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FOODIE
A Sushi Star In Huntington
Station
By Danny & Betty/ foodie@longislandernews.com
Any place that has something called the Long Islander roll
on its daily specials can’t be half-bad. Kohaku, a Japanese
restaurant we just visited, does, and they’re much more
than that – they’re a culinary diamond in the rough,
and a great find to take advantage of at the footstep of Huntington
Station.
Once you pass through the wood front door and the Japanese-styled
wood plank porch before it, you’re welcomed into a small,
cozy space. The décor isn’t fancy, with simple
settings, chopsticks and red tablecloths and white globe lighting
hanging from the ceiling, but the star is the food, really.
There’s a sushi bar to your left, complete with a wall
decked out in hand-written specials. Park in the back and
take advantage of a more spacious, convenient lot than what’s
available up front.
We didn’t have a whole lot of time to dig through the
voluminous list, but sushi lovers ought to peruse it carefully
for its unique treats. Waitresses, dressed in kimonos, take
care of your orders with a smile and attention to detail.
Meals start with traditional miso soup, and we were impressed
with the flavorful dashi stock and ample scallions, which
gave the opening dish a pleasant kick. Then, it was on to
a small salad of iceberg lettuce, carrots and cucumber, easily
navigable with one’s chopsticks.
For lunch, we picked out shrimp tempura and California rolls
($9.95), a mix of more sensible noshing and an indulgence.
The shrimp, which comes lightly fried, is tender, mild and
satisfying, as are the equally delicately fried and battered
eggplant, broccoli, onion and sweet potatoes. Surely, it’s
decadent, but more sensibly so. The California Roll, chock
full of veggies, is a mild, fresh and healthy complement to
the first item, and with a dash of wasabi and soy sauce, can
have a kick all its own.
A sushi lunch special ($14.95) features a wonderfully colorful
plate starring tuna rolls, tuna, fluke, yellowtail, salmon,
shrimp sashimi and flying fish roe, and is a fish lover’s
dream come true. On this wonderfully fresh platter, one can
explore the different kinds of fish in the sea, noting the
subtle differences in flavor, texture and quality of so many
fish without being stuffed to the proverbial gills. And, the
flying fish roe roll – yes, that’s fish eggs –
is bright orange and a tasty, unique treat. Unlike some other
larger, saltier roe, the flying fish has a smoky, understated
flavor to it and is definitely worth exploring. Other good
choices on the $9.99 sushi lunch special include the crab
and shrimp rolls.
If you’re passing through Huntington Station, make sure
to give Kohaku a try, especially if you love fish. You won’t
be sorry you did.
Kohaku
Japanese Restaurant
2089 New York Avenue
Huntington Station
631-351-9888
www.kohakusushi.com
Take-out available
Cuisine: Japanese
Atmosphere: Simple, bustling sushi bar
Price: Moderate
Hours: Monday – Thursday:
12 – 3 p.m.; 5 – 10 p.m.
Friday: 12 – 3 p.m.; 5 – 11 p.m.
Saturday: 5 – 11 p.m.
Sunday: 5 – 10 p.m.
Main
Menu
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