Let your taste buds blossom at Hard Rock’s Kuro

Save the trip to Japan or toll money for heading to D.C. 

Kuro, inside the Hard Rock, is giving you an opportunity to enjoy Japanese street food amid a forest of soft, pink petals as part of their Cherry Blossom celebration.

Patrons can enjoy the immersive experience of Kuro with its soft lighting and open kitchen coupled with an option of 11 treats on a menu that will vanish in the wind, much like the actual blooms of the Sakura tree, on May 12.

BreakingAC was invited to review this menu. Here is what we found. The standouts may surprise you.

Kuro is a great place to dine on any day of the year. 

The staff is knowledgeable. The bartenders are extremely proud of their craft. The food is plated with Japanese precision atop unique stoneware garnished lovingly with edible flowers, seeds and greens. 

As a bonus for the next five weeks, seeing the faux cherry blossoms throughout the restaurant will bring some nostalgia for those of you who miss the Safari Steakhouse’s giant tree when this property was the Taj Mahal.

Their specialty cocktails, all $18, are broken up into the five essentials flavors of Japanese cooking: sweet, sour, umami (savory), salty and bitter. 

The two that I had were packed with kokumi, or roughly translated, “deliciousness.” But my suggestion is the Hachi. Because where else are you going to get mushroom infused bourbon? 

The earthy taste is very subtle, but it’s in there. Think of a high-end whisky sour.

The full bar and menu are, of course, available if you come in to try the Japanese tapas during the celebration. You can order them all for your table to share. Or order a few to augment your regular entrees.

We ordered nine of the 11 offerings. 

The prices range from $9 to $18. With the most expensive item being the special cocktail, The Sakura Spritz. This is Kuro’s take on the brunch staple, Aperol spritz with an addition of yuzu and ginger.

The menu is lacking full English descriptions underneath the Japanese names of dishes. Your options are to Google the terms before you go or rely on the educated staff. 

I did a little of both. 

Our server, Michael, and food runner ,Victor, did an awesome job of describing everything they brought us. Perhaps a more comprehensive description would have added to our comfort and confidence however. But the Japanese way is minimalist. So when is Rome … er … Japan …

 sakura masu carpaccio
 

The salmon carpaccio was tender and of the highest quality. 

The dressing’s appearance was off putting. However the flavor was packed with a refreshing citrus punch. I probably could have eaten a soup bowl full of it on its own. Yum!

The beef skewers were flavorful. But they were on the tough side and our order of them stayed on the grill a bit too long before coming to our table. If you like well done and full of flavor, this one is for you.

The pork belly and brussel sprouts Okonomiyaki arrived at our table moving thanks to the thin bonito fish flakes flapping amid the steam. 

Atlantic City diners may have seen this culinary phenomenon on the fries at the now defunct Okatshe. 

The pork atop this pizza-shaped omelette was tasty with a crispy, lacquered coating. But I found the potion to be too big and out of place amongst the rest of the choices. I’m not an eggs for dinner person. So you may enjoy it.

Definitely get it for parties of four or six as it is sharable and certainly “Instagram-able.” (See it move here.)

The fried tofu was soft and full of flavor courtesy of the sauce poured over it table side by our server. You may have had fried tofu at a Chinese or Korean restaurant. But this is not that. A more silken tofu is coated and fried providing both a great taste and lovely textures.

The Japanese rice pyramid was too charred for my taste. I was also searching for a filling when I was eating it. But alas, just rice through and through. Although not my favorite, I found it exciting to sample what the Japanese consider comfort food. If carbs are your thing, this take on it is unique.

 ebi tempura
 

The shrimp tempura was cooked to perfection with a briny dipping sauce. Very few people can resist a well-cooked fried shrimp. This dish is no exception. Again the sauce is described and poured by the food runner tableside. It’s definitely a nice touch.

The triumphs of the evening were the pickles and the desserts. 

 tuskemono trio
 

We chose to get the tsukemono trio (a $9 trio of pickled vegetables) as a pallet cleanser before dessert. 

But they would work at the start of the meal as well. Even if you stop by Kuro, sit at the bar and eat these with a beer, you won’t be disappointed. 

Definitely get this dish if you are a pickle lover. The presentation is lovely. 

The cucumbers have a little bit of welcomed heat. The carrots somehow have a great crunch without tasting raw. The daikon radish is a vibrant yellow, sweet and the best I have had. The trio sings a song of spring.

 mochi ice cream
 

hana

Not to be cliche, but the desserts actually are too pretty to eat! 

There are two on the Cherry Blossom menu. 

Get both. Trust me. The price is a bargain at $10. 

As most Atlantic City menus have desserts priced at $12 and up. 

The mochi ice cream is elevated with a beautiful, chilled, berry compote. 

The hana is a pale, pink, cherry blossom mousse garnished with fresh strawberries. 

The surprise is in the middle where you find a sage-green matcha center. 

Neither offering is too sweet. Both presentations are something you would expect to see an Iron Chef plating. Japanese perfection!

If you are looking for something different. If you have been worn out by our cold nights and gray days. If you can’t wait another minute for the tastes of spring, get to Kuro before May 12. 

For players, this is a fantastic choice to use up those comps. For planners of first dates, this is the way to go. For a sample of comfort food from across the globe, this is your chance.