Demae, oh my!
Demae Japanese Restaurant’s claim to fame is its super-affordable sushi on Tuesday and Thursday nights.
Twice a week, the restaurant cuts prices on its five- to eight-piece sushi rolls to $3.50 each. That’s a tough price to beat. Sushi at fancier restaurants can be $10 a roll or more, and it costs in the neighborhood of $20 for an all-you-can-eat sushi dinner. For that price, you could get five rolls at Demae, which is more than most people could eat anyway.
It’s a great value even considering that Demae’s rolls are smaller in diameter than some other sushi rolls we’ve had. At some places, it’s almost hard to fit a whole piece in your mouth, they’re so big. No such trouble at Demae, and no trouble feeling like you get your money’s worth.
We tried the Vegas roll, a personal favorite, and enjoyed its thin and crispy tempura coating. We also liked the Philadelpha Roll, made with salmon, cream cheese and cucumbers and rolled in toasted sesame seeds. Demae offers about 20 rolls, and any of them can be made spicy for free.
But Demae is more than just a sushi house: If there are those in your party who don’t like sushi (an incomprehensible stance), Demae has a wide selection of other Japanese dishes. We were impressed by the Salmon Shioyaki, a sizable salmon steak covered with a slightly spicy seasoning and served with tempura veggies. The fish was soft and flavorful.
The Teriyaki Beef was also nice, though the slices of steak were chewier than we would have liked, and the meal didn’t come with a knife. Demae also serves several noodle dishes including the Japanese udon soup, and there’s even some curry on the menu. A ladleful of chicken curry is served with a pile of rice and a breaded and sliced chicken breast. The curry was different from both Indian and Thai varieties having a yellower tint and a subtler flavor. Most meals are about $10.
Demae’s dining area is quiet, with only some faint eastern melodies coming from the speakers and the hum of conversation from other diners. It’s also cozy, with paper lanterns providing most of the light. We suggest moving date night to Thursday.