and try the other things i didn’t get to try. the seared scallop topped with prosciutto was sooo yummy. most fresh scallops i’ve had and it was cooked perfectly. for dessert, we got the bombolocini which was a mochi ball and inside had nutella fillings. it tasted exactly like a ferrero rocher but in a kochi version. The service was good, our server was super friendly and helpful. It’s cute and trendy inside - perfect to go with friends, family or on a date. They also had a vegetable selection and that also looked amazing!

+4

Love love love the pastas that we ordered! So much flavors and good service! The ambiance is nice and would be good for dates or big groups. Unfortunately, the dessert didn’t impress us but it didn’t ruin our experience. Would definitely come here again to try other dishes :)

A good friend of mine reserved a private dining space to celebrate a birthday. The staff was incredibly sweet and considerate throughout our entire time there. For a group of 7, we were recommended to have at around 9-10 dishes - and can confirm that was the perfect amount of dishes needed to have all of us satisfied and full. All the dishes were delicious but I will call out my top favorite were: - Uni spaghetti - Tuna tartare - Crispy potatoes (they are not lying when they are crispy!) - Whole grilled branzino - Di palo' burrata (make sure to have with the burrata and tomatoes) Would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is making a visit to NYC.

+6

Danielle Collett

Amazing experience at Kimika! We came in pretty late on a week night but the Kimika team did not make us feel rushed at all which we really appreciated. For drinks, I had the Kaja milk punch and it was one of best drinks I’ve ever had, so unique! My bf had the genmaicha Old fashioned and loved it. We got the uni toast (delicious!) and the tuna tartar. The tuna tartar is a MUST. I’ve had a lot of tuna tartar and thought it would probably be nothing out of the ordinary but I was so wrong. It was so fresh and came with ikura!! You build it yourself in little seaweed wraps which is fun. It was a good size for 2 people but I could have honestly eaten the whole thing myself too as a main dish. My bf got the miso rigatoni which he enjoyed. I wish it tasted more like miso, mostly just tasted like rigatoni from an Italian place. I got the uni spaghetti and looooved it! You can definitely taste the tobiko which I liked and the presentation was stunning. For dessert we got the lava cake and I was obsessed. The ice cream on the side was okay, but the star was definitely the lava cake. Overall, incredible service! Our servers were attentive and so polite. Even after they were technically closed, they waited to put up the chairs until after we left which was very kind and did not rush us out at all. Will definitely be coming back to Kimika and might even have a birthday dinner here in the future. Thank you Kimika!

Julian Salazar

Kimika, located at 40 Kenmare St in Nolita, NYC, is a standout for its inventive Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine, blending the best of both culinary worlds under the direction of Chef Christine Lau. The menu features dishes like soy butter bigoli, tuna tartare with crispy rice, and the much-praised rice cake lasagna, which reviewers often highlight for its creative balance of flavors and textures.

This place is good vibes. Beautiful aesthetic and fun and intriguing food options! The curry arancini was amazing. It’s like tapas/family style (but not family sized portions), so get a good group of people to share a bunch of dishes with!

+1

We had a very nice experience recently at Kimika. The food was tasty (especially the desserts), but for sure the service is what makes it deserve the five stars the most. The waiters were attentive, welcoming, and accommodating, as well happy to point out recommended dishes, especially vegetarian options. The food we ordered was from the restaurant week menu, and I think the sticky rice arancini is the savory highlight of the food. Meanwhile, all the desserts are fantastic, I highly recommend ordering different ones and sharing. The restaurant was full of reservations during the time we were there, so we only had an hour and a half at our table, but they were very nice about moving us to the bar so we could still enjoy our desserts and the opportunity to catch up with one other. We were also able to get some drinks, and the bartender was friendly and creative. I really liked the complementary citrus seedlip/shishito pepper/(more I'm not remembering) drink pictured at the end of my photos, that might have been the highlight of the evening. All the staff definitely deserve recognition, they make this place special!

+5

Heidi Liou

We hosted a private dinner for 16 people at Kimika (which is their max for the private dining space), and it was a great experience. Darwin + the team were super easy to work with, friendly, professional, and really helpful throughout the planning. Our server Kara was awesome. She kept everything moving smoothly and was so kind and on top of things the whole night. One of our guests had a peanut and tree nut allergy, and the team took it seriously. They made a note of it ahead of time and double-checked that the menu was safe, which we really appreciated. The space itself was perfect for a group like ours. It felt private and cozy without being too quiet. We were able to have real conversations without yelling over each other. The food and drinks (cocktails and wine) were amazing. Everyone was impressed. My favorite was the "prosciutto pizza" (Leporati prosciutti di parma). Definitely worth the cost, which is on the lower end of other private dining rooms in NYC. I’d recommend it for any group dinner, whether it’s a celebration or something more work-related.

