There are quite a few great sushi places around Philadelphia, and the latest one to catch the taste of foodies in this city is Kidari Sushi Yatai, located on South Street in the Graduate Hospital area. Fans of Japanese cuisine will be familiar with head chef Sam Yoon, former sushi master at Raw before starting his own BYOB restaurant.
Our party of six arrived early on a Saturday night to a cozy establishment that was about halfway full. Our host was friendly, immediately offering us glasses and mixers for our drinks. We opted to order several dishes to share family-style, with our waitress eager to make recommendations when asked. Dinner started off with a simple, rich spinach salad, topped with sesame dressing and spicy soymun noodles. The dish was cold, but a flavorful start to the courses brought out promptly as we finished each plate.
The sushi struck a nice balance between classic rolls and Chef Yoon’s specials combinations. I was particularly fond of the Fire Dragon Roll with spicy tuna and their fantastic eel sauce. Out of their specials, our table enjoyed the signature Kidari Roll with avocado, jalapeno and crunchy texture. The least favorite plate was the special Texas Roll, which some of us found to taste like a nacho despite containing some fresh yellowtail.
Overall, I was impressed by Kidari Sushi Yatai. The cozy atmosphere and attentive staff makes for a comfortable dining experience, a wonderful change of pace from the larger Japanese establishments in the city.
Kidari Sushi Yatai
1824 South Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19146
tel 267-273-0426
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