Trifecta — Restaurant in San Jose

Just a heads up…this review is gonna be a mini novel because there’s just so many good things to mention. The hubbie picked this place for dinner and he did a SUPERB job! We saw they offered omakase, and thought we’d try it for dinner before committing to that type of experience. I went ahead and made a reservation for 5pm when they’re open again for the evening hours just in case. When we arrived the whole place was empty, but things started picking up around 6pm, so I would make a reservation just so you’re guaranteed a spot.

The decor is cozy and welcoming. The music was tasteful and upbeat. The volume was at just the right level where you can still have a conversation, and not yell at each other or whisper or else everyone would hear your convo.

I appreciate that the staff wasn’t intrusive asking questions every 5 minutes or checking in on your mid bite (lol), but they show up at just the right time.

I had the yuzu strawberry mint calpico mocktail…IT WAS SO DELICIOUS!! I wanted to order more! I could taste the strawberry, yuzu, and calpico with a hint of mint. It was such an incredible harmony of flavors. And this was JUST THE DRINK! Let’s just say I’ve never felt this way about a drink before. The hubs and I were getting excited for the food.

We ordered karaage and pork gyoza for appetizers. The karaage came with yuzu honey truffle sauce. I didn't really taste the yuzu, but the sauce overall was very light and enjoyable especially with the karaage. The karaage was so delightful! It wasn't heavily battered like I've had at other places, just the right amount. The chicken was juicy and it was good to eat even on its own without the sauce. The gyoza was oh so juicy! I really like how the chef had the pan fried side on top with the sauce at the bottom of the bowl. There’s no need for dipping because it’s already in the sauce, and no worries about sogginess because the crunchy bits are facing up, genius!

We ordered the snow crab roll, unagi avocado roll, and the body roll. The unagi and body roll came out first. We made the mistake of eating the body roll first, because…it’ll really make your body roll (lolol). It was delicious! The scallop on top just melts in your mouth. I love that there was a citrusy note at the end that lightened your pallet. The rice to protein ratio was perfect, just the right amount of rice. The rice doesn’t fall off the roll. We’ve already decided that the next time, the hubbie and I are gonna order one roll each because we don’t wanna share.

After the body roll, the snow crab and the unagi were normal rolls and had all the expected flavor notes. The body roll definitely set the bar high. We should’ve started with the other rolls first. However, we still enjoyed them and did not use any soy sauce. We don’t like using soy sauce when sushi is done right.

Even to the ginger and wasabi. They were so enjoyable and added levels to the rolls without overpowering. It’s not the typical kind where the ginger would be too potent or the wasabi slaps you in the face with its intensity. The hubs said he could eat a whole tub of the ginger, and he rarely ever touches the ginger at other restaurants.

Lastly, we ended the meal with the pork katsu curry cutlet. Curry flavor was on point, nicely seasoned. Pork katsu was nicely coated with the batter that wasn’t too thin or too thick. It had a right amount of crunch where it doesn’t destroy the roof of your mouth. The batter adhered to the pork instead of having dead space between the protein and the batter. Pork was not dry. There was thinly sliced pickles as a garnish and has a pretty good tang if eaten by itself. But when you combine the rice, curry, katsu, and the pickles…chef’s kiss. All the flavors balanced out perfectly.

Bottom line: 5 freakin stars. Can’t wait to come...

A Rebrand That Misses the Mark

Housed in a location previously known for its underwhelming fare, Trifecta had the opportunity to redefine itself as a destination for refined sushi in San Jose. Unfortunately, the rebranding falls short of expectations, leaving diners with a Westernized interpretation of Japanese cuisine that disappoints more than it delights.

The restaurant positions itself at a slightly higher price point than most stateside sushi establishments, but the offerings fail to justify the cost. The staff were welcoming and helpful, albeit slightly disorganized. The ambiance greatly improved, but strangely the unmaintained floors and ceiling cabling proved to be a visual distraction. The dishes, though visually appealing, often miss the mark in taste, presenting an experience that is saltier, sweeter, drier, and overall less satisfying than their traditional counterparts.

Take, for instance, the edamame with garlic. The dish arrives understeamed, while the garlic topping is overfried, resulting in a perplexing lack of flavor. Even the basic seasoning of salt, which could have salvaged the dish, is conspicuously absent.

The chicken curry, a visually promising dish, ultimately disappoints. Despite its authentic presentation, the curry sauce is overly sweet and salty, reminiscent of grocery store packets rather than a crafted culinary experience. The chicken, though well-breaded, is overcooked to the point of being unpalatable, rendering the $18 price tag unjustifiable.

Similarly, the vegetable tempura, priced at $18, offers a selection that includes broccoli, onion, shrimp, and sweet potato. However, the tempura batter, heavy on rice flour, results in a thick, bready coating that detracts from the delicate crispness one expects from this dish. The broccoli, in particular, suffers from a batter that clogs its florets, creating a mushy, unappetizing texture.

The sushi platter, priced at $55, provides 13-15 slices of sashimi of decent quality and assortment, yet fails to elevate the dining experience to one of memorable refinement.

In conclusion, Trifecta does not offer the unique or authentic Japanese dining experience one might hope for in this area or price point. With its missteps in flavor and execution, it falls short of being a destination to dream about or revisit. This is a rebrand that, unfortunately, leaves much...

Unfortunately the bathrooms are right behind the host desk, and someone had made a stink right before we entered. I held the door open for a bit to try to help. Other than that, everything was excellent!! Maggie is a gem, and came and shared for a few minutes during the meal. She shared that her family (I think son & nephew) are 2 of the chefs. Fantastic family restaurant. So glad they moved from a pop-up into a permanent location & chose to put down roots in Evergreen! Truly high quality fish, some of the best rolls out there. Worth the cost. The tacos are award winning for a reason. Faithful roll was my favorite. Oysters were delicious too. Love the influences of Filipino culture & cuisine into the food as well. Top notch! One of our guests is Gluten Free, and the servers and chefs were EXCELLENT at accommodating the dietary requirements! Made sure to always let us know which items were/ weren’t GF, and if they could be made GF (almost everything could be, and still tasted excellent)....