Washoku — Restaurant in Elk Grove

I eat like a food critic so I totally ordered 4 things for myself! This space used to be Miyabi, RIP, I will miss it forever, but washoku is a worthy replacement. They are excellent.

My first dish was spicy tuna on crispy rice. I love that the rice is only delicately crispy in the outside, soft inside, a very delightful, rich and creamy appetizer. Highly recommended.

Next is the bone marrow. I like the sauce they use but it is a messy eat, and it didn't come with chips or something, so you eat the marrow by itself which was a bit too rich. So I would give it average rating.

Next the snow crab chawanmushi, this one is the highlight for me, it is excellent, umami but very fluffy and light. It is rich but doesn't fill you up. One of the best I've ever had.

Lastly is the spicy tonkotsu ramen, also excellent. Such rich, decadent broth albeit a touch salty to me. They don't skimp in making this. I noted edamame in the broth too. The noodles were perfectly cooked, so was the egg. The pork was very thinly sliced and with just a slight char was a nice touch. Portion is a bit small but because of how rich it is, I think it's ok. It will fill you up. This is a great restaurant and I foresee it being very, very popular, very soon. Give it a try!! I do wish they have cocktails and not just beer and sake though.

Right now they have a 5 bucks off 50, my meal came to 51, so under 50 total for all that.

Edit: so we have been coming here pretty much weekly now and they have learned of me and my daughter lol we have ordered more things so I have more to recommend. The yakitori is 8 bucks for 2, it's got this fried garlic topping that is delicious, get it.

The spicy tuna handroll is more like a taco with the seaweed as shell, it's a tad messy but still excellent. I loved the miso glazed bass, it was perfectly grilled, but it's seasonal and currently it's salmon and just not as great. I also enjoy their seasonal ramen, right now it's this braised pork belly that's a touch salty, but rich and really filling as the ramen topping, I'd give it 8/10.

I tried the beef tongue gyoza, and I feel like the premise is good but its not as as I expected. It was not beefy enough like how one expect tongue to be. The sauce was also too salty. 6/10.

All in all I still love this place, you can tell they made everything with love.

More edit: Been coming here for a while now. Have to add in new recommendations: Crispy rice spicy tuna, chawanmushi, chicken croquettes, tantan ramen, miso cod, miso clams (get this with rice so u can drink the broth lol).

For reals, I don't know how everything they make is so good. I love that their items are also seasonal, such as the chawanmuchi...

ChatGPT You said: What does Washoku mean in English? ChatGPT said: Washoku (和食) in English literally means “Japanese food” or “Japanese cuisine.”

Wa (和) = Japanese, harmony, or Japan.

Shoku (食) = food or to eat.

So together, Washoku = traditional Japanese food.

It usually refers not just to the dishes themselves, but also to the culinary culture, balance, and presentation that are part of Japanese dining. In fact, UNESCO recognized Washoku as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013 because of its cultural importance and its emphasis on seasonality, harmony, and respect for nature.

Would you like me to also explain how Washoku differs from other Japanese food terms like Nihon ryōri (日本料理)?

You said: Can you help me write a positive review for Washoku restaurant in elk Grove? ChatGPT said: Of course! Here’s a polished review you could post for Washoku in Elk Grove:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had such a great experience at Washoku in Elk Grove! From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel welcome with their warm and attentive service. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented—fresh, flavorful, and authentically Japanese. I especially loved the balance of flavors and the care that went into every dish.

The atmosphere is cozy yet modern, making it a perfect spot for both casual dining and special occasions. Everything from the sushi to the hot dishes was prepared with such attention to detail. You can really tell they take pride in serving quality food.

If you’re looking for authentic Japanese cuisine in Elk Grove, Washoku is definitely a must-visit. I’ll be coming...

Small and kept establishment. Dim lighting just the way I like it. Service was nice and polite. I ordered the pork belly skewer and tonkatsu curry. The pork skewer were good. 3 pieces on 1 skewer. A bit too sweet for my palette but enjoyable. The curry was a bit too sweet for me as well. The spice level was perfect. The carrots were cooked well but the potatoes were a bit undercooked. It would have been nice to have a bit more of carrots and potatoes in the curry. The tonkatsu was good. I wouldn’t mind coming back here to try out their other menu items. Especially the hamburger patty curry.

7/23/2022 Decided to take a friend here for their birthday. Service was great as the last. I ordered the pork belly skewers again because I really enjoyed them the last time I was here. This time around, I wanted to try the Hambagu of the Ironyaki menu section. I was quite good and the spicy kick took my by surprise. I only did not enjoy the sweet teriyaki sauce on it. Perhaps next time I will ask if they can drizzle curry over the beef patty instead of teriyaki sauce. The beef skewers were amazing. It was salty, sour, and garlicky. Very tender and was cooked to perfection. I also ordered the Bone Marrow. It was my first time ever having bone marrow. Quite pleasant but very oily and fatty. The flavor was really good though. My friend ordered the Fish Katsu Curry. The type of fish used was Swai. They enjoyed it very much as well and was quite pleased with the overall experience. I want to try the ramen variety next time. Second visit and I was not one but disappointed. Highly recommend...