Kitchen: A unique fusion of Dim Sum and Cocktails in Piraeus
With its small plates, creative cocktails, affordable prices and modern design, Kitschen Dim Sum Bar is quickly becoming a favorite spot for Athens' foodies in the heart of Piraeus.
- 24/10/2024
Dimitris Liem and Spyros Minetos were destined to meet and bring something that was missing from the dining scene in Piraeus: affordable pan-Asian cuisine with influences from Greek gastronomy and refreshing cocktails in a tiny restaurant, a temple of design and Asian culture. And all of this, hidden in a narrow alley next to Athens’ (and the country’s) largest port.
To visit Kitschen, you probably need to know where it is, otherwise how would you suspect that an Asian cuisine party is taking place in a narrow alley in Piraeus? Modern aesthetics and a trademark, a huge colorful mural. As Dimitris Liem told us, the initial goal was to resemble a giant magazine cover: “The mural is a work in progress, we are going to add black cats. The idea behind the cover is black humor and contrasts. What it essentially says is that everything is a matter of choice and effort, even if you have an ‘unlucky cat’ (Aka Bakeneko).”
Whatever they may say, Dimitris and Spyros actually met thanks to a lucky coincidence. Dimitris, Greek-Korean, and Spyros, Greek-Indonesian, met when they married two sisters. So, they are “brothers-in-law,” as Dimitris jokingly tells us when explaining their story.
They immediately hit it off and didn’t take long for their first joint projects to come. “We started with ‘The Bedroom’, organizing parties and events with electronic music, while also releasing tracks, but what made us very well-known were the gift packs we gave to our guests. These were designed by Fotini, my wife, who was already awarded for it. Now she has taken over the design and branding of Kitschen,” says Dimitris.
Indeed, before you even get to the food, the décor of Kitschen will surely impress you, combining bold decorative elements without losing its minimalist and relaxed character. The huge neon sign reading ‘Prepare your chopsticks’ sets the perfect mood for the meal to follow.
“All the elements you see are handmade, from the tables to the decoration. Even the sake barrels have the characteristic traditional tying, and the silk prints are symbols of the samurai. This way, a kind of branding of the drink is created. Fotini stayed true to this idea, and that’s how we made them. Even the sign is handmade, and the labels you see have the menu written on them,” explains Dimitris, showing us the space with the small tables and the large counter with individual seats, which truly resembles a Japanese diner.
The menu of Kitschen is characterized as “pan-Asian” and truly takes you on a journey, without being too sophisticated, as the dishes are always created through Dimitris’ perspective. As he told us, he grew up with these flavors and wanted to showcase exactly that homemade food mentality. In the menu, you will find delicate and fresh options, as well as more intense flavors.
He also recommended a variety of dishes that his customers have come to love. An integral part of the menu, however, is the cocktails. “Many groups come because they can combine dim sum, small appetizer-type dishes, with cocktails. They set up a large table, order dumplings, edamame, etc., for sharing, and enjoy their drinks,” and we completely understand them, as sharing alone is a very fun dining experience. Especially when accompanied by truly tasty and original cocktails with Asian-inspired ingredients.
We tried the Funky Chen, Chino Latino, and Enter the Dragon cocktails (all of them were excellent), and we can confirm that they complement the full and somewhat spicy flavors of the sharing dishes perfectly. For example, the spicy edamame with butter and kimchi were so addictive that we couldn’t stop munching on them, as well as the dumplings which come in various ingredient options such as shrimp, beetroot, pork, and beef.
Another dish that impressed us with its freshness and full flavor was the spicy crab tartare, a tartare of crab with spicy mayonnaise, yuzu dressing, and truffle, which truly combines the freshness of the seafood with the rich and more intense aromas of the truffle.
Even though Kitschen is characterized as a Dim Sum Bar and has a small menu, its dishes cover a wide range of Asian cuisine. The spicy tuna avocado roll was one of the best we have ever tasted, with impeccably sliced and thick pieces of fish, hearty and fresh, with a very nice balance between spicy and cool flavors.
For our final dish, Dimitris recommended one of the most unique items on the menu: steamed cod with a sauce made from red curry and zucchini, accompanied by crispy broccolini and baby corn. A true comfort dish of Pan-Asian cuisine combined with fresh Greek ingredients that impressed us and embodies the philosophy of the menu.
These days, Kitschen is celebrating its third year of operation. During this time, it has managed to become one of the most beloved dining spots in Piraeus, not only for the locals or Asian cuisine enthusiasts but for all those seeking the warmth offered by a cozy neighborhood restaurant, the creativity that goes beyond the imaginative names of the dishes, and the affordable, authentically tasty side of gastronomy.