[Bangkok] Interesting. At Kiwamiya, your main job is to cook your own dinner.
Do not be alarmed if your beef arrives barely cooked, still pink in the middle. That is because you have to grill the rest on your own to your preferred doneness.
Kiwamiya is a Japanese hamburg steak restaurant from Fukuoka, now also operating at Level 5 of Central Park Bangkok, where some diners may not know what to expect.
The signature Hamburg Steak comes in various sizes from S to XL (THB 320 to THB 690), alongside combination sets pairing hamburg steak with premium steak (from THB 620).
Here’s how it works: The thick beef patties made from high-quality meat are first formed (Cooking Mama style) by the chefs, lightly seared, then finished by the diner at the sizzling teppan table.
It is recommended to cut the hamburg steak into bite sized pieces, place them back onto the hot plate, and flip them once they reach roughly 60% doneness.
Early bites sear quickly and stay soft in the centre. Later ones cook more slowly as the plate cools, becoming firmer and more savoury.
The rhythm changes naturally as you eat, and that interactivity is part of the appeal. It encourages you to slow down without making a performance of it.
Taste-wise, the beef itself naturally carries quite a clean taste, deepening as the fat renders.
Some diners may find the beef alone too plain.
To support this, Kiwamiya offers a selection of house sauces and seasonings, including sweet tare, meat sauce, onion sauce, ponzu yuzu kosho, akakara spicy sauce, and Himalayan rock salt.
The sauces are there to experiment with rather than rely on (my favourites are the sweet tare and onion sauces), and the meal works just as well with salt alone.
Beyond the hamburg steak, the menu is broader than it first appears.
There are other items including A5 Wagyu Steak (from THB 599), Pork Steak Tonteki (THB 320), and side dishes of Truffle Fried Rice with Organic Egg (THB 320), Creamy Omurice (THB 220), Kani Korokke (THB 259), and Ebi Korokke (THB 259).
The truffle fried rice deserves a mention because it is one of the more popular additions.
However, I did find it a little too creamy and heavy to finish on my own, so get that to share if you are not too big an eater.
In the end, Kiwamiya delivers a meal that is engaging without feeling like a gimmick.
Cooking the hamburg steak yourself adds a sense of involvement, and the beef quality is consistently good.
Prices are slightly on the high side once extras are added, but as a one-time experience, I think it is worth trying to see if the format works for you.
Kiwamiya Thailand
Central Park Bangkok Level 5 Unit 510, 946 Rama IV Rd, Si Lom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Other Related Entries
Central Park Bangkok Food Guide
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