Despite its occasional inconsistency, Hanaya is a good bet that pleases both your stomach and your wallet. Tucked into a dark quiet alley, the Japanese restaurant is modest and unassuming. Passers-by who see the restaurant’s small yellow sign would have to take a short walk into the lane, which seems to lead to a tacky motel instead of a restaurant. But fret not, your efforts will be rewarded. Even with its inconspicuous location, Hanaya is bustling with hungry diners. Thais usually occupy the private rooms and tatami seating, while the salarymen opt for the sushi bar. Once you sit down, a hot napkin lands on your table, followed by your choice of hot or cold (free) Chinese tea. With sushi and imported sashimi, nabemono (hot pot) and yakimono (grilled dishes) to choose from—you’ll have a hard time ordering from this extensive menu, spanning the range from exciting to Fuji-standard. We wouldn’t recommend the donburi selections (rice with different toppings), which were filling but unmemorable and made with dry Thai jasmine rice instead of the sticky Japanese variety. That said, considering the reasonable prices and generous portions, we can’t really complain. There are exotic recipes like whale sashimi, but you can’t go wrong with Japanese staples like sashimi moriawase: fresh, succulent slabs of squid, red snapper, tuna, yellowtail and crab sticks; and crisp, non-oily assorted tempura. Another simple-yet-scrumptious recipe is tamago (Japanese sweet egg omelet). At Hanaya, it comes as three giant chunks lightly grilled and served alone without sushi rice. However, the highlights here are the inexpensive set menus, which are big in size but small in price. The special bento includes grilled saba, makisushi, tamago, deep-fried dishes, fish balls, simmered dishes, sashimi and miso soup. Sake is also available (cold or hot). Despite a few hiccups, Hanaya is a brilliant choice if you can’t afford the pricey Japanese places on Thonglor or are sick of the Thai-style Japanese food at chain restaurants.
