Niban (more visits)

mmm-yoso!!! welcomes you back to peruse more meals consumed. Kirk is still busy and Cathy is writing again. 

In 2006, again in 2010, once more in 2011, part of a mixed post in 2016, I've written about this fast/casual, inexpensive, good Japanese restaurant which has been part of our 'regular rotation' for more than a decade.  This post is about our December and January visits.

The key to some of the more interesting items here is to check the walls and windows, although the menu itself is simple and good.   One of the December window posters was this-Cheese Curry (with chicken) ($8.95).  This included salad and a beverage.  Well, this was different.  Kirk said it is Yoshoku Food, - Westernized Japanese. The curry was, as always, great (there are shredded pieces of beef along with large pieces of carrots, onion and potatoes in the slightly sweet mixed flavor sauce).  The cheese topping was different and a nice texture along with saltiness made this bowl of comfort a bit different.  The window next to the entrance not only has a large menu, but the shelving underneath has a display of four specials for that day.  On this day, the ginger chicken with fried gyoza Bento box ($8.25) was one of the specials.  The dumplings can be steamed or fried; the top right corner has two small 'salad' sides- one of soy marinated bean sprouts and the other a salmon based chilled salad.  The regular salad has a fresh ginger dressing and the ginger chicken was juicy (dark meat) along with mushrooms and zucchini.  A hearty lunch. 
When you walk in, just above and behind the cash register (where you order and pay before finding a table) is a small chalkboard with two 'Daily Lunch' Specials (now $7.25; each was $6.75 in December).  This one is the 'Gyoza Lunch'.  These are the steamed gyoza, which I like just a little more than the fried ones.  The filling is the same (more pork than vegetable) the skin is nice and thin. The miso soup is standard and good, as is the salad and (large serving of) rice.
  The Bento lunch ($7.25) has three pieces of fried seafood (shrimp, fish and squid in this case), one inari (sweet tofu skin filled with rice, topped with crab), six California rolls and some of that salmon salad.  Again, a good lunch. 

 There is a six seat sushi bar, where many people enjoy their meals (walk up and have a seat and pay after).

Niban 7081 Clairmont Mesa Blvd San Diego 92111 (858)268-0465 Open Mon-Th 11-2:30, 5-9:30 Fri-Sat 11-2:30, 5-10 Sun 4:30-9:30

Comments

[kat]

everything looked great!

[Sandy]

I've been going to Niban for many years, too; the food is solid and inexpensive. I like the chicken katsu curry, but I'm not sure about the cheese! It used to be that there was a line before they opened the doors; I haven't seen a line in quite awhile.

[caninecologne]

Good lunch deals at Niban!

[Cathy]

It was, Kat.

Niban is a nice place for a healthier sit down meal, Sandy. We are trying different choices at 'regular' stops lately...wild and crazy for us, but interesting for the blog. I hope the no lines thing is related to the holidays or weather; would hate to see Niban gone.

The price point is right for just about everything here, cc. Also, hot tea is always free; I order hot tea a lot.

[Soo]

Nice selection of fried food!

[Cathy]

The Katsu is done just about perfectly here, Soo. At $5.75, the Chicken Katsu salad (other posts) is a meal that combines a bit of 'healthy' with fried.

[Junichi]

I was skeptical when I saw cheese as an optional topping for curry at CoCo Ichi up in Torrance years ago. After trying it out I was a convert!

[Cathy]

Skeptical-that's the word, Junichi! The concept o cheese with curry seemed so unusual. But, yes, after trying the 'plain' curry and then having a bite with the cheese, it was a nice flavor add-and contrast.