Fuji Grill - Lakewood, CA

http://www.fujigrill.net/

2704 Carson Street
Lakewood, CA 90712-4051
(562) 627-8300

I always wondered what secrets lay behind the bright cartoon-like sign on between the nearby Subway and Starbucks. It was easy to bypass whilst journeying to the local bowling alley for a quick White Russian (Caucasian for you Dudes out there). The homebruv Gilbert decided it was best to gain access to the Low Budget Traffic School on Paramount & Carson by ignoring his speedometer, so I volunteered myself (and my stomach) to show him the area and grab some local spur-of-the-moment 'yaki as well.

Heavily decked out in somewhat hokey Japanese decor, company-designed posters claiming the health benefits of a Fuji bowl, and dim lighting, Fuji Grill's ambience was that of a lackluster sushi bar. Still, the nautical/aqua-themed colors were quite relaxing. Behind the small corner counter stood a middle-aged, work-worn lady donning an apron while buried in what was most likely closing-time paperwork; we made it just before closing. She took me and Gilbert's order for chicken teriyaki bowl - one size only. One bowl comes out to just under $6.

Before I jump into bowl specifics, I'd liked to forever tip my hat to the condiment table just beside the counter. There you'll find a lovely assortment of utensils (chopsticks!!! chopsticks!!! chopsticks!!!), Sriracha, and the creme de la creme of bowl-based eateries stood gloriously like two golden silos of ambrosia: free extra teriyaki sauce!

The bowls themselves were slightly larger than the typical small order of "The Yo'"and made of pretty durable black plastic. The top layer sported generous helpings of thinly sliced pickled ginger and cooked edamame-in-pod - all there for a sort of cleverly-executed light Japanese authenticity (which I just found convenient). The chicken came sans gobs of sauce (but with loads of it for the taking, I didn't care) and in inch-long strips. It was marinated and grilled without the skin - most likely to boost the "health factors." This left some portions of thigh meat stringy and tough, but not the least bit dry. As someone who enjoys a grilled bird here and there, I hate falling prey to the tyranny of pre-sliced bites; it was the only way to enjoy a piece of chicken as biting a slice in half was damn near impossible. The little sauce that did come on the chicken was typical for the more Japanese-style teriyaki places I've frequented (others being slightly more Americanized with Hispanic tinges): very salty, but enough sweetness to complement the rice. The rice itself was to my liking: sticky and fresh -although I would like to see how the sauce would have went with a slightly older/more compacted pot.

Fuji Grill's attempt at providing a Japanese-tinged environment may come off cheesy, and the sauce: salty, but it wasn't a bad experience to say the least. The bowl is definitely not a meal to repeat on a weekly basis, but it wouldn't kill to do a second attempt.

March 25, 2010: Golden Bowl - Long Beach, CA

Golden Bowl Charbroiled Teriyaki #6
3768 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 595-9095

Ah, the sweet smell of my neck of the woods conjured up memories of coffee shop open mics, midgets towns and Hollywood would-bes shooting teen sex comedies in private abodes. Long Beach's Bixby area houses some of the finest cultural sensations - kitschy and exotic. It's also home to the 6th iteration of Golden Bowl Charbroiled Teriyaki.

Upon entering this small but fairly clean fast food eatery, one might notice the arched brick windows. If you guessed correctly (and by the Baja Blast stains on your shirt, I can tell you did), you'll hear the faint whisper of the ghosts of chalupas past embrace this ex-Taco Bell, so expect the typical swivel chair-to-bolted-table fare and plastic red trays.

I ventured to Golden Bowl with the aid of my close relatives, excited to help critique my first 'yaki for the blog. I ordered the large chicken teriyaki bowl, which went for just under 6 bones. I felt prepared with a fine arsenal of condiments gracing various tables: Non-watered down Sriracha (cock sauce), soy sauce, and a hot sauce-looking concoction poured into a generic plastic bottle. I was ready to eat.

The large chicken teriyaki bowl comes in a half-sized styrofoam rectangle (cover n' all). The bottom 3/4ths contained a hearty serving of the steamed white rice while the top was almost completely covered in the chicken. At first taste, the chicken itself was somewhat cooked to my liking: sautéed breast and possibly thigh meat with enough crispy excess skin to complement the white meat. The sauce, a light glaze that managed to touch most corners of the half-inch sections of chicken, displayed little hints of ginger, but just enough to not bring out the brown sugar taste "The Yo" seems to pride itself on. The "greens" portion was limited to crunchy little slices of green onions as a light garnish; the large dish seems to do fine without the typical broccoli/carrot/cabbage medley.

Now, as someone raised on my parents' 1:1 ratio of water-to-rice recipe, sticky-icky rice is just my thing. Golden Bowl's rice isn't dry, but I prefer a slight moist compaction on my mini white logs of starch. This provides a duality in my rice/sauce palette. I love when tightly-packed, sticky rice forms a seal under the sauce, giving it a cake-like consistency. On the other hand, I also love it when the sauce drizzles into the depths of the grain like a tangy mistress willing to usurp all unity in the bowl.

Overall, for its price and size, my meal was one of the more hearty chicken bowls I've taken on; I can imagine coming here after a hard day to shovel down the bowl with roughly one to zero thoughts-per-second. It takes well to condiments - a great benefit for lovers of ol' red. The fork provided was fairly sturdy, unlike the paper-thin lip-pokers found at some $1 Chinese joints. To say the least, the flavors involved weren't too big of a shock...as if my mouth made itself at home. And my mouth did make itself at home.

Stay glued for Timothy's review on his large chicken AND BEEF from Golden Bowl.

UPDATE: I made a second trip to Golden Bowl this past week. Turns out that "soy sauce" bottle to the left of the Sriracha bottle is actually teriyaki sauce. This sort of leaves me confused considering, according to a sign posted near the menu, they charge 25 cents extra for teriyaki sauce. I'm guessing they charge extra to put extra sauce on your order themselves when they cook your meal.

All Hail the Sauce Fantastic!

As a journalist thrust into the world of multimedia reporting, retorting, and all the goods involved, I start to wonder: where do we find the nourishment?

Of course, someone born and raised in the cultural melting pot that is Southern California, one does take in quite a juxtaposition of cuisines e.g. Korean tacos, chicken and waffles, teriyaki and donuts - all in the convenience from hole-in-the wall establishments, roach coaches, and ex-Taco Bells.

I realized, one hearty dish has stuck by my side all my 23 years like a loyal (and saucy) best friend: teriyaki. Although not a cultural mish-mash, the dish has taken on many a form since its American debut.

Ah yes, the sweet, syrupy glaze that covers that broiled bird or beast magically complements a steamy serving of white rice. It's protein. It's carbs. It's good.

This will be a task for myself and anyone just as daring to travel far and wide - local and mobile - for that savoury combination of brown and white, and report back to the masses. This of course includes the hole-in-the-walls, the roach coaches, and the ex-Taco Bells, as well as the traditional Japanese eateries here and there.

In the name of The 'Yaki, wish us luck!