Omelet Rice, the Western Style Japanese Meal

With no sign in front of the restaurant, Izakaya Sakura does not stand out from the outside among the many restaurants in this plaza at 3904 Convoy Street in San Diego; however, it has become a popular “secret” place for many Japanese cuisine lovers. Sometimes people introduce this restaurant to their friends by saying that it is “the one without a sign”. After my friend recommended it, I decided to give it a try. Yesterday I walked into the restaurant for the first time. I sensed the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese family business: it was quiet, peaceful, and cozy. As soon as I sat down, I opened the menu and soon decided on the $12 Omelet Rice with Ketchup.The Omelet Rice is served in a combo, with miso soup and salad on the side. Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup with a light flavor that comes in many variations. In this miso soup, there is seaweed and tofu. The salad is given flavor by with the orange salad dressing on it, the Carrot-Ginger Dressing, which is another popular Japanese dish. The main dish, Omelet Rice, is covered with a bridge of ketchup in the middle. The omelet is gold and well done without getting burnt. After cutting open the omelet with the silver spoon in hand, I had a scoop of the fried rice inside with the omelet wrap together. There is onion, chicken, and corn in the rice, making the rice rich and full of excitement.An omelet is a very western style dish for me. After coming to the U.S. from China, the omelet has always been the food for me to rely on for breakfast in the dining hall, where I can get eggs, cooked vegetables, and embellish it with of cheese and ketchup. Omelet Rice, or “Omurice” in short, however, is a contemporary Japanese cuisine. The combination of rice and ketchup becomes so intriguing and has made it something popular not merely for breakfast or brunch but also a great dinner choice.If you are not a big fan of ketchup, you can also choose from curry or white sauce (which is a heated and sweet). Besides this Omelet Rice, Izakaya Sakura has a lot of unique starters, sushi, sashimi plates, small hotpots, etc. I tried this dish called Pork Belly with Eggplant, which surprised me by its deep fried but moderate oily pork and the well cooked fresh and sweet vegetables including bell eggplant, pepper, and onion. It is also worth mentioning that one of the most popular dishes here is Uni Don (raw sea urchins on Japanese rice), at the price of $20, which often sold out soon after 5pm.The lack of signboard at the door actually insinuates the philosophy of Izakaya Sakura: the word of mouth is what makes this place successful. “Izakaya” means a type of Japanese drinking establishment that serves food with the drinks. It is different from the bars that are drinks-oriented, and because of its more exquisite food, it also distinguishes itself from the snack bars. Without an evident sign, Izakaya Sakura attracts customers by words of mouth to a great extent. I am looking forward to going back and trying more dishes. I am now spreading the word for them and, if you eat there, you might do so too.