Dining Divas
Dining Divas
In every issue of Bakersfield Life, our Dining Divas take a look at one of Bakersfield’s premier restaurants. This month the ladies take in the local flavor of Akira Japanese Restaurant. Our divas took notes on their experience, to bring you a look inside what has become a family tradition for many Bakersfield residents.
A new place for Lunch
Lydia - I remember the first time I had teppan style food, I was nine years old and living in Baltimore. Having never had Japanese food before, I was a bit nervous. I had no idea what to expect. But from the moment the chef lit the cooking oil and the giant flames danced toward the ceiling, I was hooked. I remember watching in amazement as his knives clinked together in a fury while he sliced and diced with precision. I left that lunch feeling quite exotic indeed.
I’ve had teppan style food dozens of times and I still can’t help being in awe. And while I like different styles of Japanese food, I’m partial to teppan dining. Of course the showmanship of the preparation is a huge part of it, but I also like sitting with other diners around the big teppan table. The camaraderie is kind of like when you go out for Basque food… only with more Wasabi.
Our trip to Akira
Penny - I usually consider Akira to be a “special occasion” location. The food is superb, the service is attentive and the atmosphere is warm.
The restaurant opens at 11:30 a.m. and when we showed up there was already a line of people waiting for the restaurant to open. When we left at 1 p.m. the place was full.
Lydia - We decided to dine at one of the teppan tables. We just couldn’t resist a little dramatic flare with our lunch. For those of you who haven’t been to Akira in a while, they’ve remodeled and added more teppan tables. We found that a nice surprise.
Penny - I was happy to see that they served a lunch menu with smaller portions available for lunch prices.
Appetizers
Katie - I love Japanese food, especially sushi. Being pregnant, sushi is definitely off the menu. I have been able to partially satisfy my sushi cravings by sampling cooked sushi rolls like California rolls. So you can bet the first thing I ordered from Akira was their California roll.
Tracy - The California rolls are always a hit at any Japanese restaurant. Made with avocado, sushi rice, sesame seeds and cucumber, then wrapped in seaweed sheets, these can be a dinner on their own. They are so flavorful and filling and fun to eat with your chopsticks.
The one problem I have with ordering sushi is figuring out what to have. Melanie, our waitress, directed me to Albacore Tuna and the Sushi Sampler. The tuna arrived as two large portions of raw tuna tucked with rice. The presentation was great and the tuna was amazing. Dipped in my soy sauce and Wasabi, this albacore was delicious. My sushi sampler arrived with the chef’s selection for the day of yellowtail, salmon, tuna and freshwater eel. This dish was a great way to sample different selections of seafood.
Our Lunch
Lydia - At lunch, a teppan meal comes with Miso soup, fried rice, your choice of meat and vegetables.
Penny - I choose the scallops; however they were not on the lunch menu so I had the dinner portion. My entrée came with the Miso soup, which was perfectly warmed with tender pieces of tofu and scallions for crunch. Since I ordered from the dinner menu, I also had the salad with the ginger dressing. The iceberg lettuce was crunchy and crisp and they did not skimp on the dressing. It was topped with shredded carrots for additional color and crunch.
Katie - The real star of our lunch was the teppanyaki. It really is fun to sit around a table with a group of friends and be entertained by the preparation of your food. Teppan table dining is one of those experiences that is equally fun with a group of close friends, a group of kids or with a group of people you’ve never even met before.
Lydia - Just as we finished our appetizer, our chef, Lucky, emerged with a stainless steel cart filled with the ingredients for our lunch. He quickly set about his preparations lighting the cooking oil into giant flames, spinning, tossing and catching raw eggs with his spatula and turning onion rings into a flaming volcano.
Katie - In the First Act we were served a delicious seasoned rice dish with an artfully cracked fried egg mixed into the scene. In Act Two, we were dazzled with dramatically sliced and seared vegetables that were caramelized and crunchy when they landed on our plates. By the Third Act the main course entered the stage. We watched as sliced scallops and shrimp sizzled away and ordinary chicken transformed into a golden sesame dish full of flavor. At the end of the Third Act Penny was enjoying scallops, Lydia dined on shrimp and I was delighted by the sesame chicken.
Lydia - The shrimp was seared on the table until perfectly cooked. The shrimp are simple but flavorful. Following the shrimp, Lucky presented the vegetables. Onion, mushroom, zucchini and bean sprouts are chopped and tossed with soy sauce and butter, then sprinkled with sesame seeds. Cooked and seasoned just enough, each vegetable’s flavor is allowed to come through.
Penny - The mustard sauce and the plum sauce that is provided for the dipping is the best I have had. I always measure other Japanese restaurant sauces against the flavor of Akira and find that they come up lacking. The mustard is smooth and then has a kick. The plum sauce is pureed and sweet. I use both on my food, rice and vegetables.
The Show
Penny - The show that the chef puts on is totally worth it. Lucky was our chef, and really was talented with the bouncing of the egg on the spatula. We cheered him on as he tossed the egg in the air and it landed on the side of the spatula.
Dessert
Penny - Our final course was ice cream. The option was plum ice cream or green tea. The plum is sweet and tart with pieces of plum. A great way to end a meal.
Lydia - Normally I love to end my meal at Akira with a dish of green tea ice cream. The color is a bit shocking to western palates (it’s very green) but I find the fresh, almost floral taste completely addicting.
Impressions
Tracy - If you have never been for Japanese food before you should definitely try Akira. The atmosphere is very open and spacious. For a much more lively time, sit around the teppan grille and enjoy the entertainment you’re sure to receive from your very experienced chef.
Katie - Although I felt like a nap after our lunch at Akira it was a wonderful time and wonderful food. The atmosphere and sleek décor made our experience all the more enjoyable. Whether you’re looking for a time out with family or an intimate date Akira, is a versatile restaurant that is as entertaining as it is a good bet for a good meal. With a sushi bar and two tappanyaki rooms Akira manages to be both family friendly and sophisticated. In the not-so-distant future, a menagerie of family and friends from around the country are headed my way and I am sure to take them all to Akira. I am guaranteed great service and atmosphere as well as food everyone can enjoy.
Akira Japanese Restaurant
4154 California Ave.
Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 326-1860
Mon-Thurs: Lunch 11:30-2 p.m. Dinner 5-9:30 p.m.
Friday: Lunch 11:30-2 p.m. Dinner 5-10 p.m.
Saturday: Dinner 5-10 p.m. Sunday 5-9 p.m.