News alert: Japanese food isn't just about sushi and tempura. This was a fascinating fact I learned when I visited On the Bridge in San Francisco's Japantown. On the Bridge is a little Japanese restaurant in the Japantown Mall. The restaurant specializes in Yoshuko Cuisine which is the Japanese take on Western Cuisine such as Okonomiyaki Pizza and Mentaiko Spaghetti.
The food at On the Bridge is hands-down delicious. Every item we ordered was divine, even if our mouths were on fire. On the Bridge offers 20 different kinds of Japanese curry. You can have it mild, medium, spicy, x-spicy, xx-spicy, and xxx-spicy. I ordered the medium curry; I don't think I had a taste bud left on my tongue after I finished. I imagine the xxx-spicy to be on a Man Vs. Food on the Food Network. It has to hurt.
Besides the delicious and creative food, the decor in the restaurant brought a smile to my face. The owner put it perfectly when he described it as, "Anime/Jazzy Design Atmosphere." The walls are plastered with Anime posters and the shelves full of plush dolls and other trinkets. We had the pleasure of sitting at the long counter that spans the length of the restaurant. From that vantage point we could inspect all the toys behind the counter, as well as chat it up with the owner and daughter. This is truly a mom-and-pop establishment as the mom said to us when we finished eating, "You ordered too much food, but you ate it all. Good. Good." I felt as if my own mom was giving me a pat on the back.
If you are looking for a culinary adventure and you find yourself in Japantown, look no further than On the Bridge. It was a delicious meal and a fun experience (and I learned a bit about Japanese cuisine).
Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Yummy Shabu Shabu at Shabusen Restaurant
Shabusen Restaurant serves up some of the best shabu shabu in San Francisco. Shabusen, located on the Peace Plaza in Japantown, is an authentic Japanese (-American) restaurant serving shabu shabu as well as sukiyaki.
The shabu shabu menu is limited but delicious. It's either chicken, beef, shrimp plus the accompanying vegetables. We shared the both beef and shrimp between three people. I recommend ordering 2 plates of protein for 2-3 people and then add a plate per person after that, depending on how much you tend to eat. The vegetable plate comes with every order but is a bit disappointing. I am used to a variety of noodles and vegetables with my shabu shabu, but Shabusen serves up 90% cabbage with a few carrots, noodles, mushroom and cubes of tofu. Not the great selection I have come to expect with shabu shabu. Add a side of rice or an appetizer per person for a little variety. The one thing I did like the best were the dipping sauces. The ponzu-style and miso-based dipping sauces were a perfect accompaniment to my shabu shabu.
I recommend Shabusen for delicious authentic shabu shabu. It really is the best shabu shabu in Japantown.
The shabu shabu menu is limited but delicious. It's either chicken, beef, shrimp plus the accompanying vegetables. We shared the both beef and shrimp between three people. I recommend ordering 2 plates of protein for 2-3 people and then add a plate per person after that, depending on how much you tend to eat. The vegetable plate comes with every order but is a bit disappointing. I am used to a variety of noodles and vegetables with my shabu shabu, but Shabusen serves up 90% cabbage with a few carrots, noodles, mushroom and cubes of tofu. Not the great selection I have come to expect with shabu shabu. Add a side of rice or an appetizer per person for a little variety. The one thing I did like the best were the dipping sauces. The ponzu-style and miso-based dipping sauces were a perfect accompaniment to my shabu shabu.
I recommend Shabusen for delicious authentic shabu shabu. It really is the best shabu shabu in Japantown.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Umami: Trendy but why?
Umami, located in the Marina district, is a hugely popular sushi restaurant. The reason why it is rated so high is a mystery to me. I have to say, I was not impressed with Umami one bit when I went there for dinner a few weeks ago. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and quaint but the food was just plain horrible. The classic sushi and nigiri is passable but not extraordinary. The menu nose-dives with it's "hot kitchen" menu. My friend and I ordered the Rock Shrimp Tempura, Spicy Tuna & Avocado Salad, Potstickers, and the Seasonal Kakiage (Vegetable) Tempura. The potstickers were good but there was nothing that set them apart from the $4.95 potstickers I could have gotten from my go-to corner delivery joint. The rock shrimp tempura and the seasonal vegetable tempura were not palatable. Sadly, I had to do what I hate and send back the rock shrimp tempura. The tempura was covered in a heavy mayonnaise aioli that made the shrimp taste as if they were trying to cover up cheap fried popcorn shrimp from Sizzler. Not good at all.
The only good thing about Umami is that they have a decent happy hour. From 5:30-7pm they have great drink and food specials (stick to the sushi) and half-off bottles of wine. Next time you are looking for sushi in the Marina, look elsewhere than Umami.
The only good thing about Umami is that they have a decent happy hour. From 5:30-7pm they have great drink and food specials (stick to the sushi) and half-off bottles of wine. Next time you are looking for sushi in the Marina, look elsewhere than Umami.
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