Sasaya - Fun Fun Delicious House
IZAKAYA SASAYA
Phone: 310-477-4404
11613 Santa Monica Blvd.
W. Los Angeles , CA 90025
Drive west on Santa Monica Boulevard. Five blocks west from Sawtelle Boulevard, the so-called “Tokyo-style Restaurant Row” of West L.A., you can see a sign that says, “SASAYA.” The artistically written sign seems to invite people to enjoy themselves at – as the meaning in Chinese suggests —“Fun Fun House.”
I parked my car in the back of the restaurant, and employees of Sasaya greeted my companions and me. In the interior of the restaurant, with its warm-colored lighting, one can feel the warmth of an izakaya (Japanese-style pub). The walls, covered with brown knitted fabric, and the washi (traditional Japanese paper) wall décor, are nostalgic.
We went though the bar and towards the left corner in the back of restaurant, and sat at a comfortable booth. It felt like we would be able to enjoy our dining experience to the fullest.
When looking at the thick menu, the variety of dishes surprised the three of us. The enormous variety of small dishes was pleasing.
Appetizers, salad, steamed rice, udon; as well as dishes that are cold, warm, grilled, stir-fried, and deep-fried... all together the menu has about 100 dishes.
Using the helpful suggestions of Sasaya’s fine owner Haneda Yasumi, we ended up ordering 17 dishes, including the popular Buta Kakuni.
Dish 1: Tofu Salad $6.80
Numerous tomatoes are arranged on the top of green vegetables. On the top of that, seemingly soft tofu fills the plate from edge to edge. Sesame-flavored dressing smoothly covers the tofu. At Sasaya, the Chinese characters they use describe tofu as “rich in beans.” The owner’s thoughtful consideration in providing tofu with an abundance of beans is very gratifying.
Best pairing: Daiginjou “Fukuko Machi”
2nd pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai “Mune no Uchi”
Dish 2: Tori Nanban Zuke $7.80
The volume of this dish is surprising. The remarkable sweet and sour taste of the tender chicken really puckers the mouth.
Best pairing: Ginjou “Akita Mori Shi”
2nd pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai “Mune no Uchi”
Dish 3: Aburi Eihire $6.50
This dish feels tough when touched by the fingers, but the more you chew the more the delicate taste of the sting-ray fin spreads in the mouth softly. Enjoy this calcium-rich side dish with shichimi mayonnaise (made from a Japanese spice mixture containing seven ingredients).
Best pairing: Junmai Daiginjou, “Kimura”
2nd pairing: Daiginjou Genshu, “Bisuikan”
Dish 4: Negi Nuta $3.50
Filled with sweet miso and steamed green onion, this dish is simply tasty. Enrich the flavor with ground sesame as topping.
Best pairing: Ginjou “Akita Mori Shi”
2nd pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai “Mune no Uchi”
Dish 5: Agedashi Mochi $6.80
Served with hot sauce and ground daikon radish. A handful of bonito flakes and seaweed are set atop four pieces of mochi. The delicious taste warms up the heart and body.
Best pairing: Junmai Daiginjou “Kimura”
2nd pairing: Ginjou “Akita Mori Shi”
Dish 6: Gyu Tataki $9.80
The fresh red meat shines brilliantly. Served with ponzu that includes momiji oroshi (grated daikon radish with red chili). The meat garnished with mineral-rich seaweed matches nicely.
Best pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai “Mune no Uchi”
2nd pairing: Daiginjou, “Fukukomachi”
Dish 7: Goma Tofu $4.00
This is healthy tofu made with soybeans and sesame. The jello-like texture of the tofu and the flavor of the sesame go smoothly down the throat. Enjoying this dish with plum pulp, ginger and green onions really increases one’s appetite.
