Michael Y.
Yelp
I usually do not make reviews for fast food chains as I typically try to focus more on creating reviews for more mom and pop places, but I will say that every once in awhile I can be a food court guy! And for this brief food court venture, I gave Sarku Japan a try in the Dining Terrace at the Hillsdale Mall. Being recently opened in 2020, the addition of the new Dining Terrace made Hillsdale more of a destination. I still remember the days where the food court options consisted of a Burger King, a panini place, Panda Express, Hana Grill, Hot Dog on a Stick, an ice cream place, etc. Those options weren't very popular, which is why the new food court really helps out in bringing the crowds out.
On a Wednesday around 6:45 PM, I ventured into the food court to give them a run for my money. Because it was a weekday, the line wasn't particularly long, but there was a decent amount of people there. This is contrary to their weekend crowds, always being full to the brim. That must say the food they serve is pretty good right....? After looking at their menu for a period of time, I settled on a Chicken and Shrimp Combo Plate with extra chicken for 2 dollars. The initial price of this item is 11 dollars, plus the extra chicken which made it 14 dollars roughly after tax. After paying at the register, I was able to walk down to the right where you wait while they cook your food right in front of you. Boy the food smelled great just standing there, made my mouth water....it was pretty quick, around 3-5 minutes and I was out of there with my food.
**Notes:
1) With any of the teriyaki plates, you can request for extra of the item for about 2 dollars more (3 dollars for more shrimp).
2) More about the general dining terrace itself, the seating is pretty sizable with different kinds of seating all around. From booths to tables with lamps to large lounge chairs, the seating seems to promote maximum comfort while eating. Some of these also have great views of the street right below or balcony seats overlooking the North Block. In terms of other amenities, the terrace also has exterior hand-washing stations, drink emptying stations, and fireplaces with heaters to name a few.
**
I took a look at my food and pretty much expected what I was going to get from the get-go. There was a pretty sizable plate of chicken, which made sense since I purchased extra chicken. There were about 12 - 13 pieces of small shrimp, which actually exceeded my expectations for a food court. Underneath those were a small spread out medley of vegetables, most likely to pad the meats, and rice. For 14 dollars, you definitely could do better by going to an actual restaurant and picking up higher quality food. But for a food court standard, it was alright.
The taste of the food was pretty good....most things considered. The chicken tasted grilled with a subtle sweetness from what tasted like agave, honey, or something similar. It was pretty moist with a mix of sauce and marinade. It tasted great for a what I would call a "basic chicken". The shrimp tasted similar with a sweet flavor and a decent amount of moisture inside. It was softer than the chicken though, which added differences in texture in the dish. The vegetables were pretty mediocre all around with little to no flavor at all, but these vegetables were more of a dividing layer as opposed to being a grilled salad, so it was fine. Rice was fluffy for the most part, pretty similar to your regular jasmine rice.
I'd give Sarku Japan 3/5 for their Chicken and Shrimp Combo plate with EXTRA chicken. The quantity for 14 bucks at a food court was a bit steep, but it makes sense since food court food is meant to be more of a quick fill. The food quality was good for what it was worth, which is why I would give them three stars. If you're willing to pay a bit of a premium for a snack or a meal, I'd say this is a pretty good option.