KIN by Us, Macquarie Park

Located on the ground floor of a recently-built apartment block close to Macquarie Uni station, this place can be easily missed with the trees and bushes lining along the pathway along Herring Road. However, if you know where to look, you'll discover a hidden gem.

KIN by Us is opened by cooking duo Uel and Shannelle of MKR fame and brings an Asian spin to otherwise Western dishes:

I thought the drinks and food menus were simple and well-designed - each menu item is accompanied by a brief description and a small picture:

Drinks Menu

Food Menu

With such a great (but small) selection of food on the menu, it took us a while to decide on what to eat/drink:

Black Sesame Shake ($8)

Durian Affogato ($7)

I thought the black sesame shake could have done with more black sesame mixed into the drink (beyond the small amount sprinkled on top) and the mound of whipped cream on top just made it feel gluttonous - it seemed a little over-priced (like the Golden Gaytime Shake) compared to the other drinks. The durian affogato was an interesting spin on the standard affogato (also available for the non-adventurous types).

And then came the food:

Waffle Belly: Caramel Soy Pork Belly, Potato Waffle, Onsen Egg,
Mushrooms, and Cabbage ($17) 

A take on the normal waffle + bacon combo, the Waffle Belly was the perfect combination of the sweet, salty and pure indulgence.

Miso Yummy: Miso Salmon, Onsen Egg, Sesame Spinach, Sourdough ($17)

 
I looovveee the onsen egg (soft-boiled egg dipped in a subtle soy sauce) and there was two(!) served on the plate *high five*. The salmon was well-seasoned and infused with a distinct miso flavour - definitely a plus on my side - although I thought the ball of sesame spinach was a bit weird presentation-wise (you could form a face on the plate? Hehe...).

From visit #2:

On a rare day off, I came back for a late lunch and tried their Sub-marine:

Sub-marine: Soft-Shell Crab Brioche Roll ($18)
Milo Mocha Dinosaur: Milo Mocha Shake ($5)

The soft-shell crab was placed in a soft brioche roll that has been smothered in a thick, spicy, curry-like sauce, which I thought was amazing, and topped with coriander and sliced chilli - definitely an item to be eaten using a knife and fork. The milo-mocha shake was average but was enough to fulfil a milo craving, accompanied by an added coffee kick.

You're best to travel here by public transport as there are limited parking spots along Herring Road and you'd need to compete with shoppers if you park at the nearby Macquarie Shopping Centre (3hr limit).