Takeo Moriyama prepares a to-go box at Kemuri Japanese Barú in downtown Redwood City. Moriyama is known for constantly adding to and fine-tuning the menu with dishes such as smoked poke salad, a customer favorite.
A new bar and restaurant in downtown Redwood City features dishes you can find nowhere else — each with a hint of smoke flavor.
Kemuri Japanese Barú opened in May and has started to draw larger crowds for lunch and dinner as food lovers have discovered unique dishes such as Ontama Shabu Shabu Hiyashi Udon and Unagi sliders.
Kemuri means smoke and Barú means bar.
It’s essentially a tapas restaurant featuring Japanese fusion dishes that are meant to be shared with a friend or two.
Dishes are made to pair with Kemuri’s extensive selection of beverages including rare sake, shochu and whiskey from Japan.
The restaurant even hosts the occasional craft beer tasting with a special selection of Japanese craft beers and a menu designed specifically for the event.
Head chef and part owner Takeo Moriyama is hands-on as he even puts together the to-go boxes during the busy lunch hour.
The sashimi even has a hint of Kemuri’s famous smoke.
Customer favorites are the avocado risotto and smoked poke salad but Kemuri has a deep menu.
Roasted duck breast, seared oxtail, lamb ribs and smoked pickles are just a few of the dishes Kemuri serves.
The ceviche is prepared at your table.
The edamame even comes in three flavors — smoked, spicy and umami.
For dessert, green tea creme brulee is a favorite.
Kemuri has high-vaulted ceilings and a large communal table for big groups to sit and share food and a semi-open kitchen where you can watch Moriyama and the other cooks prepare their unique dishes including the garlic fries.
The full bar serves Johnnie Walker Blue, Yamazaki 18, Hibiki 21 and Bulliet 10 whiskey from Kentucky.
Redwood City Mayor Jeff Gee cut the ribbon when Kemuri opened in May. It held a traditional ceremony called Kagami Biraki when a sake cask is broken to commemorate the opening of a new business.
“They are absolutely different and I’m happy they chose Redwood City to open their business. Ten or 15 years ago, we didn’t have these options. Now you can eat different kinds of food every night of the week,” Gee said.
Kemuri serves lunch Tuesdays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner service starts at 5:30 p.m. during the week and 5 p.m. on weekends. It closes at 10 p.m. but stays open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It is closed Mondays.
Kemuri is located at 2616 Broadway, Redwood City.
Go to kemuri-baru.com/ to learn more.
(650) 344-5200 ext. 102
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