Friday, February 6, 1998
Sak’s provides good variety of affordable Japanese food
RESTAURANT: Patrons enjoy quiet atmosphere with efficient
service
By Aimee Phan
Daily Bruin Staff
Forget the obvious fast food choices of In-N-Out and Carl’s Jr.
Is it possible to get something other than a burger and fries for
less than $5? For those who want a cheap lunch or dinner within
walking distance, there is Sak’s, a casual Japanese restaurant
located off of Westwood Boulevard on Glendon Avenue.
Overshadowed by the local bars and other larger eateries, this
restaurant is as valuable a find as the jewelry stores around it,
offering their customers a variety of scrumptious Asian meals at
very reasonable prices.
Once entering the restaurant, a customer automatically realizes
that this is not going to be a average dining experience. Sak’s is
located between two buildings, so half of the restaurant is open
air, while the main dining room is in a covered shelter. Because
the restaurant is a block away from the bustling noise of Westwood
Boulevard, the atmosphere is refreshingly quiet and low-key.
Despite its limited decorations and simple furniture, Sak’s is
quite charming with its quaint architecture. The counter is lined
with potted plants and at night, twinkling lights and paper
lanterns fill the restaurant with a soft, orange glow. Clean,
wooden tables line the quaint corridor for those who prefer to eat
outside. The brick floor and stony walls are reminiscent of the
cobblestone streets in Europe, filling the place with a mellow and
quiet aura, perfect after a long day in hectic Los Angeles.
When ordering, customers can choose from a large menu posted on
the wall next to the counter. Each meal is described with the
ingredients and the price, plus a full-colored picture so customers
can know exactly what to expect on their plates.
The service is friendly, and the food is served quickly and
efficiently. Since the order counter is also next to the grill, the
chef is more than willing to answer questions about the dishes.
After making choices, customers can wait for approximately three
to seven minutes, depending on how crowded the place is, before
their meals are made to order. Then diners may take their steaming
dishes into the dining room, or if they prefer, they can enjoy
their meals outside in the corridor.
On a counter inside the dining room, patrons can help themselves
to complimentary water, dining utensils (disposable chopsticks or
forks), napkins and a variety of condiments to flavor their meals.
Beware of the flaming-red hoisin sauce, however, and if you do
decide to partake of the red-hot stuff (which should definitely be
used sparingly), make sure to have a large, icy beverage on
hand.
One of the most popular meals is the chicken bowl, which is
basically a piece of chicken (breast or leg) served on a plate of
steaming, white rice. Two tiny plastic cups of teriyaki sauce are
included alongside it, allowing you to control how much sauce you
want to saturate your rice with. The chicken bowl comes in two
sizes of medium and large but the price difference is so minimal
(50 cents) that you might as well spring for the bigger one.
For those craving something more exotic and tastier, there are
the "Combinations" which offer a main course served with rice,
salad, egg roll and gyoza (a pork and vegetable dumpling). Some of
the main courses include Yakitori (small pieces of chicken on short
wooden skewers), shrimp sticks, Spicy Crispy Teriyaki Chicken, and
the Croquette (a potato treat). The prices for the meals vary from
$3 to $5.
The Spicy Crispy Teriyaki Chicken is delicious even if it isn’t
that spicy, and the generously large meal will completely satisfy a
famished appetite.
The egg roll and gyoza are surprisingly un-oily, which added to
the light taste of a meal that has the potential to be pretty
heavy.
Sak’s is a very reliable restaurant for students low on cash and
gas because of their cheap prices, great variety in their menu and
their tidy dining room. So if one is in the mood for something
different like the Chicken and Oysters Seafood Special or want to
stay on the safe side with a simple chicken bowl, Sak’s fulfills
almost everyone’s dining pleasure. Unless of course, you don’t like
Asian food, in which case there’s always In-N-Out.
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT
Sak’s Japanese Restaurant is located in Westwood on Glendon
Avenue.