5Kinokawa
Japanese restaurant · Washington Avenue ·
Omakase dining with entertaining chef, woodworking decor, and fresh seafood
Omakase dining with entertaining chef, woodworking decor, and fresh seafood
"Mash up a sushi restaurant with some infomercial salesman charm, and you’ve got 5Kinokawa in The Heights, a $150 omakase-only spot that’s open from Thursday to Sunday. While the dining room is conspicuously filled with just as many carpentry tools as species of fish, you’re here to enjoy sushi. Nigiri pieces like flounder fin muscle, Santa Barbara spot prawn topped in caviar, and binchotan charcoal torch-seared A5 wagyu float out between the chef’s would-be standup special. The addition of high-end boozy cocktails and intermittent injections of cooked dishes like cod sperm dumplings (you ready that correctly), makes the experience zip by." - chelsea thomas, gianni greene, andrew ryce
"Mash up the show Tool Time with a sushi restaurant, then add some infomercial salesman charm, and you’ve got 5Kinokawa. The omakase-only spot in the Heights, open from Friday to Sunday, has a dining room filled with just as many carpentry tools as species of fish. Not only are you here to eat expertly sliced no-frills nigiri, but you’re also learning about different types of wood or how to perfectly de-shell a Santa Barbara spot prawn. At some point, it’s hard to tell whether you’re just eating through an omakase, being pitched an investment opportunity, or about to take a quiz on different varieties of mackerel. Suddenly, two hours and thirteen courses pass by, and, like stepping off a roller coaster for the first time, you wonder if anyone will notice you’ve jumped the line to ride again." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas, julie takahashi
"Mash up a sushi restaurant with some infomercial salesman charm, and you’ve got 5Kinokawa in The Heights. This $150 omakase-only spot is open from Friday to Sunday. Each tasting has a few plated dishes and nigiri pieces like flounder fin muscle. There are also a lot of flashy presentations and stand-up comedy show-style displays of fresh-cut fish filets. The addition of high-end cocktails and intermittent injections of cooked dishes like cod sperm dumplings help set a quick pace. And soon, you’re shuffling out, full of fish and wondering if you just signed up for a timeshare." - gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"Dining at Billy Kin’s Heights omakase restaurant is an engaging dining experience. Wine and sake is available, but diners can also bring their own for a $15 corkage fee per bottle. In such an intimate setting, it’s not unusual for everyone to partake in the fun and share." - Minh Truong
"Mash up the show Tool Time with a sushi restaurant, and add some infomercial salesman charm, and you’ve got 5Kinokawa. The omakase-only spot in the Heights, open from Thursday to Sunday, has a dining room filled with just as many carpentry tools as species of fish. The chef is, apparently, really into woodworking. Not only are you eating expertly sliced, no-frills nigiri, you’re also learning about different types of wood, where fish come from and when they are in season, or how to perfectly deshell and fry a Santa Barbara spot prawn. photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva Pause Unmute While you think you might just be here to enjoy sushi, there’s also a bit of a charismatic magic act happening as the chef skillfully prepares flounder fin muscle nigiri or hot torches slabs of A5 wagyu. That, plus the high-end boozy cocktails and the intermittent injection of buttery rich cooked dishes like pan fried cod sperm dumplings (you ready that correctly) and umami-packed kombu broth, makes the omakase experience zip by. At some point, it’s hard to tell whether you’re just another diner, being pitched an investment opportunity, or about to take a quiz on different varieties of mackerel. Two hours and thirteen courses have passed, and, like stepping off a roller coaster for the first time, you wonder if anyone will notice you’ve jumped the line to ride again." - Chelsea Thomas
