Taiko Japanese Restaurant and Bar

And about time, too. Kingsland, a littlegem of a suburb situated between Mt Edenand Grey Lynn, seemed to have everythingbut a Japanese restaurant.

Now, with Taiko, itis complete. Taiko gets pretty packed, so callfi rst, and make a booking. If you like to getcloser to the fray, Taiko can seat you at theirlong countertop.Taiko has a certain amount of emphasison seasonal food – try their misoyaki (foiledchicken/seafood with vegetables and miso)and gomaae (vegetables with sweet sesamesauce).

Their many small dishes/tsumamiare defi nitely worth a look, especially theirtakoyaki octopus balls, topped with shavedbonito. Their salad range is very appealing too,with the sweet, the savoury, seafood and meat– as well as vegetables ! – all getting a look-in: a Japanese-style house salad (with tofu andvege), a Shabu-Shabu salad (sliced beef andvege) & a spinach salad named “Popeye”. Theodd one out is the Daigaku Imo “salad”. Notstrictly a salad, this is almost a dessert item.Japanese people love their sweet potatoes, andthis dish, “university sweet potato” is, I guess,considered brain food for students.Taiko, much like Kingsland itself, hassomething for every palate, and every pocket !