Donburi at Hotaru
Category: Random Talk, Restaurants Tags: E.A.T. World, Hotaru
THIS POST WAS REVISED ON 9/17
Tonight, I was treated to a delicious dinner at Hotaru, a Japanese restaurant in San Mateo, CA. My date and I each ordered donburi –more commonly referred to as don– which consists of vegetables, fish or meat, simmered in sauce and served in an oversize bowl on top of rice.
I ordered vegetable don, while my date ordered chicken don. Each was served with a side of miso soup and salad, along with green tea and, of course, edamame as appetizer.
My don was chocked full of meaty vegetables like cabbage and mushroom, and peppered with crunchy chunks of carrot. The rice and veggies were submerged in a hearty brown sauce which was both savory and sweet. Fair warning– the sauce is usually made with fish paste or sauce added to it, so make sure you ask them to make it w/o the fish!
Please note– this dish is ok for vegetarians, but not vegans. The sauce that’s added over the dish contains egg, but if you’re flexible about eggs, go for it. I’m going to hunt for a good vegan recipe for this dish, and I encourage you to do the same! If you find a good version, leave us a note below, or send your recipe to recipes@goveeblog.com
