Art on Your Plate

By Jun Wang

Tako Japanese Restaurant

Location: 2141 Galloway Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020-2983
Cuisine: Japanese cuisine
Capacity: 120
Offers: Dine-in, Take-out, Sushi bar, Party room
Signature Dishes: Green Dragon Roll, Yellowtail Jalapeno
Year of establishment: 2004
Phone: 215-245-0600

“Delicacies have no boundaries, just like music,” Jay Gao, owner of Tako Japanese Restaurant admits. He mentions the nobleness of French cuisine, elegance of Italian cuisine, delicateness of Japanese cuisine, and classicalness of Chinese cuisine when pointing out their different characteristics. With completely different culinary origins, they still do share many things in common, especially Chinese and Japanese cuisine which both make use of many of the same ingredients. 

“Both take expertise and skills,” explains Mr. Gao. “They all require a harmonious blend of color, flavor, taste and presentation.”

Steeped in history, Japanese cuisine features natural ingredients and emphasizes creativity. In some countries, art is grounded in sculptures, in Japan art begins on the plate. Due to its reliance on natural ingredients and its healthy cooking style, it has spread across the globe, like a rising sun shining across a vast culinary realm. Japanese restaurants began to pop up around the country, including Tako Japanese Restaurant which now calls Bensalem, Pennsylvania home. 

“Tako”, literally means kite in Japanese, and implies hope and luck in Chinese. In September of 2004, the restaurant opened its doors to local residents. During these past six years, the restaurant has witnessed the ups and downs of the economy, but has managed to hold its own against competitors by continuing its dedication to high quality food and friendly service.

Covering a 3,400 square feet area, Tako Japanese Restaurant boasts a spacious dining room and five party rooms, allowing both intimate meals and large gatherings. Mr. Gao has incorporated wood into the entire restaurant—the wooden doors, tables, and “tatami”, give Tako an authentic Japanese feel. Traditional Japanese music playing throughout the restaurant also adds an extra scintillating vibe to the laidback background. Accompanied with a supernova of flavor from the kitchen, the restaurant is a place many consider perfect for sharing great food and laughs after a long day.

Sushi is Tako’s mainstay. The varieties include tuna, yellowtail, salmon, flounder, octopus, and mackerel. Mr. Gao presents diners with his own delicious interpretation of sushi. At Tako, you will also find sushi made based on traditional methods, but with a special twist. The tastes are modified slightly to suit the needs of customers.

The Sushi or Sashimi A La Carte menu provide you with even more choices. If you can’t decide what to order, the knowledgeable staff will guide you through the dazzling menus, carefully asking which kind of fish you want and whether you want it raw or cooked.

“Our sushi is made to order, we adjust the flavor when customers request it,” says Mr. Gao.

A lot of patrons start their meal with the appetizing Shrimp Tempura, a traditional Japanese appetizer with a crispy consistency. The sauce served alongside the dish enhances the flavor, yet does not overpower it. 

If you love tempura you’ll also love the creative rolls. The Miami Roll($11.95), Fruit Punch Roll ($10.95), Sweet Heart Roll ($10.95), Sunset Roll ($10.95), and the Green Dragon Roll ($9.95) are just some of the more enthralling creations, complete with some image-provoking names. Take the romantic Sweet Heart Roll for example, this roll houses spicy tuna that is topped with tuna and then pressed into a heart shape, making for a feast for both the palate and eyes.

Another crowd pleaser is the Green Dragon Roll. You might not know whether to dive into it or maybe just take a picture of it. Taking a closer look at the dish, you’ll be lost in awe—drawn into a mythical world with dragons and temples. You might imagine a dragon circling the cucumber-made “pillar” of a centuries old mountaintop temple. Once the mouthwatering smell of the dish snaps you back to reality you’ll see that the dish has used spicy crab, eel, and avocado to capture a world of unsurpassed beauty. Plastered across an edible canvas, and crowned with sliced cucumber; patrons enjoy this dish slowly taking in each nuance of the roll, almost like they were looking down on all of humanity while seated atop an ancient dragon. The lemon is remodeled as a dragon head, matched with green cucumbers, and embellished with topiko, resulting in a heavenly presentation of color that is not easily forgotten.

Aside from the beautifully garnished sushi and sashimi, the teriyaki and hibachi grill are also worth a try. The fragrance of food sizzling on the iron plate drifting through the restaurant will surely whet your appetite.

The freshness of ingredients is always the main concern for customers, and also the owner himself. As fish is the menu staple at Japanese restaurants, owners have to find a way to ensure that the fish they purchase is fresh. At Tako, Mr. Gao personally chooses the fish that will be used to prepare sushi and only has it delivered by a top notch Japanese delivery company that is known for being able to maintain freshness during transit.

“Everyone knows that fresh ingredients are essential. Even an experienced chef can’t prepare a masterpiece when the ingredients have already gone bad,” says Mr. Gao.

As a Chinese saying goes, “No rules, no standards.” Every tiny step matters, from the cutting, slicing, and chopping of fish, to temperature control. Each aspect has its own strict rules: the fish should be a specific size, and temperature must be strictly controlled within the regulations stipulated by the local Health Bureau.

The staff is well trained and treats every customer the way they themselves would like to be treated when they dine out. They smile and make sure to attend to each customer’s needs in a time manner without being too intrusive.

Don’t believe it? The rave online reviews are a testament to how the restaurant is well received. One online reviewer wrote, “Great sushi, great price, and the restaurant atmosphere is perfect. Another had even better words to say, “My daughters weren't into this type of food but Tako changed that. The staff is very friendly. This is hands down, one of my favorite restaurants.”

As word of mouth spreads, business has picked up and now the restaurant is always jam-packed with customers, especially on the weekends. Even during this economic downturn, the restaurant has managed to stay afloat. What is the secret? “High quality food is what keeps the customers coming back and back again.” says Mr. Gao.

Message from the Owner:

Business has gotten better as more people have gotten wind that my restaurant offers good food and is dedicated to all aspects of the dining experience. By virtue of this approach, we were able to weather the storm brought on by a slow economy. We also realize that preferences will continue to change and when they do we will make sure to adjust.