Dan M.
Yelp
As I approached Busu, familiar & distinct Japanese aromas cast an immediate spell on me. Images flashed in my mind of Japanese temples, Gardens and Geishas. The authentic venue made my mouth water AND my head spin. But...but wait, how was this possible? Was I dreaming? Had I been mysteriously teleported back to Japan after so many years away from that magical land? So, I rolled with it and ordered a succulent bowl of Dungeness Crab Miso Soup with toasted sesame, tofu, green onion and seaweed. Oh, the humanity! It was garnished with sun-dried angel-hair chili pepper "threads" that splashed a bright red accent and kicked in just the right amount of mild heat. More images flashed before me....Mt Fujiyama, cherry blossoms and tea ceremonies. It was only natural then to order the Garlic & Chanterelle Fried Rice. I could choose from either pork belly or jackfruit, but preferred neither and the kind proprietor, Kenny-san, happily offered tofu as a third choice as he gently bowed before me. Simply amazing, it was prepared with Thai basil, garlic, soy sauce, green onion and those incredible pepper threads again. Completely satisfied, I tried to make sense of this twilight zone experience and then realized I actually WASN'T 4500 miles away in a back-alley Japanese yokocho-cafe. It looked like it, tasted like it, and felt like it, but you don't have to travel halfway around mother Earth to experience it. Kenny-san and Busu are the real thing, yep, right downtown.