Kaneyama and mixed feelings
Curry rice with tonkatsu – $10.95 – a bit more peppery than the curry rice at Musashi in Berkeley, but still mild enough to my taste, pretty good.
On the western edge of Yosemite National Park is a little town called Sonora. In Sonora there is Koto, the only Japanese restaurant in a 38-mile radius. In Koto, I had saba shio for the first time. It’s a grilled mackerel seasoned with salt, squeeze on some lemon juice if you like. I love homey things like that, especially when it’s so good I wanted it again the next day, but Koto was closed on Sundays. We left on Monday, with a hole in my heart.
Now before I go to any Japanese restaurant, I check if it has saba shio.
Not many do, but Kaneyama does. Only as an appetizer (which means half a mackerel instead of the whole fish) but better than nothing. A delicious crunching sound broke the air as Little Mom broke the skin with her chopsticks. We knew at that instant that the saba shio was the best dish of the day.
Saba shio – $6.25 – Grilled mackerel with salt. So simple and the best of the bunch.
Gindala – $10.95 – Black cod marinated in sweet miso glaze, and they weren’t kidding, it was really sweet. Nice and plump.
The gindala appeared fancier, took longer time to prepare, and I liked the moist, dense, almost doughy flesh of the black cod, but the miso glaze was too sweet. The spinach goma ae, another common Japanese sidedish that I was only recently introduced to and was eager to show Little Mom, didn’t impress her too much because the sesame sauce could also use more salt and less sugar.
Spinach goma ae – $5.50 – a bit expensive for some boiled spinach with black sesame sauce, and not as good as expected. The sesame sauce could use less sugar and more salt.
I was surprised to see okonomiyaki on the menu, however described as a seafood pancake. Feeling demanding for no good reason, I asked the waitress if they could add pork belly, but no luck. 🙁 I was even more surprised when the okonomiyaki was brought to me: instead of the usual round shape I’m used to, this one is two quarters of dough on an oval hot plate, the kind you see with dak bokkeum at Korean restaurants, with copious amount of mayonnaise and katsuobushi (at least this part is familiar). I don’t know where the seafood in “seafood pancake” was. Even the cabbage was scarce. Final verdict: I make better okonomiyaki. 😉
Luckily, Little Mom’s udon with shrimp tempura and Dad’s curry rice with tonkatsu, looking unassuming as they were, actually tasted good. I’m glad, you know, cuz I actually wanted to like this restaurant. Sure, its food needed some fixing to live up to its posh setting, and the saba shio was not as good as the one I had at Koto in that little town Sonora. But I did order things off the beaten path (should have gotten sushi maybe?), and the waitress was cute.
For dessert, I tried my luck again and asked for black sesame ice cream, although it’s not listed on the menu. But Kaneyama is no In ‘n Out with a hidden menu, the manager said no, adding “That was the first time I got this question. Not many people know about it.” Guys, next time you’re at a Japanese restaurant, ask for sesame ice cream.
Okonomiyaki – $8.95 – strange looking and too doughy. I make better.
Udon with shrimp tempura – $10.50 – The noodle soup looks pretty barren (seriously, just kamaboko and spinach?), but the broth is good. The tempura is also good, “not oily” always scores in my book.
Red bean, plum and green tea ice cream – $2.50 each scoop – Too expensive, not good enough, casual pho restaurants have better green tea ice cream than this, but the plum ice cream is good.
Speaking of ice cream, today I realized that I have become a sea urchin of a customer. I asked questions, and returned the wrong scoop of ice cream to the kitchen, although Little Mom said it was fine. (The right scoop turned out to be her favorite and the best flavor. I did something right, Mom 😉 ) In another year will I be sending back a medium well steak when I had asked for medium? (On a few occasions, I thought of sending back pork sausages that weren’t properly defrosted and still a bit pink inside. But I just didn’t eat the sausage.) What will I be then… a durian?
