Kumi Cafe (Kearny Mesa)

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog about food.  Cathy is writing today while Kirk (and His Missus) are enjoying weather and food elsewhere.

 Back in March, Kirk mentioned that Chopstix Too would be closing and that Kumi Cafe would be expanding to San Diego.  Last week, The Mister and I stopped in. 

 As always, I ordered hot tea ($2.50).  This green tea, served in the thermal cup, was of excellent quality. 

The Japanese centric menu (there's a 'Spicy Seafood Bowl'/Bibimbap offered) is straightforward.  

 The cucumber salad ($5.95) was served in this deceptively deep bowl.  It was refreshing, sweet and salty, cool and crisp and was munched on throughout the meal.
 We were here on one (of many) unbearably hot days last week and I was craving Tsukemen.  Seeing the Tenzaru Soba ($11.95) on the menu under "Cold Noodles", it was ordered;  a very reasonable substitute.  The Zaru soba-chilled buckwheat noodles- served with a lovely soy/dashi (salty) cold sauce along with green onion was quite perfect.  The "Ten"-mixed tempura- was nice serving of perfectly fried vegetables and one shrimp.  The  tempura sauce (dashi, soy, mirin and sugar) was quite good and complimentary.

The Mister ordered from the "Entree" part of the menu: the Chicken Katsu Curry ($13.95).  All entrees include miso soup, rice and salad. 
 The miso soup was a notably good quality. 
   The plate served was Chicken Katsu ($1 less than the Chicken Katsu Curry).  When reminded the order was for curry, our waiter apologized and went to the kitchen.  There was a wait because the curry was being prepared.  The bowl arrived in a bit (it was quite busy and only two people were working) and WOW- what a lovely curry sauce; carrot, onion and potato.   Slightly sweet (from apple I think) yet savory, the thick sauce was very tasty.   The chicken katsu was a good thickness, had a nice panko breading and was perfectly deep fried and crisp.  The rice and salad were also nicely flavored.  I suppose the 'proper' curry plate would have had more rice and less lettuce, with the curry poured over the serving, but eating it this was was nice and we got to see the Chicken Katsu Entree.

Everything here so far is excellent. 

Kumi Cafe 4380 Kearny Mesa Road #300 San Diego, 92111 (858) 565-1288 Open Sun- Th 11-9:30, Fri-Sat 11-10