I’ve often found myself fretting over the steep pricing of dishes across most restaurants in Gurgaon. It feels like everyone’s serving fine-dine fare, and for regular diners like me, it really hits the pocket. Whatever happened to those simple, sit-down restaurants (not talking street food carts) that served fresh, reasonably priced food you could enjoy regularly? Japanese cuisine, especially, tends to be priced through the roof given the premium ingredients.
That was until I discovered Kioki, an izakaya-style diner at 32nd Avenue, Gurgaon, offering small, sensibly priced plates.
The interiors are relaxed and reminded me of my visits to Japan—no-frills spaces drawing a local crowd for informal meals and drinks. When I met Chef Vikram Khatri, my first question was about the lamb chops. At Rs 800 for two New Zealand chops—especially at a premium location like 32nd Avenue—it felt refreshingly affordable. He smiled and said he’d rather serve fresh food and sell more, than freeze items and overcharge a few guests. Judging by the packed tables on a weekday, his philosophy is clearly working.
We started with a complimentary amuse-bouche: eggplant fritters in a soy-based broth. Light, airy, and umami-rich—it set the tone for what was to come.
The Scottish salmon carpaccio-style sashimi—cut slightly thicker—came dressed with jalapeños, leek chimichurri, and a citrus soy. My vegetarian wife enjoyed the same preparation done with tofu just as much as we relished the salmon.
But it wasn’t just the classics that impressed us. Chef Vikram’s inventive touches stole the show. Strips of nori fried in rice flour made for an addictive chakhna when paired with a spicy edamame dip. Equally good were the crispy rice bites—pan-fried sushi rice squares topped with tuna and salmon. A touch of wasabi took them to another level.
No Japanese meal is complete without sushi—the true test of a chef’s skill. At Kioki, the prawn tempura and yasai green California rolls were both excellent. I especially appreciated the toasted sesame seeds on top, giving the rice a subtle crunch.
From the robata/yakitori section, we picked the tare-glazed chicken skewers. These are Japan’s version of our seekh kebabs—smoky, juicy, and packed with umami. The garlic soy and mustard-glazed lamb chops, too, were perfectly done.
If there was one letdown, it was the miso black cod. Though it’s traditionally sweet, this version leaned too far into the sweetness for my taste.
For dessert, we had the matcha crème caramel. I’m not a matcha enthusiast, but this version had just a light dusting, offset by torched orange segments that cut through the bitterness. Delicious. Don’t leave without trying the nama chocolate—silky like ganache, served with soy caramel and sake-poached apple on the side.
Kioki has restored my faith that good dining doesn’t always have to burn a hole in your wallet. While the meal isn’t cheap, it’s far more accessible than most Japanese restaurants in the city. Chef Vikram Khatri’s vision shines—and so does young Sankalp, our server that evening, who impressed us with his warmth and menu knowledge.