+5

Coco Tsai

Impressed by the fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine! The flavors blended beautifully. We tried the uni toast and tartare—both were excellent. The main rigatoni with tomato sauce was absolutely amazing, and my boyfriend and I loved it. I could actually eat more than three bites of pasta—which is rare for me! It was especially interesting how the edamame paired so well with the sauce. The service was also wonderful. We had such a lovely date night—thank you to the team!

Adam de la Cruz

Came in for some cocktails and a snack. I had the Tanduay rum cocktail with clarified milk cardamom and steeped tea. It was amazing. Caesar the bartender was kind enough to explain the whole process of making it and helped recommend the second drink. Great ambiance, wish I was hungry enough to try the menu.

+2

Rudy Lee

Amazing dishes, impeccable & friendly service, and a chic atmosphere that offers a cozy feel. The food is very unique, I love how it seamlessly blends arguably two of the most delicious cuisines! Will definitely be making a trip back soon!

Lenny

Had dinner at Kimika yesterday and it did not disappoint. Every dish we had was on point. I loved the Tuna Tartar and Brick Chicken. The apple crumble strudel was also excellent and we polished our plates. Our servers were also super gracious and attentive.

Haley B-V

Was in town for the night, and decided to try and get a reservation since it’s Restaurant week. The $45 dinner option was a steal for the quality and taste. Our server Kara was the absolute best!!! We enjoyed getting seated at the corner of the restaurant where we had a great vantage point. The food was fresh and served with a smile by each staff member that brought it out. The only con I would say, is even though I made a reservation we still did have to wait over 10 min for our table to be ready, but I get it, it’s a busy set of weeks for NYC dining. Would come here again!

Daniel

The Japanese and Italian flavors mixed well and are to come back for. I stayed in the hotel where the restraunt was attached. In the area, with a focus of cocktails and table service for an upscale environment, it was delightful. I love cocktails, and the servers were personable. Nothing pretentious. They focus on service and taste! Our food was excellent and the drinks were even better. It's a pleasant experience.

+2

Mia Huynh

This Japanese-Italian fusion spot located in lower Manhattan is a cute date spot or dinner spot with friends! I came for their dinner service one time and had a great time. Service here was good. We ordered their uni toast and seared octopus for appetizers and uni spaghetti and truffle carbonara for entrees, and everything was great. My favorite of the night was their seared octopus. The octopus was amazing and the sauces and garnishes were delicious. The truffle carbonara was the second favorite, but I just wish the truffle flavor was a bit stronger. Although I loved the concept of the uni toast and spaghetti, I don't think the uni was the freshest so it made the whole dish very briny. Overall, not a bad spot, but I don't recommend their uni dishes. I would be open to coming back to try their brunch service (I've heard their matcha french toast was good!).

Kevin Shin

We booked a private room to celebrate our engagement with 14 people total and it was absolutely amazing! Darwin and his staff were extremely kind and well-accommodating. They were very mindful about giving us privacy, as well as bringing in the food and cleaning dirty plates. The food was a prix fixe menu that was very delicious! The room was also the perfect size and didn’t feel cramped at all, and they allowed us to arrive early to decorate it! Highly recommend this place for private events or just dining in!

M Redwan Firdaus

We were celebrating a birthday with a group of six and the food was absolutely delicious! My personal favorites were the Soy Butter Bigoli, Mochi Bombolocini, Scallop, Rigatoni, and the Apple Pie. Most of the food was amazing. The service was fantastic – everyone was so attentive, helpful, and friendly. The atmosphere is super relaxed. I really loved the Umami in the Kenmare cocktail.

It has always been a mission of mine to come to New York and eat at Kimika! I was finally able to achieve that over Valentine's Day Weekend! It filled me with joy to say the name that I also share with the resturant when they asked the name for the reservation. We were seated quickly and the ambiance of the restaurant was very romantic (perfect for Valentine's), the service was quick and friendly and the food was Amazing!!! I recommend the Soy Butter Spaghetti! This was definitely an experience I will never forget. Thanks Kimika for a wonderful dining experience-- this Kimika definitely recommends!!!

