Tag: Japanese food

A Warm Evening and Grilled Saba

, , Food, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment on A Warm Evening and Grilled Saba
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/25 sec, ISO1250
 “Outside Grilling” Cedar Park, 2026

We wanted to grill some fish for dinner, but didn’t want the house smelling like it afterward, so I broke out the portable burner and grilled out back instead. The evening was surprisingly warm, which made it a really pleasant way to cook and unwind. The saba turned out great, though I should have taken the photo after flipping it so you could see that beautifully grilled skin. Oh well, it looks better in the photo below anyway.

Do you ever take the cooking outside just to enjoy the weather, or to save your kitchen from lingering smells? It kind of feels like camping. So fun!

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Saba Dinner” Cedar Park, 2026

Osechi and Running

, , , Food, Running, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment on Osechi and Running
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO640
 “Osechi 2026” Cedar Park, 2026

We started 2026 off on the right foot with a yummy osechi feast, followed by an afternoon run around the neighborhood. It felt like the perfect way to begin the year, good food and a little movement to balance it all out.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/640 sec, ISO50
 “First Run” Cedar Park, 2026

A Second Visit to CoCo Ichibanya

, , , Food, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment on A Second Visit to CoCo Ichibanya
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO160
 “Katsu Omelette Curry” Torrance, 2025

We went for curry at CoCo Ichibanya a couple of days ago, but Koa wasn’t with us. Once he joined us and mentioned he wanted curry, the decision was easy. Back to CoCo we went. No complaints from me, Mariko, or Bay.

This time I ordered the pork cutlet with omelette. It was tasty, but I think I prefer it without the omelette. The egg itself was great, but this combo doesn’t come with much curry, and I missed having that perfect curry to rice ratio.

Of course, we also ordered our usual salad with egg to share before the curry arrived. We never skip it. That dressing is everyone’s favorite for a reason.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO250
 “Salad with Egg” Torrance, 2025
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO160
 “Korrokke Curry” Torrance, 2025

Katsu at Kagura

, , Food, Slice of Life, TravelingLeave a Comment on Katsu at Kagura
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/40 sec, ISO800
 “Katsu” Torrance, 2025

Today we headed to Kagura in Torrance for lunch, a spot that specializes in katsu. And wow, it was so good. The pork cutlet was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy inside, exactly what you hope for when ordering katsu. I ordered the Katsu Jyu, and was super happy with it! Everything felt thoughtfully prepared and comforting without being heavy. An easy recommendation if you are in the area and craving something seriously satisfying.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/40 sec, ISO640
 “Katsu Jyu” Torrance, 2025

Matcha Treats and CoCo Curry

, , , , Food, Slice of LifeLeave a Comment on Matcha Treats and CoCo Curry
Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/280 sec, ISO80
 “Matcha Parfait” Torrance, 2025

Today I picked up Mariko and Bay from the airport, and after that we did a bit of shopping before stopping at Yamari for matcha. Mariko went for the matcha parfait, and I ordered a matcha latte. Both were really good and hit the spot after a busy afternoon.

In the evening we made our way to an old standby, CoCo Ichibanya Curry. I decided to mix things up and ordered the minced beef cutlet curry with cheese. It was decent, but the curry was not very hot temperature-wise, so the cheese did not melt as much as I had hoped. I also think I still prefer the pork cutlet over the minced beef. Still, it was fun to try something different, and CoCo always delivers a comforting meal.

Photo info: Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 6.7649998656528mm, f/1.8, 1/60 sec, ISO200
 “Japanese Curry” Torrance, 2025