Filipinos love Korean food. There are many restaurants in the city, and several still opening.
Last Dec. 24, Solaire Resorts and Casino opened one and it's possibly the only high-end Korean restaurant in the city, Kiwa Korean Grill Dining. They took over the former Strip Steakhouse, which is right beside Yakumi.
“Kiwa” is roof tiles in Korean and you will see a roof over the door of the entrance, as if you are entering a house. Thirty percent of the customers in Solaire are Korean, so this will definitely cater to them, in addition to the Filipino community that loves Korean food, and this time in a most beautiful setting. The interiors of the restaurant are so beautiful and very unique. A Korean designed it, and everything, including the big boulders of stone in the front of the restaurant, is flown in from Korea.
There are several private rooms and not one is the same. Each table has a griller. For grilling, they use charcoal and the exhaust is downwards so it’s not smoky and you won’t smell.
Just like any high-end restaurant, Kiwa offers a degustation menu and they’re called “set meals.” But instead of serving each dish one by one, they just serve it all together since customers here are not used to it, according to chief operating officer Eddie Park. All the appetizers are served first and then the main dish, which is the beef or pork, and then dessert.
In Korea, rice and soup is served after the main dish so that you can taste the real flavor of the beef. You will have to request for rice if you wish to have it with your main dish.
Kiwa is a must-try Korean restaurant for very tasty and good-quality Korean barbecue grill. The owner is David Shim, president and owner of Solaire Korea, together with two other Filipinos.
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Kiwa Korean Dining Grill is located at Solaire Resorts and Casino. For inquiries and reservations, call 888-8888.