Kuu Cafe
190 Park Street, South Melbourne
03 9686 0819
Japanese
$$
Food
- Karaage Chicken
- Taco Rice
- Hayashi Omurice
- Green Tea Ganache Cake
- Kinako Mont Blanc
The Good
We were immediately impressed starting off with the Karaage Chicken. Fried just perfectly, the light, crispy and crunchy outer was golden brown and lightly spiced. Enclosed within was some of the most juicy and tender chicken we’ve ever come across. The soft, succulent protein perfectly contrasted the crunch of the outer, and paired with a garlic-infused soy sauce, this was just an amazing fried chicken that kept us wanting more!
We also enjoyed the Taco Rice. The beautiful presentation was made prettier thanks to the sunny fried egg. Underneath sat a generous helping of appetising chicken mince mixed with melted cheese. The flavours worked incredibly well together and was well accompanied by a warm bed of rice mixed with plenty of taco sauce. With a refreshing salad served alongside as well as some salsa and guacamole, this very Japanese twist on a decidedly Mexican inspired dish was simply amazing.
We concluded the evening with the Green Tea Ganache Cake and the Kinako Mont Blanc. The Mont Blanc was simply divine, with an outer layer of silky smooth cream that had a beautiful nutty sensation. Digging within reveals a gooey inner that had a mousse-like consistency and a lovely banana flavour. Combined with a crunchy, biscuity base and the crispy slices of banana, this was definitely one of our favourite Japanese desserts.
The Green Tea Ganache Cake was less spectacular in comparison though still enjoyable. The green tea flavour was forward without being bitter or overpowering. The cake itself was rather dense, with a consistency of a fully soaked, hard sponge.
The Mediocre
We felt that the special of the day, the Hayashi Omurice fell a tad short in expectations. Having had this dish in Japan, we felt the sweetness with the tomato sauce on the rice as well as the Hayashi Demi-glacé sauce smothered on top of the omelette was a tad overwhelming and masked the flavours of the egg and chicken. Granted, the omelette itself was absolutely spot on, but the overbearing sweetness just threw the whole dish out of balance.
The Verdict
Having been wanting to visit Kuu Cafe for a long time, we definitely weren’t disappointed having finally stopped by. The small yet carefully executed menu is tasty and affordable, offering up a unique combination of Western influence on Japanese flavours and dishes that are bound to satisfy your tastebuds.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Definitely. Count us in for more Karaage Chicken and Mont Blanc please!