When Maki first came into the scene in Kuwait City, their signature Eissa Maki dish was all the hype back then. Their unique twist on Japanese Cuisine and Middle-Eastern dishes made it hugely popular with both new and regular gourmands, who continuously keep coming back for a taste of modern Japanese food.
Forward to today, Eissa maki remains a strong old-school dish, but Maki also keeps introducing new and creative dishes. Their menu is full of various options, making it accessible to anyone who is either a crazed foodie, as most of us are, or picky when it comes to certain ingredients with their Maki choices.
After opening several branches all around Kuwait, Maki at The Avenues is the perfect destination for shopaholics with a taste for Japanese food. The location seats 100 guests in its dining hall, along with 50 other seats in their outdoor seating area for an angled view of the mall. So, if you’re on a shopping spree at The Avenues, and in need of a break for that fulfilling contemporary and innovative Japanese meal that you deeply crave, you’ll definitely know where to go.
Maki at The Avenues. Image courtesy of Maki
Pleasingly served in a small fish bowl is the smoky Chaine Forest Haze salad, a mixture of greens with red quinoa and pine nuts. Poured and blended within the bowl is a tang of squeezed savory lemons, and their homemade delicate extra virgin olive oil.
But the twist we all expect to see from Maki arrives in the form of the Spinach Oliva maki. This dish is not to be missed, as you can literally taste the magnificent and unique flavors with every bite. Olive-wrapped with prawn tempura, shredded chili pepper, spinach on top, poured over it is their delicious goma dressing. This is the perfect Maki starter dish that led to us wanting more than just a couple of bites.
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The clash of cultures comes in the form of Maki’s Lentil Caviar salad. The main ingredient relies on French green lentil, and shiso; a plant native to eastern Asia, it’s also commonly used as a herb in Maki’s Japanese preparation of their dishes. The salad is also rich with cherry tomatoes, crispy corn, red radish, avocado, baby orange slices and finally, completing the entire dish is a special sweet and sour dressing.
Ideally, Maki’s old school dishes are still available on their menu. Such as our personal favorite, the special crunchy cut Filo Prawn Tempura, served with your choice of sauce, either regular tempura sauce, or sweet and spicy for an extra saucy crunch.
Lentil Caviar Salad. Image courtesy of Maki
Yet amazingly, Maki keeps introducing new-school dishes that remain loyal to the concept’s ethos of mixing cultural flavors. The ‘Yuzu Crème Brulèe’ is not your typical Brulèe, as it is flavored with yuzu; a round, yellowish citrus fruit that contains an acidic juice. Yuzu comes from the citrus tree originating in China, but it is widely cultivated in both Japan and Korea. Maki used it chiefly as the main flavoring in their Crème Brulèe, elevating the subtle taste of this classic European dessert to the next level.
All of these elements are beautifully paraded on Maki’s creative menu. Not only combining cultural flavors, but also creating outlandish twists within each dish for our enjoyment of Japanese cuisine, and our craving for that addictive sensation that comes from the fusion of flavors. Especially after a tiring shopping spree at the Avenues, where all that running around can be perfectly concluded with the joyful experience of having a good, fulfilling meal at Maki.
Yuzu Creme Brûlée. Image courtesy of Maki
Maki has four locations across Kuwait – The M2 in Salhiya (2247 9721); The Avenues (2259 7122), Marina Waves (2224 4560) and Burj Jassem, (2290 1010). Visit www.olivemaki.com for more information, call 182 3080 for delivery and follow Maki on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat: @Makirest and Facebook: MakiRestaurant.
