Chow Down Atlanta

There are some days I just crave for hibachi food. I know, our American version is not real Japanese compared to the teppanyaki we’re used to eating in Japan, but, sometimes you just feel like you want to eat some. My introduction with American hibachi started decades ago. My mom has been good friends with Morimuto since the early 80s. He was Rocky Aoki’s star chef at Benihana on Peachtree Rd. (hand-picked by Aoki himself). Mr. Muto appeared in all Benihana tv ads back then. I remember visiting him at his home when we were kids and was always fascinated by his most extensive, lavish bonsai collection (over 300 grand in today’s money).

Anyway, we used to be regularly invited to Benihana where he would cook for us. During the late 80s and sick tired of American hibachi food, my mom decided she was boycotting hibachi. She hasn’t eaten it again ever since save for the real teppanyaki version outside the country.

I was never a fan of Benihana in general. For less than half the price yet the same service and flair, Shogun is a favorite haunt. Tucked inside a dieing plaza on Pleasant Hill, it’s been around since the early 90s. This Korean-owned restaurant has several hibachi and regular tables. They have $1 sushi also but hey, for that price, would you really want to eat it?
So I stick to the hibachi. Huge shrimp. Decent taste. Great value.

(Postscript: Mr. Muto [highest-paid chef ever] left Benihana in the late 90s and opened the most amazing sushi bar in Snellville. He sold the business and retired, years before hitting retirement age, to the serenity of his bonsai collection a couple of years ago.)

Insider tip:
Located in the corner of Sattelite and Pleasant Hill

The scoop:
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
2300 Pleasanthill Rd.
Building B-3
Duluth, Ga. 30096
Tel. 770-623-6611

Technorati Tags: Shogun, Japanese cuisine, hibachi, Duluth

There’s a lot of debate as to which sushi place is the best in Atlanta; and I must admit, there are only a handful. The top two are: Haru Ichiban and Sushi Yoko. I’ll post something about those later on and explain everything. I’ve lived in Asia and travel there twice a year all my life usually staying over 4 weeks at a time so I can call myself quite knowledgeable when it comes to sushi. For now, let me talk about Sushi Zutto. I am never a fan of all-you-can-eat sushi. First, because the quality of the sushi used is much to be desired; second, the selection is just awful; third, the serving sizes are microscopic; and fourth (which irks me to no end), most are made by inexperienced non-Japanese sushi chefs. But not at Sushi Zutto.

Opened a little over a year ago, Sushi Zutto continues to impress with the use of fresh, high-grade sushi, and a more than ample selection to choose from. Its all-you-can-eat concept is uncommom — instead of the usual buffet style where the sushi can be sitting out for goodness knows how long, you indicate your choices from a piece of paper listing all the available sushi for consumption. The sushi is then made-to-order. At $16.95 per person (no sharing and no left-overs please), choices include good-sized rolls, nigiris, makis, and gigantic temakis (hand rolls). Soup and salad are included.

You’ll be amazed at the freshness of sushi at Sushi Zutto. But do pace yourself as there are so many to taste and choose from. If you’re not feeling that ravenous, you can order off the menu where rolls start at $5 and combination lunches/dinner go for no more than $12. Still, the best deal is the all-you-can-eat.

Insider tip:
Pick up discount coupons good on your next dinner on your way out. Avoid the 12-1:30pm lunch crowd or you’ll be waiting for your sushi for a while.

The scoop:
Zutto Japanese Restaurant
4000 N Point Pkwy
Alpharetta, GA 30022
(678) 624-7555
Open daily from 11am-3pm 5pm-10pm

Technorati Tags: Sushi Zutto, sushi, all-you-can-eat sushi, Alpharetta restaurants, Japanese cuisine

Back in 2003, Minado opened its first southern location in Sandy Springs and became an instant hit. A year later, the Korean owners wanted to expand but their franchise wouldn’t allow them to do so. Long story short, they had to buy out their franchise and re-name the restaurant to Badayori. Not long after, they opened branches in downtown (Peachtree Center) and in Duluth (Pleasant Hill Rd). The Duluth location closed a few months ago.

My parents have been friends with the owners since their restaurant opened in Atlanta. They even had talks about partnering together but with the Duluth location’s closing, the idea died down. My mom just called me a few hours ago to tell me that our family friend, the owner, died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 56 years old. He was a very personable man. And a great businessman. He leaves a wife (who manages the Sandy Springs location) and a teenaged daughter. We would like to express our deepest condolences to his family.

Technorati Tags: Badayori, Sandy Springs, Downtown Atlanta, Japanese cuisine, sushi buffet

I went to Super H Mart on Pleasant Hill Rd in Gwinnett to get a huge bottle of Kimchi. I used to get my Kimchi at Han Gang Korean Grocery on Steve Reynolds Blvd in the early 90s. It was the first big stand-alone Korean grocery store in Atlanta where they sold meat and seafood aside from the usual fresh veggies, canned and dry goods, and also had a food court inside although very small. Since that has closed, I’ve been going to three other places.

At Super H today, they had three different kinds of fresh firm tofu: Plain, Carrot, and Spinach. The carrot tofu had only the slightest hint of carrot taste in it. Not overpowering. Just a tad carrotish if there’s even a word. The spinach tofu is equally awesome, with just a slight infusion of spinach so as not to kill the true taste of the tofu. These faintly flavored tofu aren’t really the type you’d use in cooking. Instead, you eat them as they are, cut up into cubes and drenched lightly with Korean sauce made with soy sauce, peppers, scallions, sugar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. They’re great in salads, as appetizers, or as an accompaniment to grilled meat and seafood. By the way, these gems are less than $2 per block.

Technorati Tags: Super H Mart, flavored tofu, tofu, spinach tofu, carrot tofu, plain tofu, Pleasant Hill Road, Gwinnett, Korean grocery, food finds Atlanta, Atlanta, kimchi