07/21/18
Kumo Asian Bistro located in Alexandria, VA serves various types of asian dishes including Thai, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. But what they are known for are their authentic Japanese dishes and sushi. On their menu is an abundance of freshly prepared Japanese style fish, roe and seafood. The one dish that really stood out for me during this visit was the Ikayaki (Grilled Squid) with a soy-orange, ginger marinade/sauce. Most grilled squid are a hit or miss due to either overcooking (too tough) or under cooking (chewy, slimy). But Kumo perfected their grilled squid this round with a pleasantly chewy, plump squid that had that initial snap upon first bite followed by a smooth chew to finish. The grilling process provided the smoky char and brought out the incumbent naturally sweet tasting flesh of the squid. To round it out, the soy-orange, ginger marinade/sauce that’s drizzled on top was delicious in its own right. It had a nice sticky feel, not too syrupy and not too runny, which coated each piece of the sliced squid evenly. The soy, orange and ginger marinade combination is new to me, but I will definitely add it to rotation of must try sauces. The salty soy balanced against a sweet tangy orange sauce and a spicy bite of ginger was confusing, but yet satisfying at the same time. Sprinkled with a finish of a few sesame seeds for crunch, this dish is definitely worth ordering another round.