Alessandro Gomez

We had an amazing time at Kimika tonight! My sister, a friend, and I waited about 15 minutes at the bar before getting a table, but honestly, time flew by thanks to the great vibes and the super friendly bartender who even brought us some bread. Once we were seated, Kara, our server, was absolutely outstanding — attentive, warm, and always available. Every person in the service industry should follow her example! We absolutely loved her. Roberto was also fantastic, full of charm and great energy. We started with the tuna tartare as an appetizer, and it was absolutely incredible — so fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The drinks were outstanding — my mezcal cocktail came with prosciutto on the side (amazing combo!), my sister had a sangria, and my friend enjoyed a beer. We shared a skirt steak, cooked perfectly medium, with peppers and green sauce — delicious! The truffle carbonara was out of this world — one of the best pastas I’ve ever had. And the salmon soba was just as impressive. To finish, we had the apple pie with espresso ice cream, and it was absolutely delicious — the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. The restaurant’s atmosphere is cozy yet elegant, perfect for conversation and enjoying great food. We’d come back a thousand times — especially if Kara and Roberto are there! 💖

Brittany Simon

Fantasy Happy Hour and dinner in NoLita! Amazing food, wine and vibe in soho at Kimika! Perfect for a private event or dinner. They have a gorgeous private dining room. Great for a work dinner or holiday party!

+1

Overall: Great food, service, and ambiance! Would go again but it’s on the pricier side and you don’t get a good bang for your buck.

We got the hamachi collar, the rigatoni and the steak frites. The dishes are all family style so it would be nice to order a bunch of dishes with friends. Very kid friendly! Kara was wonderful.

My friend and I were really interested in coming here since the food looked really good. Reservations fill up fast so we snagged a time right after they opened at 5:15PM two weeks in advance. There were both indoor and outdoor seating but we opted for indoor. For food we got the tuna tartare, wagyu braciole, crispy rice cake lasagna, and pork ragu cavatelli. Perhaps it was my taste buds, but the tuna tartare and lasagna were too salty. The tuna tartare came with seaweed to wrap it in, but I would've preferred something less salty to pair it with. The wagyu braciole was alright. The pork ragu cavatelli was pretty decent. The pasta had a nice bite to it and not overcooked with lots of meat. The rice cake lasagna was pretty salty as I mentioned, but I did appreciate the interesting spicy and and savory combination of the kimchi with the rich italian sauce and meat. Overall, the dishes were inventive and creative, but I would say it was overpriced for the quality.

+2

Great vibe with great taste. A must visit for a either an intimate date night or for a large group. Not one of the dishes were short of anything other than a palate explosion.

+5

I came here via a last minute reservation, so I was not expecting much but got much much more. The food here is excellent and definitely is eclectic in its own right. Echoes of Union Squares' REPUBLIC for those who know, though their menu unlike that famous restaurant expands way beyond ramen and noodles. It is not straight Japanese cuisine but more of a fusion of Italian and Japanese. There is one place I always compare these types of restaurants to, Fudo located in Kyoto Japan that blends Italian and traditional Japanese cuisine really really well. Kimika is a step in the right direction if you don't have plans to go to Kyoto. It also helps that the staff at Kimika is friendly, easy to talk to and commutative. A pleasant visit.

+1

So if you're looking for a delicious night out with a partner, friend or listen maybe even by yourself, you'll enjoy Kimika. Their Japanese-Italian fusions are tasteful, exact and playful. My favorite dish of the night were the sticky rice arancini balls where you open it up and it oozes mozarella, the little hit of ume really brightens up the dish. My table also got the whole roasted branzino, it could've had just slightly more seasoning to make the dish pop more, but it is crispy, delectable and very great for two people. For sides we got the fries and asparagus. The fries were thick delicious and fluffy inside. The asparagus was a great accompaniment for the fish. Overall great time!

I had a good experience at Kimika, a unique fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine. The restaurant offers intriguing flavor combinations and creative ideas, making it a fun place to dine. However, the prices don't always align with the overall experience. The food is decent, the service is great, and the dimly lit ambiance for dinner adds to the vibe. One standout was the steak cut fries with ao nori and mentaiko mayo. Surprisingly, this became my favorite dish. The jumbo cut fries with the mentaiko mayo and seaweed topping offered a delightful twist on traditional fries. The eggplant katsu with a panko crust and caponata was impressive in its ability to mimic the taste and texture of a real pork katsu. It's a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, the rigatoni with miso bolognese, broccoli rabe, edamame, buffalo ricotta, and provolone left a bit to be desired. The miso flavor wasn't very prominent, and there was a slightly bitter taste in the sauce, which may have been due to some parts being overcooked. Nevertheless, it was alright. Kimika is a place with exciting potential, and with some adjustments, it could be better. Overall, a worthwhile visit for the adventurous foodie, but perhaps not quite a four-star experience for the price.

