*** Kiki Sato's has closed.
Like many I know, when I first moved to the mainland, I really missed my "local kine grindz". So finding April Hiraki-Morris's Southern California Plate Lunch Connection back in 1998 was a godsend for me. On occasion, April will send out one of "update" style emails, it's good to know that "One Scoop Mac, Two Scoop Rice" is still going strong.... for ova' ten years now! I recently received an email from April announcing that a new place called Kiki Sato's had opened up in Oceanside. I read it, but still, it was up in Oceanside. A few days later I received an email telling me I needed to check this place out. It was a "one-off" email from someone I hadn't received anything from before. This would usually set off the "shill alarms"..... and depending on interest, I'd usually just ignore. But there was one thing in the email that made me think that it wasn't a shill. The person kept misspelling the name, typing "Kinky Sato's" instead of Kiki Sato! A few days later, April forwarded an email from someone who ate at Kiki Sato's, and extolled the virtues of the Loco Moco. That triggered off something in my head..... after all, how long has it been since I'd had a Loco Moco? Which is why I set off on the 35+ mile journey to Ocean Ranch Plaza, and Kiki Sato's.... so new, that a banner still announces that you've arrived.
The interior suits the mall, which houses a Roberto's next door. It is of course, brand new, and quite colorful, and fast-foodish in character.
The menu is fairly small, which can be a good thing, and as you can tell by the "Teriyaki" in the name of the restaurant, there's a definite Japanese slant to the menu. I'm thinking FOY Dennis, being the big time Mapo Tofu fan might be interested in the Mapo Tofu and Pork.
There was a moment of levity when the very nice young lady asked me if I wanted brown rice instead of white rice with my Loco Moco. Laughing, I replied, "brown rice would kinda defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?" Which made her crack-up as well.
All plate lunches comes with Miso Soup.... a pretty large bowl of miso soup.
Which tasted pretty much like an after thought. Not that I expected anything more.
Here's the Loco Moco ($7.49), which I chose with a hamburger (you can have it with Spam if desired):
So how did this measure up? The portion size is on the smallish side, again, based on the artery clogging potential of the Loco Moco, this ain't necessarily bad. The rest I'll leave up to the "Modified Rubio" scale, which I first described here. So here goes:
BURGER: Hand formed, pressed really tight which made it tougher than it needed to be. The grind is really fine, and there's a strong black pepper component to the flavor. Still, this heads above the typical "Hawaiian BBQ" mass produced burger - 4.5
EGGS: Or should I say egg? It was just ok.... I'd prefer a softer, more runny yolk, and some salt on the egg. 2.5
RICE: Excellent, you could count every grain if you wanted to. - 4.5
GRAVY: It's a onion brown gravy, as with much of the dish, a bit lower in the sodium department . There was not enough of it to cover all my rice, and even more strange, it seemed that the rice was placed in the gravy, instead of being poured over the rice. I know, leave it to me to complain about gravy placement. Still, it does matter. 3.0
STUFFS: Plate lunches here come with both Mac Salad and a choice of a green salad or a spicy edamame salad. I got the edamame which was ok, not very spicy, but at least the edamame wasn't cooked to death. I thought the Mac Salad was very good; nicely chilled, not over-mayo'd. It could have used a bit more of a savory presence, but it was quite good. 3.5
TOTAL: 18 which is pretty good. Way above all the Hawaiian BBQ places, but still below, say the Kaloko Moco.
The service is very friendly, and I'd surely try other dishes on the menu if I lived, perhaps 10-15 miles away. As it stands, I may drop by again if I'm in the area, after all.... I want to see what the Wasabi Burger is all about....
Kiki Sato's Teriyaki & Burgers
3617 Ocean Ranch Blvd.#105
Oceanside, CA 92056
Thanks for the Mapo Tofu tip Kirk! I always thought a bowl of miso soup would complement plate lunches nicely. Kiki Sato's sounds like a great pit stop when heading up or returning from L.A. Seems I'll have to ask for the grilled pineapple replaced with avocados on their teri-chicken sandwich though... ;)
Posted by: Dennis | Sunday, 11 July 2010 at 09:09 PM
hope you get to check out more of the menu, sounds promising!
Posted by: kat | Sunday, 11 July 2010 at 11:38 PM
Hi Dennis - Have fun! No grilled pineapple on stuff, though.....
Hi Kat - If I don't get back there, it sounds like Dennis will!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 12 July 2010 at 08:01 AM
I work in Carlsbad. Not too far from me. I'll have to give it a run. Thanks Kirk!
Posted by: Liz | Monday, 12 July 2010 at 09:11 AM
Dang, my sister just moved away from Oceanside so I doubt I'll ever stop in this place.
However, Hubby and I are thinking of returning to the Big Island in October for our 2nd anniversary. :D yum yum yum.....
Posted by: Rosa | Monday, 12 July 2010 at 09:55 AM
Hi Liz - I hope you enjoy the place.... it's a bit more "healthy" than other similar restaurants.
Hi Rosa - Oh.... the Big Island.... one my favorite places!
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 13 July 2010 at 08:23 AM
Wasabi burger?? I can't wait to hear about that! Has been so long since my last loco moco...didn't have time on my last trip home to have one ^_^
Posted by: Kathy | Tuesday, 13 July 2010 at 03:36 PM
Sign on the door said they were closed permanently when I drove by tonight.
Posted by: Myke | Wednesday, 13 October 2010 at 08:36 PM
Hi Myke - Thanks for the info.... man that was fast, they didn't even give it 6 months.
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 14 October 2010 at 08:00 AM