On my first trip to Denver for work, my bestie childhood friend took me here as it was highly recommended by her and another friend, Japanese person from Japan, to add context to the quality and how highly they speak of the restaurant. Smaller, well loved mom and pop restaurant that you can tell is a community favorite. This is a dying genre of Japanese restaurant we're seeing in SoCal (at least) with the rampant gentrification and rising rent, so this was a nice place to stop by. However, with that in mind, it's not the biggest restaurant, so definitely call in advance to put in a reservation if you have a bigger party, like ours. I want to add, to my amusement, that they have Shohei Ohtani themed dish menus here. The Japanese love him, no matter where they're at or from (as an LA adjacent native, this was pretty funny). For our visit, I got: 1) Negitoro Don: -It's a minced fatty raw tuna mixed with green onion on rice. -I've had this before at a fancy omakase and after that I've fallen in love with negitoro. Love the fatty, rich tuna with the crisp bite of the green onion and slight crunch of the nori bits they have on top too. -Delicious fresh fish and tasty, comforting rice dish. 2) J.F.C. - Japanese Fried Chicken: -We got 2 orders of this so our party can heartily enjoy. Goes great with the sauce they provided. Can't go wrong with crispiness of the breading and skin. Chicken was moist too. Good stuff. I got to try some of my friend's dishes too and all were perfectly seasoned and also were in generous portion sizes. Solid Japanese comfort food. read more

Talk about authentically Japanese that is Kiki's Casual Japanese restaurant. I've been going to Kiki's for years now. I don't know why I've never done a review, but it's time. I recently went to Kiki's with a friend of mine I got the soba-buckwheat noodle with the dipping sauce and tempura shrimp and veggies. My friend got the mackerel and some rice. What can I say? Kiki's never disappoints. I also ordered a green tea and they gave me a coffee mug full of green tea. I was not prepared for that and ended up staying awake most of the night because I was so caffeinated. I also love the yakisoba. The Ramen is fire. the Takoyaki is delicious The restaurant is clean. The service is very good. They close early so you need to put in your order before 8:30 p.m. They don't seat past 8:30 p.m. It looks like a lot of mom and pop Japanese restaurants that you would find in Japan. No I have not gone to Japan, but I watch a lot of videos about Japan due to being obsessed with the culture and the country. read more

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Kiki's is tucked into an unassuming corner of Denver and is so cozy. My husband and I were in Denver for a work meeting and decided we should try somewhere new while we were up there. Based on the reviews, we decided Kiki's was it. While the place is small, it's so big in flavor. Everything we ordered was cooked perfectly. I ordered the tempura and cold soba which was so refreshing on a very warm June afternoon. My husband went for the spicy miso ramen. Also delicious! We shared a spicy salmon and albacore roll, both of course were wonderful. The service was efficient and left nothing to be desired. Will absolutely come back whenever given the opportunity. read more

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A must try in Denver!!! The ramen was top knotch and the best gyoza I've had in Denver. The staff was so friendly and very accommodating. The restaurant is very small so I would suggest take out or expect a wait. Will definitely be back!! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This is my ABSOLUTE favorite spot to get ramen! Not only is the ramen good but so are all the other dishes I have tried!!! It's a small little spot with not many tables but the people who work here are so kind and humble. My favorites dishes here are the Godzilla bowl, tonkatsu ramen, sukiyaki, and curry udon, all are a 10/10 seriously. I have been coming here for over ten years and it has never disappointed. I hope they stay open forever. read more

GIMMIE GIMMIE KATSUDON!!! We flew in from Arizona to done at Kiki's because this restaurant has the real deal! Flavorful exploding in every bite there are a lot of things on the menu but if you order katsudon if you want a meat and rice dish you will be happy and if you order tonkotsu ramen with black garlic oil sauce if you want ramen you will also be super happy with your choice. My family is Japanese and we are certifying this restaurant as 100% home cooked Japanese food. WE LOVE YOU KIKI'S We will be back soon! read more

