Having lived in Japan for a few years, I’m always up for testing new Asian restaurants. Hirosaki Prime did not disappoint. The atmosphere is decent, dimly lit for date nights, but I could easily picture a family coming here in the afternoon. The only hangup I saw was the grills are installed between tables with a wide space in between. If you have a very large group (say, more than eight people), half your party will essentially be sitting at another table.
I decided to mix and match my two comfort foods from my time in Japan – sushi and ramen. The ramen, which came first, was warm and filling, with a good ratio of broth to noodles, veggies and meat. Ramen makes for a good lunch, too, and I’d recommend stopping by for a hot bowl before the end of the winter.
When it comes to sushi, I’m a purist, so I asked to hold off on the avocado and spicy mayo. The cucumber and tempura shrimp worked well together, though I would have liked a little more nori to add some salt flavor.
The service was spot-on, and the two grill-masters added a little pizazz to the evening. I’m psyched I caught the flying mushrooms in my mouth. And I’m still wondering how they can toss an egg in the air and split it perfectly with a spatula. I’ll have to ask him to teach me next time I go back. -BJH
