Hanaoka (National City)

Thanks for stopping by to read mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog.  Kirk is very busy with work today, so Cathy is writing.  

Hanaoka opened in January 1986 in this National City location, West of the 805 on the South side of Sweetwater road.  Hanaoka Enterprises is now the umbrella group for itself, North Park Sushi & Grill as well as Junz Teriyaki &BBQ.  A good Japanese restaurant in the South Bay area of the County, almost taken for granted.  

A series of several rooms (originally it was a sushi bar with three tables but when Swensen's Ice Cream closed, Hanaoka bought up the attached building), Hanaoka is quite large inside.  The menu is fairly large and sushi is predominant (but now there is no sushi bar seating area).  We were here at lunch.
 The green tea ($2.25), which is not matcha is remarkably good- a roasted tea leaf and very strong brew, was kept filled throughout the meal. The miso soup is also quite good. I ordered the Hanaoka lunch bento ($13.95): two pieces of California roll (real crab), five pieces of sashimi, tamago, rice, salad, beef, chicken, fish and a tempura shrimp.  Everything was fresh, flavorful and plenty!  The teriyaki sauce is not too sweet nor sticky.  
The Mister ordered the beef teriyaki and fried fish lunch plate ($13.95), just for the fried fish.  It was very well made with a crisp yet light crust.  The tartar sauce is house made and quite nice.  
 The green tea ice cream ($4) which was matcha and had not much 'tea' flavor (other than a small 'background' tannin hit) and was a pleasant desert. 

A very nice birthday lunch for one of our eight days of feasting.  

Hanaoka 1528 Sweetwater Road National City, CA 91950 (619)477-5173 Open Mon-Fri 11-3 and 5-10, Sat 11-10, Sun 12-9 Website

cc has been to Hanaoka (in 2008) and more recently, to Junz. Mary has been to North Park Sushi & Grill (in 2011)

Comments

[Junichi]

Man I remember going here in the 80s growing up. Glad they're still going strong.

[kat]

happy birthday!

[Caninecologne]

Wow, you dug up a super old post of mine, haha. I remember when Hanaoka was new and now it's just another Japanese place.Bert and I liked going there for their lunch bento back in college. We also liked the waitstaff there. Havent been back in years..Glad they are still around.

[Cathy]

Nice to know it brought back a memory, Junichi.
Thanks, Kat.
We first stopped here in the 80's after visiting that 'fancy' National City store -Fedmart-. We had had our wedding reception at a Japanese restaurant and so finding similar places wherever we lived brought back good memories, cc. Still does.

[jack]

Wow, what a throwback! I'm glad it's still around. I'll have to stop by there very soon....just because....and happy birthday!

[Soo]

Happy Birthday!

[Cathy]

Thanks, Jack. Great, quality food here...plus plenty of parking!
Thanks, Soo,