Sachi Restaurant
694 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena

Owner Toyomi Morishita (left) and server Shinti Okawa keep things light and delicious at Sachi Restaurant in Pasadena.

By Sue Stauffer

If you are a fan of good Japanese food other than sushi you will want to visit Sachi Restaurant where “light and healthy” are culinary watchwords. Owner Toyomi Morishita uses only the freshest ingredients for all the dishes, and they are prepared to perfection.

Our server, Shinti Okawa, was so courteous and efficient that we felt we were back in Osaki, Japan. Sachi Restaurant was around before the sushi/Japanese craze really hit Pasadena and established a positive reputation as a place where you could get authentic Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is tiny and usually crowded, so if you are planning on dining before attending the Pasadena Playhouse, my advice is to go early or call for reservations.

Unlike many of the newer Japanese dining establishments, Sachi has a nice selection of vegetarian and vegan entrees from which to choose. They offer many brown rice combinations such as brown rice sushi California roll with vegetarian crab, fried teriyaki tofu with brown rice, and brown rice served with a chicken drum stick made from high-protein soy beans. If vegetarian cuisine is not your thing, you won’t be disappointed with the more traditional entrees such as rib eye teriyaki steak and tempura, tuna sashimi, charbroiled chicken teriyaki, tonkatsu, sesame chicken and beef short ribs. These main entrees are all available in combination dinners that include rice, fresh vegetable and miso soup. Other delectable entrees to enjoy are the curry rice dinners available with beef, chicken, shrimp or katsu (pork cutlet). I love soup, so I enjoy the Japanese-style curry noodle soup or the traditional Undon noodle.

Side orders and appetizers include selections of sushi, baked dynamite, crab sunomono, fried calamari, fried oysters and baked mussels. The baked scallops and the California roll selection is always a terrific choice for an appetizer. Sachi has a good sushi menu as well, so you will probably be able to have your favorite sushi combinations if that is your preference, but I must warn you, the sushi bar is very small.

My husband and I usually order the Sachi combination boat for two so that we can sample a variety of dishes including California roll, sesame chicken, beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, shrimp and vegetable tempura. It comes with rice, the traditional cabbage salad, and a very good miso soup. It will definitely fill you as it is very generous.

My husband, the wine and beer consultant, recommends enjoying a large bottle of Kirin beer or any other Japanese beer with this meal. If you prefer saki, it is also a nice accompaniment. The wonderful piping- hot tea is a delightful way to finish you meal.

Sachi Restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. The restaurant is closed on Sunday.

For more information, call (626) 578-1877. This is truly a little treasure in the sea of restaurant competition, so check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

For more “Let’s Eat Out” reviews, visit the archives at www.lacanadaoutlook.com. or my website at www.columnsfromstauffer. com..