Ojiya!

Still on my search for good sushi in the area, I decided to check out a place in the Chino area. I had been here once before a few years back, and it had seemed to be a promising place.

To start, I shared an eggplant dish that had been simmered in some kind of soy sauce base and topped with some grated radish, which I thought was pretty good.

My sister ordered a combo that came with soup and salad.

For her main dishes, she got chicken karaage and some sashimi. I've only had that chicken once a long time ago, so I don't really remember it too well, but this version was a bit bland although decently fried.

I got the chopped yellowfish (or was it toro?) in ponzu sauce, which wasn't too bad.

An order of ikura, which was also average.

And a sample nigiri plate. None of the stuff besides the spicy tuna roll was very fresh. I had proceeded to mark single orders of nigiri, but when I saw that it was cheaper getting this, I jumped on it. Well, now I know why.

I found both the quality and their prices average for a sushi bar. Seems to be a neighborhood favorite as the place was pretty packed. But my search for good sushi in the area still goes on.

Roy's

Previously on mother may i?

I was able to go down to San Diego for a few days in August before school started. A friend who works at Roy's invited me to try the place out, so, getting the rare chance to eat at a nice place/being a poor student, I wholeheartedly agreed. Throughout the meal, I learned a lot about how the restaurant works and how things are prepared. But as I sit to write down this post, I realize how much I've forgotten since then =/ Sorry all, but I have limited space in my head and had to make some room for school. So onto the food.


Started off with some edamame seasoned with some Japanese spice.


Soon after the rolls appeared along with a bottle of white wine (whose name I forget). Lakanilau Roll(left): Seared Kobe Beef wrapped around Snow Crab, Tempura Asparagus. I've never had Kobe beef before. The beef was a little bit rubbery, having been sitting so long and waiting to be eaten while my friend and I caught up with each other. The crab tasted different to me as I'm not quite sure if I've ever had real crab before in a roll...only krab =) I like crab and I liked the roll, but it just tasted a little weird. I still kept eating it though. Avocado Sunrise at Haleakala (right): Tuna, Hamachi, Salmon, Avocado & Asparagus Tempura Roll with Dynamite Butter. The tempura and butter sauce made this very rich. The mix of fish reminded me of this box type roll I had once at Sammy's Sushi in SD. And in the back was some other roll that I can't remember, either a shrimp tempura or a spicy tuna roll.

I can't remember what roll this was either. Maybe an eel roll topped with some roe? The sushi was pretty good and fresh as far as I could tell, and I thought that it could have done without the sauce.


We also ordered another appetizer: Tarragon Pesto Grilled Japanese Eggplant Staircase Molten Brie, Fried Capers & Balsamic Onions. I love eggplant, and this was a nice new spin on the vegetable I once hated as a kid.


Having stuffed ourselves on the appetizers, we shared a trio: Roy's Original Blackened Island Ahi, Hibachi Grilled Salmon, and Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish.

My favorite out of the three was definitely the butterfish. I've had it before, but only at a sushi joint and never cooked. It was very fluffy and soft, and the sauce was light and sweet. The salmon was good, but to be honest, I've never really had salmon at a place that blew my mind. I feel I can make the same at home and would be just as happy squirting some siracha on it. The Ahi came in some kind of mustard sauce.


Gotta have that rice!

And we still had dessert: Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé Flourless Chocolate Cake with a Hot, Molten Center; served with Raspberry Coulis and Vanilla Ice Cream. Rich hot chocolate inside the cake, which made this so good. I could definitely go for some right now...

I eat well everytime I come down to SD, and this meal was no exception. The food was great, the presentation beautiful, and the service prompt and timely although I admit my view is biased since my friend works there. But regardless, a mahalo to Mr. Magoo for dinner and the wonderful experience! Ono brah! (haha had to put that in there =p )

Roy's
8670 Genesee Ave
San Diego, CA 92122

Next time on mother may i?: A lunch with some fellow food bloggers in SD, who have already posted about it, making my job a lot easier... =D

Joe's Sushi

Came here for lunch a few months back based on recommendations from several friends. Joe's is a chain that has the option of AYCE. Price is around $17, and it also gets you some entrees/appetizers (teriyaki, tempura, and the like...) I think this is a Korean owned joint.













I had my reservations before coming here, and I was right. I tried most of the nigiri options, and nothing was very fresh. The spicy scallops were probably the only thing that I liked. If you are a roll person, there are some varieties available, but nothing too fancy, and that might make it worth your money. But I don't think I'd come back here again.

The service was friendly. The bar wasn't too packed, and the sushi chef made us a nice little concoction of his own as seen above after curiously watching me take pictures and asking what I was doing.

I have heard the phrase, "It's pretty good for an AYCE" both from friends and Yelp users. I'm not exactly sure what that really means. Perhaps the price is a little cheaper(?), but the quality was no different from other places, beating only Todai, which doesn't really count. There was no second round for me here, and I felt like my money went straight down the drain. I suppose some people will call me a snob for not liking Joe's while the other half would call me a dumbass for even wasting my time and hard earned dollas on an AYCE sushi joint.

Honestly, I don't get what's the big deal about this place, and I left thinking it sounded too good to be true. Perhaps if I had been drinking, I would have enjoyed the food more.


460 N Beach Blvd
La Habra, CA 90631