January 13, 2014 | Posted in:Dining out
Modern decor, friendly service and fresh ingredients at Yuki Hana.
Yuki Hana Japanese Fusion restaurant is located in the plaza with the Dunkin’ Donuts and Tijuana Flats at the intersection of Tuskawilla and Aloma, less than a mile West from the 417 and Aloma exchange.
The restaurant offers a mix of booths, tables and sushi bar seating and is usually buzzing between sit down and take out business. The Sushi chefs behind the counter have assembled a very comprehensive menu with a mix of expected rolls, nigiri, sashimi along with some nice surprises. Aside from a full sushi menu, there is an equally large and impressive cooked menu ranging from small plates, hibachi, noodles and entrées.
Trying something different, our most recent visit had my husband and I opting for Bento boxes ($22.00) instead of our regular sushi. On a chilly night, it was a welcomed change. Along with starter course of soup or salad, the Bento Box has an entrée item, gyoza, rice and a choice of 7 pieces Sashimi, a Shrimp Tempura Roll, 5 pieces of Sushi or a Tuna Roll which can be ordered regular or spicy. It’s a big meal!
House salad or choice of soup, nicely proportioned and great starters.
The salad was a large portion of mixed greens, crisp veggies and a nice ginger dressing. The addition of fried wonton has my hubby gravitating to this salad regularly. I enjoy the miso soup, sans scallions, and with their addition of Enoki (Or Enokitake) mushrooms. The miso has good body without being overly salty and not pictured is the nice amount of seaweed and tofu at the bottom.
Salmon with Miso Bento box, with spicy tuna roll and spring roll, substituted for the gyoza. A nice departure from Teriyaki!
We were very hungry on this visit, so we were happy to polish off the contents of the whole Bento Box. Hubby gallantly offered to finish the few pieces of Spicy Tuna roll that I couldn’t, so we both left very full. The miso coated Salmon was flaky and moist, with a nice hint of sweetness from the miso glaze. The fish was resting on a bed of sautéed vegetables, prepared with a pleasing crispness remaining.
Shrimp and veggie tempura Bento Box, with Gyoza and Spicy Tuna roll.
Hubby went on a big departure by ordering tempura and commented on his enjoyment throughout (crunch) his tasty (crunch) meal (crunch). The tempura coating was light, crispy and the entree included a substantial portion of vegetables and shrimp. He enjoyed the accompanying dipping sauce and crunched very happily throughout his meal.
On previous visits we’ve enjoyed the Cold Appetizers of Ahi Poke, Tuna Tataki with Ponzu Gelee and Yellowtail Jalapeno. In each dish the fish was wonderful quality, fresh and expertly prepared. Each item we’ve enjoyed as very flavorful, but not heavy handed or over done, or taking the focus away from the fish.
We’ve also enjoyed various Hot Tastings including: Spicy garlic Edamame, Rock Shrimp, Lettuce Wraps in Chicken and Beef, Hot Stone Kobe and Crispy Calamari. All were delicious and I would highly recommend. For those hungry and ready for adventure, the Omakase for Two is for you and available for dinner service only. The impressive meal is four courses, with more than plenty of food and sushi. It’s quite a sight when a table of four orders and the packed sushi boat arrives for the final course.
Full dinner menu is here, lunch menu is here and also offered is a full happy hour menu, detailed here and valid Monday- Thursday, 5:00-6:30 PM. If you’d like to celebrate Yuki Hana Japanese Fusion’s official 1 year anniversary, plan on making reservations soon for the Saturday, January 25th extravaganza. I attended their soft opening 1 year anniversary celebration with neighbor friends prior to the holidays and it was a blast! A boisterous evening with wonderful food, amazing sushi, unexpected treats and standing room only. For your table to the Janaary 25th extravaganza or regular meal reservations, call the restaurant or book through Opentable.com.
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Lisa Wilk
Hello, I'm Lisa Wilk! I'm a freelance food, wine and travel writer, photographer and presenter based out of Orlando, FL. While covering local restaurants and food events in the #1 tourist destination in the US, I find endless cooking inspiration when dining out. You'll often find me in the kitchen putting my own spin on those elevated chef creations to enjoy at home and when entertaining. I have a love and enthusiasm for wine, wine education and wine pairing. Find me about town teaching and demystifying wine as part of the popular @TheTastyTrio in the popular Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Perfectly Paired program series I've co-developed. Taste, Cook and Sip along with me on Twitter and Instagram at @TasteCookSip and @WineChix! Cheers!
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