The thinnest slices of seared heritage beef were laid atop a shrimp tempura roll with an aromatic balsamic. Like how the tacos didn’t square neatly into any one canon, the wagyu roll ($14.95) ventured into fusion territory, flirting with the West. Spicy tuna tacos ($9.95) were a bright, beautiful combination of diced sushi-grade fish, crème fraiche, mashed avocado, fresh jalapeños and sweet segments of ruby-red Japanese citrus enveloped by crispy wonton shells.
The other, enchanted by the plum-sweetened soy sauce, echoed, “This is wonderful-the flavor is drawn down the stalk.” Our first dish, bok choy ($6.95) dipped in a deep fryer and dusted with toasted walnuts, elicited an early, “I would definitely come back here,” from one of my companions. It came cleverly presented with shot glasses wedged in shaved ice. We also felt a bottle of Tozai Snow Maiden nigori ($15.95), a smooth yet stiff version of the rice wine, was in order. My friends and I decided we’d order rounds to share and pace ourselves, endurance being the goal.Ī quick glance at the succinct wine and beer list, and we couldn’t resist the Tiki-esque “Drunken Watermelon” ($14.95), the only mixed drink: a hollowed-out shell refilled with pulp swirled with chilled house sake. “We’re a Japanese pub with Korean barbecue serving Asian tapas.” “Welcome to our family restaurant,” our waiter said as we sat down. I had guessed it was only a matter of time before Naples saw Japan’s freshly spun ramen, chewy Taiwanese boba and Seoul’s soy-slicked tabletop-grilled meats-but I didn’t expect them all to launch from one place, or to such exacting standards.
Grill your own meat with this Japanese hot stove. Most restaurants conquering more than one country’s food have played it safe with a cookie-cutter formula: basic selection of sushi, a few Thai curries, some Japanese entrées, done. In fact, if you took every trendy Asian dish that had eluded our shores and boxed it up with edgy, laidback surroundings, you’d get Zen Asian BBQ, a storefront that opened on U.S.
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