Kochi Starts the Evening Off Right

Kochi Restaurant and Lounge serves up tantalizing menu options when it comes to atmosphere at its South King Street location.

Diners can eat in the full-service restaurant, or enjoy appetizers at the bar or sushi bar. Food items can be ordered as full meals or a la carte — you make the call.

According to Kochi’s general manager Reid Mochizuki, many of his customers choose the Kurobuta Kakuni ($18.95), a premium pork dish considered “the Kobe beef of pork.” The dish, unlike the common white pork found in most presentations, comes from Berkshire pork — an ancient breed of pig traced to the British Isles that offers up a dark, rich and marbled meat that makes for a distinctive juicy flavor. According to Mochizuki, the pork is braised for at least five to six hours and melts in your mouth with each bite.

“That one is extra special for us. It has a nice richness to it,” he says.

Kochi also is known for its Furikake Chicken ($11.95, $7.95 for a half order). The dish’s garlic sauce and combination of flavors has led customers to tell Mochizuki that it’s “kind of addicting.”

Mochizuki prides his menu for its boldness and originality— a departure from traditional bar food. Other popular pupu items include the Shrimp Tempura Roll ($13.95) and the Sashimi Moriawase ($25.75) — a sampler platter of fresh fish selected by the chef that usually consists of maguro (ahi), salmon and tako.

Kochi is open nightly from 5 p.m. to midnight, and stays open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The eatery also offers Early Bird specials nightly from 5 to 6:30 p.m., when diners can enjoy specially priced items, and complementary rice and miso soup with a la carte entrees. From 5 to 8 p.m., patrons also can take advantage of Happy Hour specials that offer up deals on beer and mixed drinks.

Kochi Restaurant and Lounge