COCONUTS HOTSPOT — Perapat “Pete” Tunlayadechanont has a lot to say about food. For more than two years he’s obsessively journaled pretty much everything that’s gone into his stomach at “Eat with Pete,” and 115,000 people have thought enough of his stomach diary to like it on Facebook.
Last year Pete decided to put his money where his mouth always seems to be by opening his own joint to feed the hungry masses. Thus Kinniji was born.
Having documented hundreds of his own meals, Pete wanted to set his restaurant apart and appeal to the university students usually found packing his location near Chulalongkorn University.
Whether super-screaming hungry or just a little snacky, appetites come in all sizes. So do some of the dishes at Kinniji. Want a small plate of pork pieces? No problem. Need a platter loaded with the stuff? Done.
And why Japanese? It’s Pete’s favorite.
The decor definitely can be considered “cute,” but the lighting is a little bizarre. Pete said he’s trying to create a glowing, golden feeling (Kinniji means “golden rainbow”) but it’s questionable if the unfortunate orange lighting really achieves that.
But let’s talk about the food.
The best-selling Chashu Don (THB 69) was the stand-out, with pork perfectly tender and moist and just the right ratio of meat, sauce and rice. Simple and delicious satisfaction for a Japanese craving. Again if you think the small plate won’t cut it, you can upsize to medium (THB99) or go large (THB119).
Next up is the sashimi, which no Japanese restaurant can be without. Kinniji’s Spicy Salmon Sashimi (THB109) is served with a spicy Thai sauce which is a welcome addition of some local taste. The dish is simple, fresh and tasty.
Kinniji also offers delicious salads with a kickass Japanese dressing. The tamagoyaki salad (THB79) is just one of the beautiful salads available. Tamagoyaki is a type of Japanese omelette cooked in a way that adds a sweetness to the egg and works very well as a salad. The restaurant also allows you to build up your own salads starting at THB50. There are six other tasty dressing choices if you’re just not that into the signature, Japanese flavor.
The Smoked Salmon Don (THB119 for small) is for people who want Japanese food with a European touch. The sauce has a touch of a mustard, but it goes well with the salmon and the rice. It is a nice dish but nothing to be remembered for long. This dish also comes in three plate sizes.
If you want to eat like a boss, the king-sized Karaage Curry Rice (THB599) serves 25 pieces of fried chicken, one kilogram of Japanese rice and a non-spicy pork curry to go with the whole thing. This dish definitely has a wow factor, because your eyes are drawn straight to the rice Mt. Fuji piled in the middle. It looks absolutely volcanic. The chicken and curry were delicious served with added pieces of carrots and potatoes. The only thing that is wrong this dish is that pile of rice – it’s just too much. But that might be strategy, after all the restaurant currently has an eating competition, and if you can finish this monster in 12 minutes you get THB500 and don’t have to pay for the dish. Maybe worth a try?
Photos: Kamolwan Pongvachirint
FIND IT:
Kinniji
U-Center, Soi Chula 42, Pathumwan
MRT Sam Yan