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This is my second time coming here and absolutely obsessed. I don't live near here but will drive here for their food. The place is family run and incredibly intimate. Prices are reasonable and I'm glad they get quite a bit of take it orders. Nothing super fancy here but super flavorful food ! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Kimchi Ramen Spicy Beef Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great mom and pop feel for ramen. Seating area is a little bit smaller so sometimes there's a wait. I love the selection of Japanese beers and other kids drinks and look like they had a pretty good selection of sake as well. I loved my spicy miso ramen my form 6-year-old love the Tonkotsu ramen. I'll definitely be back. The icing on the cake is if you need dessert right next door. There's a really good Middle Eastern confectionary/ bakery read more

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The restaurant is not big and have 6 tables short and long also chairs. Their food is good and tasty like the ramen broth is creamy. The service is 1 server only. read more

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Overall, this is a small cozy restaurant that serves Japanese comfort food. If you live close by, it may be worth checking out if you're craving Japanese food, but otherwise, I don't think I would go out of my way to come back here. I got the Yon Sama, which had katsu cutlet, shrimp tempura, tofu, onion, and kimchi all in a savory gravy/sauce with rice. I would rate it a 6-7 out of 10. Nothing special but not bad; I would want to try something else if I do end up here again. It is a little pricey ($18 as of 2/2025) but some other items like their sushi seem to be reasonably priced. Seated right away at 1:30pm on a Saturday but the parking lot in the plaza was full. You might get lucky just waiting around a bit in case someone leaves, which is how I got a spot. Service is no frills. read more

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I love the food. It's very comforting and warm. When you walk in it's very hole in the wall, with lots of random items that all fit in. Also the prices are more expensive for takeout, eating in person is a lot cheaper. I got the unodon supreme, and it was incredible. A little too much rice for me but the unagi is so tender. The curry katsu was also very good, the katsu is crispy even with the curry. The owner is super sweet. read more

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This was such a great gem that isn't all the way in downtown denver. It's small little pop restaurant that's off of Colorado. They have a buffet style of miso/salad if you order over a certain amount for entree. The nabeyaki udon was so delicious and the curry ramen was divine. Service was great and attentive and we can't wait to come back. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Nabeyaki-Udon - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Kiki's is an absolute gem! I tried two of their ramen dishes Sukiyaki and Champon, and both were amazing. The Champon is a creamy, flavorful soup loaded with seafood, perfect for seafood lovers, while the Sukiyaki is rich and comforting. The atmosphere is cozy. Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic Japanese ramen! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - CHAMPON - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Great little "hole in the wall" place to eat. The Sukiyaki-Udon was great. It was my first time trying it and the salty-sweet (it's not sugary sweet whatsoever) balance is amazing. The cauldron that that it came in kept the food piping hot. The gyoza was great as well. If you come on a Saturday, get there as soon as they open or come after 2pm to avoid waiting longer than 15 mins to be seated. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Sukiyaki-Udon - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I've been waiting to try this spot until I was in the area and got lucky that a friend lived nearby! I ordered the Katsudon for takeout and was so incredibly pleased by not only the authentic flavors of this dish, but also the portion size! As someone who has spent some time in Japan and had authentic Katsudon Buri while there, This dish was incredibly nostalgic and delicious. I felt like I was back in Tokyo! I will be back in hopes of dining in and testing out their Japanese curry! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Katsudon - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Still the OG go-to spot for Ramen in Denver!! Every time we are out here we try to stop by and it's been soooo long. Food still super yummy and auntie inside is still chill haha. Love that this gem is still around ! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Spicy Beef Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Great sit down place to get Japanese side dishes that are not typically available at your sushi place. There was dishes like sukiyaki and lunch special grilled mackerel with their salad dressing is my usual favorites. Their tonkotsu ramen also a recommended item if you are looking for soup based dish read more

