Now we have quite a lot of great Asian eating places in our space. Two Japanese eating places just lately opened, including to our many sushi choices. My son spent a yr residing in Japan as an change pupil when he was a junior in highschool. His host household made positive he tried all kinds of Japanese meals. His host “father” at all times tried to get him to attempt meals that had been very uncommon, and our son accepted the problem by attempting every little thing that was provided to him. This made him the proper particular person to accompany me to Hanari Café in Lynnwood and Kazoku in Edmonds.
Hanari Cafe (Hanari is a lotus flower) remodeled a credit score union house right into a brightly lit eating room subsequent to Ezell’s Rooster and Fork Mediterranean Grill. Whereas it has a mall really feel inside, it’s spacious and cozy. Once we arrived, it was quiet and there have been only some tables occupied. Our waiter greeted us warmly and we had been in a position to decide on a pleasant desk within the nook of the big eating room. I hope enterprise picks up quickly as this can be a hidden gem. The menu is in depth and is 95% Japanese delicacies, though they just lately added a Chinese language meals menu (which I have never tried). I believe they’re nonetheless determining what’s going to enchantment to their clientele and perhaps they’re having an identification disaster within the kitchen! The restaurant affords appetizers, soups, salads, rice dishes, sushi, sashimi, temaki (rolls), nigiri, noodles, hibachi, teriyaki and katsu… and that simplifies the menu. There’s something for everybody. You possibly can order on-line for takeout.
We began with an order of tempura greens ($6.95) which had been nicely fried and a beneficiant portion. For dinner we had the Sashimi Omakase ($36) which included 12 items of fish chosen by the chef, in addition to seasoned sushi rice, edamame, and three bowls of miso soup. The fish was contemporary, fantastically lower and displayed. The tray included two varieties of tuna, salmon and butterfish. The nice and cozy miso soup arrived first together with complimentary cups of scorching tea (Hanari continues to be ready to obtain the liquor license from her). We additionally loved the Steak and Shrimp Hibachi Platter ($20.95) which included a home salad with ginger dressing, stir-fried greens, fried rice and noodles. The hibachi plate was filling and no less than half of it got here residence with us. I used to be pleasantly stunned by the preparation of the dishes in addition to the quantity of meals. I’ll undoubtedly return and hope to attempt a few of their Chinese language dishes. The service and friendliness of the workers was appreciated. They made it a pleasure to eat at Hanari.
Kasoku (which interprets to household in Japanese) took over the house in Boohan Market Plaza beforehand occupied by Sushi Moto. Owned and managed by Sumin Yu (she’s a banker by day), the house has been renovated and up to date. The environment is serene, elegant and transports you to a sushi place in Japan. I made a dinner reservation and I am glad I did as the road was out the door on a really chilly night time. Our desk was in the course of the eating room with an ideal view of the cooks getting ready sushi.
Kasoku has a liquor license, so we began with Sapporo Premium beer and shared potato croquettes with katsu sauce ($7 for 2), Norilicious Age ($10), and Softshell Crab Tempura ($14). All three dishes arrived freshly made and the mixture of flavors and textures was an ideal strategy to begin our meal. Probably the most uncommon and fascinating was the Norilicious Age. Really helpful by our waiter, this appetizer consisted of fried seaweed chips with parmigiana reggiano, tobiko, inexperienced onion, spicy aioli, and tsume (broth). I used to be unhappy to need to share this one; I cherished it (though subsequent time I am going to ask them to cut back the aioli). It mixed flavors of the East and the West in a magical means. The tempura was additionally on level: calmly battered and never greasy. I do know soft-shell crab could be an acquired style, however Kasoku’s model was unctuous. We adopted our appetizers with an order of Ton Katsu ($18) which got here with rice. This crispy pork chop was top-of-the-line variations my son has eaten within the Pacific Northwest; he introduced it again to his Japanese host household’s desk in a couple of bites.
We additionally ordered the Sashimi Beloved Set: 12 items of sashimi (chef’s selection, no substitutions) with rice and miso soup ($50). Sadly, the sushi cooks had been so late that our sashimi plate did not arrive on time. We needed to wait and wait. Not like the Sashimi Set served at Hanari, this one included plain rice (not seasoned sushi rice) and solely a bowl of miso soup, so we had been instantly dissatisfied. Our waiter gave us an extra bowl of miso soup on the home whereas we continued to attend for the sashimi to reach. When it arrived, we debated whether or not to return it. The fish was poorly lower and too thick to eat in a single chunk. All of us discovered it disagreeable and detoured in the direction of the uncooked fish choices at Kasoku. For $50 we anticipated a Sashimi Set with a way more skilled presentation. After I talked about this to Sumin on the way in which out, she informed me that the pinnacle sushi chef was on trip and that they’d somebody with much less expertise changing him. What we had been served as sashimi did not make me be ok with my resolution to order uncooked fish that night time, after which there have been some digestive penalties that made me cautious about returning. Service was ample at Kasoku, however we needed to stroll as much as have the meals delivered to our desk. They appeared overwhelmed.
On condition that we’ve got a remarkably vast number of Japanese-inspired eating places in our space, my experiences at Kasoku and Hanari as a restaurant reviewer go away me considerably conflicted. The environment at Kasoku is extra conventional and heat in comparison with the Hanari eating expertise; however the costs and high quality of meals on the latter give it the sting. Please perceive that each eating places have solely been open for a couple of months and are nonetheless understanding some kinks. It is apparent that my go to to Kasoku came about when the pinnacle chef was on trip, and that had a major affect on my expertise along with his meals. However given how costly it’s to eat out, I believe consistency in meals preparation and supply is essential.
As a diner, I wish to really feel seen and heard and I need actual worth once I select to eat out at a restaurant, particularly since I like to cook dinner! Every restaurant had excessive and low factors. I hope you attempt Hanari Cafe and Kasuko – opening a brand new restaurant is dear and dangerous and I need each locations to achieve success. I might love to listen to about your experiences and let me know if there are any new locations on the town you would like me to go to. My “dance card” already has a couple of spots listed, however I am ready till the workers will get their geese in a row.
Hanari Cafe
3925 196th St. SW, #104
lynwood
(Subsequent to Ezell’s Rooster and Fork Mediterranean Grill)
Telephone: 425-678-8190
Hours: On daily basis from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
kazoku
22618 Hwy 99, Ste 103
Edmonds
(Boohan Sq.)
Telephone: 425-673-5477
Hours: Sunday to Thursday from four:30 to 9 pm, Friday to Saturday from four:30 to 10 pm, Joyful Hour from eight pm, closed each day
– By Deborah Binder
Deborah Binder lives in Edmonds along with her household. She likes to cook dinner from scratch utilizing produce from the gardens she created and maintains along with her husband. She attended culinary faculty on the East Coast and targeted on desserts, pastries and bread. She has labored for eating places and catering corporations in the back and front of the home (kitchen) on each coasts. Her present curiosity in meals is studying to eat for well being and well-being, and on the similar time benefit from the pleasures of the desk. Deborah likes to experiment and develop new recipes. As Julia Little one as soon as mentioned, “All the pieces carefully, together with butter.” Deborah could be reached at jaideborah@yahoo.com.