Good Eats at Sakurai Grill in Huntington Beach

Growing up in the 80's, one of my favorite television shows was "Cheers" with Ted Danza and Rhea Perlman. I loved the witty banter between the bartender Sam and hostess Carla, the familiar faces of Norm and Cliff, and singing along to...

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

I loved that idea - having a special place where you're a somebody and where all your troubles seem to fade away.

And that's exactly how I feel when I sit with Hiroki at Sushi Sasabune. He always knows what I want and how to make me happy with a simple smile and my favorite dishes. And I love catching up with him, how his wife is doing, and how work is treating him.

Unfortunately for me, though, it's not a place my purse likes. After my recent visits last month and again on Friday, I'll have to wait for MS to treat me to our next Sasabune outing.

(Valentine's just around the corner - hint, hint MS!)

So for the time being, it's time to pack my lunches, cook a little more, and find some good eats while on a budget.



So when MS and I visited Sakurai Grill in Huntington Beach to celebrate a friend's birthday, I was thrilled to order the Beef Teriyaki + Sashimi Combo plate that came with a generous mixed green salad and miso soup for about ten dollars.

Hidden in a small mini-shopping complex, the Japanese take-out restaurant may be easily overlooked. It opened less than a year ago, but the Sakurai family is not new to the Orange County food scene. Their homemade teriyaki sauce is like no other. Not thick or gooey like a nasty congealed clump of super sweet brown sauce. But smooth, light, and deliciously cooked from 4-6 hours of making the broth for the base of the teriyaki sauce.



The intimate interior is modern and refreshing - with framed photograph stills taken in Japan hanging along the long, white wall. And Terry Sakurai - the man behind the Grill - is everything nice, laid back, and ready to share his family dishes with you.

The Sakurai fish was fresh and of great quality, and my plate had so much more sashimi than what I expected for the price of the combo.

Now here was a place that my purse and I could love together.

Too bad it's in the OC.

NOTE:
If ever I'm in the area again, you'll find me lickin' my fingers and chowing down on some deliciously sweet deep fried chicken wings at Sakurai Japanese Grill - they're crispy bites of tender goodness!

Sakurai Japanese Grill in Huntington Beach
street: 19881 Brookhurst Street, Suite D
hrs: 11a - 8:15p / 7 Days a Week; Sun 12p - 7p
tel: 1.714.968.7065
www.sakuraijapanesegrill.com