I have now reviewed quite a few concept restaurants, but I have never eaten at one quite like this. It’s all about super foods and health rolled up into one burrito type of wrap called Kyeritos. You have pleasure foods like hamburgers or lox and bagels, but it’s all done in such a way where there is no guilt. It all tastes great and covers most nutritional bases. This is food that can sustain you for the rest of your life. I can see people becoming addicted to this wonderful type of cuisine and having to make there way here at least twice e a week.
Owner Jeanne Cheng, says you have to have 3 things going at the same time to make things work here at Kye’s: 1. Food that tastes good. 2. Food that is good for you, and nutritious. 3. Food that makes you feel good after you eat it. Its just that simple and it works! Kye’s cares about why and what you eat.
They’re branding, packaging, and being kid friendly is what makes this concept a huge success. It’s a handheld bowl or salad, or the new sandwich without the bread. Every airport and every school should have these because its portable food. In our busy lives where fast food has run a muck, this concept offers good wholesome nutritious food that can be picked up and stay in its fun container to be enjoyed on the go. For right now there is only one location, they have offers to expend, but their taking their time in making those kinds of decisions.
They do a lot of catering; Kyeritos are the perfect thing for catering in offices. Everyone has dietary issues and everyone can get find something to eat. The Kyeritos are done in their smaller version, their kid’s size.
Here’s what I tried:
Breakfast:
Nori N Lox – Green Eggs , Smoked Salmon, Dill, Arugula, Tomato, Scallion Aioli, White Rice / Quinoa. This is a great menu item, its like lox bagel and cream cheese, but good for you, I just loved the soft smoked salmon, lox and the green eggs blend, wrapped in Nori.
Vegan Options:
Portobello Rueben – Grilled Portobello, Vegan Reuben Sauce, Raw Sauerkraut, Ground Caraway Seeds, Nutritional Yeast, Brown Rice Blend, Wrapped in Collard Green. This is a great way to enjoy a filling meal with no meat. I just loved this combination.
Classic:
Nori Burger – Grass Fed Beef mixed with Chard, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles, Ketchup, Mustard. Nutritional Yeast, Brown Rice Blend, Wrapped in Nori. If you have someone that loves burgers this is the Kyerito for them. It literally tastes like a burger, crazy, as it may seem, but with rice and seaweed.
BBQ Pork – Slow Roasted Compart Farm’s, Duroc Pork, Poppy Seed Fennel and Cabbage Slaw, BBQ Sauce, White Rice, Quinoa Blend, Wrapped in Collard Green. The pork is very hearty and has a great flavor.
Asian Inspired:
The Macro – Seared Wild Salmon, Macro Pressed Vegetables, Wasabi Dressing, Black Sesame, Seeds, Brown Rice Blend, Wrapped in Nori. Very distinct salmon essence, and the other ingredients are just terrific.
Bulgogi – Thinly Sliced Marinated Grass Fed Beef, Six Vegetable Mix, Fresh Herbs, Kim Chi, House Made Gochujang Sauce, White Rice / Quinoa Blend, Wrapped in Romaine. This was one of my favorites; I love Korean BBQ so this Kyerito hit the spot.
Salads:
Sweet Kale – 3 Types of Kale, Almonds, Goji Berries, Currants, Maple Dijon Vinaigrette, with Pecorino Cheese. This is a sweet salad but it truly a favorite of mine, and kale is so popular.
Asian Chicken – Mary’s Free Range Organic Chicken, Romaine, Snap Peas, Cilantro, Carrots. Roasted Peanuts, Asian Dressing. There is lots of chicken in this wonderful combination.
Treats:
Vegan Black Bean Brownie, Black Beans, Cocoa Powder, Maca, Sorghum Flour, Baking Soda, Sea Salt, Fresh Ground Flax Seeds, Brown Sugar, Sucanat, Vanilla, Coconut Oil, Grade B Maple Syrup, Fair Trade Chocolate Chips. This brownie is terrific; it had rich chocolate chips with a hard-core chocolate flavor.
Kabocha Pie, Steamed Kabocha Squash,Yam, Free Range Eggs, Coconut Milk, Gluten Free Flour, Corn Starch, Baking Powder, Sea Salt, Sucanat, Molasses, Vanilla, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Clove, Ground Ginger, contains eggs. This is a very moist pie from the squash, it is filling and delicious.
Beverages:
Caramelized Banana Shake – Banana, Coconut Oil, Sucanat, Chinese Yam, Coconut Milk, Coconut Milk Ice Cream, Maca, and Sea Salt. This is such a lovely delicious way to get these nutrients; it is more of a dessert then a smoothie.
Plum Herbal Water – An herbal tea made from Mume Fruit, Hawthorn Berry, Hibiscus, and Licorice, Root, Sweetened with Sucanat. This is a very refreshing way to get your nutrients, and very good.
Fruity Boba Milk – Boba with your choice of Strawberry, Mango, or Pineapple blended with Coconut Milk, Raw Coconut Water, 2 Medjool Dates, Vanilla. This is a very nice boba drink; I heard it is very popular. I do not understand the whole boba craze, but different strokes for different strokes.
Some of their ingredients are Organic and, or Local, and it is a wheat free kitchen.
The inspiration for Kye’s began at Jeanne’s house, because Kye is her son. He motivated her to create a world we’d all like our children to grow up in. Her life’s work converges in Kye’s, a place where joy is an essential ingredient, where healthy relationships with food are supported, and where awareness of the connected, holistic nature of life is cultivated, every day. Having studied the mind-body connection, health, healing, and meditation for more than 30 years, Jeanne has earned degrees in Molecular Biology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Spiritual Psychology. She has always been passionate about nutrition, and her son Kye’s picky palate, food sensitivities, and desire for all things “yummy” presented her with an opportunity to bring all of her knowledge to experimenting, being creative, and having fun with food and her son. What emerged is a set of food philosophies endearingly dubbed KyeChi. They embrace the yin and yang of why we eat, to both nourish our bodies and experience pure enjoyment. Through KyeChi, they aspire to work with the dualistic nature of life and existence to create and innovate.
What can I say, this kind of new style of eating is truly remarkable, and it is something not to be missed. You just got to plan a special day for yourself, a day to be healthy, a day to embark on a whole new way of eating, one that you will remember and perhaps change your way of life.
Kye’s
518 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 395 – KYES (5937)
www.kyesmontana.com
@kyesmontana #kyerito
* Note some content was taken off of their website.