Cute place! Drinks were good and appetizers were so food!! Ordered carbonara and uni pasta. It was okay just standard - service was great tho!!! Will come back to try other dishes:)

Overall Kimika was a fun and unique experience. The space is clean and welcoming. The staff was great, too. Drinks were unique and tasty. Food ranged from eclectic and amazing - to beautiful and just okay. Definitely loved the truffle pasta. Also a fan of the tuna.

+1

Definitely worth checking out, innovative concept as a fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine. Everything we tried was good, and some were great. Would recommend going with at least a party of 4 so more dishes can be enjoyed.

+6

Had a late brunch at Kimika. Interesting fusion menu (Japanese and Italian) and they recommended 4-5 dishes for a party of 3. So the plates are for sharing and not very large portions, which is great to try more items. Overall the food was good, but nothing was great. The restaurant decor was nice and the wait staff was friendly.

Came to Kimika for brunch on a Saturday at 12pm with a party of 2 (with reservation). The restaurant itself looks light, clean and sleek! My friend and I shared the Tamago Sando ($10). We both really liked it! I had the Matcha Mochi French Toast ($17). It was sweet and heavy on the stomach, but that’s not a bad thing, that’s with any French toast. I’m very happy I tried it, as it had been on my list for a very long time! I had 6 bites left and took them to go with me, because I’m not big on wasting food. My friend had the Souffle Pancakes ($17) and she enjoyed and finished hers. I took a bite of hers and it tasted really good! I liked the flavor and the fluffiness of it! The reason why I’m giving 4 stars (would’ve been 4.5 if I could) instead of 5 stars is because: 1) The male waiter acted a bit strange. For example pulling away a plate that I had positioned on the table for a specific reason. It just came off a bit rude. 2) It also was a bit weird that the Tamago Sando and my dish, the Matcha Mochi French Toast, came out together at the same time. So obviously I waited for my friend’s dish, the Souffe Pancakes, before eating mine. There was simply no way for the French Toast and the Souffle Pancakes to come out together for whatever reason. 3) Not really the restaurant’s entire fault, but at some point 2 other parties were seated on each side from us and we could barely hear each other speak from that point on. This resulted in all parties speaking even louder. So having conversations was quite difficult and annoying. They could’ve spread out the earlier parties, there was enough seating left from what I can remember. In the end I did enjoy my brunch, although it wasn’t perfect. Service was fast and decent (the kind & female waitress definitely made up for her male colleague). We also found the prices to be very affordable. I do recommend everyone interested for brunch to give Kimika a try!

Incredible menu with a unique combination of flavors throughout. Highly recommend the scallops. Tuna tartare is a popular choice and it was fun to eat deconstructed, but not mind blowing. We had the branzino and it was enough for two to share. Pro tip: save room for dessert!!! The baked Tiramisu Alaska was incredible and I even took an extra Apple tart home with me.

We were craving for ITAMESHI which is Italian and Japanese fusion cuisine and our foodie friends brought up Kimika to our attention. Our friend made a reservation for the visit date before and there was only 2:15pm spot left so we did a late lunch. We highly recommend to plan earlier since they run out of some popular options like Katsu Sando and French Toast. We got their Pastry Bento Box, Baked Eggs, Polenta, Tamago Sando, House Baked Focaccia - Burrata and Tsukemen Carbonara to share with a group of six. The portion was okay with a decent price. Most pastries were delicious and our favorites were the fluffy focaccia & crispy croissant. However, the taste of some of the dishes wasn’t good enough, especially the baked eggs which was overcooked and the Tamago Sando which the toast was dry.

+6

Arrived on a Sunday evening and was able to get seated outdoor even though we had a indoor reservation. Staff was very pleasant and accommodating. Recommendation was 5 dishes for two people but we got 3 small and 1 large and felt full. Tuna tartare - Very flavorful, well balanced, fresh and had a nice little kick. Definitely recommend. Salad - Very refreshing. Enjoyed it. Roe roe spaghetti - Creamy but not too saucy. Pasta cooked al dente. Solid choice to try. Branzino - Came recommended but highly disappointing. It was a very nice portion that came with little pieces of seafood (shrimp, mussels, and octopus) but it was over cooked and a little bland. Was not a fan. Yakult softserve - You can’t not love anything yakult, so the softserve was yummy but the chicken skin is a weird addition to a dessert. Maybe they tried to be creative but I think it would’ve been great without it. It also has little pieces of ginger gummies. I think this was a good creative addition but there were too many! Every bite had ginger - could have less. Overall, would recommend to try.