I love a good diner and when it's paired with comfort Japanese food, I'm in. The hubs and I came with friends for a catch up session. We had a modest wait and then were seated. This is a very small and cozy place. We ordered: Fuji chicken fried rice - this was good basic fried rice; would ask for more gravy next time Chicken Katsu - delish and the best meal of the night Sushi combo plate - solid sushi, nothing fancy Chicken Karaagi - solid with the straight up Kewpie on the side Tempura veggies - also solid Potato croquettes - nice and crispy on the outside/creamy on the inside. This was also a fave and we ordered a second round. Service was lightening fast and friendly. We'd absolutely come back. read more

This was the first time I visited. Was recommended many a friend. Food & service was great! Would return again.

Not bad for a quick fix. I was surprised at the small portion size for the karaage. There was maybe 4 or 5 small pieces in the order. It was ok, but not worth the price tag. The egg rolls were decent, but I probably wouldn't order these again either. They almost tasted like they were pre-frozen, but I could be wrong about that. The tonkatsu ramen probably came with 1 ounce of meat. It also didn't include green onions or an egg. I felt cheated with this item. The katsu donburi was decent. The sukiyaki was packaged in a torn styrofoam container (I ordered takeout), so the sauce spilled out everywhere. That's too bad. I think I would've enjoyed it if it had sauce in it. Overall, the taste of the items I tried was fairly average and I was hoping for a better experience. The taste was ok. read more

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Pretty good for a quick fix. Wish the dishes had a little more flavor to them Order the Gyudon Bowl, Pork Katsu Curry, J.F.C, and a side of Japanese Pickles. Solid mayo sauce + Togarashi to dip my fried chicken in! read more

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Disappointed in the ramen. Probably the worst I have actually had. Lacking seasoning completely, broth should be a rich pork flavor but was absolutely bland. Cashu was not grilled at all. There was extra small slices of pork in the (unseasoned) broth... I usually give places another try if at first it fails but I don't think I can with this one. Absolute poor execution. Would not recommend. read more

I just absolutely adore Kiki's! Yes, the restaurant is really small on the inside and consists of about 5 tables... So, beware when dining in, because there may be a decent wait.But, I personally think the wait is worth it. This spot reminds me of a true dining experience in Japan with the limited seating and delicious menu. Dare I say, Kiki's has the BEST gyudon in Denver! The beef is always so fatty, juicy, and soaks right into the rice! I drive across town for this gyudon! The service has always been great and friendly. With this particular experience, I ordered my meal to-go and when I arrived, she was ready with the food to ring me up! And, everything tasted fresh! Very happy with Kiki's! read more

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This was by far the most awful Japanese food we've had! The teriyaki chicken was just teriyaki sauce poured over some chicken. The Gyoso were ok everything but the ramen soup and the miso soup was cold! Never again! read more

Stopped in again and everything was amazing as always. Started with gyoza and a spicy tuna roll which were both excellent and then had the spicy beef miso ramen which was fantastic. The broth is so rich and flavorful. Can't wait to go back and try something new on the extensive menu. read more

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While visiting friends in town, they recommended Kiki's, and it did not disappoint! Three of us ordered the sukiyaki, and it was everything we hoped for--warm, comforting, and absolutely hit the spot. I also tried their salmon nigiri, which was fresh and delicious, though a bit on the pricier side. The cozy atmosphere and friendly service added to the experience, making it a great spot to catch up with friends. The menu has a lot of intriguing options, and I'm already tempted to come back and try more. If I lived in Denver, Kiki's would definitely be a regular spot for me. Highly recommend for anyone looking for authentic and satisfying Japanese comfort food! read more

