Avocado Burger — YEN 1,500
The most popular item on the menu is the avocado burger. Ripe avocados, fresh tomatoes, and the flavorful buns all meld to make this delicious burger a consistent hit. Although it’s usually crowded during meal times, its well worth the wait. Kua ‘aina is originally from Hawaii but has migrated over to Japan.
Maison du you Bldg. 1F, 1-10-4 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03 34 09 32 00
Saslik Kebab — TRL 20
This dish comprised of barbecued slices of specially marinated beef and onion rings. This marination is a specialty of Turkish cuisine. This restaurant was recommended as the ‘best’ for classic Turkish kebabs, however, the restaurant both tried to double the bill by both adding extra items and by increasing the quantity of drinks we ordered. The dish was, nonetheless, very seasoned and tender.
Çamlık Sokak No:15, Levent, Istanbul
Phone: +90 212 270 24 33
Iskender Stylized Beef Fillet Escalopes — TRL 34
Sitting above Istanbul with panoramic views of the mosques and skyline this restaurant offers a spin off traditional Turkish cuisine. Served with yogurt, tomato confit, and a charliston pepper. The meat has been marinated for 24 hours to offer an extremely succulent taste. Underneath the steak lie soaked bread pieces that are also very soft and add a bit of texture to the tender beef.
Istiklal Caddesi, Misir Apt, 34330, Istanbul
Phone: +90 212 251 10 42
Zucchini Basil Soup (Low Fat) – $3.45 (cup) $5.50 (bowl)
I visited this outdoor restaurant as I was looking for a quick lunch around Coconut Grove in Miami, and was recommended to try this healthy summery soup. What’s surprising was that it might look very creamy, neither butter nor cream was used! The soup was very soothing, and had a very fresh and distinct flavor of basil. The texture was not too thick and not too creamy, and there were minute chunks of zucchinis here and there. I was very happy to have found such healthy comfort food!
3468 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 444 0244
Sliced Pork with Garlic Dipping – $6.95
A Taiwanese appetizer with thinly sliced pork with diced lettuce and parsley served with their house-made garlic dipping sauce. The freshly boiled sliced pork is warm when it arrives so you get the warmth of the meat and coldness from the diced lettuce and parsley; adding the garlic dipping and you get a mild sweetness to the bunch.
97 Glenville Avenue, Allston, MA 02134
Phone: (617) 782-1688
Tonkatsu – $11.00 (lunch)
This pork loin, tender part of the pig, is from the Berkshire pig or kurobuta as the Japanese call it. The decision to use kurobuta instead of the conventional American pig, gives its meat a juicier and more flavorful taste because the meat is genetically predisposed to be fattier even though loins tend to have little fat. The pork loin is breaded with panko (Japanese bread crumbs) and deep fried. This dish from Shiki shall be well praised for not being over-fried and for its juicy and tenderness. Most places use cheap meats and tend to be dry and chewy. Tonkatsu sauce made from vegetable and fruit puree is provided along with mustard wasabi for you to dip. There are the cabbage and mayonnaise mini cucumbers on the side, but I never eat them.
9 Babcock Street Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: (617) 738-0200
Dhaba Chicken – $13.99
Dhaba Chicken at Kabab and Tandoor is a tandoori chicken equivalent at other Indian restaurants. Several chicken drumsticks are marinated in yogurt and several spices including cayenne pepper and turmeric to give its distinct red color. This dish is a little bit spicy, but definitely toned down for its more western audiences. Don’t be fooled by the ‘hotness’ associated with the deep red color, its bearable and good judging from the fact that the meat is favorable and NOT dry. Eaten with the parsley and onion, definitely cool down the spicy overtone. Did I mention it is baked in a traditional tandoor oven (clay oven).
699 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451
Phone: (781) 899-0022
Anmitsu
Sobaya is an authentic Japanese Teuchi Soba noodle restaurant in East Village. Soba is Japanese buckwheat noodles, and Teuchi means that noodles are hand-made at the restaurant. Sobaya is famous for its variety and authenticity of soba noodle dishes, but they offer other dishes and desserts as well.
Anmitsu is a popular Japanese dessert consisting agar jelly, sweet red bean paste, Shiratama (soft mochi ball), variety of fruits and often a scoop of ice cream. Pour some Kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup) over Anmitsu before eating!
229 East 9th St. New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 533-6966
http://www.sobaya-nyc.com
Crispy Pad Thai – $7.25
Pan-fried noodles with minced chicken and shrimp with bean sprouts, egg, scallion, and grounded peanuts thrown in. This dish is very light with crunchy noodles slightly glazed with a sweet sauce. The sweetness isn’t overdone to the point it becomes a sweet dessert.
168 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134
Phone: (617) 254-8488
Thai Fried Rice with Crispy Duck & Fried Egg – $15.95
Thai fried rice with slices of still juicy duck on top. Each piece of duck has its skin fried till crispy, so with each bite into the duck you get tender meat and crispy skin. Think crispy fried chicken skin. Sweet and sour sauce is provided in case you want more strong flavors with your duck and rice. Most importantly to the dish is to break the fried egg with the still runny yolk on top and mix it in with everything. The typical tomatoes and cucumber are there to offer ‘coolness’ in your mouth if you choose to do so.
411 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, 02446
Phone: (617) 232-2955
