Editor Pick
Fujiya Restaurant
- June 22, 2000
- Rated 1 of 5 by
Ally from New York City, New York, Afghanistan
Today, I tried out the Japanese restaurant that I always pass while shopping in the Embarcadero Center (downtown SF). Fujiya is a Benihana-type restaurant where your food is cooked right before your eyes, either by a restaurant chef using a grill, or by yourself, using a shabu-shabu pot. It isn't often that I go to one of these restaurants; I usually imagine that the flashy, entertaining chef will be used as a novel substitute for tasty food. Although a balance is preferable, I favor delicious food over cooking presentation.
On this occasion, I was part of a large, organized, group lunch and logistically, the professional chef tables suited us best (besides, if I'm going out to eat, I'm not looking to cook my own food!). The entrees (consisting largely of chicken, prawn, and beef dishes served with rice, veggies, salad, and green tea) and their prices were fair/satisfactory; nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary. Warning: the meal feels a little messy - between all the chopping, mixing, and stirring of the food in front of you, it is not uncommon to have a piece of zucchini or onion fly into your water cup. The shabu shabu may be even more dangerous; all patrons who choose to go that route tied plastic bibs around their necks!
All in all, Fujiya is a mediocre, entertaining restaurant, appropriate for a big group of friends (or people you don't want to have to talk to since the grill and overhead fan and clanging of cooking utensils drown out all other noise). Don't expect gourmet sushi here.
From journal Life in the Foggy City