This tiny shop on Jackson Street in Hayward (in the Safeway shopping center) looks very unassuming from the outside. I’m not sure if I would have ever gone in if my mom hadn’t recommended it (and if I didn’t have this blog). But mom speaks highly of the food, so we gave it a try.
The atmosphere inside is surprisingly nice. It’s nothing super special, really, but it’s quaint and clean and has a theme that isn’t just “unpainted walls”. The menu selection was extensive, creative, and well-organized, and it took me some time to decide between the dishes. I chose the Naked Fish Don which is teriyaki white fish and tempura veggies over rice, while boyfriend had a bento box of salmon teriyaki and California rolls.
Teriyaki salmon and California roll bento box at Naked Fish.
The service was quick for us – we received our miso just after ordering (and it was good) and then our meals just after that. The servers were polite and efficient to us. The tables on either side of us, however, both had problems with timing and receiving their order correctly, so I’m not sure which is the norm. As for the food, it was good. I was (and still am) pretty excited about my dish, so I will tell you all about it. The teriyaki fish was good, but the tempura veggies were super exciting! Eight different types of vegetables were battered, cooked, and lovingly placed in my bowl for me to enjoy. When have you ever seen eight different types of veggies on a tempura plate? They were: mushroom, broccoli, eggplant, zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, bell pepper, and asparagus, oh my! It was fabulous.
Naked Fish Don: Teriyaki white fish and tempura veggies over rice.
My dish was far too big for me, but that’s ok I just gorged myself. I realize it’s a Japanese place, but I’m an American, dagnabit. Boyfriend’s bento was good but he suspected the salmon was a bit older than he’d like, which didn’t stop him from eating all of it. The salad dressing was too mayo-y for his taste, but I liked it just fine.
And that was it – this was a nice, easy place for lunch; it was fast, yummy, and well priced. I’ll go again (especially since I don’t yet know another Japanese place in Hayward that is better) and I’d recommend to friends.
[…] (if you know a good one, tell me!), but the ones I have attended were less than impressive (save Naked Fish, which was decent). Tomodachi has taken the lead by a mile so […]