I’m really con-"fused" about Bamboo Hut, a little Japanese-Plate Lunch-Filipino-Asian restaurant located on Mira Mesa Boulevard. I took a detour , and instead of going to Pho Hoa Cali, ended up having a late lunch here.
The restaurant was totally empty, and the employees were having a "break" and chatting outside when I entered; so I sat Myself. For some reason the two "Guys" looked really irritated; I guess I interrupted their break, but the Young Lady quickly came over and handed me a menu, and asked me if I had any questions. I looked over the menu, and there was everything from Spam Musubi to Lumpia, to Kalua Pig, to Nabeyaki Udon, to Kalbi, to Sushi(mostly specialty rolls) on the menu. But for some reason this really didn’t seem like a "plate lunch" kind of place.
I did find an interesting item on the menu; "Tuna Poki"($7.95):
What I got was somewhat a surprise. I guess I have a different picture of what "poke" should look like. I now understood why this item was under the heading "Salads" on the menu. This large goblet of maguro, various greens, and seaweed salad was not a very satisfying dish. First of all, there was too much togarashi(Japanese Chili Pepper), so that you could taste nothing else. The fish was also very dry, and the grade of fish was fairly low; there were alot of fibrous pieces making the few chunks of fish somewhat tough; what I call "buffet grade" Maguro. Cross any possibility of sushi at this place off my list. As you worked your way down the goblet you hit the next layer. Apparently all the "dressing" resided in the bottom of the glass, so you went from lip numbing, to very sour as you ate the other half of the dish.
I also ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry($5.95):
The panko(Japanese breadcrumbs) breaded Chicken Katsu was delivered to my table in a plate along with two scoops of rice(good start), a green salad dressed with a mild Asian dressing(ok), terribly bland macaroni salad(can you please use some mayo…please!!!!). The Katsu itself was perfectly fried, the panko coating was nice and crunchy, and not oily at all, and the chicken was very moist. The "curry" was a bit strange. I read the fine print on the menu, and it said "curry sauce". Well no kidding! It was literally curry sauce, not the usual beefy, thick, dark, and slightly spicy curry. The taste was not bad really, slightly spicy, with a mild curry flavor, I wish there was more of it though. Again, kind of a "mixed bag".
I don’t know, maybe someone who eats here alot can clue me in, I’m a bit con-fused. This lunch didn’t really give me a reason to pay another visit here. Especially after an acquaintance of mine told me that the kalbi here was the absolute worst he ever ate; and the service was terrible. I thought the Gal who served me was very nice, though the two Guys behind the Sushi Bar kept staring at me. Since I was the only person in the place, they probably wanted another break.
Bamboo Hut Pacific Grill and Sushi Bar
9172 Mira Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92126