Santa Clara, CA |
The menu is vast and the combinations are endless, think of it like having Japanese tapas. Its fun because you get to try a whole bunch of small bites. We started with the popular fried chicken skin with octopus salsa. This was definitely the most unique menu item of the night. We followed up with the grilled rice triangle (usually a ball). Interesting, but ultimately, just crunchy edged rice.
Crispy Chicken Skin with Octopus Salsa |
Yaki-Onigiri - Grilled Rice |
Negima - Chicken Thigh and Green Onion |
Tofu Yakatori |
Tsukune - Chicken Meatballs |
Butabara - Pork Belly |
Kamo - Duck Breast |
Sweet and Spicy Squid |
Teba Yakatori - Chicken Wings |
Ever since having the whole grilled squid at Uzen in Berkeley, we've been in love with this dish. It was well made here also, but can't top our fave.
I'm still not sure how this is a house favorite, but as recommended by the waitress, we ordered the Jagabata, grilled potatoes with grilled garlic and butter. We love potatoes as much as the next starch loving family, but this dish was boring. Lame and boring.
Dombori's are quickly becoming Bro-Co's go to dish at Japanese restaurants, mainly because every Asian kid is raised on rice dishes like this. It was good, solid filling fish here.
Ramen too? Yup, we wanted to make sure we didn't miss anything. It was decent, but couldn't touch a good ramen place.
I guess the only reason that I would say I was disappointed is because this is a really popular place in the south bay and was hoping for more. The yakatori at Nombe was better but the other dishes at Sumiya beat Nombe. Basically, if you put the two of them together, they'd be well rounded establishments, but for now, they're both just subpar. Ippuku in Berkeley is the next stop on my izakaya journey and hopefully that one does meet expectations.
Ika Sugata Yaki - Whole Grilled Squid |
Jagabata - Grilled Potatoes with Melted Butter and Garlic |
Soboro Don - Ground Chicken and Cucumber |
Sumiya Chazuke |
Rating 5.5/10
September 5, 2010
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