Lunch Special (Create A Lunch) from Kohan

Item Purchased: Lunch Special (Create A Lunch) from Kohan
Location Purchased: Kohan Japanese Restaurant / 730 W. Maxwell St. / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.95 + tax

Review: Kohan has a sushi roll on their menu that goes by the name of "Awesome Sushi." I want so badly to try it, but these winter months are tough on the pocketbook, what with the gas bills and whatnot, so perhaps some other time. For now, the Tuesday and Thursday build-it-yourself lunch special will do me just fine.

Though fresh, tasty and expertly prepared, the combination of shrimp, tofu, noodles, sprouts, pea pods, and peppers I chose this week was not quite as good as the last time I purchased Kohan's special.

All of the ingredients were fresh and I hate to come down on a dish prepared by one of the friendliest restaurant staffs in Chicago, but I just couldn't get down with Kohan's peanut sauce or baby shrimp. To be fair, the waitress warned me that the shrimp was "the small kind." I appreciate that kind of forthright honesty from someone who is taking my money. It means that I will let them take my money many more times in the days to come. The peanut sauce, however, tasted a bit watery and though it's spiciness was ample, there was no significant flavor to back it up.

I will be back to Kohan again in the very near future. They do good work. I just need to realize that shrimp is something worth paying for and Japanese food is not usually known for its peanut flavor.

The tofu in this dish, however... It is absolutely fantastic!

Rating: 2.75 / 5

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Yaki Soba from Kohan

Item Purchased: Yaki Soba from Kohan
Location Purchased: Kohan Japanese Restaurant / 730 W. Maxwell St. / Chicago, IL
Price: $9.00 + tax

Review: New year, new restaurant.

Kohan isn't all that new in the area, but it is expensive. Hence the fact that I had never eaten there before. Primarily advertised as a sushi lunch cafe, Kohan actually offers much more variety than raw fish rolled up in seaweed. Like this Yaki Soba dish, for example. Despite paying nine dollars for what is a smaller-than-usual portion, the fine mix of thin pan fried noodles, chicken and vegetables (bok choy, red onion and red pepper) is tasty enough to make you think it is well worth the money you spent. Actually, it probably is worth the money I spent, but I don't think I can afford to eat a nine dollar lunch that doesn't fill me up every day. Kohan's house teriyaki sauce is a thick brown and slightly sweet concoction that sticks to everything but doesn't overpower each ingredient's natural flavor.

In addition to the great food Kohan serves up, I was greeted by one of the friendliest waitresses with one of the biggest smiles I have ever encountered and, even though I was simply picking up a carry out order, was offered a free cup of hot tea while I waited.

Though I won't be going to Kohan every day, I will be going back soon. If I could fit it into my budget, I might even be going often.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Trader Ming's (Joe's) Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad (10 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Ming's (Joe's) Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad (10 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $2.49 + tax

Review: From their ready-to-eat section, Trader Joe's offers a lunch-size plastic container full of eastern noodles. I'm not sure how I feel about the cutesy attempt to make this item seem more authentic by changing "Joe" to "Ming," but the noodles sure are tasty.

Wheat noodles with a ginger soy dressing already cooked into them, this dish can be eaten hot or cold. I opted for nuking it and eating them warm. The ginger taste is subtle and even the soy isn't overbearing. Some might say this is a bland dish, but those people are probably the people who think that going to their local Chinese buffet and pigging out on deep-fried chicken strips dipped in sweet-and-sour sauce is eating authentic Chinese food. If your taste buds haven't been completely wiped out by American ethnic derivatives and fast food, you should enjoy this affordable lunch, perfect for taking to work with you.

My only complaint is the accuracy on the label. It says "Ginger Peanut Noodle Salad" and that is exactly what I got. A ginger noodle salad with exactly one peanut in it. Ah well, maybe next time, I'll buy some extra peanuts to throw in. I suspect, though, that I simply picked a dud.

Rating: 3.75 / 5