Lunch Break: A Hidden Sushi Gem
Sampling dishes and diners in and around Miami County
This week, I was feeling particularly nostalgic for the freezing days when I was younger. With the closing of November came the snow and the cold front, and as I was defrosting my car in the mornings, I couldn’t help but think back to simpler times. When I was little, and my dad and I would somehow end up the only ones home. He would take me out for a wintertime father daughter treat, Asian food. Although in my nostalgic haze, I was searching specifically for a buffet, I stumbled upon a much cuter, and tastier experience. Megumi Hibachi.
At first glance, I assumed the little restaurant was one room, but then I quickly noticed that it expanded into not just another section but another full of people. Furthermore, people dining out just after 11:00 a.m. on a weekday. Not to mention, someone picked up a carryout order every five minutes. Megumi was quite a popular place not even an hour after its opening. When I glanced at the menu, I soon found out why. There are probably around 100 different items, all reasonably priced and appearing to be delicious. The list ranged from salad to hibachi and to my surprise, sushi. Usually, when I’m craving sushi, I either have to settle for a chewy roll with browning avocado from one of our not-so-local grocery stores or at the price of a Sakai or fancy dining experience. Although I enjoy sushi from a dinnertime restaurant, I was excited to have found it on my Lunch Break outing. So, after deciding between a plethora of options and specials, I landed on ordering the Chicken Bento Box.
The Bento box was the perfect lunchtime meal for one person, and it was absolutely delicious. The adorable little tray came with sweet and savory hibachi grilled chicken, which I fell in love with after dipping it into a creamy yum-yum sauce. I also enjoyed the thick rolls of sticky white rice, crunchy seaweed, and tasty crab and avocado. The box included a section of steamed vegetables, and I need to mention that they weren’t my favorite for one reason only—cooked carrots. My loved ones and close friends know my detestation for cooked carrots runs deep. It’s not just the flavor but the texture, too. I don't know why, but I can’t stand them. I justify this by being a die-hard mushroom fan, and I think if they were to replace the carrots in the veggie mix, I would’ve enjoyed that section of the box much more. However, pushing the carrots aside (literally), I noticed that the zucchini, onions, and other vegetables were perfectly crunchy but not undercooked and slathered in a tasty, savory thin sauce. My favorite part of the meal was the Gyoza. These juicy pork dumplings were fried to a crispy texture on the outside and a beefy slice of heaven within. They absolutely stole the show, and I would consider ordering them in bulk, like donuts, if possible.
The Bento Box isn’t the only lunchtime special worth trying. I was tempted to order the Miso Soup since it was only three dollars. Every time I go to a little restaurant, something as small as a cup of tomato bisque costs upwards of at least $8.00. Usually, a restaurant soup experience leaves me thinking about a particular dining scene from Blues Brothers. In comparison, at Megumi, excluding the bowls of ramen, the soups were extremely reasonable and even cost less than $15.00 for a soup and sushi combo.
Everything at the quaint little restaurant was delicious and reasonably priced. The tasty food and the bright, cherry blossom-inspired interior of the restaurant helped cancel out the grey and dreary early winter day outside. I’ll definitely be returning to Megumi before the season is over.