Hidden Gem Kiku Remains a Staple with Exceptional Japanese Fare

My family and I have been dining at Kiku for years; as a matter of fact, I’ve been eating there since the womb, as my mom made many visits to the restaurant while she was pregnant with me. Kiku is the oldest Japanese restaurant in Pittsburgh, having opened in Station Square in 1983. They’ve been able to achieve this kind of longevity in the city’s ever-changing restaurant scene by churning out consistently high-quality sushi and other Japanese fare. I’ve sampled my fair share of their menu over the years, and I can say with the utmost authority that you truly can’t go wrong with any of their dishes.

The vegetable tempura comes with sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, and more.

Dining is an experience at Kiku. The restaurant is modeled after a traditional tea room with its wooden interior and green accents, so even at its busiest, Kiku feels like a calm escape. You’re greeted with fresh, warm towels to clean your hands before the meal even begins; it’s almost ceremonial. The staff is always warm, and they’ll be happy to offer recommendations. Just don’t blame them if you over-order, since everything sounds too good

At this point, many of the staff members (shoutout to Justin) know my family’s names and orders by heart, and while we have our favorite dishes, we’ve been known to deviate and try some other items as well. Kiku has such a large menu that it would take you many visits to try the entire menu. It ranges from sushi and tempura to hot pot and katsu and everything in between.

Personally, I would start with a salad. I know that sounds boring, but all of Kiku’s options are fantastic. My personal favorite is the soba salad, which comes with al dente soba noodles and mixed greens tossed in a tangy sesame and soy dressing. The soba noodles add something earthy to the salad, while also jazzing it up and making it different than your standard salad; the restaurant’s standard salad with ginger dressing is bright and exciting as well. The tuna tataki is the most elaborate of all of the salads and showcases Kiku’s excellent-quality fish with seared tuna atop greens dressed with a savory basil pesto dressing.

The tempura udon soup will warm you right up.

Next, a soup is definitely in order, especially if you’re dining in the fall. Kiku has a large variety of soups, but my favorites are the traditional tofu miso and the tempura udon. If you just want something light to start your meal, then the tofu miso is perfect. It’s savory, and the umami flavor of the miso prepares your palate for the rest of your meal. You can even get lobster in it if you’re feeling fancy. The tempura udon is a little bit more hearty and comes with a side of either tempura shrimp or tempura vegetables. The soup itself is filled with thick, chewy noodles that are perfect for slurping. The broth is bright and filled with a variety of crispy veggies and seaweed; it’s perfect for dipping your tempura. Pro tip: Make sure to ask for tangy togarashi seasoning for your tempura.

The sashimi appetizer is a must. Kiku has rotating fresh fish that’s sent in from all over the world and then prepared by their highly trained sushi chefs. One of my favorites is when they have yellowtail or toro. You can taste the freshness and quality of the fish. I haven’t tried many of the other sushi bar appetizers, such as the crab salad and iidako (grilled baby octopus), so I need to rectify that soon.

The vegetable tempura comes with sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, and more.

Kiku has an extensive kitchen appetizer menu, and so many of them are absolute hits. You could come here for this part of the menu alone. A few of my favorites are the chicken gyoza, vegetable tempura, karaage, and takoyaki. The chicken gyozas are tender inside and crispy on the bottom, and the dipping sauce has a bit of vinegary bite to it that complements the dumpling. These are a must-order. The vegetable tempura is a dish I order almost every time I dine at Kiku. It’s a delightful combination of sweet potato, yams, squash, zucchini, broccoli, and green beans. The tempura batter is light and airy and has the perfect crunch. For a fried dish, this isn’t too heavy at all. If you’re a fan of shrimp and soft-shell crab, then they have it in tempura form, too. The karaage, or Japanese fried chicken, is crispy goodness in bite-sized pieces. It’s a little heavier than the tempura, but worth all of the decadence. The same can be said for the uber-savory takoyaki; they are worth indulging in. Octopus is encased in a wheat batter filled with savory elements, such as green onions and seaweed, then fried and drizzled with sweet Kewpie mayo. It’s an interesting combination of sweet and savory.

The rainbow roll and the tamago and maguro nigiri

The star of the show at Kiku is, of course, their sushi. You truly could pick any of the nigiri or sashimi from the menu, and it will be expertly cut and prepared for you. A few of my favorites are the salmon, hamachi (yellowtail), scallop, maguro (tuna), or toro (fatty tuna). All of the fish is tender and will melt in your mouth the moment you take a bite. While not fish, the tamago nigiri (a sweet and savory omelet rolled up) is a delightful transition into dessert after all of the fish. I’m more of a nigiri person, as I like to savor the fish, but the restaurant has some excellent sushi rolls if that’s more your speed. The California roll, rainbow roll and spicy tuna roll are my top three contenders. Sometimes I opt for a temaki (hand roll), and when I do, I go for the spicy tuna, spicy salmon, or salmon avocado. I honestly think the simpler the better when it comes to sushi, so you can let the freshness of the fish shine. There are also sushi platters, such as the sushi deluxe, sushi lover, and sushi premium set if you like a bit of variety.

The salmon nigiri, tamago nigiri, and the rainbow roll are all delectable bites of sushi.

You might be dining with someone who doesn’t love sushi (impossible, but it can happen), and there are some wonderful options for them as well. Kiku offers teriyaki and katsu dinners, as well as shabu shabu, which is traditional Japanese hot pot with Angus steak, vegetables, and noodles. I’ve been wanting to try the hot pot for some time, as it looks so appealing when it comes out to the tables around me. It’s often hard for me to stray from Kiku’s sushi menu, though.

Definitely save some stomach room for dessert, as there are multiple options. My favorite will always be the mochi. There are a variety of flavors to choose from, including matcha, strawberry, and vanilla chip. You truly can’t go wrong with any of these. None of them are overly sweet, and they’re the ideal ending to dinner.

Kiku has and will continue to stand the test of time thanks to the freshness and quality of their dishes and the warm and welcoming staff always ready to welcome you like you’re part of the family.