I have to admit: I do not have that much experience when it comes to Japanese restaurants. I have this perception that establishments that serve Japanese cuisine have a distinct aesthetic and a very formal, ceremonial feel with very clean interiors and no chairs, where diners have to sit on the floor and get food from very low tables. As for the food, I know of rolls, sushi, and teriyaki, all of which I would love to eat. But then, I don’t see why people have to go so exotic and foreign, when there’s good ‘ole steak and potatoes.
That being said, I couldn’t really imagine how people can enjoy casual dining in a Japanese restaurant. With those elaborate tea ceremonies, I don’t find anything casual about Japanese dining. But when a group of my friends decided they want to have dinner by the bay in the Pier 39 branch of Hana Zen restaurant, I wasn’t left with a choice. Since I’m outnumbered, there’s no other option but to join the gang. I mean, what’s the use of insisting Madonna is still the queen when everybody else is going crazy over Lady Gaga, right?
Anyway, with an open mind and lowered expectations, I braced myself for a different dinner at the water front experience one Friday evening after work. Just getting to the restaurant had me excited though. The view of the bay and the evening breeze had me excited. This is definitely not a run-of-the-mill Friday night out.
Entering the restaurant, one would expect waiters in kimonos and socks, bowing to you or shouting some chant, welcoming you in. Alas, I was pleasantly surprised at the quaint but well-appointed dining area. There were chairs! The tables were tall! I guess I wasn’t really ready for a full-blown authentic Japanese dining experience, so I was relieved upon seeing the interiors of Hana Zen. But then, I still got a feeling I was in a Japanese restaurant, but with a Western twist.
Hana Zen’s strength, aside from its spectacular location, is its menu. For anyone who wants to have a fine education of Japanese cuisine in scenic San Francisco, Hana Zen is a recommended starting point. The offerings are very varied, from those famous rolls, tepanyaki, and yakitori, to tempura, sushi, and noodle dishes. And when the food was served, there’s no question why the restaurant has grown to two locations. Obviously, the flavors can be attributed to an impeccable combination of the chef’s skills and authentic, fresh ingredients.
Oh, don’t get me started on the drinks. Since it was a Friday night, I dared and tried the house specialty, the hochu chu-hi, described in the resaurant’s website as “similar to vodka that you can mix with different flavors to choose from.” I tried, I drank, and I ended up finishing three!
Whether you’re having an intimate romantic dinner at Pier 39 or experiencing a sensory fulfillment in Union Square, Hana Zen surely made me appreciate Japanese food. And yes, that Friday night definitely won’t be the last of my Japanese cuisine education at Hana Zen.
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