Shiroi Sushi - Japanese, Los Gatos

14103 Winchester Blvd, Suite C, Los Gatos CA 95032
(408) 340-5965
Parking: shopping center parking lot
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am-2:30pm, 4pm-9pm; Closed Sundays

Last Visited: January 12, 2019

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$$

I was looking for a good Japanese restaurant in Los Gatos and happened upon this one.  The rolls looked quite appetizing in the photos, and I needed to be fairly close to downtown Los Gatos, so this fit the bill. 

I arrived at 5pm, just when they opened, and there was already another family there waiting.  While you might think this is an authentic Japanese restaurant from initial looks, a closer examination will reveal the influence of another source.  Aldo's, the Italian restaurant in the same shopping center, owns this place, and from the decor, you can see how the fishing boat print that hangs on two of the walls, the display of a rather large bottle of what would likely be wine (not sake) if it were full, and the tea towel napkins being used, shows that this restaurant isn't owned by a Japanese person.  A further look at the menu where something called a Tokyo to Milan roll contains pesto and Aldo's roll has prosciutto and mozzarella seem to confirm that you may have Italian influences here.  It's not a bad thing, but you should know what you're getting into.

- Hamachi Carpaccio - It seems that this is one of their most popular appetizers.  Ten slices of yellowtail are topped with a very thin slice of jalapeno and green onions and sit in a light soy sauce.  A very small bunch of  kaiware sprouts accompany the hamachi.  The fish is fresh and the jalapeno doesn't overpower the fish.  Probably the best of all the dishes of the evening, but a bit on the expensive side for what you're getting. The slices are really thin and makes me think I should just go to a Japanese market to get hamachi and try to mimic the same. $17

- Unagi Lover (shown in the front of the photo) - The roll is filled with deep fried unagi and topped with unagi and tobiko.   While it's tasty for a bite or two, the unagi sauce gets too sweet at the end.  Okay.  $17

- Spider Roll (shown in the rear of the photo) - Soft shell crab is deep fried.  Cucmber and avocado fill the inside of the roll and it's topped with unagi sauce and tobiko.  I liked the legs as they were not oily/greasy, but the body of the crab was a bit mushy, so that was less enjoyable.  $15

- Salmon Skin roll - Of all the dishes, I found this one to be the most disappointing.  A good Japanese restaurant can make the skin crispy and keep the meat moist.  In this case, while the cucumber gives this roll a good crunch, the salmon itself was too dry.  It's also pricy for what you're getting and you don't feel better when you see it used to be $7 three years ago.  Overpriced and dry.  $10

Service was pleasant, but with just two people serving the sushi bar and quite a few tables, as the room filled, we saw the servers less and less.  They tried their best, and did a good job handling a rather surly couple that didn't want to sit anywhere except at a four-person table. 

Overall, the rolls are okay, but avoid the salmon skin roll.  If you're going to go, try the hamachi, but maybe go for sushi instead.   

Morning Wood - Brunch, Hawaiian, Asian Fusion, San Bruno

260 El Camino Real, San Bruno CA 94056
No phone number listed
Parking: very limited parking spaces in parking lot; street parking recommended
Hours: Tues-Fri 8:30am-2pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2pm
https://eatmorningwood.business.site/

Last Visited: December 22, 2018

Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $$ to $$$

Open as of December 2017, Morning Wood quickly gained lines out the door with its appetizing Hawaiian/Japanese fusion breakfast and brunch menu.  The husband and wife chef team have certainly created dishes that will cause your mouth to water, but somewhat synonymous with island life, you'll have to get used to a slower pace, including a long wait, even if you arrive before opening time.

I arrived at 8:40am for their 9am opening and there were already a lot of people waiting outside of the restaurant on this brisk morning.  Although I was on the sidewalk, a lot of the parties sent a representative, so there had to be at least 40 people's worth of seats on the clipboard list that everyone was signing in on.  Due to their way of seating where they take a table in at a time and stagger seating, the first seating itself was not complete until almost 9:45 am.  Some patrons had already finished their meal before all seats were actually filled.  Due to some people on the list having incomplete parties, I got in after about an hour of waiting.

Inside, the restaurant has light blue hues and some wood decorations that are reminiscent of Hawaii.  There are also two televisions showing different channels. You'll also find that each table has a roll of paper towels and a wood box containing condiments and a mason jar of utensils.

The menu regularly changes - some days, you'll find a fusion version of Chinese porridge, matcha mochi pancakes, and other things that I couldn't find on today's menu.  Instead, there were variations like the Hapanese breakfast (miso soup and a bowl of rice topped with sous vide eggs with a choice of sides),  matcha bread pudding, corncheeseorice, and choconut macdaddy french toast.

- Crack Potatoes - This was the first dish to arrive and these beautifully roasted potatoes seasoned with a little bit of paprika, spice, seaweed, and black sesame, then topped with chopped green onions, were super tasty and quite addictive.  I had to pace myself so that I would leave room for other dishes.  The name is appropriate.  Get these.  $7

- Hawaiian Hot Fried Chicken - Ginger slaw, pickles, jalapenos, fried egg, and hawaiian sweet rolls.  This is labelled as "very spicy - order at your own risk, no returns!" I should have listened to the waitress when she said it is spicier than Thai-spicy, but I have a weakness for fried chicken.  I should have gotten the mochiko chicken instead.  A heavily breaded chicken cutlet is drenched in a ridiculously hot chili oil that will cause you to stop eating.  This chicken is served on top of a pickled ginger slaw that sits on a sweet roll.  While one may think that the mayonnaise-based slaw would cool the heat, you would be wrongly mistaken since the pickled ginger still creates more heat.  Under the fried egg is a pile of canned jalapenos, and you'll also find a few pickle slices sprinkled over the whole dish.  There's really no reason to offer a dish this spicy unless there is a contest for whom can handle the most heat. One bite, and I downed two glasses of water.  I don't understand what the chefs were thinking about this dish.  Most people have to bring this chicken home because they can't finish it.  The heat and reminders of the dish last throughout the day for hours - so uncomfortable in so many ways.  When we took it home as a leftover, we removed all of the breading, and therefore all of the oil, and an extremely thin cutlet was found under it all.  Not recommended unless you want some sort of bragging rights with your buddies or a memorable experience that you wouldn't wish on your enemies.  $16

- Yuzu Talkin' to me? - Two yuzu butter mochi pancakes are topped with blueberries, li hing mui powder, powdered sugar, and a dollop of yuzu honey butter with a slice of strawberry.  The menu says that these take "a LOT more time. If you can't wait, don't order it." While the pancakes are large, the yuzu flavor doesn't quite come across in the pancake or the butter (or maybe there just isn't enough butter).  I found that they had a nice toothsome texture because of the mochi, but actually tasted better the next day.  Since these came after the chicken, they rescued my taste buds.  Okay, but I wouldn't necessarily order it again. $18

In general, service is okay once you're in the restaurant - at least 2 people are working the room regularly, but as forewarned, food can take a while to arrive.  They also don't make menu modifications.  Note also that parties greater than six may be split up.

While I guess they are staggering seating the tables so that the kitchen doesn't get overwhelmed, bthis can be frustrating because you'll see an available table and still not be able to sit down.  If you're lucky, you'll be standing in line next to some cool people whom you can strike up a conversation with, or you can get some quality time in with your phone.  Don't be surprised to find a line.