The trend of open kitchen has gone ethnic; no longer is this phenomenon the domain of ultra-chic restaurants, as places like Kaffir Lime offers the clients a peek at the cooks at work. Everything is cooked or prepared to order, including the fresh green papaya salad (somtum). The fried fish is particularly delicious. The kwee-tiauw (flat wide rice noodles) could be ordered dry if you do not like the soupy version. Thai and Chinese restaurants usually would honor patron’s request in how the food is prepared, so it does not hurt to ask. Portions are relatively small, and oh yes, when they say “spicy” they really mean spicy. Make sure that you specify the degree of spiciness if you do not want to end up gobbling lots of rice and gulping hot water to douse off that fiery feeling in your mouth.
When in season, the rambutan juice (Rambutan ice slush) is a thirst-quencher.
To find Kaffir Lime, first find the toy store “Kiddy Land” on Omotesando-dori; then go to the alley behind it, parallel to the Omotesando-dori. It is located on the second floor above a noodle and pan-Asian restaurant; there is a Starbucks in that same alley. No separate area for non-smokers, and the place is very small.
Kaffir Lime
6-1-5, 2F Jinguumae
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Tel/Fax: +81(03) 3400-2918
