Octover 2007
I'm not so old. As a matter of fact most of you will probably think that one who just celebrates his 19's birthday is pretty young.
But even I still remember the days in which a fine kosher restaurant was as rare as rain in July. Most of the kosher places were fast food places - falafel stands, pizza's etc. or restaurants that served Middle Eastern style food. Don't get me wrong, some of those places were great, but seriously, how many Kebabs one can eat?
 When Sushi arrived to Israel, it immediately became a hit. Many sushi bars and restaurants opened. Hungry fans of this trendy Japanese delight could buy Nigiri, Maki and Sashimi on every street corner, but although sushi became popular dish, kosher sushi was still exotic and uncommon. Recently kosher sushi places are poping up like (Shitake) mushrooms after the rain. The competition is tough.
Osaka is one of the best competitors. The designed of this fancy new restaurant in Ra'anana combines the oriental look with high-tech colors. The rich menu offers many oriental dishes with the versatile tastes of the Far East, and the best sushi in the area.
For starters, my hungry companions and I shared several dishes:
A Chinese Gioza: steamed Dim Sum dumplings with a delicious chicken and spring onion filling. Sashimi salad: a variety of vegetables with thinly sliced,  raw tuna and fresh salmon. We also tried the kebab skewers, and other light appetizers.
The main courses were fantastic. Pad Kapai - a generous amount of chopped stir-fried Sirloin on top of steamed rice and vegetables topped with fried egg. Fish Market: Salmon and Tuna fish bits, lightly grilled, mixed with stir-fried noodles and vegetables. The menu shows other interesting well-spiced oriental dishes.
What about the Sushi, you ask?
Osaka's sushi master makes wonderful tasty sushi. We shared large colorful combination. The fish is fresh, the rice is cooked properly, and a generous platter is offered at a reasonable price.
Although we were already quite full, we tried some of the unique desserts. The "Tapioca madness" (in a free translation) made with small sticky tapioca crumbs, pineapple and coconut cream, is refreshing, and not a heavy finale to a fantastic meal. The "Pagoda"- deep fried sesame scoops with rich melted chocolate filling is also nice.
Oh… what more can I add, the free parking, nice professional waiters, rich bar, and the wonderful friendly atmosphere make Osaka perfect for romantic dinners, as well as for family festive meals. We will defiantly come again. |