A teal-accented sushi bar surrounds by a thin ring of grain-speckled wood jutting from the wall, which casts a spotlight on a chef bustling in the space inside.
As he chops up fresh sashimi, waiters walk to and fro the heavy black double doors that separate the kitchen from the simple yet distinctive dining area. The walls are adorned with features such as a shining collection of decorative plates displaying scenes from Japanese artwork, a framed abacus, and a large, multi-canvas print of Hokusai’s ever-enduring The Great Wave. Couples, friends, and family members alike partake in warm chatter to the backdrop of acoustic covers of pop songs.
Opened in May, Kanji Sushi and Ramen offers an authentic range of fresh Japanese cuisine at a variety of prices.
Steve Hwang is one of three co-owners of the restaurant and credits his family’s ties to the restaurant industry with motivating him to take over the establishment.
“My cousin runs a really successful restaurant in South San Jose,” Hwang said. “It inspired me to get into the restaurant industry because I saw how good he was at a young age”.
Hwang also says the restaurant’s connection with the neighborhood is one of his favorite things about working in the industry.
“I get to know the neighborhood here, get friendly,” Hwang said. “The customer, I feel like they’re our family member.”
Customers entering are first greeted by a framed display of miniature dolls wearing beautifully embroidered Japanese kimonos. A smiling server greeted us warmly at the small reception stand, taking us to our table.
After a selection of both hot and cold appetizers, Kanji Sushi and Ramen’s menu offers a variety of different categories, including soups, Nigri, Temaki, and more.
Tokyo Roll ($17) ★★★★½
The Tokyo roll consists of crispy shrimp tempura rolled uramaki style and topped with avocado and unagi. Glazed with the same sweet unagi sauce and sprinkled with a dash of sesame seeds, it’s great for anyone who loves the taste of sushi but not necessarily crazy about raw fish.
Miso Ramen ($16) ★★★★½
This dish comprised of hearty soybean soup, curly noodles, and an egg-cellent poached egg satisfied my ravenous appetite. The star of the show was definitely the braised pork. Soft meat soaked in savory broth broke apart easily with every bite, filling my senses with umami flavor. Frankly, the only thing that wasn’t to my taste were the pieces of bamboo. They unfortunately absorbed some of the bad aftertaste, which felt like a betrayal of such a wonderful bowl of ramen.
Cherry Blossom Roll ($17) ★★★★★
For fish lovers everywhere, the vibrant Cherry Blossom roll is a must try. Wrapped on a bed of white rice seasoned with rice wine, each fine slice of tuna and white fish complimented the salmon and avocado inside. As soon as I put it in my mouth, the clean, meaty flavor of the sashimi immediately took center stage. The rice was well-cooked, sticky yet soft, and its mild flavor made way for the nutty taste and smooth texture of the avocado inside.
Matcha Latte ($7) ★★★★★
Made in-house and topped with fluffy white cream, this refreshing glass of sweet iced tea is the perfect beverage to cool off and sip from time to time. I have no complaints: it’s not too sweet, not watery at all. 10/10 would recommend again.
