Surprises and Revelations Abound in Hana Zen Restaurant

After a particularly busy day at work, I had a hankering for Japanese food to relax before going home. My boyfriend and I decided that a romantic dinner is in order and we thought of trying out the Pier 39 branch of Hanazen Restaurant. It turned out to be a good decision as the view from the restaurant was simply breathtaking. The place was not that full when we arrived so we were able to get a table by the window which definitely made us feel the full experience of having dinner at the water front. The calming breeze, the quaint interiors, and the soothing ambiance had me feeling we were in for a great experience.

Spectacular as the view was, we did go to Hanazen for the food and it would be a shame if the quality of the food did not match the views. I have particular cravings during some days, but I have to admit I am not a huge fan of exotic foreign cuisine. Was I in for a change of heart! The food we ordered did not only not disappoint, it also converted me into a huge Japanese food fan. The White Tuna Sashimi was a sure winner, with each bite I started to relax and forget about work. The salty and tangy flavors played in my tongue, to a calming, sensual effect. We also ordered scallops, Aji, and my new favorite Ankimo or monk fish liver. 

My boyfriend doesn’t like raw food, so he ordered Spicy Tuna rolls and California rolls. I took a few bites from these and they were delicious as well. There was no doubt left as to why these rolls are a bestseller at Hana Zen. For dessert, we ordered Mochi and the popular Tempura Fried Banana. For a full experience, we ordered a couple of sake-infused cocktails. Suffice to say that it totally completed a new and exciting culinary experience for the both of us. Who would have thought this whim would turn into a full-blown Asian cuisine appreciation?

We are definitely going back here next time we are in the mood for some dinner by the bay, even just for those delectable desserts. At first I thought the combination of green tea ice cream wrapped inside some rice pastry would be weird but I loved my first taste of Mochi. The fried banana dessert paired with coconut ice cream was also a revelation of fantastic flavors.

For a romantic yet casual dining experience, Hanazen Restaurant in Pier 39 is a must try. I also found out that the restaurant also has another location in Union Square. This would be perfect for a night out with my officemates or a business lunch with associates. Right in the middle of San Francisco, the union Square branch is a must-visit for people wanting an unforgettable Japanese food experience.

Thank you, Hana Zen Restaurant, for a great introduction to the wonders of Japanese food. Needless to say, I will be coming back for more.

Hana Zen Resataurant – Not Just Your Usual Japanese Restaurant

When people think of Japanese cuisine, stereotypes of diners sitting on the floor, sipping tea from tiny cups and using their chopsticks to eat raw food abound. For most of us, this means getting out of our comfort zone of burgers, fries, and for fine dining, steaks and red wine. Isn’t there a place in San Francisco that presents a more familiar Japanese dining experience where the food and ambiance are exotic and yet something everybody can enjoy?

Actually, there isn’t only one, but two places in San Francisco that presents a perfect balance of elegant Japanese food and Western warmth. The good thing is, both of these places are branches of the same restaurant, Hana Zen. For years, Hana Zen Restaurant has established a reputation of offering the most authentic Japanese dishes prepared in traditional style of using Binchotan charcoal, but with a Western twist. First time visitors don’t need to feel out of place in a stuffy quaint ambiance as the two branches set a distinctly San Francisco tone to feasting on Japanese fare.

Families setting to try out something new to their weekly casual dining affair and associates looking for a place to hold their business lunches would certainly find Hana Zen’s location on Union Square ideal. Located right in the center of San Francisco, first time visitors to the city should also consider dropping by Hana Zen a must-do. On the other hand, for those who want a breezier experience, the Pier 39 restaurant of Hana Zen is perfect. This location is idyllic for couples who want to have a quiet romantic dinner or for anyone who feels the need to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown SF for a relaxed dinner at the water front. With the calming sea winds to the scintillating view of the ocean ahead, dinner by the bay has never been more appealing to the senses than in Hana Zen.

What’s great about Hana Zen is that it dispels all stereotypes of Japanese restaurants the average Joe may not be too comfortable with. For one, the interiors of both locations are impeccably done, with lacquered chairs and high tables for guests. If all the tables are occupied, one can have a sake-infused concoction in the well-stacked bar. There’s no need for guests to transfer to another bar just to enjoy some cocktails with friends. The distinct blend of Japanese and standard bar drinks Hana Zen serves has become something a lot of guests have time and again returned to the restaurant for.

As for the food, Hana Zen offers variety a lot of people jaded with the notion of Japanese food will find pleasantly surprising. Of course, Hana Zen serves the Japanese restaurant staples of sushi and sashimi. But more than that, the restaurant’s menu offers so many other sumptuous Japanese dishes, from delicately-fried tempura to various intricately-prepared rolls, from noodles to rice dishes.

So, if you’re looking for a place that’s not your typical Japanese restaurant, Hana Zen is your best bet.

