Kinjo restaurant is one of Tampa’s most creative restaurants. Operated by Eric and Adriana Fralick, the same team behind Koya and Noble Rice, Kinjo is a dream made into reality. Since opening in 2025, the popular new spot is Tampa’s only wafu Italian restaurant, a cuisine that incorporates Japanese ingredients and cooking styles into traditional Italian dishes.
The inspiration came from Chef Eric’s time living in Japan, where a small wafu Italian restaurant became his go-to neighborhood spot. The experience took him back to the early days of his career working in the kitchen at Italian restaurant in New York. Several years and restaurants later, Eric has brought that creative swirl of Italian and Japanese cuisine to Tampa.
“At Kinjo, we honor both the Japanese and Italian cultures with our interpretations of both cuisines,” the restaurant says. “Dishes should be unexpected, yet thoughtful. Unique but also familiar. Our motto is “Subete ika dewa nai,” translated ‘Everything and nothing less.’ It emphasizes that nothing short of the full extent is acceptable. It is the idea of completeness and implies that anything less than everything is unacceptable.”
What’s on the menu at Kinjo?
You may recognize some of the names that appear on the Kinjo menu, but they will be served in a way you’ve never seen before. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy some Italian favorites with a Japanese twist.
For antipasti, Kinjo’s highly rated sourdough bread is a must-have. Or, before the mains, you and your party can enjoy a burrata smothered in chili crisp, confit tomato, and roasted peppers. If you’re hoping to take in the full Kinjo experience, you’ll need to try the Carpaccio: triple seared wagyu tenderloin prepared in black garlic, toki whisky, shiso gremolata, caper, and lemon.
Kinjo’s primi (mains) are constantly changing. Their Uni Pasta – highly recommended – is a rich, creamy, briny Japanese-Italian pasta whose titular ingredient is uni (sea urchin). After a delicious meal, Kinjo goers can enjoy some delectable desserts.
Kinjo means ‘neighbor’ in Japanese, and serves as a connection restaurant to Koya and Noble Rice. Appropriately, it has become a popular member of the family and neighborhood, developing a strong following and earning rave reviews in the less than six months it has been open.
Kinjo is located at 224 S Boulevard and opens at 5 pm Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations are highly recommended. Follow Kinjo on instagram to keep up with the latest.
Dining and Cooking