Enjoying Japanese Food With Hana Zen

I enjoy Japanese food. The freshness of the flavors, the authenticity of the ingredients, and the exotic preparations just make my mouth water every time I think of it. To think that it’s very healthy too!  I actually started my Japanese food obsession a few years ago, when I was trying to lose weight but still wanting to enjoy delicious food. A friend of mine told me to go Japanese, because it seems that Japanese women do not get fat! And it worked like a miracle! I was able to enjoy really great tasting food and also shed inches off my waist. It was a great deal, I tell you!

The thing is, I am a proud resident of San Francisco, where the best seafood can easily be had for anyone. But then, that also makes me a bit of a snob when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Japanese cuisine is all about fresh ingredients, with a lot of seafood dishes, and I have a keen sense of detecting whether a restaurant serves good Japanese fare or if I’m just wasting time and a lot of money. Well, some places that serve Japanese food just do not cut it in terms of authenticity, freshness of ingredients, and the overall dining experience.

It’s a good thing I found this place called Hana Zen Restaurant in Pier 39. Whether you would like to have a scenic dinner at the water front or a memorable romantic dinner, this place does a great job in providing a great Japanese dining experience. They also have a Union Square restaurant, which I have been to a couple of times for casual dining and I have to say both branches did not disappoint.
So, for those who would love to venture into the exotic world of Japanese cuisine, here are some things you need to try!

Yakitori (available in Hana Zen’s Union Square store only)
Not only does Middle Eastern cuisine have a monopoly of the meats being skewered and served in succulent goodness. Japanese cuisine also has that in the form of yakitori, where slices of meat are skewered and broiled like a barbecue. What makes Hana Zen’s yakitori special is the smoky yet flavourful taste of the meats. The marinating is perfection, and the ultimate trick: the special charcoal used. Its’ really no wonder Hana Zen Union Square customers can’t get enough of this meaty treat that’s juicy and tasty but well-cooked, too.

Sushi
Of course, any Japanese dining experience will be incomplete without having a taste of these rolls that should just melt on your mouth. So what makes good sushi? It is a balance between the nigiri pieces (the pieces of raw fish, maguro [tuna] and hirame [halibut] are my preferences) and the rice. The nigiri needs to be fresh, with the perfect symmetry of saltiness and sea-taste richness, while the rice has to be soft but not too sticky and warm. Good thing Hana Zen has perfected this!

Sake
Who would want to miss this distinctly Japanese liquor that goes really well with Japanese dishes? The great thing about Hana Zen is that they have infused sake into modern cocktails, giving everyone a chance to taste a heady combination of something old and something new. You can’t afford to miss sake-infused cocktails in Hana Zen.

So whether it’s a night with the girls or an intimate dinner by the bay, these Japanese treats are waiting for you at Hana Zen. I bet you’ll enjoy it like I do.

A Birthday Wish Fulfilled With HanaZen

Having a birthday dinner with your hubby is one thing, but having him (my husband) decide where to do it is another. My husband is a hamburger and fries fast food kind of guy, and when sophistication gets to him, some steak cooked from the backyard grill will do. So, when he told me he is planning my birthday dinner with just the two of us, I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive with his taste level. I mean, is it too much for a lady to expect a romantic dinner with her husband on her special day?

So, when he broached the topic to me a day before the actual day (so much for planning, and so much for a surprise, eh?), I did tell him I want something intimate, something that we would both remember for years to come. I would like to have some really good food and great views and sights wherever we may eat. A dinner at the water front certainly does not hurt. It would be nice to feel the soft breeze while enjoying delectable food and admiring the seascape. But then, with my husband’s pretty simple tastes, I highly doubted there would be a chance for us to have that kind of moment.
And so, the next day, I braced myself by lowering my expectations while he was driving me to our dinner date. He had a huge bouquet of flowers delivered to me at work, so I was already happy with that. If this birthday date turns out to be a disaster, the entire day wouldn’t be a huge disappointment. He drove to the direction of the Embarcadero, so my hopes for a nice dinner by the bay rose. I hope this will be something I will not be disappointed with.

