Anime, Ramen and Coffee: Gzira’s New Izakaya Looks Like It Was Airlifted From Tokyo

There are two types of people. Those who can walk past a bowl of ramen without giving it a second thought. And those of us who once lived in Tokyo for three years and now treat anything remotely resembling an izakaya as something that requires immediate investigation.

So no, I haven’t made it to Kinko Izakaya just yet. But it has quietly climbed to the very top of my ever-growing list of places to visit, and judging by what I’ve seen so far, I have a feeling it won’t stay there for long.

 

Recently opened in Gzira, linked to the Novotel Hotel, Kinko Izakaya blends a Japanese coffee bar with an izakaya-inspired dining experience. The menu spans ramen, small plates and a solid sake selection, because an izakaya without sake is missing the point slightly.

The space is exactly what you’d hope for. Paper lanterns hang overhead, anime artwork covers almost every wall, and even the bar is wrapped in colourful illustrations. It leans fully into the aesthetic without feeling like a theme park, looking more like the sort of neighbourhood spot you’d wander into down a side street in Tokyo.

 

The ramen menu includes Tonkotsu, Chicken, Fried Shrimp Miso and Vegan ramen, alongside a gluten-free noodle option. Tonkotsu, made from a pork broth simmered for hours until it becomes rich, silky and deeply savoury, is one of Japan’s most recognisable ramen styles.

 

There are small plates too, including fried shrimp, fried shrimp bites with honey mustard sauce, piggy steamed buns, edamame and seaweed salad. You’ll also find a small selection of Chinese-inspired rice dishes, including Black Pepper Beef, Tomato & Scrambled Egg and Shrimp Rice Bowl, giving a subtle nod to the owners’ own roots.

 

Open from 8:30am until late, Kinko isn’t just somewhere to stop for dinner. The all-day concept also includes handcrafted coffee and pastries, making it just as suitable for a morning caffeine fix, a laptop session or an evening bowl of ramen. The venue also caters for private events.

 

Whether the food lives up to the atmosphere is something I’ll happily report back on once I’ve finally made it there. Until then, consider this your friendly heads-up that one of Malta’s most interesting new Japanese openings has landed in Gzira.

Kinko Izakaya Coffee Bar
58 Triq Sir Frederick C. Ponsonby
Gzira
Website