In the center of Laguna Beach are a few boutiques mostly selling art, along with a few other clothes and surfer shops. Amongst this is a small restaurant that has been serving sushi for twenty years now. Ever since Hapi Sushi opened in 1983, it's been a local hangout and the interiors haven't changed at all. It looks like a dive and definitely isn't a typical Japanese sushi place especially with the Van Morrison playing in the background. The atmosphere is unique in that way - a casual California version of a sushi bar. There are different rolls on the menu plus some specials listed on the board behind the sushi counter. The menu doesn't list prices but expect to spend about $15 per person for a selection of California-style rolls and a miso soup. On the evening we went, the place was pack having packed with locals having a quick meal. There were four of us plus my 5-year old who was fast asleep on the banquette. We ordered miso soup and followed with the crunchy roll (asparagus with crispy tempura batter), 79 special (grilled unagi roll with a sliver of strawberry and balsamic vinegar glaze), the special baked mussels, squid-jalapeno tempura), crispy mushroom with spicy mustard and a salmon skin temaki. The rolls were different, not authentically Japanese but delicious. It's only in California that this kind of place could exist.
4 comments:
mmm...sushi...I can never get enough of that.
Hi Cooking Ninja, I love sushi too and it's one of the things I miss living in Spain where I haven't really found fantastic sushi yet.
Me neither in Nantes. In Paris, we went to a real Jap resto - how we know it is real? We see Japs in there and the staff do speak Japanese and the chef is Japanese. :) But it's so expensive. We paid like 40 euros for a Bento set.
Hi Cooking Ninja,
I really appreciate the restaurant prices here especially for good sushi. Have you been to Sushi-Cho in the 8eme? It's pretty authentic but pricey as well.
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