So, we got to Pier 39, and he led me to this Japanese restaurant called Hana Zen. I was a little apprehensive with his choice. I mean, Japanese food was not exactly the first thing I would think of whenever the subject of romance and intimacy is being talked about. But then, I let him have a chance, and when we walked inside, I have to say I liked the interiors. Well, that’s actually an understatement. I fell in love with the place, with its panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay and the beautiful furniture and just the overall ambiance of the restaurant.

So, we got seated and I read through the menu. There were just so many choices that I let my husband pick. From the mouthwatering Sushi Nigiri and Sushi Rolls to the saucy beef teriyaki, the selections were just so varied that I wanted to try all of them. Of course, we had to settle with what my husband chose, from the fresh Green Salad to the crisp Tempura Moriawase, because I wanted to order one of everything!  The clincher of the night were the sake-infused cocktails the restaurant served. The HanaZen Sunrise, which has organic cucumber vodka, lime juice, and Grenadine mixed with sake, had me wanting for more.

I have to say I was happy and impressed with my husband’s chopice of restaurant for my birthday dinner. Of course, I will definitely pay HanaZen’s other branch in Union Square for  some great casual dining and those delicious-to-the-last-drop cocktails and their talked about scrumptious Yakitori dishes!

A Solid First Valentine’s Date at Hana Zen

My Valentine's was a blast - a blind date that could turn into a second date and then some more, a breathtaking dinner by the bay, and some seriously delectable Japanese food.

Yes, you read that right - Japanese food on Valentine's Day! I know, you may already be raising your eyebrows and wonder - why Japanese food? Isn't the day of hearts an ideal time for some good 'ole chocolates and champagne? Perhaps, why not a perfect opportunity for a romantic dinner at a French bistro where reservations need to be done months in advance? Or better yet, isn't Valentine's perfect for a candlelit pasta dinner with pasta, like that romantic movie about two dogs falling in love amidst chewing the same very long strand of spaghetti?

But believe me when I say that romance can be had with Japanese cuisine! I actually didn't believe it at first, when my best friend's boyfriend said that he is setting me up with his best friend, who was also single and ready to mingle this Valentine's. So, he was supposed to pick me up from work on Valentine's Day (much to the chagrin of those old maids in the office) and have dinner.

At 5 on the dot, a guy was waiting for me in the office's reception area. Average looking, I thought. He definitely needs to charm the pants off me or bring me somewhere spectacular; otherwise, based on looks alone, I don’t see a next time.

As we drove off to dinner, I have to say he did start to earn some credit. He was a good conversationalist, was great in avoiding awkward pauses, and revealed impressive academic and career credentials without sounding like he was bragging. And then, we reached Pier 39. Nice, I thought, this was going to be a beautiful dinner at the water front. Then we walked towards Hana Zen Restaurant. My mind was racing. Wait, a Japanese resto for a Valentine’s Day date? Where is the romance in that? It’s too… cultural, too… exotic, too… raw! Well, it’s kind of too late to run back to the car, right?

So, we went inside Hana Zen and I was pleased with the tasteful interiors. We were seated somewhere with a panoramic view of the bay, which just added a thousand points to this guy! Never mind that he’s no Hollywood looker, I like him already, thanks to the breathtaking view of this restaurant!

Then, we were given the menu. I don’t know about you ladies, but I met the gentleman order in these instances, just to see if he knows his way around these things. He ordered ramu yaki yakitori, a name sushi combination, and uni tempura with kaiso salad. Wow, someone who wants to see his date eat a lot.

And so, we conversed and ate, and I fell for it. The food was just so delicious with sake-infused cocktails that I just enjoyed the evening. I can’t judge him or the date anymore. Hana Zen was just too fun for me to remember I needed to size up this guy.

So there, I admit – my Valentine’s date was all kinds of wonderful, thanks to Hana Zen Restaurant, its amazing ambiance and food! If I were in downtown SF, I could go to Hana Zen’s store in Union Square for some good casual dining. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll do exactly that with that Valentine’s guy tomorrow! Well, casual as it may be, I still need to pick what I’m wearing!