Sumiya

Kitty Solo

Sumiya Yakitori

2634 Homestead Road

Santa Clara, CA 95051

(408)973-0604

Sumiya @ Santa Clara

This place is excellent for a free afternoon. This little gem is nestled in a small plaza right across from the public library and swimming pool. If you're hungry after a swim or a read (or even just hungry in general) this place is a good stop. Their lunches are only $10 and it is packed with a full and hearty meal. These are daily specials and rotate on a regular basis. Here are the following examples.

Tonjiru Soup, Onion Tempura Salad, Chicken and Vegetable Stir-fry, and a Pork, Mushroom, and Egg Rice Bowl

[$10]

Tonjiru Soup, Salad with Deep Fried Potato, Beef Rice Bowl, and Mackerel Fish

[$10]

Instead of your usual miso soup and teriyaki/tempura bento set, you get a little more authenticity at Sumiya. I was pleasantly surprised that they offered tonjiru soup which is a pork based broth type soup. It offers the similar light flavor of miso but also a spoonful of comforting savoriness. The salads usually come with some sort of fried topping and served with a vinaigrette. It's a healthier alternative than the usual thousand island or sesame based cream sauces I tend to see. The side dishes are usually either fish or a meat, and last but not least the rice bowl is also filled with hefty goodness.

I can't emphasize enough how amazing it is to get all this for $10. Time and time again I come back to Sumiya for lunch and always leave very full and satisfied (as opposed to spending my $10 at McDonalds and feeling satisfied but greasy).

And if you have room in your belly...it's a must to walk right next door to Stan's Doughnuts. A giant fluffy excellently glazed doughnut that's less than a dollar would be waiting for you. Best doughnuts in town. I swear.

As for dinner, I finally had a chance to try it with some of my friends. Word or warning, without a reservation the line is a long wait. We were disappointed though when a phone call came in to make a reservation and despite our group who have been waiting for a while, they proceeded to reserve an open table. But more importantly the food:

Pork Neck

[~$3/skewer]

Beef Tongue

[$6/2 skewers]

Chicken Wings

[$6/2 skewers]

As you can see they offer a variety of meat parts depending on how venturous you are. For the ones that are more squeamish, I recommend the Tsukune (meatballs) and the Mi (thighs). The outside of the meat was salted or glazed at the right amount to give a mouthful of flavor, but as you chew you also get the juicy flavor of the meat.The quality of their grilled skewers is amazing. BUT I still feel that the price is way too high in my book.

Overall Score: [3.5/5] Lunch is a bargain steal here. In fact, lunch is a must. Dinner is expensive but a great place for a casual hang out or beer/sake social.