Japanese Okazuya Lunch

Chicken Teriyaki

 

Nishime

 

Onigiri (Musubi) with Ume (Pickled Plum)

Yum!

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Diamond in the Rough

One of the few food network programs I currently like is Dinners, Drive-ins and Dives. Definitely not for the host (too loud), but for the people featured who have created a little niche for themselves happily cooking.

Anyway, thought about the program last night.

Haven’t been here in ages.

Back Door

Sorry, but in our opinion, definitely qualifies as a dive.

We used to frequent this place pretty often

The kitchen mama-san used to turn out awesome Okinawan bowls (sorry, even better than Utage). But then the place changed owners (super loud karaoke) and mam-san got injured, and we kinda stopped going.

Recently saw a comment in Yelp by an acquaintance (thanks Michael C.) about Hanagasa Inn food being great. Granted he was commenting on poke, fried chicken, and fried pork chops, but our curiosity was piqued.

Thought we’d check it out again last night. Turns out, mama-san retired a couple of years ago (see how long we’ve been away). Menu was similar, but different. Everything is ala carte (used to be “complete” dinners, miso soup, Japanese pickles, rice, main dish).

Ordered our “regular” dishes as before.

Goya (Bitter Melon) with Pork Chanpuru

Nasubi (Eggplant) with Shoyu Pork and Tofu Chanpuru

OMG! These did not disappoint! Eight paws up! Broke da mouth.

Since the dishes were ala carte …

Bowl of Rice, Shiso Onigiri

The Cat ordered a bowl of rice, The Mouse had a shiso onigiri. Again, one of the better shiso onigiri in a looooong while. And only a buck.

While the place was the third “D”, it was also a diamond. Will we return, most definitely, just not too often (it’s still really really “divey” after all). Not that we have anything against “divey”, but the location is a little sketchy (we don’t want to end up a statistic). Heh heh.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Suuuuuper Long Saturday (The Long Version)

So, out of the house a looooong time yesterday (and into today). Most food was eating out. I think the only foods that were partially from home was The Cat’s breakfast.

Papaya, Banana, Taro Cranberry Bread

Since we started earlier than what normal for a Saturday, I went for more musubi (see previous post).

Musubi Master

Maybe went too early, don’t think so, one of the issues with Mana Bu’s is that musubi come out in waves, don’t catch the right wave, selection can be, uhm, sparse.

Konbu, Shiso and Wakame, Shoyu Dried Bonito, Chomp View of Bonito Musubi

Came away with three musubi for “breakfast”. Wish there could’ve been more choices … but satisfied with the one’s I got, especially the bonito musubi, a sucker for bonito (dried, “fermented”, umami, funky).

Next was a visit to the nearby health food store. Since this weekend’s schedule would be a little off kilter, and we wouldn’t be getting to the Sunday farmers market, shopped the health food store for The Cat’s fruit.

Cambodian Apple Bananas

How do they differ from regular apple bananas? Dunno, have to wait till they ripen to find out. Also picked up a papaya, nothing interesting, just a papaya (no picture).

And for The Mouse,

Banana Chips

A small bag, if I have to eat healthy, these are one of my picks.

Lunch was familiar.

Combo Plate – Kau Yuk and Kalua Pork Cabbage
Pork Taco

AJ’s Chinese Fast Food/Taco Lita. The chicken cutlet was a sample from Chef D. He is thinking of adding it to the menu. Hope he includes tonkatsu sauce.

Actually, I wanted Chef’s BiBimBap but he said he wasn’t ready to put it on the menu. Sigh. I could always taste test for him.

I thought after that lunch, I would be good until The Cat was ready for late night supper. By 11:00, I was starving. Not knowing when The Cat would be ready to eat, had a little nosh from Mickey D.

Small Fries, McChicken Sandwich

Off the 2 for $2.50 menu. Not my first choice but cheap.

Finally, around 12:15 am (Sunday morning), The Cat stopped work. Whew. Not much open at that time (haven’t had too much luck finding good food at that hour lately).

Tried Lobster King. Open but kitchen was closing in 5 minutes (we got there at 12:25 am). Quickly ordered.

Shrimp Won Ton Mein
Chinese Broccoli with Dried Fish
“Prawn” Jook

Turns out, the prawns were only shrimp (I thought I could suck out some prawn brains, we are eating at the time “the children of the night” are active). Slight disappointment.

Anywho, that’s how our Saturday went. Hope you had better luck.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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A Little Snack

Had to go into town a couple of days ago. Missed lunch (not that big a deal). While waiting for the bus to go back home, thought I’d get a little “snack”.

Front

At the mall. I think they may have opened in the last couple of months. “Cafeteria” style. Udon made to order, various tempura and rice balls  under heating lamps.

Had enough time for a snack, not quite enough to slurp noodles. Went with a “miso pork” rice ball and a”jumbo” inari.

Miso Pork Rice Ball and “Jumbo” Inari

Not  much pork, lot of miso paste. Not bad flavor, not too impressed (Clara Peller come to mind, to paraphrase, “where’s the pork?). The inari was better. Rice was nicely seasoned, toasted sesame seeds added for crunch.

Man (or Mouse) does not live by rice alone, so added a few tidbits.

Fried Chicken

Tempura Mushrooms

Chicken was karaage  style, nicely seasoned, crunchy exterior, tender interior. Mushrooms were not bad either. As udon is not really my noodle of choice, I think I’ll stick to the Hong Kong Noodle House for noodles.

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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Sunday Snack

The musubi people (as well as Japanese style plate lunches) are back from vacation. Yay!

That’s not to say I don’t like the food from Diamond Head Market & Grill. But food from here does cost more.

So today, two of my favorite.

Mentaiko and SPAM musubi

As a bonus, seems like the SPAM is cut extra thick today. Mmmmm SPAM!

Enjoy. Eat well.

The Mouse

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