Craving Haru Sushi Cafe

How can we tell when a restaurant is good? When it’s consistently packed, all night long on a random work night, like it was at Haru Sushi Cafe in West Hollywood. I was introduced to this Japanese restaurant by Marshall and Face and all I can say is that is Haru (the chef), you sure know how to makes some great sushi! The three of us shared the Shishito Pepper Saute Appetizer and Haru’s Organic Seaweed & Cucumber Sunomono Style Salad. I ordered the Combination Sashimi Dinner (Chef Haru’s choice of assorted sashimi) from the Sushi Bar with brown rice, served with a green house salad and miso soup and the Lotus Roll. I also tried the Island Roll (shrimp tempura and crab roll covered with salmon and avocado served with soy citrus dressing) and yes, Haru, it was delicious, thank you very much. I was very impressed with the quality of the food served. The sashimi was fresh and the texture was smooth and buttery. We can also tell when a restaurant is good when we know for sure that we’ll be coming back. The sign on the red awning out front of the restaurants reads “Modern Japanese Cuisine,” so it may be easy to miss; however, just as I was introduced to Haru, most good restaurants get introduced by recommendation. So, take it from me, a newly converted Haru Sushi Lover, it’s good!

Craving Robata Jinya

Has a server ever taken an order and asked if what we’re ordering is for the whole table when in fact it isn’t? Well, I guess that’s what happens when you put us in front of a menu from Robata Jinya, where my bf and I ended up ordering twice as many things than the two couples we had dinner with combined. Thanks to our Yelping friends and fellow food lovers, Marshall and Face, it has been proven, yet again, that a 4 stars or over rating on Yelp (with a significant number of reviewers of course) never fails. Despite not being a fan of driving through West Los Angeles traffic, the trek over the westside was well worth it for the good food and of course the good company. From the Robata-Yaki menu, I tried the Cherry Tomatoes, Shishito Peppers, Chilean Seabass, Maitake Mushrooms, and Eggplant. I tried the Yellowtail Sashimi Japapeno Citrus Soy from the list of Sashimi, the Jinya Mixed Green Salad, the Spicy Creamy Shrimp Tempura, and the Butter Lettuce Cup with Miso Black Cod from the list of Tapas, and the Crunch Roll and Baked Crab Roll (that we ordered again after finishing the first one) from the list of Roll Sushi. We also ordered the Shrimp Toast from the list of Specials after trying a bite from our friends’ order. If all of that didn’t sound like a lot of food, we also had Ramen, Japanese noodles in broth, which is what the restaurant is known for. I had the Vegetable Pottage Ramen: thick soups with mushed vegetables carrots, potatoes, onions, Soy beans, baby leaf, and I added all of the toppings: JIDORI Ni-Tamago (Free Cage Soft Cooked Egg), NORI Dried Seaweed, and Mushrooms. The Vegetable Ramen also happens to be the only type of Ramen that can’t be ordered in a half size; however, it turned out I didn’t need the half order since I finished the noodles. Maybe next time, we’ll save some room to try something from the list of Desserts, and there will definitely be a next time. Domo Arigato Mr. Robata (Jinya)!

Craving Sushi Roku

Can you ever get tired of Japanese Food? In my case, not really. I feel like there is such a diversity in types of Japanese food, and a variety of restaurants that serve it, so I will almost never turn in down. Over the weekend, I went to Sushi Roku in Old Town Pasadena with by bf, his mom, his sister, his niece and nephew (twins and they are the cutest and most loveable children I know). It’s easy to get in a routine of ordering the same types of dishes I normally get all the time, so always nice to go to dinner with others who will order things you’ve never tried before or know of dishes off the menu that can be prepared if you just ask. I normally start off with edamame, but in addition to this appetizer, I tried the shishito Japanese peppers, which I will definitely order again. I ordered my usual garden salad and miso soup along and we all shared the Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll, Popcorn Shrimp Tempura, Steamed Shrimp Dim Sum, Yellow Tail Sashimi, Halibut with apricot sauce (off menu, yum!) and Lobster Tempura (not pictured, off menu). I also tried the baked crab handroll and California handroll, and although I ordered the CA handroll with soy paper, the server made up for it by giving us some vegetable tempura on the house. Is it just me or does Japanese food leave you still wanting more after your done eating? Maybe that’s why I crave it so often…

Craving a Mai Tai, Pokē, and Hakone Buffet

What’s the first thing I crave when getting to Hawaii? A Mai Tai, which I ordered virgin, and Pokē, which I ordered with a Chinese vegetable spring rolls appetizer with sweet chili sauce from the Mai Tai Bar at our hotel (Royal Hawaiian). Pokē is a raw salad and is also a Hawaiian verb for “section” or “to slice or cut;” the island pokē trio we ordered came with three variations: octopus, shrimp, and ahi. Not long after; however, we were ready for dinner and headed to Hakone Restaurant at the Prince Resorts Hawaii for authentic Japanese food. Hakone offers a wide variety of Japanese cuisine, including assorted sashimi, salad, appetizer and entree buffet, sushi bar with a chef preparing handrolls and sushi a la carte, and a dessert station. My cravings were definitely satisfied.

Craving Japon Bistro and Pink Boba

Who loves Japanese food and Pink Boba? I do!

Tonight I had dinner at Japon Bistro in Pasadena. I ordered the house salad, shrimp dumplings, yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, California hand roll on soy paper and cold soba noodles. Any one who loves Japanese food will not be disappointed while dining at this restaurant. I also hear they have a great sake selection.

After dinner, I skipped dessert at the restaurant and drove down Colorado to Au 79 Tea Express to get my most beloved Boba Drink. It’s not just any Boba drink, the tapioca balls are pink. Whatever magical ingredients in the pink tapioca balls that are different from the regular tapioca balls really set them apart, making this the best boba drink I’ve ever had. I crave it constantly. I usually order the Honey Green (Soy) Milk Tea with Pink Boba, with half of the normal quantity of both the boba and honey, with a ratio of 90% green tea to 10% soy milk. I also request that they don’t blend the ice. I know, I’m a little particular and sometimes it gets confusing, but it always turns out perfect. Not to mention, they always ask if the drinks need any adjustments. This boba is so good that I can no longer order boba from anywhere else. Yes, it has pretty much ruined any desire to ever order regular boba again. There are 2 other Au 79 locations close by, one in Arcadia and one in San Gabriel (both are open later than the Pasadena location, in case of any late night cravings). So if one location runs out of pink boba, which happens occasionally, there are two others not too far away. Like the sleeves on their cups say: “I HEART AU 79,” I’m sure you will too.