aggiecon 2001: march 22-25   MSC Cepheid Variable  Texas A&M University

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haiku
japanese-korean restaurant

Address
607 E. University Drive
College Station, TX 77840
979/846-7900

HoursLunchDinner
Mon-Sat11:30-2:305:00-9:30
Sunday11:30-3:005:00-9:30

Directions:
Haiku is fairly close to campus and easy to get to. Just take University Drive east from campus, past the University/Texas Ave intersection. The restaurant is in a strip shopping center that shares the same parking lot as the Albertson's grocery store, on the left if you're coming from campus, shortly before the first light past Texas.

Prices:
Reasonable. Lunch will probably run you $6-12, and dinner about $8-20, if you don't go for sushi, closer to $20-30 if you concentrate on sushi. For sushi review and prices, see below.

Veggie-friendly?
To an extent -- there are a few entrees without meat, but not an extensive selection. On the other hand, this is Bryan-College Station, where more than two vegetable entries on the menu make it a veggie-lover's delight.

Notes
Service tends to be slow. This isn't a place you go to if you want to get fed and get back to the con ASAP. To add to that Authentic! Japanese! Atmosphere! [TM], there are usually a couple of televisions showing sumo matches, and the kids can be entertained by the koi in the fountain.

On the Japanese side of the menu, a reasonable selection of mostly American-friendly items like tempura and teriyaki, but also a nice selection of udon noodle dishes and rice bowls. They've got an equivalent number of Korean dishes, but be warned that most of them are only available during dinner hours. Most Japanese entrees, with the exception of the rice bowls, come with an assortment of side dishes including two small sushi rolls and tempura vegetables. I haven't explored the Korean dishes much except for the beef bulgogi, which was a little too spicy for me (which means it's probably not spicy at all for normal people -- I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy). The tempura and teriyaki are served in a bento box, which thrills me no end but then again I've never really been accused of having a life.

Haiku also has two tables with grills, where you can watch the chef prepare your food, but I'm not much of a fan of the sort of cuisine the chef throws at you, so I've never tried it.

All in all, fairly good as far as ethnic cuisine in B/CS goes. I could wish for a little more variety in the Japanese items, though -- Japan is a nation with a long culinary history and it would be nice to be able to explore more of it.

--yer friendly webmistress

Sushi by Sensei

Ok, I like sushi. I like sushi so much, I am going to Japan this summer to get good sushi. Ok, that's not the only reason I'm going to Japan, but I digress...

Regardless, I liked Haiku's sushi. It's been months and months since I've been there, mind you. But I remember it favorably. The fish was fresh and firm. The vegetables were crisp. If I had one bitch, it was that the avocado on the rainbow roll was a trifle mushy.

Price to eat there: Ah, sushi is expensive. I would say you COULD eat there for like ten bucks. But, plan to spend more like twenty per person, and you'll be happier with your sushi experience. A big eater could blow thirty bucks.

Oh, and be adventurous. They make some fairly unusual sushi that is pretty damn good. I, for instance, greatly enjoyed their rainbow roll.

The sashimi was another story. Sashimi is a difficult thing to get right. And their sashimi is basically sushi without the sushi rice. A common malady, but a tragedy considering what sashimi could be when done well.

So, in summary, Haiku's: good but not great, suprisingly good for being in BCS, $10-$20 per plate assuming they haven't raised their prices since early fall.

Sensei says check it out.

Sensei Bob Briggs

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