Hana Zen: Japanese, San Francisco Style

Given that the Japanese are known for their exotic cuisine, it may be a challenge to see a restaurant that successfully fuses it with American comforts. However, in San Francisco, you will find not only one, but two branches of a restaurant that keep a beautiful balance between fascinating Japanese fare and the casual dining experience Americans are used to. You may be hard pressed to find a restaurant that combines Japanese food and a great ambiance for a romantic dinner, but Hana Zen delivers just that, and more.

Let’s first look at the two locations of the restaurant that could very well be startling opposite of each other. One branch is in Union Square, and caters to the mainstream crowd of office workers, locals, and tourists who would like to dine and have business lunches. The other location is on Pier 39, a picturesque setting for a dinner by the bay or a dinner at the water front. Both locations give the visitor the authentic feel very much like a place you might find in a Japanese capital, yet there’s something very familiar and comfortable about the place for anyone, even first time visitors. Pull back the door and the quiet elegance of lacquered wood and high, varnished walls. A bar runs the length of the room, and the quaint atmosphere in both locations make Hana Zen possibly the most discreet and cozy yet public dining space in San Francisco.

The choices in the menu are diverse, with the sushi and special rolls emerging as bestsellers. The variety of the selections are a welcome treat, especially to visitors who think that Japanese cuisine is only limited to raw fish. For salads, the crowd pleaser is the kaiso salad, made of seaweed with sesame oil dressing. Foie gras is also served, but with a twist – in Japanese nigiri style, with sweet soy and wine sauce. Of course, sushi is in the menu, but people who are just getting into Japanese cuisine would be surprised to be presented with so many options, from maguro (tuna), saba (mackerel), ebi (shrimp), ika (squid), and a lot more sushi nigiri varieties. Sushi rolls include California roll, spicy tuna roll, the locally-inspired San Francisco roll (made of boiled shrimp, asparagus, and flavored with Japanese mayonnaise), and the bestseller kamikaze roll (where customers can choose between tuna or yellowtail with tobiko, scallions, and a refreshing ingredient - avocado). Japanese staples, including sashimi, tempura, yakitori, ramen, and rice dishes are present in the menu as well. A must-try for people who want to have a good time are the sake-infused cocktails.

The staff at both locations are cheerful, eager, accommodating, and particularly knowledgeable about the restaurants’ offerings, whether the food or the exquisite sake recommendations. The cost of everything, from the cozy but comfortable ambience to the special drinks and the sumptuous menu, is quite reasonable. For a broad exposure to the joys of Japanese food in a relaxed setting, going to Hana Zen is definitely worth a visit.

Hana Zen – A Unique Sensory Experience

Japanese cuisine – what’s not to love about it? Just the thought of endless cuts of fresh seafood meticulously prepared in different styles – whether the famous basic sushi or those scrumptious deep-fried tempura, can really make the mouth water. It’s just a given that a trip to a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine is a gastronomically satisfying experience. And then, there’s the guilt-free factor. People always equate Japanese cooking with freshness and heath, with ingredients and preparation veering away from fat and bad cholesterol.

In San Francisco, that cannot be truer as not one, but two branches of a Japanese restaurant have proven those points for years already. Hana Zen, located on picturesque Pier 39 where you can enjoy dinner at water front and also in the busy Union Square where you can have business lunches or a refined casual dining experience, has been serving satisfied and full customers for years. Ask a San Francisco foodie where to go for great Japanese food, and Hana Zen would surely be one of the first answers he’ll blurt out. The restaurant has built a sterling reputation in the process, no wonder why it always ends up as one of the more popular San Francisco eateries.

You are just nearing the restaurant, and the exciting red exteriors of both branches already greets you. The classy but quaint interiors of the Union Square branch can readily be a location for for get-togethers, while the airy feel of the Pier 39 location can host breezy romantic dinners with breathtaking seaside views. Seating is very comfortable to make you chow down to your heart’s content, and when you’re seated in the restaurant, you’d see chefs preparing those delectable Japanese treats with so much art and style, you’d be full just by looking at them.

Without even plunging ahead to the main course, you may already get your fill at their gourmet salads and sides selections, where over 30 yummy items are available to whet your appetite – from colorful roll, fresh seafood, to tasty side dishes and appetizers. All meals in this restaurant will just leave your tummy filled to the brink as the servings of the main dishes are just huge!

A perfect complement to a usually seafood heavy meal in Hana Zen is its offerings of Japanese-infused cocktails and hard drinks. Want to experience real intensity? You may as well try the restaurant’s sake bomb, which is a pint of Sapporo liquor with a shot of hot sake, or traditional Japanese wine. A wide selection of cocktails, champagne, sparkling wine, and red and white wine are also available. You may ask your server for a recommendation to ensure a truly satisfying gastronomic experience. For those with a sweet tooth, you may also opt to have one of the restaurant’s thoroughly satisfying desserts to cap your dining experience.

Hana Zen is one place you would want to experience with a lot of people, so you may want to consider it for something intimate as a private dinner by the bay or for your next event. The restaurant also hosts concerts of seasoned performers, not to mention wild parties, so you better get ready for a unique experience.