Kiki's offers a cozy, very low-key spot for Japanese comfort food with an interior that feels more like stepping into a Japanese home than a typical restaurant. We've been here several times since discovering it on Yelp and have tried a variety of dishes. After visiting Japan multiple times, we can say this is the closest to authentic Japanese food we've found in the area. Our favorite is the tonkotsu ramen with its rich, creamy, flavorful broth and chewy noodles-definitely a satisfying choice and a generous portion for the price. The spicy miso ramen is also quite good and not too spicy. The sushi rolls are fresh and beautifully plated, though the portions feel a bit small for the cost. The fried chicken was okay, but the pork katsudon and sukiyaki are spot-on with delicious, authentic flavors. The agedashi tofu was underwhelming and could likely be skipped. As others have noted, some dishes feel a bit pricey for the portion size. Overall, service is fine and Kiki's is a great spot for a comforting, home-style Japanese meal. read more

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I love you Kiki's I hope y'all never close also I will work for you! The food is always authentic and delicious, I love how quick and nice service is, and it's my favorite ambiance. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Spicy Spicy Beef Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We came in at lunch time on a Friday, it was not very busy. The waitress/host was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. This is a cute quiet place to get a good meal. For three people we spent about 60 dollars including tip. They have good lunch specials and offer self serve miso soup/salads with their lunch specials. Would come again. Thank you so much for the delicious food! We got the raku-ten and it was superb, it was a large portion and well made. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Raku-Ten - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I have conflicting feelings about this eatery. It's very quaint, nestled in a small shopping center off the very busy Colorado Blvd. The inside is small and quite chaotic. Boxes piled up everywhere and there are minimal tables for eating. The booth we sat in had a very big white table topper made of marble or something similar which stuck out over the edges and ended up making the seat quite uncomfortable. Just something to note. Food is great, big portions and very delicious. The one thing that could be improved is the service. We arrived at an off time- so the restaurant was not busy- only one other diner was there. We ordered and the food came out relatively fast but just the overall vibe of the lady working seemed like she was annoyed at us and that we were not welcome there. Okay, now back to the most important part of the meal- the food! We ordered the Nabeyaki Udon which is a delicious soup based noodle dish! Featuring many fresh vegetables and various seafood, everything about this dish is delicious. The broth is addictingly good and I loved the freshness of the shrimp tempura. The noodles are nice and chewy. My dining partner got the sukiyaki with rice, which was really good as well! The thinly sliced fatty beef was perfect in the marinade/sauce and even more creamy when dipped in the raw egg and eaten with rice. The sauce was quite salty on its own, but when dipped in the egg, it helped mellow out the overall saltiness of the entire dish. I will maybe try this place again just to see if she was having an off day, but I'm not in any rush to head back to dine in. Maybe if we were to eat here again I'd do take out- but if we do dine in again and the service is better, I'll update the review. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I love this place so much. I would come here when I lived here in Denver. Now live up in Loveland and came down to see my son. This was the first place I could think of to go out to dinner with him. I had the grilled mackerel and so did he. It was so delicious. The lovely lady that waited on us was so helpful and kind. I would highly highly recommend coming here. There are so many choices on the menu. In the past, I also have gotten the spicy tuna bowl and that is so delicious as well. I have had so many things off the menu and have never been disappointed. read more

The best sushi I've ever had in my life it's the best because the food is so high quality. Ten out of ten! I'll be coming back. My dad loved the sukiyaki! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Sukiyaki was delicious! - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Amazing hole in the wall japanese restaurant! We ordered everything pictured as well as a spicy ramen and an 8 piece California roll. I would say it is a tad pricey but you do get a lot of food so it balances out (if that makes sense). The photos don't do the amount of food justice. We paid $110 for 4 meals and an 8 piece sushi which I believe also included tip. There are about 5 or six tables in the restaurant but overall it is the literal definition of hole in the wall as there is not a ton of room. Our meals included a miso soup and salad which were both great! I'm unsure if that is only given during lunch or if dinner meals included them as well. You did have to serve them yourself but it was not inconvenient at all. I would recommend this to Denver foodies and anyone in the mood for a great Japanese meal!! I will absolutely be coming back read more

