Kabuki Restaurant Review
Kabuki is a small, family-owned restaurant in Dayton that specializes in sushi rolls and traditional Korean cuisine. Together, Mae and Hannah Brown run two Kabuki locations, one locally and one in Columbus, that serve a modest, yet devoted clientele. The restaurant itself is well-known for its size and for its waitstaff. The interior is charmingly small but well-light and elegantly decorated in a way that makes the restaurant appear larger than it really is, as well as adds to the feeling of authenticity. Then there is the waitstaff, which is exceptionally polite and patient with first-time customers (while they entertain their regulars). Each time I’ve been to the restaurant, I’m impressed by the level of professionalism among all the employees.
On this visit, we sampled the establishment’s most popular dishes in each of their specialties. First, we ordered the green tea, which was aromatic and soothing without being overpowering or cloyingly sweet. Then, we were given our starters. Most meals come with soup (a choice of miso or spicy vegetable) and a salad with a ginger dressing. Both soups are tasty, but the miso tends to be on the watery side. The salad is a simple palate cleanser, and while the dressing is satisfying, it's nothing special.
The real treat is the menu’s wide array of specialty rolls that cater to the preference or needs of all customers (there are numerous rolls featuring cooked ingredients, there are rolls without fish, and there is a gluten-free section of rolls). Their most popular roll is the Ninja Roll, which is made with calamari, spicy tuna, avocado, and cream cheese which is then deep-fried and served with a special chef sauce. This roll was overwhelmingly flavorful, but a great fit for an American palate that is unaccustomed to traditional sushi. It tastes almost meaty, and the sauce is like an Asian twist on American hot sauce. While my personal taste didn’t agree with this particular roll, it was still masterfully created and is something I highly recommend for customers beginning their journey into sushi. But if you're a traditionalist, Kabuki is well-known for its simple rolls and sashimi sets. I highly recommend their eel roll or- if you’re looking for a specialty roll- their spider roll.
But Kabuki isn’t just known for its sushi: it’s menu also boasts a variety of Korean dishes. Most notable is the Dolsot Bibimbop, which is a mixture of rice, carrots, zucchini, spinach, soy sprouts, radish, beef, and an egg all served in a hot stone bowl and a side of spicy Korean sauce. The dish is truly noteworthy because of the flavor and texture the egg provides, as well as the layer of crunchy rice formed because of the stone bowl (the heat trapped in the stone continues to heat the rice, purposely leading to the rice overcooking over time and creating a distinct texture profile). Combine this with the homemade hot sauce, and you have a match made in heaven. However, this dish does have its downsides, because it lacks flavor without the sauce, which means if you’re not partial to spicy food, you probably won't like this particular dish. But, it is their most popular Korean dish for good reason, so I suggest you give it a try.
All and all, Kabuki is a place I constantly find myself returning back to- whether I’m craving sushi or Korean. It’s flaws (it can be on the pricey side if you’re not careful; the seating on busy nights is cramped; and the appetizers are largely a disappointment compared to the price) are far outweighed by the sheer quality of the food and the atmosphere that the restaurant and its staff have fostered. This is first place I’d go for sushi and it’s the first place I’d take someone who's never had sushi, which makes this restaurant special in its superiority and it’s accessibility. If you’re looking for good food and good people, look no further than this little slice of paradise.
CONTACT INFORMATION
ADDRESS: 848 S Main St Centerville OH 45458 EMAIL: daytonkabuki@hotmail.com
STORE HOURS
Sunday-Thursday 11AM-9:30PM
Friday-Saturday 11AM-10PM
Works Cited
[Kabuki’s Facebook Page]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com website: https://www.facebook.com/KabukiDayton/
[Kabuki’s Website]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://eatatkabuki.com/