Sushi Do
July 9, 2009 at 9:33 pm | Posted in Asian, Japanese | Leave a commentTags: lunch, Minneapolis, skyway, sushi, Sushi Do
three out of four walleyes
The employees at Sushi Do are incredible. So much so, that I feel uncomfortable just stopping in to take a look at the food, since I’ll invariably be approached by one of the sweet, fresh-faced ladies working there, who will immediately offer me a sample of something tasty and tell me how much I will enjoy one of their excellent sushi sets. So eventually I was persuaded to buy a dragon roll, which I was told would “melt in my mouth.” And it was indeed some fantastic sushi. Very well made and and packaged. I especially liked that it came with a little dish to put my soy sauce in. A nice touch. If only this place weren’t so expensive! I paid $7 for my eight pieces of sushi and was still a bit hungry afterwards. It’s also not a place where I’d ever want to stay in and eat. There’s only counter seating, and the store is so small and crowded at rush hour, you’d always have other customers milling about right next to your back.
Price: A little on the high side. Most sushi boxes are around $7 and a side salad (seaweed or squid) is $3.
Speed: Very fast, since most of their food is pre-prepared. You just grab and pay.
Seating: Just 10 counter benches squished around the front of the store.
Large groups? No, there’s barely enough space for you to even come with a single buddy.
Check ‘em out: 733 Marquette Ave. (at 7th & Marquette), (612) 338-5191
Kikugawa
June 20, 2009 at 5:55 pm | Posted in Asian, Japanese | 2 CommentsTags: Japanese, Kikugawa, lunch, Minneapolis, skyway, suhsi
three out of four walleyes
While waiting in line at Kikugawa, I saw an adorable little girl peeking out from behind the curtain. She was shy, and would alternatively come out to spy on the customers and head back inside where she seemed to have some toys. Clearly this little place is a family affair, run by a very efficient couple that clearly understands good Japanese food. There is a parent restaurant that I’ve never been to, which I’m sure has a much more extensive menu, but if you like anything on offer here, this is a good place to get it cheaply and quickly. Sushi is made to order, and while the choices weren’t extensive, it’s prepared with style and looks great. I had the gyudon, marinated beef, vegetables, and noodles on rice with a side salad. It was highly flavorful and authentic, and the portion was huge – much more than I could eat at lunch. The prices are shockingly reasonable, especially considering that much of your food is prepared individually, not just scooped out of a warming tray that’s keep there for hours. There aren’t many drink options though – no soda fountain, no ice, just cans, and half of them were Roundy’s, a brand I’d never heard of, but it was good nonetheless.
Price: Very affordable – entrees start at $4, though you could end up spending a lot if you get the fanciest sushi
Speed: fairly quick, and some sushi rolls and the tempura have been pre-made
Seating: Just 4 seats inside and 6 outside, all at little 2-person tables
Large groups? Definitely not
Check ‘em out: inside the Rand Tower
Zen Box
June 19, 2009 at 9:58 pm | Posted in Asian, Japanese | Leave a commentTags: dumplings, Japanese, lunch, Minneapolis, restaurant, review, skyway, Zen Box
three out of four walleyes
It’s easy to walk right past this tiny, scrappy little place with a fairly limited menu. The first time I came here was at the height of the lunch rush-hour, and there was no way my colleagues and I would be getting one of their very few seats. This place is incredibly tiny, and there isn’t really a good place for a lot of queuing people to stand. But thankfully the folks at Zen Box kept up a really brisk pace, and I was at the front of the line before I’d even had a chance to fully read the menu (which isn’t even all that long). My friends always get the gyoza (dumplings), which come filled with chicken or veggies. Both are delicious and come with rice and a simple cabbage salad. I’ve also had their tonkatsu (pork cutlets with oily cheese), which was crispy and hot, but not as fun and flavorful as those wonderful dumplings. But if you do get tired of them, there are a few other things on offer: potato croquettes, chicken curry, fried shrimp, and sushi. All bento boxes come with tea or a soda.
Price: Relatively cheap, $4.19-7.19 lunch boxes
Speed: usually lightning fast, unless what you order isn’t yet prepared
Seating: A meager 12 seats at 4 little tables. Be prepared to share if you’re only using half a table.
Large groups? Nope, not here. The best you can squeeze in is 5 people at one table, but even that will be tight.
Check ‘em out: http://www.zen-box.com/
601 Marquette Ave, # 204, Tel: 612-341-3313
And they even Twitter! How cute is that? http://twitter.com/zenbox
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