Oishi Japan owner Lisa Lin with Mayor Bert Steinmann and Senator Shirley Turner at the ribbon cutting for the newly renovated restaurant in August. (Photo by Bill Sanservino).
By Jacquelyn Pillsbury
Xue Huang’s family owns a Chinese restaurant in the Mercer County area, but he decided to go a different route. Huang, from China, opted to open a Japanese restaurant instead, which is how Oishi Japan came to be. The Scotch Road Plaza restaurant’s name means “delicious” in Japanese.
He invited his friends, including Jackie You, to help him with the opening. He already knew the restaurant business from helping his parents, so his next step was to learn how to make Japanese food. You said they learned how to make the country’s cuisine by first working in a Japanese restaurant.
“Usually only Japanese people make Japanese food and sushi,” she said.
After they learned the ropes, they were ready to open Oishi.
You and Xue noticed a trend.
“In the past three to four years, Japanese food has become more and more popular,” You said. “I’ve been here 10 years. All I knew was Chinese food. Japanese food is more natural, and more fresh, that’s when we decided.”
They also realized that Japanese food is popular with younger people, and they wanted to capitalize on that.
Having learned directly from Japanese people how to prepare the food, they try to be as authentic as possible. However, the pair recognize that American and Japanese palates are little bit different. So, for example, “when we cook hibachi, we add extra butter and garlic” to suit American tastes.
As is typical with Japanese food, they also work hard on their presentation.
“We decide how to put it on a plate so it is good looking,” You said.
She added that their bento boxes are popular with customers. Bento boxes are Japanese packed lunches. They include miso soup, white or brown rice, a California roll, salad and shumai.
Bento boxes date back to the 5th century, when people needed to take food with them when they went to work hunting, farming, or waging war. Dried rice was a staple item. Bento boxes have gotten a lot more elaborate over the years, but the idea is the same: the food is presented in a small box that is easy to transport.
Oishi Japan offers an all you can eat menu for $24.95. This option is only available at night. Diners are given a check list of options including soup and salad, kitchen appetizers, noodle soup, teriyaki and hibachi, and dessert. Children under 4 and a half feet tall are half price. It’s a cost-effective way to try different items.
“This is very popular with college students because there are a lot of choices,” You said.
Oishi Japan prepares many different styles of Japanese food, including sushi, hand rolls, hibachi, teriyaki, tempura and sashimi. For the non-Japanese food fans, they also make a few Thai dishes.
Due to its location near many local companies, Oishi Japan is busier at lunch time than in the evening. Pick-up and delivery within three miles are also available. They have party special deals.
The restaurant also has ample space. Last August, they celebrated the grand opening of a newly-renovated and larger restaurant. As part of the project, Oishi expanded into the vacant store that had been previously occupied by another business.
Oishi Japan is located in the Scotch Road Plaza, 199 Scotch Road. Phone: (609) 882-8868 or (609) 882-8860. Fax: (609) 882-8867. On the web: oishijapan.com. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. , Sunday noon to 10 p.m.
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