"A Cut Above Many Of The Others"
By Ann Dow - Shopper's Guide - Restaurant Review

My husband has a yen for Oriental food, and I have to watch my salt intake, so his passion for this cuisine is not satisfied as often as he would like. However, every few months I accommodate his taste and we dine at an Oriental restaurant. There are many such establishments in South Jersey, and most are very good. On occasion we find an exceptional example, and recently we found such a place, Sakana Oriental in our own town of West Deptford.

Form the moment we walked though the door, we knew that this was not your run-of-the-mill Chinese restaurant but a cut above many of the others. The menu lists Chinese and Japanese cuisine as well as a sushi bar. The premises are clean and pristine. The booths are comfortable, and the décor is spare and attractive. The sushi bar is attended, and everything on it is fresh and inviting. It did not invite me because I am no seafood lover, but even I had to admit that the offerings were tempting.

My husband and I both started with wonton soup, and it was delicious. The broth was clear and tasty, with two large well-filled wontons to lend it body. My “vegetable delight” lunch special was a virtual palette of colors and flavors, and the pork fried rice was the perfect accompaniment to the varied veggies. My husband happily savored his lunch special of roast pork lo mein, also accompanied by rice. The large pot of tea that we shared was exceptionally welcome on a cold winter day. I tried to identify the subtle flavors but could not recognize the brew, a fact that did not detract from its delightful aroma and unique taste.

The service was efficient and friendly. Our water glasses were filled frequently, and dishes were quickly removed when not needed. The owner was on the premises and was happy to converse with patrons. He told us about his concern for quality and freshness, and we made him smile when we replied that his food speaks for itself.

Sakana Oriental has a large menu of exotic dishes to appeal to a wide range of tastes and also offers both Chinese and Japanese Lunch specials seven days a week until 3pm. These specials are an incredible value for the money and a great way to try the cuisines before returning for a full dinner.

My fortune cookie bore the message that I would find great treasure. As a matter of fact, I already had. My husband’s said that he would be wise to be careful before investing money. He had taken that advice as well. We both walked out the door with our fortunes and our appetites secure.

Please share your experience at Sakana Oriental with us and let us know what you think.