Restaurant Review of Kira Sushi

Quick Take: Some of the best sushi in town (a low standard), clean & quaint atmosphere, great for quick meal, not well suited for large groups, can’t come close to NYC’s best sushi restaurants.

I used to occasionally go to Kira’s original branch in Armonk but found that it wasn’t even the best sushi in Armonk (second to Ginseng, a little known Armonk gem).  So, when I heard they were opening a location in central Greenwich, I had low expectations.  However, good sushi in Greenwich has been so hard to find that I decided to give Kira a try and was very pleasantly surprised.

First of all, Kira is not well know, possibly because of its hidden location.  It is near Greenwich Avenue off Lewis Street on Lewis Court, next to the Frederik Fekkai.  The owners did a wonderful job renovating the old sushi place that occupied the location, including a beautiful stone wall behind the sushi bar with cascading water.  However, the atmosphere is still casual and is more well-suited to quick meals.  The small dining room would have trouble handling a group of 6-8 or more for dinner.  If you want sushi in a more formal setting or with a large group, Tengda is a better bet (especially now that Ku is out of business).

The menu is a nice combination of traditional favorites and Kira originals.  For appetizers, I love the Tuna Pizza and the Jalapeno Yellowtail.  As for their special rolls, try the Lobster Tempura Roll (lobster tempura, jalapeno, avocado and mango wrapped with soy bean seaweed) or the Twins Roll (spicy toro and shrimp tempura on the inside with soft shell crab on the outside).

Whether or not this is the best sushi in town is open to debate.  I think the quality of the sushi is slightly better than Tengda but they are different types of restaurants.  Tengda has a better and more extensive Asian-Fusion menu, especially in the entrees.  Tengda has a better atmosphere for evening dining and is much better for larger groups.  Kira is a better pure-play, traditional japanese sushi house like you would find in Japan (although it would be on the fast-food end of the scale in Japan).

In conclusion, I really like Kira for what it is: a traditional Japanese-style sushi restaurant without the glitzy ambience of an Asian-fusion restaurant.  Perfect for a quick stop when shopping on the Avenue, a light lunch or takeout.  But if you are looking for a night out with friends in a lively atmosphere, Tengda is the better choice.

Food: A-

Service: A-

Kid Friendly: B-

Value: A-

Overall: A-