They say you have to love what you do. Sonya Davis has a passion for food and decided to share her passion by opening Kiko’s Kitchen at 9179 Mentor Avenue.
When asked what inspired her to launch the restaurant, the Mentor-native explained that her journey took her through John Carroll University and eventually to a position in HR at a local company. Despite the security that a corporate job offers, she realized that a traditional 8-5 setting just wasn’t for her, so she made the decision to chase her dream. In 2018, she invested in a food truck that featured flavors inspired by her Japanese-American upbringing and thus, Kiko’s Kitchen, was born.
Her menu was an immediate hit at a variety of Cleveland events and quickly led to an ongoing contract with the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. However, success requires sacrifice and finding balance was important to her. Wanting to be closer to home and her two young children, Davis made the decision to open her storefront this past April.
“It’s a great location and it already had just about everything that I needed,” she says, “And, it’s great to be near family and the friends I grew up with.”
The restaurant is named after her mother, Makiko, who nurtured her passion for cooking and the menu is inspired by street food Sonya experienced during her many trips to Japan. You won’t find sushi, but you will find sandos (Japanese style sandwiches), rice plates and bowls, as well as fusion dishes including burgers, tacos, desserts, and more.
“Our ‘create your own rice bowl’ is our most popular item because customers can choose their own protein and vegetable,” says Davis, “Our Yakiniku Fries are really popular as well. They are a variant on American-style loaded fries with shredded cheese, steak, yum-yum sauce and other toppings.”
And, so far, it looks like she made the right move.
“The response has been great so far. We’re starting to see a lot of repeat customers and the comments have all been very positive,” says Davis.
Kiko’s Kitchen is open Tuesday through Sunday. For hours, menu, and additional information, visit www.facebook.com/kikoskitchenofficial/.
Thanks to Kiko’s Kitchen for their investment in our community. We wish them continued success in the future.