Ordered a spaghetti carbonara for take out. It is entirely swimming in white sauce. This is not a carbonara. Very disappointed ☹️
Food: 1
J
Had a wonderful time at Kinemi's. By far the best seafood linguine I've ever had, with fresh Salt Spring Island Mussels. Cozy and relaxed atmosphere, will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Cheung
Little mom and pop shop and just love these type of restaurant. The pastas are amazing especially there mushroom or clam chowder soups!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sonja Li
Kinemi’s Kitchen is a cozy Japanese-Italian restaurant in Champlain Heights. My partner and I visited for dinner on a Saturday night. The space is small and homey, which matches the comforting feel of their dishes.
We ordered the garlic bread, carbonara, and smoked salmon linguine. The garlic bread was decent—flavorful, though we wished it was served with baguette. Both pastas were cooked perfectly al dente, with sauces that were well-balanced and nicely seasoned. We’ll definitely be back to try more of their pasta dishes, and of course, the tiramisu next time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Joiz
2026-01-02
Come here when you want to dine in real food, but don’t want too much attention.
The house salad got a good mix of mushrooms, greens, plus pickled onion and beets, something makes you feel cared. Lasagna here was the right amount of cheesy that won’t left you feel guilty. However, the sauce is more milky and fluid and the sheets felt slightly soggy/overcooked to me. Also, *personally* I found the seasoning is on the heavy side for the linguine and salad.
This place gives a good retro vibe from its decor to the music choice, there’s also a little booth for handmade items. They close quite early so we’re were the last table, but it didn’t feel awkward at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Neo
Good (Japanese?) Pasta
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kate
quite lovely restaurant with lots of delicious dishes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
A Montgomery
One of my favourite places to eat in the lower mainland! The smoked salmon linguine is so delicious I ordered it twice in one week.
I've been coming here since 2014, and it feels like having dinner with family now. The warmth and friendliness is there if you bring that energy with you. Emi and Kin are hardworking and kind people.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ada
Restaurant is small, with about 10-15 dine in seats only. Ordered two pasta: chicken with penne and mushroom canneolli for takeout. They were ready when we arrived, and it was still hot when we got home shortly. Cash only though. Would eat here again, as it was a pleasant meal, but not anything amazing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sab L.
Delicious japanese-italian fusion spaghetti under $20. Cash only!
quite lovely restaurant with lots of delicious dishes which we feel hard to choose from lol
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Michael H
Limited menu and all excellent quality. Japanese couple owned and operated. Portions just right. Quaint limited seating with reasonable turnover. Seems like they get plenty of take out. Would recommend all day, every day. Cash only establishment.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
P Cho
i called this place asking for the daily special and got a grumpy lady who barely spoke audible English and hung up on me prematurely. If your business wants to survive in the lower mainland, you better offer your potential customers better service.
Kin Leong
Kinemi is a hidden gem in the Champlain Heights neighborhood. They serve fantastic Italian pasta dishes in a very unassuming venue that comfortably seats large families.
Jessica T
I have been coming here since 2011(?) this place never disappoints! I love the braised ox tongue spaghetti. It is so flavorful. Their prawn linguine, seafood linguine are also very good. The chef used to work at Don Francesco, very impressive.
Ordered a spaghetti carbonara for take out. It is entirely swimming in white sauce. This is not a carbonara. Very disappointed ☹️
Food: 1
Had a wonderful time at Kinemi's. By far the best seafood linguine I've ever had, with fresh Salt Spring Island Mussels. Cozy and relaxed atmosphere, will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Little mom and pop shop and just love these type of restaurant. The pastas are amazing especially there mushroom or clam chowder soups!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kinemi’s Kitchen is a cozy Japanese-Italian restaurant in Champlain Heights. My partner and I visited for dinner on a Saturday night. The space is small and homey, which matches the comforting feel of their dishes.
We ordered the garlic bread, carbonara, and smoked salmon linguine. The garlic bread was decent—flavorful, though we wished it was served with baguette. Both pastas were cooked perfectly al dente, with sauces that were well-balanced and nicely seasoned.
We’ll definitely be back to try more of their pasta dishes, and of course, the tiramisu next time.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
2026-01-02
Come here when you want to dine in real food, but don’t want too much attention.
The house salad got a good mix of mushrooms, greens, plus pickled onion and beets, something makes you feel cared.
Lasagna here was the right amount of cheesy that won’t left you feel guilty. However, the sauce is more milky and fluid and the sheets felt slightly soggy/overcooked to me. Also, *personally* I found the seasoning is on the heavy side for the linguine and salad.
This place gives a good retro vibe from its decor to the music choice, there’s also a little booth for handmade items. They close quite early so we’re were the last table, but it didn’t feel awkward at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Good (Japanese?) Pasta
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
quite lovely restaurant with lots of delicious dishes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
One of my favourite places to eat in the lower mainland! The smoked salmon linguine is so delicious I ordered it twice in one week.
I've been coming here since 2014, and it feels like having dinner with family now. The warmth and friendliness is there if you bring that energy with you. Emi and Kin are hardworking and kind people.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurant is small, with about 10-15 dine in seats only. Ordered two pasta: chicken with penne and mushroom canneolli for takeout. They were ready when we arrived, and it was still hot when we got home shortly. Cash only though. Would eat here again, as it was a pleasant meal, but not anything amazing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Delicious japanese-italian fusion spaghetti under $20. Cash only!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
quite lovely restaurant with lots of delicious dishes which we feel hard to choose from lol
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Limited menu and all excellent quality. Japanese couple owned and operated. Portions just right. Quaint limited seating with reasonable turnover. Seems like they get plenty of take out. Would recommend all day, every day. Cash only establishment.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
i called this place asking for the daily special and got a grumpy lady who barely spoke audible English and hung up on me prematurely. If your business wants to survive in the lower mainland, you better offer your potential customers better service.
Kinemi is a hidden gem in the Champlain Heights neighborhood. They serve fantastic Italian pasta dishes in a very unassuming venue that comfortably seats large families.
I have been coming here since 2011(?) this place never disappoints! I love the braised ox tongue spaghetti. It is so flavorful. Their prawn linguine, seafood linguine are also very good. The chef used to work at Don Francesco, very impressive.
Friendly service.
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