The World-Wide Sushi Restaurant Reference
Comments and ratings from ``Dr V'' (real name not given)

``Dr V'' (real name not given) has contributed information about 3 restaurants: Formosa Garden, Ichiban, Koi Kawa.

About Formosa Garden (San Antonio, Texas, USA)
Last visited December 2003.

``Formosa Garden has become the new sushi restaurant in lieu of a better known sushi place, Koi Kawa, in San Antonio. This sushi is in stealth mode and is a surprisingly good and well priced.A good example is the litmus test of all sushi restaurant - two orders of maguro running about $7 total. It is excellent sushi very fresh in regular size. While the sushi business during the lunch rush is rarely ordered-based on about five visits. The main menu offers standard Chinese fair. The main draw is the price and speed, but the only scenary is the view of Loop 410 and other diners in close to 80 tables. Lunch starts at 11 AM and arriving after 11:30 will require a wait for a table. This kind of hybrid sushi/chinese restaurant is good - a kind of industrial production line of sushi. The other sushi order worth ordering is the bento order of sashimi. The squid salad is a great compliment. Dinner trade is quite likely very rushed as the Formosa Garden offers a dinner menu equivalent to what you might find in Taipei. Duck is prepared in a number of ways. A typical very full meal with plenty of sushi and a Chinese lunch will run about $20 for two people. This is about half the price of Koi Kawa - at the cost of scenery. The sushi menu is mainly standard issue with little creativity. The entire restaurant is excellent for a fast lunch. Formosa Garden is oddly named since many Chinese find the use of `Formosa' so named during the Japanese occupation to be offensive. The wait staff is a mixture of Chinese and local talent under the constant watchful gaze of very well trained managers, some of them products of various international hotel chains - like Hilton. I spoke with one of the managers at length with our first visit. I would recommend this restaurant; Formosa Garden is one of the oldest Chinese restaurants in San Antonio. This is an excellent place to take a large group with banquet facilities available and very family friendly.''

About Ichiban (Austin, Texas, USA)
Last visited October 2003.

``Ichiban is one my favorite sushi restaurants in Austin since it has none of takei (expensive) yuppified top tier sushi places. The sushi is above average to excellent. Ichiban has a full length sushi bar is a kind of old North Austin favorite. The westerized foot well tatami tables are a great choice. It is a kind of lunch place that is great for meeting friends and having an actual audible conversation. Ichiban has a kind of funky oriental restaurant with an arched bridge entrance. I would rate the food on a par with other Austin sushi joints like Shogun (far south Austin/Manchaca), Tokyo Teppan(Oakhill - in ground zero barbacue country), and other similar small, low key places. Note: I have been to the higher visibility places but tired of the inflated prices, the loudness, and the `we're so cool you should feel fortunate to dine here' attitude. I have always found this kind of Austin `foodie' attitude unwarranted and unacceptable since I've dined in places in Japan, Taiwan, and elsewhere in Asia in which the traditional politeness and welcome are the rule. So given that - I like the old Austin laid back feel of Ichiban.''

About Koi Kawa (San Antonio, Texas, USA)
Last visited September 2003.

``I eat at Koi Kawa (koi river) next to Witte every 7 to 10 days - it's the only Japanese restaurant/sushi place that my very Japanese, traditional mom will eat at. I also have had sushi in Japan, Okinawa, and throughout the US including the West Coast and NYC. Koi Kawa is a restaurant that I am `studying' - mom won't order until I experiment. The best item to order for starters is the `Frost Bank Roll' - a cute play on sushi words - but well worth ordering. Maguro is the best standard order. One odd aspect of Koi Kawa (Witte location) is that gaijin do the cutting. The cute female wait staff is efficient, fast, and Japanese. If you want your meal in a certain order -let them know. Main course: stick to the tempura dinner - even for lunch. Finish with coconut sherbet.

``The atmosphere, overlook of river of koi - is incredible. The San Antonio zoo is nearby and the Koi Kawa (Witte Museum) is on a curve of the zoo river which is gathering place for about five different duck families. The window tables are worth a wait. I typically order tea, miso, sushi/sashimi, and another course or appetizer. I know that order of serving is not traditional - I just like it that way. As with all great unknown restaurants and hard to locate restaurants (about 500 feet) from Broadway - park at Witte nearest Boardwalk Shopping center. With the comment grid I tried to be accurate. This Koi Kawa compares favorably with sushi restaurants in Houston in terms of freshness, presentation, and atmosphere.''

Disclaimer. Make sure you have read the full disclaimer located in the overview to this restaurant guide. Basically: I cannot vouch for the accuracy of any information on this page; remember that the comments are no more than the opinions of strangers; before you venture out to explore the places listed here, it would be a good idea to make sure they are still open, and to verify their exact locations.

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