+1

This is place is like going to an Italian restaurant if you lived in Japan. Such a great mix of Italian Ingredients cooked in Japanese style and vice versa. Moderately clean facilities. Servers are good and very friendly. The restrooms are outside the restaurant in the downstairs area of the hotel lobby next door. Small portions served family style. Manhattan prices so bring your credit cards. The food here is the star ⭐️. But, you have to be open minded about the cuisine. If you’re looking for traditional Japanese or Italian, this is not the place for you. We will definitely be going back.

+1

Rachael

Food was decently good. Not spectacular. Soy butter bigoli - nice flavour and texture. Mushrooms were nice. Not an overly complex dish. Had a similar taste and feel to instant noodles. Soba noodles with salmon - lacked any nice extraordinary flavour. Simple dish. Overall, the ideas of these dishes here were quite unique. The execution was underwhelming for me, but maybe I set my expectations too high. Though, I don’t know if the food was exceptionally good so I wish I had paid a lesser cost. Ambiance is lovely for a date. A bit dark and could hear conversations around me. Service was very polite.

Jessica Tung

Amazing service! We walked in really early on Friday (515pm) so restaurant was pretty empty (most people still at happy hour probably ha!). Service was really fast, waitress was friendly and helpful. We ordered two small dishes, two pastas and a side. I was worried it wasn’t enough but the pastas were not small / were rich so was more than enough for the two of us. Of the small dishes, we got the hamachi collar, and the uni toast. I’m always comparing uni toast to the one from Chef’s table. Not a fair comparison. This one isn’t that, but it is decent. Do wish toast was less substantial though. The hamachi collar was great - the skin added a tiny bit of crisp+ fat/flavor. Pasta was the right level of al dente for me. Uni pasta was rich and good if you like that flavor profile. I preferred it over the rigatoni but not for the price ha. It was market price and I guess market that day was $50…Rigatoni is baked - with a layer of cheese on top. For our side we did the pea shoots. A lot of bonito on top - be warned if you don’t like that haha. Overall good experience and would recommend a try if you’re in the area. Restaurant itself is nice ambience - beautiful space, not too crowded tables, and music not too loud and can have a convo without screaming at each other.

+3

Brianna Baker

Japanese Italian fusion? Something I obviously had to try! I appreciate Kimika’s creative menu with plenty of vegetarian options. Our waitress Kara/Cara was so friendly and helpful. I started with a Spritz that I think could’ve used some more bubbles, but the flavors were on point. The food was good but I felt like there could’ve been a bit more flavor. We tried the Truffle Carbonara, Soy Butter Bigoli, and Eggplant Katsu - I think the Bigoli was my favorite (think elevated lo mien). For dessert, we tried the lava cake, matcha French toast (would get it with ice cream if I were to over come again) and the Nutella Bombolocini (very creative - think mochi stuffed with Nutella). Overall, I loved the concept of Kimika and the service, but I think there could’ve been just a tad more flavor in some of our dishes. Definitely a place to try once!

Kimika is a decent restaurant. It was a bit pricey for the portions and the food was very salty which is why I gave it three stars. I’ve heard really good things about the restaurant which is why I went but wasn’t blown away. Our waiter was really nice. Don’t need to go here again!

+2

Rice Cake Lasagna - 7/10 This rice cake lasagna was almost perfect. It had a good flavor, the rice cakes were crisp yet chewy and there were minced meat bits as well. But it was just too salty. The idea is pretty similar to Nowon's cheeseburger rice cakes. Prosciutto Pizza - 6/10 The prosciutto pizza could have been great but it was also just too salty. I understand that prosciutto itself is really salty, but then it should have been balanced out by the “bread”. The pizza was not bread, it had more of a tortilla chip texture and while it added a nice crunch it did not help balance out the saltiness. Tuna Tartare - 8/10 This was the best dish of the night. It was fresh, flavorful and the seaweed nori chips were the perfect vessel to transport the tuna. Baked Alaska - 3/10 This baked alaska was definitely just taken out of the freezer when they served it to us. It was almost impossible to cut into the dessert. While the flavor wasn’t bad, kind of ridiculous that we were served a dessert that was still frozen. Honestly I can see why kimika has such mixed reviews online. I can see the potential of the food being really great, but everything lacked in some way. Also we went through like 5 jugs of water so everything was super salty.

