Kid Critic Reviews “Kous Kous” – Moroccan Cuisine
Perry’s Previews Restaurant Review – Kous Kous is the Go To Place for Fabulous Moroccan Food!
When you think of exotic Moroccan cuisine, what comes to mind? Before I discovered Kous Kous, my favorite local Moroccan restaurant was “Marrakesh” in La Jolla where mom and I discovered our favorite Moroccan food, the B’stila, a crispy, flaky phylo bakery stuffed with juicy, flavorful saffron chicken and honeyed almond slices. We used to get takeout orders of the heavenly B’stila from Marrakesh every month.
But last summer, Marrakesh shut down, so I was surprised to see the delicious B’stila pastry at a party in our house, brought by our friend Sharon who lives in La Jolla and loved this pastry as much as we do. She found the only other Moroccan restaurant in town, Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro in Hillcrest. After tasting the B’stila, I discovered that it tasted surprisingly good, better than I had ever tasted before! It’s full of goodies, richer, and nuttier than the Marrakesh version. My mom and I tracked down Kous Kous last summer, and ordered a 10-person B’stila, which we baked and devoured in three days!
To celebrate my mom’s birthday, we decided to try Kous Kous’s dinner menu with my photographer Brian Bostrom. We arrived at the restaurant after dark. Just by the look of the restaurant, Kous Kous embodies the exotic flare of Moroccan culture, complete with vibrant red cloth lining the windowsill, giving it the look of a Middle Eastern tent. When we opened the door into the dimly lit room, we were greeted by the owner and head chef of the restaurant, Moumen Nouri, who was such a hospitable host and prepared his finest dishes for our visit. As we were led to our seats, I took note of the exotic decorations and ambiance. Candles and Moroccan light fixtures cast a dim orange glow across the restaurant. Shiny pots and antiques were displayed below a projector playing old classic films such as Casablanca, which added to the atmosphere of the restaurant, but had no sounds at all.
The first appetizer was the scrumptious B’stila Roll, which was a petite version of the 10-person order. The rolls rested atop a bed of multicolored lettuce and had a dash of powdered sugar and cinnamon on top. The B’stila was an interesting blend of savory and sweet, with hints of honey and spices. I only wish there were more of it! The next tapas was the Harira Soup, which was a tomato broth with grainy lentils, garbanzo beans, and a few spicy croutons on top. It was served warm, but not too hot, and had a lemony, earthy taste.
The Zaalouk was the following dish, which had mildly sweet ground roasted eggplant served on a slice of tasty pita bread, served cold with a pinch of parsley. Also, I had the Endive Pockets, which were cold, soft lentils and smooth garbanzo beans wrapped in a crispy, slightly bitter endive leaf. The final appetizer was the Moroccan sliders, which had 3 different types of filling: Succulent lamb, flavorful Kefta beef, and cold roasted vegetables, with pita rolls serving as burger buns. The meats and patties were very juicy, and paired with dry pita, had great contrast. My favorite slider was the one with beef.
The entrees were just as good as the tapas. A plate of char-grilled shrimp kabob’s arrived at our table. The dish consisted of char-grilled shrimp skewers with spices and a tomato sauce. The moist and succulent shrimp had spices and tomato sauce, and Moumen said that cumin was an added spice that was not quite spicy, but added a kick to the kabob’s flavor. We also shared a bowl of Beef Tagine, with chewy braised beef, sweet green peas, mushy carrots, and olives. The beef tasted delicious with the sauce, but after chewing it, the flavor completely left the meat. Moumen explained that it takes 7-8 hours to braise dishes and cook stews! Kous Kous really puts a lot of work into its food, which really makes it a great restaurant.
My favorite dish was the Lamb Chops. The savory lamb was cooked medium, with a rich, seasoned flavor and a tender texture. It was served with some warm herb butter mashed potatoes, which were warm and had a smooth texture in my mouth. If had to pick one entree to recommend, it would be the exceptional Lamb Chops.
I noticed that Chef Moumen is a truly hands-on restaurant owner who enjoys serving and getting to know his customers. He enjoyed sharing stories of how he and his brother started the restaurant business, how he trains and keeps his staff, and how he developed a loyal following for Kous Kous over the years in a challenging environment. He even jokingly introduced the Mona Lisa picture on the wall as his sister Lisa.
Finally, it was time for dessert. I sampled a vanilla bean custard cup, filled with creamy, smooth custard, with crunchy toasted almond slices and dates. The other dessert was a refreshing mix of fruit, including sliced strawberries and oranges, covered in honey.
I give Kous Kous 4.5 starfish, it’s Perrific! The restaurant is an exceptional example of exotic ethnic cuisine, and the great effort put into the food really showed through the excellent taste of the dishes. I noticed that the signature in Moroccan dishes is the interesting flavor blend of sweet and savory, similar to other flavors like sweet-and-spicy and sweet-and-sour in certain Chinese cuisine. For those with adventurous palate for interesting ethnic cuisine, Kous Kous is the perfect go-to place for amazing Moroccan food! I can’t wait to visit again…
Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro, 3940 4th Avenue, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92103. Phone: 619-295-5560 or visit their website:
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Perry Chen is the youngest award-winning film/ entertainment critic & animator, artist, speaker, and entertainment personality. He started writing movie reviews at 8 using a kid-friendly starfish rating system, under the guidance of his mom Dr. Zhu Shen and his 3rd grade teacher Ms. Harris. Perry’s debut on the CBS Evening News in 2009 made him a national sensation. He has been featured extensively on local, national, and international media, including NPR, Fox, CNN, NBC, The Guardian, The China Press, and many more. He has interviewed prominent filmmakers at film festivals, red carpet premieres, and press junkets. He won a prestigious “Excellence in Journalism Award” at the San Diego Press Club in 2010 as its youngest member. Perry currently writes movie reviews for the Animation World Network, San Diego Union Tribune, Amazing Kids! Magazine, and his own Perry’s Previews website with a combined readership of over 2 million worldwide. Perry and his family live in the community of Carmel Valley San Diego.
Dr. Zhu Shen’s love for the movies started when she was a young girl, growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution where watching movies was the only entertainment available to the masses. Her journey to become a filmmaker took a convoluted path. She studied medicine at Peking Union Medical College before coming to the US and earning a Ph.D. in biochemistry from University of Colorado, and then an MBA from Cornell University’s Johnson School. She is a producer of the upcoming documentary feature “Average Joe on the Raw,” about journey into raw food and health. Dr. Shen is also an award-winning biotech executive, author, speaker, China business expert featured on national and trade media including CBS, Fox, Business Week, Pharmaceutical Executive, and more. She has worked at IBM, Bayer, Chiron, Immusol, and is the CEO of BioForesight, consulting on cross-Pacific life science business. *Photos of Perry Chen and Zhu Shen by Brian Bostrom.
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