Quick service, excellent food at Hana Teriyaki

Stacee Sledge

Sept 26, 2002 — Hana Teriyaki is the kind of place I love to discover. From the outside, the modest eatery on the corner of Holly and C streets doesn't look like much. But inside you'll find a clean, bright space that serves teriyaki, yakisoba and other Japanese favorites. I want people to hear about Hana Teriyaki, drop in for a quick lunch or takeout and become a regular, as I have.

I first heard about Hana Teriyaki from my co-workers. They visit the small restaurant at least once or twice a week. You simply can't beat it for tasty, fast, affordable food.

A recent workday found me without leftovers, so I decided to join the trend and called in an order of gyozo and beef teriyaki. A few minutes after placing the call, I made the short drive to the restaurant, picked up my order from the friendly face behind the counter, and returned to my desk for a working lunch.

Gyozo, a Japanese-style dumpling or potsticker, is one of my all-time favorite appetizers. The portion size at Hana Teriyaki is generous, eight fried, flavorful dumplings served with a tangy soy-based dipping sauce. The gyozo was prepared just how I like it best, with a soft center and slightly crunchy edges.

And unlike some takeout experiences, Hana sends you on your way with well-packaged food — served in Styrofoam containers emblazoned with the message "have a nice day" — that's still sizzling, so it retains its heat.

Hana Teriyaki

Location: 701 W. Holly St. Phone: 715-1668 Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday Closed Sunday Serving: Quality Japanese food in a flash. Menu items sampled: Beef teriyaki $5.99 Vegetable yakisoba $4.99 Gyoza $2.99 Egg rolls $2.99

A small salad accompanies each meal, pieces of crisp iceberg lettuce tossed with slivers of red cabbage and carrot and topped with a light yet slightly creamy dressing.

A final flourish of black sesame seeds finished off the pleasing salad.

Japanese food is known for its simplicity, and Hana Teriyaki definitely keeps things simple. The main event was an immense portion of steamed white rice sidled with an equally hefty helping of thin slices of beef doused in a sweet teriyaki sauce. These three ingredients combined for a fabulous-tasting lunch, striking a balance between savory and sweet. And the portion size was easily enough for two.

A couple weeks later, I decided to give the sit-down Hana Teriyaki experience a try.

The dιcor of the restaurant is unassuming, a light-wood paneled space that could really be the setting for any type of informal restaurant.

The high-ceilinged space was lined with light wood paneling and punctuated by a few paper lanterns and other Asian-inspired touches. Thriving green plants popped out here and there.

I chose a magazine from the pile of eclectic reading material next to the cash register, then made and paid for my order.

I poured a complimentary cup of hot tea from the coffee maker on the counter, and then selected a seat at one of the seven available tables.

I started with an order of egg rolls, which were served with packets of sweet and sour sauce — casual is definitely the calling of Hana Teriyaki.

The fried egg rolls were sizeable — I was beginning to think that's the case with everything served at this eatery — crispy on the outside and full of veggie goodness on the inside. They were your standard egg rolls, pleasing and a bit guilt-inducing thanks to their size.

The vegetable yakisoba was served in the same Styrofoam container as my takeout teriyaki.

This proved fruitful, as the amount of noodles and vegetables simmered in Hana's special sauce was, again, gargantuan.

Zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, onion and lettuce were swirled together with flavorful noodles and lightly covered in a sauce similar to the teriyaki I'd experienced.

My only possible complaint was that there were far more vegetables than noodles, which happen to be my favorite — but considering the plentiful portion, there was still a plethora of noodles to be had.

During my half-hour stay several people came in to grab takeout, while several tables turned over and the phone rang discreetly every few minutes with orders to be picked up.

Because I hadn't heard of Hana Teriyaki until my co-workers recently introduced me to it, it sort of felt like I'd been let in on a well-kept secret.

But judging from the traffic during my recent visit and the more I ask around, it seems Hana Teriyaki is catching on with the masses for quick, affordable takeout.