From Chicken to Chill

There is a story behind Kumiso, our izakaya gastropub. We had originally built this spot out as a chicken rotisserie taqueria. Everything was ready.

Approved by National Grid, meter scheduled, all set. Then they showed up and said the gas lines were abandoned and would need to be ripped up all the way down to Main Street. Not just our space, but every business in the alley would have to shut down. In the summer. So that wasn’t happening.

Instead of waiting, we pivoted. We converted everything to electric and created Kumiso. It’s tucked in an alleyway, a hidden little spot just off of Main Street.

The Kumiso Concept

Kumiso is a Japanese gastropub-style space, small and welcoming, with a menu that’s all bowls, ramen, and sushi. It’s not traditional Japanese. We play with it.

You’ll find fun, unexpected dishes like a sushi roll with beets, crisp quinoa on the Super Mario roll, and an udon carbonara that wouldn’t surprise you in Japan, but would on most menus here. The piggie ramen (our tonkotsu) is the most popular, and it’s easy to see why.

We do a lot of takeout as seating inside is minimal, but the regulars have found us. And they love it.

Inside Tip 📌

Most people don’t realize how serious the bar is here. The whole list is built around Beam Suntory—Japanese whisky, one-cup sakes, and a standout Yuzu Toki highball. We only have one sake in a full bottle: IWA 5, from the former Dom Pérignon winemaker. It’s like a little speakeasy.

The Mural with a Backstory

Our mural is unique, some people notice. It’s by Danny Lawless, the same artist who did the mural at K Pasa. It’s full of chickens because it was originally painted for the chicken taqueria that never opened. But we kept it, and now it’s the only thing that remains from the first idea.

Contact

🌐 kumiso.com

About Jesse

This card is by Jesse Matsuoka, a Hamptons resident of over 25 years. Jesse is a sake sommelier, Tip Top Hospitality partner, and co-owner of Sen, a legendary Japanese restaurant in Sag Harbor. Jesse was born in Manhattan, grew up in Tokyo, Hawaii, and Sag Harbor, and is now married to a third-generation Montauker.

Lead-in Image

@kumisorestaurant / Instagram