Address: Kaneyama
9527 Westheimer Suite D
Houston, TX 77063
(713) 784-5168
www.kaneyama-houston.us
Lunch for three: $67.76
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Bless you!
1I believe this internet site has some real wonderful info for everyone :D.
2But a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great design. “Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad.” by Christina Georgina Rossetti.
3Some genuinely good information, Glad I observed this. “As long as a word remains unspoken, you are it’s master once you utter it, you are it’s slave.” by Solomon Ibn Gabirol.
4There is clearly a bunch to know about this. I suppose you made various nice points in features also.
5I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.
6Have you ever thought about creating an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based on the same ideas you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.
7Some genuinely great posts on this site, regards for contribution. “Such evil deeds could religion prompt.” by Lucretius.
8Hey very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am satisfied to search out numerous helpful information here in the submit, we want develop extra strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
9익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.
10익숙한 일상에 새로운 취향을 더하는 여기여. 감각적인 공간과 다채로운 이야기, 오래 기억할 발견을 만나보세요. 나만의 속도로 머물며 당신에게 어울리는 특별한 순간을 찾아갑니다.
11Many thanks for sharing such great content. I really like your blog. Many thanks for letting me share my thoughts on your web page. I look forward to more useful content from you in the coming days.
12Just want to say your article is as astounding. The clearness in your post is just nice and i could assume you’re an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.
13hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your post on AOL? I need an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
14Thank you for sharing with us, I conceive this website truly stands out :D.
15Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thanks.
16There’s noticeably a bundle to find out about this. I assume you made sure good points in features also.
17Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, regards. “Management is nothing more than motivating other people.” by Lee Iacocca.
18you’re really a good webmaster. The website loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you have done a fantastic job on this topic!
19Some genuinely nice and useful info on this internet site, likewise I think the style and design contains good features.
20Thank you for publishing such valuable article. I truly enjoy your blog. Many thanks for providing a space for me to comment on your web page. I look forward to more informative publications from you soon.
21This design is incredible! You most certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
22Simply wanna input that you have a very decent site, I enjoy the style it actually stands out.
23Would love to always get updated outstanding site! .
24Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we need develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
25You are a very bright person!
26I have read some good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a fantastic informative site.
27We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your site offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our entire community will be thankful to you.
28I haven’t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
29Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a risky decision great post! .
30You have observed very interesting details ! ps decent website .
31I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of superb info , saved to fav (:.
32I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i’m happy to convey that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to don’t forget this web site and give it a look regularly.
33Very interesting subject, thanks for putting up.
34Would love to incessantly get updated great web site! .
35A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular publish incredible. Wonderful job!
36Super-Duper site! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also
37Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
38Outstanding post, you have pointed out some good details , I besides believe this s a very good website.
39Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed! Extremely helpful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
40What i don’t realize is in truth how you’re not actually much more smartly-liked than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore significantly in terms of this matter, produced me personally believe it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women are not interested until it’s one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
41You made some decent points there. I did a search on the topic and found most individuals will go along with with your site.
42Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for info approximately this topic for ages and yours is the greatest I have discovered till now. But, what about the conclusion? Are you positive about the source?
43Keep working ,remarkable job!
44This really answered my problem, thank you!
45I was more than happy to seek out this web-site.I wished to thanks on your time for this glorious read!! I undoubtedly having fun with each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to take a look at new stuff you blog post.
46There may be noticeably a bundle to find out about this. I assume you made certain good points in features also.
47Hello my loved one! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to see extra posts like this .
48This is very fascinating, You are an overly skilled blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to in the hunt for more of your excellent post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
49hello there and thank you in your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did then again expertise a few technical issues using this web site, since I experienced to reload the website many times prior to I may just get it to load correctly. I had been wondering in case your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading circumstances occasions will often impact your placement in google and could injury your high-quality rating if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much extra of your respective fascinating content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..
50