Even though it might sound like it’s in “the middle of nowhere”, the Inland Empire area is slowly but steadily growing- businesses are blooming and little by little things are starting to “happen”. The I.E. is no longer a quiet area where nothing ever happens… sure, it’s rather far from all the desmother y bullicio del área de Los Angeles; however, what was once considered a buzz kill might now be taken as a huge advantage. Only a couple of years ago, people that lived in the I.E. or that for some reason drove through the area, where utterly pissed to find nothing to do, including few places to eat other than fast food joints. Well, that’s changing and the gap between the I.E. and L.A. is slowly closing. The L.A. diversity has transcended counties… thanks to that, you have places like “Kishi Japanese Restaurant”, which could easily be considered one of the best Japanese food joints in the area.
Surprisingly convenient
Once you go into the Inland Empire, in some areas it feels like you’re entering a whole new different place. And even though things might seem a thousand miles apart from each other, things are closer than they appear. The ever popular and heavily transited Foothill Blvd. is a clear example of that.
Driving through this main street you’ll come across “Kishi Japanese Restaurant” amidst a bunch of shops in a tiny shopping center.
Y aunque por fuera it doesn’t look like there’s much to it, this joint has a certain charm to it. Blame it perhaps on the fact that it’s sort of an over-sized hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
Buen servicio
Other than good food, what you would expect from any restaurant is good or at least acceptable and cordial service. While many restaurants fail on the customer service department, at “Kishi”, good service seems to be their slogan.
From the moment you walk in until the moment you get the check, it’s all pleasant. You might even get an impromptu visit/ mini-stand-up comedy routine from the chef.
This joint appeals to all crowds. It’s comfortable for both big parties, families with noisy kids, and the oh-so-lovey-dovey couples.
La comida
The menu is quite simple and to the point. You have your teriyaki beef and chicken, various takes on noodles and fried rice, some sea food, a couple of soups, appetizers, and then there’s also sushi and sashimi.
If you’re planning on going to “Kishi” simply for the sushi, it’s a much more pleasant and enjoyable experience if you sit by the sushi bar… now if you’re a fatty or you simply want to try more stuff from the menu in addition to some sushi… a booth is the best way to go.
A great way to start a meal is always with a soup. The miso soup at this joint, while it’s good, it has nothing memorable about it… pretty generic. Tasty but generic nonetheless.
Now if you follow that with some tempura you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The batter is light and crisp and the dipping sauce has a peanut-ey flavor to it. It comes with shrimp, potato, green beans, and carrots. One order is more than enough for two or three people.
When it comes to choosing an entrée, if you don’t know what to expect from a restaurant, casi nunca hay pierde con el chicken or beef teriyaki… so that’s always a great choice. If you’re gonna go for that, try the beef instead of the chicken.
Even though they are made with the same ingredients sans the meat and cooked identically, the chicken is not as fresh and doesn’t seem to absorb as much flavor as the beef.
The portions are overtly generous. Aside from a ton of meat on your plate you also get a salad. Now, the salad is just chopped up lettuce with some carrots thrown here and there… what rescues this salad from mediocrity is the ginger dressing- which is really good, even though it might taste a little strong to some people.
Por si fuera poco, they bring you a huge container with steamed rice. No kidding about the huge container… you could probably feed a family of four with just the rice that they serve you.
The teriyaki chicken/ beef meal is a great deal, not only do you get tons of food, but it’s also tasty y no te cuesta muy caro.
If you want to step away from the norm and give teriyaki chicken a rest, then go for the “sukiyaki” dish. This entrée comes with beef slices, tofu, onion, translucent rice noodles- all simmered in a bitter sweet broth que te dejará chupandote los dedos.
Aside from all the delicious dishes they have to offer, “Kishi Japanese Restaurant” couldn’t be a great Japanese joint without offering some rolls and fresh sashimi.
Although their California and Spider rolls have nothing to rave about, they are good and they don’t give you that nasty fishy after taste.
Aunque no tienen postre, “Kishi Japanese Restaurant” is still on top when it comes to Japanaese restaurants in the Inland Empire… definitely worth checking out when you’re in the area.
Kishi Japanese Restaurant320 W. Foothill Blvd.
Upland, CA 91786
909.981.1770
