Hartford

Sake Sizzles, Lychee Livens Steakhouse Happy Hour

by Jamil Ragland | Mar 21, 2024 11:38 am

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Posted to: Food

Koma Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi
West Hartford
March 20, 2024

I found myself in West Hartford on a Wednesday afternoon, with a taste for something different than the usual. I decided to check out Koma Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi, located at Bishop’s Corner.

As always, I started with the drinks. First up was a lychee martini, made with house vodka, a soho lychee and a splash of lychee juice. A lychee is a small, fleshy fruit that derives its name from the tree it grows on, which is found in southern and southeastern Asia. It tastes like a very sweet pear, and the taste of the lychee dominated the vodka. The drink left the taste of pear lingering on the back of my tongue. 

Next I tried the Geisha Girl, which consists of cucumber vodka, St.-Germaine Elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice and pineapple juice. I love cucumber drinks, as they always feel like a refreshing breeze blowing through my mouth. This drink was no exception, and I enjoyed it slowly.

Koma has an extensive Happy Hour menu, featuring a mix of regular bar bar food and Japanese inspired fare. I chose some of my favorites in a wide-ranging sampler.

First came the California roll. The sushi staple was invented in North America, although the exact creator is disputed among chefs in California and even one in Canada. I topped it off with fresh ginger and a little wasabi, adding a little kick to the otherwise cool and refreshing sushi. The roll tasted fresh; before I knew it, I’d downed half the order.

Next I tried the gyoza, a lightly fried dumpling filled with pork. The crispy edges were a perfect complement to the savory pork inside the dumpling,

The last Happy Hour dish I ordered was the Thai chicken wings, fried hard. The special seasoning (restaurant’s secret!) gave the wings a zing that was flavorful but not spicy. That was left to the combination of spicy mayo and sriracha hot sauce that I dipped the wings in. They had a satisfying crunch, and the meat was cooked through to the bone.

The main course, so to speak, was the House Fried Rice. It was vegetable fried rice, mixed with chicken, steak and beef. The rice was light and flavorful, not greasy the way a lot of fried rice turns out to be. All three meats were cooked perfectly, with the shrimp being a particular standout. They tasted fresh without tasting fishy, and bursted with flavor. 

It wouldn’t be a visit to a Japanese bar without a little bit of sake, and I was in an experimental mood. The bartender suggested hot sake mixed with a raspberry flavored Chambord. The warm sake felt like taking a shot of tea, but with a double heating effect from the warmth of the sake and the effect of the rice alcohol. It was so good that I did another … and another. By the fourth shot I was definitely feeling the effects of the alcohol, but my belly being full of food counteracted the worst of it. 

Koma is easily my favorite Happy Hour that I’ve tried so far. There’s a great selection of food and drinks, and the atmosphere is relaxing and friendly. The prices are affordable too.

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Koma Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi is open seven days a week.

Jamil travels to Mohegan Sun to rock out with his son again.