Thanks, Rick. After a day of reading and blogging and whining about the Belo Parkway, and doing a little architecture in between, a fella can work up an appetite. One of my big treats is sushi, which makes my suburban friends giggle because they know that I need to go to the very edge of my bubble (Deep Ellum or maybe Mockingbird Station) to get it. Then, a few weeks ago, I’m driving by Whole Foods on Lower Greenville and notice a sushi restaurant across the street, K. Tokyo.
When I entered the restaurant, the hostess rang a gong, signaling that this was going to be a little different. My head started to swell until I realized they do that for everyone that comes in. And they ring it twice when you leave. The pulsating Japanese pop music was another clue. Then there were the sushi cookbooks (can you call it a "cook" book?) on every table. I noticed that a picture of one of the book’s authors bore a striking resemblance to the guy with the chef’s hat, making the sushi. The waitress, after some hand gesturing, confirmed that it was him, Dae Soo Kang. There is also a large photo on the wall that shows him on a CBS morning program, giving a cooking demonstration. A sushi celebrity chef? There’s more. The menu says they are open 24/7. When asked to confirm, the waitress said "Yes, but Sunday, not so much".
I haven’t actually been, but I have to believe this is a pretty good representation of what you’d find in a Japanese city: sushi and sashimi, tempura and yakitori. No "fusion", no 22 year old chefs in Hawaiian shirts, no chardonnay or Shiner Bock, very, very little English. They have succumbed to the cute roll name gimic with sushi rolls named for US states and local sports teams. Otherwise it’s good food washed down with hot tea or cold sake, fair prices, large portions, an attentive staff, and lots of bowing.
It’s only been there about 7 months now. They do have water, iced tea and soft drinks. The Bento Boxes are quite large. On my first trip, I actually had to get a to-go box. That’s never happened to me at a sushi bar before.
