Shihomi Borillo and Nao Ichimura, who also own and operate Azuki Sushi, launched Artisan Bento in an adjacent space in early 2015 but closed the concept in 2017 in order to rebrand the space into a casual ramen bar dubbed Hachi Ramen. Unfortunately, Hachi shuttered in 2020 during the pandemic, but the 900 square-foot space has been renovated to reopen soon as an intimate Japanese eatery called Kinme.
Named after the Japanese term for a gold coin, Kinme will be a restaurant with an ever-evolving tasting menu inspired by Kaiseki and Edomae-style, Japanese omakase restaurants. The restaurant will offer two seatings per night for a max of 10 diners and serve an eight-course tasting menu at the price of approximately $175 per person. Expect a focus on fresh seafood from San Diego and Baja, in addition to products imported from Japan's famed Toyosu fish market. There will also be a strong focus on sake, Burgundy wines, and Japanese whiskeys, as well as traditional Japanese matcha tea ceremonies.
Highlights from Kinme's launch menu include an A5 Wagyu Tartar Puff with pickled daikon and caramelized onion jam; Hassun expression of the season with chawanmushi steamed egg custard made with a free range egg, morel mushroom and Dungeness crab ankake; Hanmono rice dish with Edomae-style nigiri sushi (Kobujime Hirame with Milpero Kosho, Kinmedai with Kombu salt, soy sauce cured chu-toro, saba oshizushi (pressed sushi), San Diego uni, Bincho-seared bluefin 0-toro and anago); and Wan-mono spring pea soup with wild nettle oil.
Kinme will open on March 15 at 2505 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Bankers Hill. For more information and to make reservations, visit kinmeomakase.com.
Kinme will open on March 15 at 2505 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Bankers Hill. For more information and to make reservations, visit kinmeomakase.com.