Best pairing: Daiginjou Genshu “Bisuikan”
2nd pairing: Junmai Genshu “Akitaissui”
Dish 8: Buta Kakuni $7.50
A boiled egg - cut in half to show the vivid color of the yolk - is on the side, and seeing the cubes of pork simmered in sauce increases the appetite. The pork is extremely tender and seems as if it would melt in the mouth. Seasoned with high quality sweet and bitter soy sauce, this is one of Sasaya’s most popular dishes.
Best pairing: Junmai Daiginjou “Kimura”
2nd pairing: Ginjou, “Akita Mori Shi”
Dish 9: Nasu Soboro $5.80
A lot of bite-sized eggplant pieces are in the ground meat. In the same manner as the Buta no Kakuni, this dish finishes in a gentle taste.
Best pairing: Daiginjou “Fukukomachi”
2nd pairing: Junmai Daiginjou “Kimura”
Dish 10: Kurobuta Wiener $4.80
This kosher, Western-style dish consists of three Japanese-style wieners made with Berkshire pork and served with onion and tomato ketchup. It is one of Sasaya’s top-selling dishes.
Best pairing: Ginjou “Akita Mori Shi”
2nd pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai, “Mune no Uchi”
Dish 11: Tsukune $5.00
This is two skewers of three meatballs made from ground meat. The sauce is shimmering with a crisp brown top. This is a dish you won’t want to share with others. Garnished with cooked bean sprouts, it is served Izakaya-style.
Best pairing: Junmai Genshu “Akita Issui”
2nd pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai “Mune no Uchi”
Dish 12: Mentai Butter Udon $7.00
Mentaiko (pollack roe) and nori (dried seaweed) are arranged atop the udon. Enjoy this fashionable udon dish while the butter is still hot.
Best pairing: Junmai Genshu “Akita Issui”
2nd pairing: Tokubetsu Junmai “Mune no Uchi”
Dish 13: Kani Ojiya $7.00
This is a bowl of crab porridge with a satisfying volume. Toppings such as green onions and seaweed, which are typical in ojiya, are arranged on the surface.
Best pairing: Ginjou, “Akita Mori Shi”
2nd pairing: Junmai Genshu “Akita Issui”
Dish 14: Tsukemono Moriawase $6.80
Six kinds of pickles - Japanese eggplant, takana, mountain burdock, shibazuke, Chinese cabbage, and cucumber are artfully arranged with their red, yellow and blue colors in a big bowl. This is a must-have item to finish the meal.
One after another, an abundant variety of dishes come out that repeatedly made our mouths water. And we were introduced to pleasant service and a relaxed dining experience. Although we were already full, we gulped down the ojiya (a porridge of rice and other ingredients) with a great feeling of satisfaction, and even before the meal we took a look at the dessert menu. We first chose the cheesecake that was recommended by Haneda. But neither the Soy Mousse nor the Sweet Beans with Ice cream can be overlooked. In the Homemade Cheesecake ($4.00), somehow a Japanese style can be felt and it feels soft and light in the mouth. The dish is an exquisite piece of work. Made of edamame (boiled soybeans), the pretty, bright green Soy Mousse ($3.50) has a deliciousness that spreads happiness. And just knowing the restaurant serves Sweet Beans with Ice Cream ($4.80) made us happy.
Haneda speaks quite modestly of wanting to have an izakaya that provides homestyle food for everyone to enjoy. As with the food, sake and shochu are also stocked abundantly. Recently the number of American guests who prefer shochu has increased, and sales of shochu have reached seventy percent of the sales of sake. The food as well as the drinks and desserts are all available in wide varieties at moderate prices. Including the flavor, everything here is refined and customers will want to return again and again. Since opening in May of 2005, not only groups, but also even individuals by themselves can come comfortably. It is a welcoming atmosphere that the owner is conscious of creating. Not only the customers at the tables, but individuals who dine by themselves at the counter also feel comfortable and relaxed. Because of Haneda’s smiling face, and because the warm atmosphere of Sasaya conveys, “WELCOME,” I want to come back soon to “Fun Fun House.”
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