Kick off with Kiku

Kiku Japanese Restaurant, a conspicuous spot conveniently located on Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee is a casual dining destination stocked with varied Japanese delicacies.

Kiku offers everything the average foodie is looking for at a sushi restaurant and more. Sushi, seafood, steak, and drinks can all be found on its extensive menu. The 3,000-square-foot dining area is anchored with cheerful colors; red and green lighting; and yellow and red walls. Soft lighting helps to create the atmosphere, while the many visible Oriental design touches reveal the theme of the restaurant. The concrete walls are embossed with a few massive head portraits of Buddha, and five Buddha’s head pictures are exhibited on a glass shelf fixed to a yellow wall. All these surroundings raise customer expectations for the food, and the kitchen and bar do not disappoint the customers. The sushi and drink bars are always surrounded by patrons, wishing to see the magic up close.

The lengthy menu is stocked with a variety of sushi pieces and rolls, astonishing customers with gigantic portions. “Our ultimate goal is to satisfy the customers and quantity counts when quality is good enough,” says Mr. Zhang. Kiku’s sushi chefs, all armed with over ten years’ experience, are busy throughout the day, focusing on making expert cuts to the slabs of fish behind the sushi counter and presenting them to customers in an elegant manner.

The Las Vegas Roll, made with quality crab meat, is topped with tuna and salmon. Featuring specially prepared crunchy tempura, this dish is remarkable both in texture and flavor, satisfying the taste buds of even the most discerning customer.

Another standout from the over 200 items listed on the menu is a maki roll called Screaming Maki that astounds customers with its superior flavor. Flavored with hot pepper, the roll has gained popularity among those looking for something adventurous. Fried until crispy, the roll crackles when bitten down on.

Equally popular roll is the Dynamite Roll, which is rolled with super white tuna inside and lobster meat on top. At Kiku, new sushi items are created by the chefs periodically. One of the more popular of these rolls is the Cowboy Roll, which is a novel combo of steak, cream cheese, and asparagus. The roll became an instant seller within weeks of debuting.

“I don’t have a definite standard for the sanitation, but I always tell the staff that the floor should be clean enough for me to lay on there,” says Mr. Zhang half jokingly. Cleaning is done three times a day, ensuring the cleanliness of both the dining area and the kitchen.

Kiku is also equipped with enough attentive servers to guarantee that all customers are attended to properly even during busy hours. After finishing their meal, customers are asked to fill in a comment card. Many check “EXCELLENT” when asked to rate the restaurant’s service. 

Kiku is held in high regard by the locals, who voted Kiku the Best Japanese Restaurant in Milwaukee, in 2010 and 2011. The award, sponsored by the Shepherd Express, an influential local newspaper, is given to those who stand out in their industry. “Only one Japanese restaurant can be voted the best, and we were thanks to our focus on pleasing every one of our customers. We will continue bringing quality Japanese cuisine to our patrons while also working on new rolls in the future,” reveals Mr. Zhang.

Kiku Japanese Restaurant

Location: 202 W Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53203
Phone: 414-270-1988
Offers: Dine-in, Catering
Cuisine: Japanese cuisine
Signature Dishes: Las Vegas Roll, Screaming Magi, Cowboy Roll, Dynamite Roll
Capacity: 150
Year of Establishment: 2008
Website: www.milwaukee-sushi.net