Enter Shanghai Osaka, the newest Japanese/Chinese restaurant to open in town and the fourth or fifth at the Sun Plaza, across from the Pheasant Lane Mall. Truth be told, this is a tough location, set back behind a shopping plaza, high on a hill with mall traffic. But it’s worth seeking out.
While you can’t eat atmosphere, it can serve to transform a meal out into a dining experience. In this case, situated so close to the mall, which is packed with holiday shoppers, ShangHai Osaka is like a Zen oasis: an antidote to fast shopping, fast traffic, and fast food. The warm and friendly service, the whimsical but feng shui holiday decorations (plastic flatware artfully stuck in plastic foam balls, and illuminated with tiny white lights), and the comfortable booths and tables all make it feel like you’re taking a quick vacation.
And if you take advantage of the daily luncheon specials, it can be as inexpensive as fast food but with a lot healthier, tasty, and relaxing benefits.
That’s what we did on our first visit, a break from shopping to satisfy our umami craving.
While sipping hot, fragrant cups of jasmine tea (we love that they’re big mugs with no handles, which warm your hands as well as your belly), we scanned the Japanese lunch box specials, which range in price from $8.50 to $9.75 and are served with choice of soup and steamed, brown, or pork-fried rice.
Choices include salmon teriyaki, California roll, and shumai ($9.50); unagi (grilled eel), California roll, and shumai ($9.75); seafood teriyaki, California roll, and gyoza ($9.75); and the choice of one in our party: beef teriyaki, shrimp tempura, and shumai ($9.50). This was definitely a high-quality bento box. The steak was thick cut, tender, with a savory and not cloying sauce. The brown rice was nutty and moist, the shrimp crispy, and the salad was fresh with a killer citrus ginger dressing.
