- The Great Cornwall Guide
- Destinations
- Things to do
- Beach Guide
- Food & Drink
- Properties
- Journal
- Golden Lobster Reviews
- Destinations
A much-talked about eatery which has been on her radar for quite some time, our editor Rebecca Moore finally heads to Kota Kai (with family in tow), to see if the hype is deserved
There’s something rather wonderful about having global-inspired food for lunch, and then picking up a pasty from Ann’s for dinner, or as we like to call it here, tea. But that’s the beauty of spending time in Porthleven, your stomachs will always be cared for.
This Cornish town has been running an acclaimed annual food festival since 2009, which attracts thousands of visitors to the area, and there’s one chef who has certainly been steering the sustenance ship, Jude Kereama. Having also opened his first restaurant in Cornwall – Kota – in pretty Porthleven in 2009, he soon felt the need for a more relaxed sister site, which is where the idea for Kota Kai came about, in 2011.
Having had a grown-up glow up last year, me, my partner, and our one-year-old, made our way to the harbour town to see how the restaurants strikes the balance between relaxed family dining and sophisticated plates.
We knew we were onto a winner when our request for a highchair had not only been waiting for us but was placed next to a set of colourful children’s cutlery, such a thoughtful touch. That was the only pops of colour you’ll find here, the rest of the restaurant’s interior is calm, with elegant wood panelling, a cosy contemporary log burner, delicate lighting, and local artwork. This neutral colour palate allows the stunning view of Porthleven’s harbour to take centre stage, and our table had a gorgeous outlook.
But was the food as good as the view? Absolutely. The menu is bursting with options; from snacks, small plates, big plates and classic plates all prepared in the restaurants open kitchen. If anything, you’re a little spoilt for choice, but between us we opted for a bit of everything. A recommendation would be to stick with the snacks and small plates, if like me you enjoy eating tapas style.
The drinks menu is equally stacked with plenty to wet your whistle. Whether your poison is wine, cocktails, or simply something refreshing, you won’t be disappointed. We kept it local, with Falmouth’s brewery Verdant Lightbulb extra pale ale, which slipped down nicely, complimenting the spice infused dishes.
We kickstarted with a couple of snacks, oyster tempura with wasabi tartare and grilled scallop with a citrus ginger ponzu butter. This was followed by a pork belly bao bun which was packed with pickled cucumbers, apple hoisin, crispy onion and kimchi, totally delicious but the real star of the show has to be the Kai fried chicken. This dish is not to be missed, even if fried chicken isn’t your thing. Served in a sticky gochuchang sauce and coriander ranch dressing, it’s a taste sensation which everyone should enjoy.
For the mains, one of my favourite curries has to be a massaman, so when I saw this on the menu, it made the decision for me. Bursting with a gorgeous creamy peanut flavour, packed with sweet potato, red pepper and seasonal greens, it tasted fresh yet warming which was perfect for an autumnal November day. Although, a word of warning, the portion is large, so you may want to share.
A special mention must go out to the staff at Kota Kai, their can-do attitude and friendly approach made us feel so at home, particularly when dining with a baby (check him out enjoying the view, in the image below). And we’ll be back for sure, maybe to try their infamous Sunday roast, perhaps not an obvious choice but given our fabulous experience and rave reviews by locals and holidaymakers alike, we’re sure this Cornish restaurant can do no wrong.
Our youngest diner enjoying the views across Porthleven harbour
We’ve awarded Kota Kai our seal of approval and personally recommend it as somewhere to visit when in Cornwall.
We visited Kota Kai for lunch on 9 November 2024.
Rebecca Moore
LOCAL EDITOR AND CORNISH AFICIONADO
Rebecca Moore is a seasoned editor and content writer with over a decade of experience, specialising in Cornwall’s unique lifestyle, travel, and culinary scene. Her expertise has been featured in media outlets such as The Sun, Express, and Cosmopolitan. A proud Cornish resident, Rebecca’s authentic insights help readers explore the best of the Duchy.
Related Fine Dining, Golden Lobster Reviews, Restaurants with a view
Categories: Fine Dining, Golden Lobster Reviews, Restaurants with a view
