Kuchi Mitte

When Kuchi opened in Charlottenburg in the early 2000s, it was hailed as the “szene” of all Japanese joints—raw fish served with a modern twist. But the trend of nouvelle Japanese cuisine has lost its luster in the wake of more authentic eateries popping up in Berlin, namely that of the far superior Musashi and Go-Ko.

Though the bare-wood, minimal aesthetic in the original establishment and its more refined sister restaurant on Gipstrasse—with a “Chillgarten” and zen lounge—is pleasant enough, it hardly feels new. Menu options do seem foodie-friendly, offering sushi platters, noodle soups and pan-Asian sides like kimchi salads and teriyaki skewers, but the food itself underwhelms. The chili beef noodle soup arrived loaded with limp, scraggly noodles in a broth screaming for more flavor; chicken sushi rolls with chili sauce sounded promising on paper but were little more than variations of Kentucky Fried Chicken droppings. Like many trends, this is one scene restaurant already living in the past.