BONJAPAN YAROKU — Restaurant in Salem

People say slow. It's got two people running the place apparently but here's the catch: The food is amazing. By amazing I mean I almost wanted to cry at how good the food was. I ordered grilled mackerel. A simple dish, but what I got came right out of a studio ghibli film. Perfectly crispy skin, still bubbling as it hit the table. The fish was cooked to perfection and the seasoning didn't overpower the light sweetness of the fish itself. A perfect compliment. The small shredded cabbage served to cleanse my palette, and the tiny pit of freshly ground diakon radish offered a smooth almost creamy refresher when I was finished. The lemon offered was lovely, but it took to much from the fish itself.

The man who cooked the food obviously puts his heart into the food and it shows. It's super affordable too! I was shocked at the prices because for lunch it was, drink included under 15$ and that was for two entries! (I took one to go- it was THAT GOOD). You step in and it feels like a mom and pop place but when I went, mid-day on a sunday, by myself, the music was soothing, there was a show about cute dogs playing on the tv, and it really was just so wonderful because it felt welcoming. It was good food, good atmosphere, and what I loved best was just how nice the man was and how his love of cooking really did show...

This restaurant should be way more popular than it is! There's tons of incredible options, both with meat and without, and there's specials, which typically get a post on Facebook to let people know. The owner is the sweetest man you'll ever meet! And for being the only one cooking the food, he's incredibly quick! He always gives you a perfectly exact time and is never late. He's very patient, one day I forgot my card and he was super understanding about me having to run back and forth. He recognizes his regulars and doesn't let them go unnoticed. Even under extreme pressure he still remains tender and sweet to all his customers. He's also bilingual and his English is wonderful, so don't worry if you don't know how to order in/speak Japanese. He provides great service, great quality, everything. Bonjapan Yaroku is even available on GrubHub! Please order from him! I recommend this place if you like affordable but delicious...

I was born and raised in Japan. My mother is Japanese and difficult to please. The food at BonJapan Yaroku is authentic, carefully prepared, and delicious. I have tried more than half of their dishes and all were excellent. Keep in mind this is a food truck managed by one person. Therefore, it takes time to prepare the meals since he does not cut corners and certainly doesn’t rely on microwaves or frozen items like some Japanese eateries may use. The Katsudon, Oyakodon, saba shiyo yaki, Japanese curry dishes, udon bowls, cutlets, panko based dishes and gyoza were all high quality. The care used in preparing the correct white steamed rice is another sign of authentic Japanese food. Plus the side dishes like takuan and oshinko were delicious. My mom was impressed. We highly recommend BonJapan Yaroku. You can also practice your Japanese conversation skills with the owner. Try...