It’s all about the Eastside Haiku cocktail, the tuna tartare and the soft serve ice cream. We also had the prosciutto pizzette and the roe spaghetti. Bottom line: a lovely spot with GREAT service, the food is a little too esoteric for it to become a go-to spot for me.

+4

Great concept, not great execution. We got 4 dishes for the 2 of us and a cocktail each. Started with the mushrooms. Really great presentation but the flavoring was off. The miso/black garlic was super rich and delicious but slightly overpowering so that’s all you tasted in some bites. Inconsistent spread of seasoning. One bite would be a mouthful of miso and the next had little flavor. Then we had the longevity crab noodles. Seemed like the crab meat wasn’t cleaned out from the shell enough because I definitely felt a crunch every now and then that made me really not want to eat more. Then we had the whole fish and green beans. The fish was sublime. Perfectly seasoned. The green beans were good but overly salted. So mixed reaction on the food overall. Not sure I’d return or recommend it. Especially at its high price point ($180 for 2 ppl)

Was here for brunch. The matcha french toast was instagram-pretty and honestly, pretty decent. I liked the addition of the citrus, in the form of lemon curd/citron jam. The katsu sando, on the other hand, was quite dry, and could do with more gravy. I also noticed that previous versions of this sando included a layer of soft-boiled or scrambled egg, which would have elevated this dish. 1. matcha french toast 2. katsu sando

Mingxuan Shen

Only tried their dinner menu so I’ll just comment on that. I had high expectations for it because my friends recommended it. We ordered truffle carbonara and uni spaghetti for main. The flavor is really nice but the texture of the pasta isn’t the best. We got hazelnut mochi dessert. Nothing special. The serving size is quite small for the price. Will definitely exceed $50+ per person! (Might give it another try for their brunch)

Carol

Came here twice I think its unique but decent. Apps are okay, uni toast is interesting yet i think its better off without the toast. The deconstructed tartare was good but nothing special. For the entrees, the risotto was probably the dish I enjoyed the most and better than the soy butter bigoli that I ordered. The bigoli was a bit too oily and overly salty for my liking. Dessert wasn’t that good either, apple pie was too sweet and the bomboloncini too, I wouldn’t want to get them again. Which is weird because usually dessert is my favorite part of the meal. It felt too expensive for the food and experience, around 200+ for two people and somehow I was left expecting more from here.

Somewhat innovative but fails to deliver on taste. Also overpriced for the quality of food. 1. Tuna Tartare Pros: -texture was interesting and balanced Cons: -salty -felt like it could really use a touch of acid Overall a pretty tasty and innovative dish. I would argue it was the only passable dish of the night. 2. Roe roe roe spaghetti Pros: -creamy Cons: -it had an overwhelmingly unpleasant fishy taste. Don’t get me wrong, I loooove mentaiko and all kinds of fish roe. I’ve had plenty of mentaiko spaghetti in my life in Japanese restaurants. They’ve always had a pleasant fishy taste. The spaghetti at Kimika had an unpleasant, stale fishy taste. I can’t tell if it’s from the lack of freshness of the fish roe, or just poor preparation. -first plate we had was undercooked. And I’m not talking al dente—the spaghetti was raw in the centre. Every bite was crunchy because of the rawness and there was an overwhelming taste of raw wheat flour. Very unpleasant. When we sent it back, the server said it was meant to be cooked this way. Was it meant to be served slightly raw? Perhaps it was meant to be interesting texturally, but I am personally not the biggest fan of raw spaghetti. -when they re-served the spaghetti, we noticed they literally re-cooked the portion we had left in the plate. To give some context, Kimika is all about family-style eating so we served out about half the spaghetti initially before tasting it and realizing it was raw. This meant that about half the initial plate was basically wasted—not the worst thing in the world, but slightly annoying that we only got to eat 50% of a plate of $30 spaghetti This dish was a train wreck from start to end. 3. Crispy rice cake lasagne Pros: -lovely texture. The crisp alongside the chewiness of the rice cake makes for a delightful bite. Cons: -so salty. It’s hard to taste any dimensionality in food when the salt is so forward. Entire lasagne was overwhelmingly salty that I couldn’t taste anything else This dish was pretty mediocre. 4. Yakult soft serve Pros: -fruit was nice and tart and was a good balance to the sweetness of the ice cream Cons: -very little (if any) yakult taste. Tastes like a generic sweet soft serve -crispy chicken skin is interesting in theory, but terribly executed. It tasted like stale oil, which was not a great addition to ice cream. I can definitely see it being interesting texturally, but Kimika’s rendition of it hit none of the marks. 5. Service Pros: -water refills were plentiful -always easy to get a server’s attention Cons: -waited about 30 minutes for dessert—which I can understand, sometimes things go awry. It would have been nice to get some notice in the first 20+ minutes of waiting that there was a kitchen delay instead of in the last 5 minutes. For $50 per person pre-tip and tax, you can find far better food elsewhere. My neighborhood Japanese restaurant serves a fresher tuna tartare and mentaiko spaghetti for half the price. Kimika was barely worth a first visit for me, and definitely not worth a second.

