Kong Wok and Roll Rome, fusion cuisine and music in Piazza Fiume

Come nasce Kong wok and roll

The renovated spaces welcome guests into a deliberately minimalist setting. While Eastern fusion cuisine is the focus, there are no overt references: warm colors, a simple table setting, and wooden sofas, tables, and chairs. No frills or ornamentation: a simple and clean space, illuminated by natural light from the large windows overlooking the street, seating 60.

But while Kong Wok and Roll has only just opened its doors, its history began a long time ago. The current location is the evolution of a restaurant format conceived in 2020 by Massimo Maria Viola, who has worked in the restaurant, entertainment, and event planning industries for years. In 2020, Sushi Kong and Wizard Poké were launched, dark kitchens that were later transformed into fully-fledged restaurants offering dine-in service, while still offering delivery service. These experiences have led to Kong Wok and Roll today, a more traditional restaurant format that perhaps needed more scope to truly thrive.

The menu

Let's talk about the cuisine, which combines oriental techniques and quality ingredients, and is entrusted to chef James Ryan Vinagrera. It begins with starters, from edamame (€5) to Fish Caprese, a fish carpaccio wrapped in a cloud of mozzarella, basil leaves, ponzu sauce, and extra virgin olive oil (€7), moving on to tartare (€10-13) and Lumpià, sautéed beef tartare crepes with sautéed mixed vegetables, chopped peanuts, and peanut sauce (€8).

Then there is room for nigiri, sashimi, hosomaki, temaki, which focus entirely on technique and product, and then we arrive at the rolls, among which we highlight the Tuna Power with tuna tartare, tuna carpaccio, spicy mayonnaise and tempura asparagus (13 euros, 8 pieces), and the gunkan, including the Philadelphia cloud wrapped in fresh salmon, chopped almonds and teriyaki sauce (4 euros, 2 pieces) and the truffle variant with fresh salmon, quail egg and truffle (8 euros, 2 pieces).

Also catching your eye is the Kong's Special section, featuring fun and decidedly flavorful rolls like the Black Roll Tempura with Rain of Tuna, a black rice roll with a disembodied tempura filling and a rain of tuna tartare garnished with spicy mayo and togarashi (€12, 8 pieces), and the Black Salmon Onion, a black rice roll with salmon, avocado tartare, and Japanese mayo garnished with crunchy fried onions (€12, 8 pieces). For lovers of fried food, there's a wide selection of tempura, including Smoke Dragon, shrimp tempura, smoked salmon, avocado, teriyaki sauce, spicy mayo (€13), and Double Salmon, salmon tempura, spicy mayo, salmon carpaccio on the outside, and teriyaki sauce (€13). Noodles are also available, both in the version with Italian prawns, crunchy vegetables, and eggs (€14) and the vegetarian version with sautéed seasonal vegetables (€12). Thai influences in the prawns with curry and coconut milk served on white rice (13 euros).

If this is the dinner menu, for lunch Kong wok and roll offers the Lunch Wok formula, faster and more practical, which is structured with a vegetable base to which you can add noodles, white rice or black rice, which can be completed with chicken, beef, tuna, salmon or prawns.

The wine list is short, offering whites, reds, and sparkling wines. The cocktail menu is interesting, featuring classic blends and others made with Japanese spirits, prepared at the bar by the entrance.

The music

We mentioned music earlier, the other key feature at Kong Wok and Roll. In addition to background music throughout the day, from lunch to dinner, there are special DJ sets every week. A dedicated sound control room has been set up on the upper floor, making it ideal for private events.

Kong Wok and Roll. Via Velletri 39, Rome. Tel. 06 57283988. Facebook. Instagram. Open daily for lunch and dinner (closed on Sundays for dinner).