My daughter and I recently enjoyed a scenic 6-mile walk through Playa del Rey. It was an urban hike created by @sweetslinky. The hike presented majestic views from the Playa del Rey bluffs and led down to the beach and back. As our reward, she selected a nearby K’s Bistro by Kanpai for lunch.
K’s Bistro opened its doors 20 years ago as Kanpai, a sushi bar and grill on Lincoln Blvd in Westchester. It quickly became a popular place for Loyola Marymount students because it’s within walking distance of the campus. At one time, they even had a specialty LMU sushi roll.
Their sushi menu is seasonal, and some fish are imported from Japan. That day, they had some hard-to-find fish like umi masu (ocean trout), engawa (halibut fin), and nodoguro (blackthroat perch). I certainly would have tried something unfamiliar if I had sat at the bar. Unlike a true chef’s choice Omakase ($120), you select what you wish to have.
Named after the college, the Otis Roll ($25.50) is popular because it combines many favorite ingredients: shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, spicy tuna, eel sauce, and spicy mayo. Another roll favorite is the K-5, with spicy albacore, cucumber, and avocado, topped with seared albacore. Individual substitutions range from $2 – $6 per item.
The Sushi Combination ($28.00) includes six pieces of nigiri, California Roll, sunomono salad, and miso soup. Not surprisingly, the nigiri were all common: shrimp, saltwater eel, red snapper, salmon, yellowtail, tuna. The fish was fresh and of good quality.
Ramen fans will enjoy the Spicy Miso Ramen ($16.50), the perfect marriage of spicy miso and seasoned pork broth. The chashu is nicely torched. The bean sprouts and bamboo shoots give it some texture, and the chili threads add to the presentation. A non-spicy version is $1 less. They had two ramen specials that day – Spicy Volcano ($15) and Chicken ($17).
If you or the person you are with only eats “cooked food,” they grill beef, chicken, and salmon teriyaki, barbecue short ribs, and seared chashu. You can order miso eggplant, sauteed asparagus, and shishito peppers to accompany your entree. Dinner sets range from $33 to $68.
Vegans will be delighted with the number of dishes available. They offer Vegan Ramen ($17) with tofu, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and green onions prepared in a plant-based broth. Other items include Edamame, Sauteed Eggplant with Miso, Vegetable Tempura, Cucumber and Vegetable Rolls, and a variety of salads.
Please note that ramen is only available during lunch or after 10:00 p.m. Their second location on Sepulveda near LAX has a larger kitchen and offers ramen throughout the day.
In addition to metered street parking, K’s Bistro shares a parking lot on the corner of W 83rd Street.
K’s Bistro by Kanpai, 8325 Lincoln Blvd Westchester, 310.338.7723; kanpai-sushi.net