Interesting concept but taste was really lacking. All the dishes really were underwhelming and were either missing something or a little off in terms of flavour. Rice cake lasagna sauce was really one note and too heavy on the fennel seed in the sausage (really strong anise flavour); very disappointing. Cavatelli has a strange sweetness to it, perhaps something the pork was marinated in? Not a place I would recommend. Too many delicious restaurants in NYC to make this worth a second trip. :(

This is a long review so if you don’t read any further, just know this: don’t come here if you expect good and tasty food. AND do not order the steak. AND expect everything to be overpriced. Now, onto the review. I had this on my list to try for months and now I’m sad to say I regret going. I went with a friend for dinner and we dined inside. The decor and vibe were very nice, and the menu seemed very appealing, so before the food came, I thought it was going to be an excellent dining experience. I was wrong! The waitress suggested we order 4-6 dishes. We originally just ordered 3 dishes (the tuna tartare $26, the soy butter bigoli $26, and the ribeye $79), but she upsold us by saying we should get the cabbage Mille foglie $11 to pair with the ribeye. The tuna came first and it was the best dish we had by far. It was creamy and the seaweed was delicate and crisp. However, if you’re craving something like this, just skip kimika and go to Jeju noodle bar for their toro ssam bap, it’s better there. For the entrees, we got the bigoli first, and it was good, but it was way too salty. The steak and cabbage came next and both were almost appalling. The steak was dry and looked artificially square. The taste and texture was similar to biltong (beef jerky), which, for $79, should be a crime. The meat quality itself was not good. There was a prominent amount of sinew/ silverskin on the side of the meat and it was tough and chewy. The fat was not evenly marbled throughout the meat, and was instead distributed in big globs throughout the meat. If you’re going to sell a $79 steak in nyc, it better be good. The cabbage was also pretty bad. It was way too salty, and the flavor profile/ concept was very strange. The dish was basically little pieces of cabbage and prosciutto layered together with anise powder sprinkled on top. However, it was steamed, so the prosciutto got weird and wet. Imagine eating steamed prosciutto with anise on top….weird. You couldn’t even taste the cabbage bc the salt and anise were so overpowering. We didn’t finish either the steak or cabbage, even though we were still hungry. As far as price point, I have no problem spending some extra money to have an excellent dining experience and have delicious and inventive food. I’ve lived in NYC for 6 years and I know that dining can be expensive, and I’m not new to upscale dining. That being said, our bill came to $200 without any drinks and it was just not worth it. If I’m going to spend that much money, I expect a high quality dining experience. The only dish that was worth its price was the tuna tartare. Do yourself a favor and skip kimika and walk to any one of the numerous delicious cheap eats nearby on Bowery or Chinatown. You’ll save $$$ and be fuller than I was when I left kimika. Giving 2 stars instead of 1 because the decor and vibe were nice. And the service was good and friendly.

+3

Food was average Tuna tartare- the freshness and the quality was okay. Eggplant katsu was way too floppy and uncomfortable to eat and the flour and katsu coating was pretty thin. Of all things, sticky rice risotto was good. Though all together it did tasted like Cup Noodle Curry flavor. But the sauce separated, was mild and good. The dessert, ferro look like chestnut + Nutella was not chewy and not so good. It was pretty to hard and regrettably we ordered one more before. Though we ended up not finishing it. The servers kept on dropping bits of food on the table and utensils on our laps/clothes, making a mess. Very disappointing experience.

