09 February 2012
REVIEW - Taiko: Real Japanese chic, Kingsland style
18 August 2006
Te Waha Nui Online
Taiko
New North Road, Kingsland
Lauren Bartlett treats herself to a night out with the girls at Taiko in Kingsland and finds the price is right.
On returning home after eight years in Japan, Ian Lines had a dream. He wanted to run an authentic, yet friendly izakaya, a place to sip sake and devour sashimi after a hectic 12-hour day.
It’s more like tapas Japanese-style rather than a banquet.Now Lines has achieved his goal, along with business partner Kuni Shibuya.
Taiko opened at 460A New North Road in Kingsland in March.It’s nestled underneath Deve, alongside Kingsland Station.
I’m over ‘fusion food’ so Taiko grabbed my attention. The meals are simple and authentic. Very authentic.
A quick glance at their new winter menu and you’ll find such delicacies as ika-natto. If you aren’t familiar with this Japanese delicacy you might find it’s a love/hate relationship.Made from fermented soybeans with squid it’s popular in the Kanto region of Japan. To be honest it has a snot-like consistency, but the taste is distinctively nutty and it’s fabulous for your health.
Five of us on a ‘girl’s night out’ stuck to the familiar. Chicken sushi, yakitori (skewers), house salad (with tofu and seaweed) and Taiko’s most popular dish: teriyaki salmon, the fish flown up from Akaroa.
It’s prepared by head chef Chiho Niwa.Niwa has been a sushi chef for 15 years and is one of three licensed chefs in the Taiko kitchen.
All of the fresh produce is sourced locally, but traditional ingredients like wasabi, beer and sake are imported from Japan.
The environment is friendly. Lines describes it as a “bustling atmosphere”. He takes pride in the countertop where lonely patrons can chat with the staff as they munch.
It’s almost as noteworthy as its namesake — a large Taiko (drum) in the corner of the noisy wood-panelled room.
The best part of the night was the bill. All students, we each had containers of silver coins to use before they go out of circulation. I was full and satisfied not only with my meal, but because I only had to empty $12 from my container. Most of the dishes are under $20 and the average is around $10.
Later we discovered we had been overcharged by $10, but when I returned to Taiko last week for lunch they happily reimbursed me without a fuss, blaming a new waitress the night we dined.
Taiko is open for lunch Tue-Sat 12-2pm and dinner 5-10.30pm.
It is also open on Sunday from 4pm.
