It Makes Me So Happy!

I love watching Iron Chef because I find it funny the way the judges describe the meal they are having. I thought I would never say, "It makes me so happy" after eating a meal but Yuzu changed that. Jo Ann and I went out to dinner in Beaverton on the recommendation of Portland Magazine. Of course we did not get directions and our Thomas Guide did not have a Metro Map of Beaverton. So after driving around and getting Jo sick, we found the place.

Upon entering the establishment you find your self in the dining room, yea no waiting area, no please wait to be seated sign or anything. We got there at 6:30 PM, they open at 6:00 PM, and Yuzu was full of people. The one and only server, quickly greeted us and informed us that we would not be seated till 7:30 PM. We came all this way lets get a snack and wait till our time.


The Best Teriyaki fast food place was just a few doors away in the same strip mall. Jo and I decide we can get a plate of noodles or maybe gyoza and some drinks to tied us over till 7:30. So Jo orders some gyoza and some drinks while I visit the restroom. To be honest I don't like to eat at most "Asian" Fast Food places and Best Teriyaki reminded me why. Enough said about that.

Promptly at 7:30 we arrive and there are still no tables for us to sit at. We are directed to the counter seating and at this point we are ready to have some food and from the smell we are in for a treat. Our server tells us that we will move to a table as soon as it is ready and hands us some menus. I open my binder to find 10 pages of choices. Beer, wine, sake, soft drinks and tea, appetizers, fried dishes, braised dishes, stewed dishes, noodles, etc. etc. etc. the list goes on and on. Too many choices!

Right after we are served our tea our table opens up. Jo and I sit and discuss what we are going to get. The duck, pork in sweet shoyu sauce, ika (squid) rings, and ramin in tonkatsu (pork) with egg noodles. We as our server if that is enough and she tells us that these are small plates and that she will leave the menu just in case we need it. Now we wait.

The first dish is sliced roasted duck breast served with a Japanese spicy mustard and green onions. Presentation is simple and a quick explanation from the chef allows us to full enjoy the duck. From the first bite I knew this was going to be a dinner to remember. The duck was a perfect medium rare and the spicy mustard added just the right amount of spice. I want more. Remember she did say small plates.

Next comes the pork in sweet shoyu. Just six one inch squares of meat and fat simmered in a sweet sauce. One bite and I think I have gone to food heaven. The Pork is tender and sweet and fatty and and and oh so good. Yes it is food porn at its best. I keep looking a Jo and the bowl of pork, back and forth waiting for her to turn away just for a moment so I can steal her portion. Then I remember the menu.

I quickly tell Jo to order more, "More of what? she ask. Anything I know I will love anything this guy makes I just need more. So be fore our ika arrives, we order chicken and tempura. The server takes our addition back to the chef and just like that my smile becomes bigger, hey you can even see some teeth.

Golden brown and delicious our ika is here. It is served with tonkatsu sauce on a bed of shaved cabbage. I did in and enjoy. My hashi (chop sticks) not missing a beat between plate and mouth. Perfectly cooked, the ika is tender not chewy and the sauce tangy. It isn't till Jo points out the sweet Japanese mayo that I realize I missed out on a flavor that would have enhanced the flavor of the tonkatsu sauce. There is always next time.

Before the last ika ring is eaten the chicken show up. Hot, not spicy, temperature hot, I care not, I use the reverse blow and chew. Crispy and salty goodness sears the roof of my mouth and I still stuff more in. I have gone food lust crazy. I must have it all. Jo tries a little lemon on her chicken. I thought it was just for decoration and I was wrong. A few drops of lemon juice changes the flavor and makes it even better.

Tempura is not my favorite Japanese dish. Jo loves it and she ordered it so I better have some. A first for me are peppers in tempura batter. They are great. I try them because Jo does not like super spicy food. The pepper turns out to delicious and not spicy at all. Besides the peppers, shrimp, carrot, and yam are served along with the usual dipping sauce. I have to admit for tempura it was very good.

The crowing jewel of the night, egg noodles in tonkatsu broth. Unbelievably good! It reminded me of a ramin shop in Osaka I went to over 23 years ago. No where in Hawaii or any other place on the mainland have I had noodles that tasted like I was in Japan. This was the best meal I have had in a long time. And I plan on making it to Yuzu a lot.

Dinner for the two of us was around $50.00 with tip. Oh I forgot to add gas and time, maybe a little more but worth every penny. If you want Japanese style dishes that are excellent, Yuzu will not disappoint. And I am sure it will make you say "It makes me so happy!"

Harry