+2

We were excited to try this restaurant given it’s interesting concept and presence in the Michelin guide. However, the actual delivery was very sub-par, and we left without finishing our orders despite being hungry. We ordered four dishes - wagyu braciole and uni, crab noodles, rice cake lasagna, and cabbage with prosciutto. The wagyu and uni dish was decent and quite interesting, as they wrapped the two around a piece of rice cake. However, we’ve definitely had better wagyu and uni elsewhere. The rice cake lasagna dish was our favorite (but that’s not saying much). It was seasoned a bit too heavily - a theme of all the dishes, frankly - but the texture was quite good. The crab noodle was distinctly worse: there was the same issue of being too heavy on the salt, but in addition, the texture of the noodles (way too soft) left much to be desired. The cabbage with prosciutto was inedible, so heavy was the level of salt in this dish. The kitchen interwove prosciutto in between the cabbage leaves, which while interesting made it impossible to get away from the salt. We ate maybe 10% of this dish before being unable to continue. Service was impeccably warm and attentive, however, which partially made up for the 1/5 food. The idea of fusing Italian and Japanese cuisine sounded wonderful, but unfortunately the result of this fusion that we tasted today was a Frankenstein.

Elsa

Quite disappointed given the good reviews and the price. I got the brick chicken and the soy butter bigoli so almost 100$, and I was still super hungry after :( The soy butter bigoli is basically chinese fried noodles but with al dente spagetti and butter. I didn't know the "soy" in "soy butter" basically just meant "soy sauce". I thought it would be more like a creamy soy milk. But yeah, if you forget that you're in a fancy restaurant, you do feel like just eating spagetti with soy sauce and butter, kinda like your chinese roommate wanted to innovate or smth. Well it's not bad, but it's really oily, and just kinda salty... a bit burnt... exactly how it sounds. The chicken was dry. And nothing fancy. Good portion but yeah it's just a piece of chicken, you gotta pay even more for a side... I was hyped for desert, and got the apple pie. It looks really nice, but it's very very basic. But I'm not so mad about that because 12$ for that is ok. But I would not get it again, it's way too sweet and is drowing in sweet syrup, the apple pieces are not melted, and they're too acidic and slightly bitter. Just average. Very small amount of espresso ice cream. Nice place though. Service is not fast.

+3

Went a couple months back when it first opened so things might have improved….but this was really underwhelming and too overpriced for me. The food tasted greasy and unappetizing and I had about 5 bites and felt done with the flavor 😅especially that flat bread scallion pancake thing…it felt like it was soaked in oil like a paper plate after a greasy slice of pizza has been resting on it all day. Imo some cuisines were never meant to get blended together, like Italian and Japanese /Korean 😬

Sad to say this place is overly hyped, with no substance whatsoever. Drinks and service were ok, but for a $200 dinner that was hardly edible, it’s just not acceptable in a place like NYC. Melone spritz was disappointing kind of bland, not much melon flavor. Pizzettes were ok but oddly cold and greasy. Burrata pizzette was not fresh, both the burrata and tomatoes tasted sour like spoiled milk. Roe roe pasta was so fishy just from the smell. I could barely take 2 bites without feeling nauseated from the rotten fishy taste. The cavatelli with pork ragu sounds like a solid bet, right? Wrong. It ended up being even worse than the roe roe spaghetti, there was a very strange foul smell, almost gamey like goat, but then when you’re chewing it, there’s a very peculiar, sharp salty and sour after taste, again much like rotten dairy or for for those familiar, old soybean paste (doubanjiang). Like many other reviews mention, we contemplated finding the nearest $1 pizza or fast food spot after. Unfortunately, I couldn’t not even handle the thought of any food when I was done, for fear of getting sick.

+2

I regret every dollar I’ve spent here. It was genuinely one of the worst meals I've had in New York. The menu looks inviting and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere but don’t be fooled. Cocktails were weak and not very flavorful. The pancetta pork belly was tough; the skin was not crisp at all and was challenging to bite into. The risotto was a sorry attempt at a zongzi (sticky rice dumpling, which is Chinese by the way and not Japanese) with Italian-type ingredients. The only passable things dishes were the truffle cream, which was a side for the risotto, and the potatoes in duck fat. The food is way too overpriced for how poor quality it was. As someone who is on a bulk, this is my first time in NYC not finishing my meal despite under-ordering; I'd opted to leave hungry instead. Edit: The waitress was insistent that we ordered all our dishes at the start because we had "limited dining time", and suggested we ordered 4-6 dishes for 2 people dining in. Instead, we ordered 3 (thank goodness we did not order any more). While noting down our order, she kept insisting that we should order more. This whole experience (including the food, of course) left a bad taste in my mouth.