Toh Zan Nagasaki Grill - Mesa

The service was very good, the chicken tonkatsu skewers and takoyaki were amazing. The ramen was alright and it came with so many noodles I couldn't finish it. There is no music in the restaurant it felt like eating in a library. The owner might serenade your table if you ask

I don’t know why I keep trying this place. Some people seem to like it and I really want to like it. Close to home, family owned, tucked in a mostly empty strip mall…I want to love it and support them but just can’t. The shrimp tempura was barely warm and had no tempura crunch…it was soggy. The curry wasn’t any better than S&B curry from a box, and the tiny bits of vegetable were so mushy you could just crush them with your tongue. The restaurant looks fine but I was the only one there for most of the time. Sad.

So we walked into this place, and almost didn’t give it a chance, because it seemed like a ghost town, and the decor was not great, but we decided to give it a shot, because the food reviews I had read were fantastic. In short, everyone was completely right about the food. Very good, fresh sushi, light and crispy, tempura, and savory beef. The service was fast as well. Within the first five minutes of eating, we knew we would be coming back again soon to try out more of the menu. I told the elderly Japanese owner that he should play some authentic Japanese music to improve the atmosphere, and he just smiled at me and said that he would sing me a song next time. Made me laugh. I like characters like that.

It is a little place, old fashioned mom/pop cafe. An older Japanese couple. The menu is big and 100% authentic. Everything is cooked at the time you order. Tons of food served. Happily took much home with me.

This is one of my personal favorite restaurants. The unagi-don and pork ramen are both delicious!