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Wow the food here is seriously amazing. They have a huge selection of beverages and noodle dishes. I had the nigori matcha which was just a tad sweet for my taste. The beef curry udon was delicious! I highly recommend this place! read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Nigori Matcha - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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First time visit to Kikis. Small seating area with just 5 booths. I found the Sashimi Ramen to be quite delicious. The salmon sashimi was fresh and tasty. The Ramen soup was good but I really don't know Ramen that well. The Katsu and Korean fried chicken were a little on the dry side and a pretty small helping for the money. The matcha IPA was delicious. They have a great beer selection. read more

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I've been here multiple times with friends and always feel like I'm getting a warm hug with everything I try. You start by admiring the cutest hand-stitched sign with hours of operation on the front door. Service is friendly & prompt at this mom-and-pop shop. After placing your order, you serve yourself for salad and miso soup. You can never go wrong with an order of JFC, Japanese fried chicken or Kaarage. The chicken is tender and juicy, and the exterior is super crispy without a greasy mouthfeel. Entree-wise I have always gone for a hot dish, either a don (rice bowl) or noodles, like sukiyaki. These are always well-seasoned and so filling. The sukiyaki literally came out in a cauldron and was a generous serving for two. Lastly, it's easy to take for granted, but the quality of the rice here is excellent! P.S. if you have a spare quarter you can secure a fun flavored Japanese Kit Kat on the way out (or in) read more

I was really excited to finally try this restaurant but definitely got disappointed. The only waitress lady greeted us with her emotionaless face and mumbled most of the time during our interactions. The restaurant was a lot smaller than how it is in all of the pictures posted. Meh service aside, let's talk about the main reason why i was excited for this place - FOOD. We ordered spicy beef miso ramen and a lunch combo with teriyaki tofu and jfc. The ramen was decent (not as tasty as I thought it would be) and the lunch combo was VERY sad. Menu says it "includes rice and stir-fried veggies, miso and salad also included at the help-yourself salad bar". We didn't see any salad bar which I assumed due to covid, so they would serve us those items directly. Nope! All we got was a sad plate with rice, 2 pieces of tofu, a few nuggets of the jfc plus a few pieces of broccoli. Overall, I was honestly embarrassed given how much I talked about this place on our way there to my in-laws. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Spicy beef miso ramen. 3 stars - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Kiki's is a good "fast food" joint where you can grab delicious Japanese food on the go. Their drive thru is so convenient (this is the only way we've ordered food here) . We look forward to the day we actually go and have a seat and dine there. Their lunch specials are an amazing deal and their portions are great. We usually get the teriyaki salmon bowls and they are always a hit! The service has been great with the friendly attendants waiting to take your order. read more

This is a small hole in the wall place that we drove into South Denver to try. When we walked in, there were two out of the four tables available seated and we were told it would be a long wait as the kitchen was backed up. One table got up and left while we were waiting and then we were told it would be about fifteen minutes to wait for a table. I did notice some help wanted signs so I do think that they are short staffed at the moment. The shoyu ramen and chicken katsu curry both lacked the depth of flavor that one often expects from Japanese dishes. The agedashi tofu was freshly fried and the sauce was delicious. Although I'd like to drive down again to try their sushi, I don't think ramen or curry would be worth it. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - Katsu Curry (Chicken) - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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$42 I spent. What a disgrace. Look at the portions. I am not a big person. I do not eat a lot. Look at the plastic spoon for reference. This NOT what they advertise on their website menu. I'm so mad right now. I have to drive around town towing a Uhaul looking for food because $42 spent at this restaurant is in toddler portions. $9 for the chicken & $22 for the Curry and rice. What a joke. read more

Kikis Japanese Casual Dining - By the size of the plastic spoon, how many spoonful of food does that look like? $33 with tax and tip. Spilled in the bag. NEVER AGAIN. - Japanese Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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