Spring Break
Fresh fish, Pan-Asian fare, affordable sushi and kim-chi at New No Da Ji
Issue date: 11/20/08
In addition to the plethora of sushi offerings, New No Da Ji also offers some "normal" buffet selections, though it is clear that they are not the focus of the menu. Sweet and sour pork, fried rice, ribs and mashed potatoes were all readily available. There was also a chicken and corn tamale, which seemed rather out of place.
At the opposite end of the buffet line from the sushi was the kim-chi. A hand-written sign touted it as "One of five healthiest foods in the world." Next to the kim-chi were kim-chi style cucumbers. Both were beautifully executed and could run with the best of them, and I believe that any fan of kim-chi will enjoy New No Da Ji's offerings. The vegetables were crisp and the spices were potent.
Entering the buffet area, there were several carrying methods for the food. Besides plain old plates, there were various bento boxes (a Japanese method of containing food), which were extremely useful for sushi since the partitions helped to keep the wasabi from spreading to the rest of the food. My friends commented that the labels on the buffet were very useful and helped guide them through their selection process.
Some other notable items from New No Da Ji's buffet include fried sushi, four different soups (miso soup, a beef soup, a tofu soup and a fourth soup that was unidentifiable), at least three different noodles and a spicy beef dish that was oily compared to the rest of the meal.
However, the beef dish did include some very nice peppers and shitake mushrooms, which I've missed during the semester. Also, there were fried bananas, which were surprisingly delicious. The concept of fried sushi was new to me, but it tasted great, nice and crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. For those craving rice, embedded in the countertop was the biggest rice cooker I've ever seen, about 18 inches across.
A trip to New No Da Ji is easy and, in my opinion, worthwhile. As you leave the restaurant, be sure to grab a cup of the cinnamon drink. I find it's a great way to finish off a meal spanning multiple cultures and countries. In these coming winter months, it's good to know that there is hearty, hot food just down the street to warm you up.
At the opposite end of the buffet line from the sushi was the kim-chi. A hand-written sign touted it as "One of five healthiest foods in the world." Next to the kim-chi were kim-chi style cucumbers. Both were beautifully executed and could run with the best of them, and I believe that any fan of kim-chi will enjoy New No Da Ji's offerings. The vegetables were crisp and the spices were potent.
Entering the buffet area, there were several carrying methods for the food. Besides plain old plates, there were various bento boxes (a Japanese method of containing food), which were extremely useful for sushi since the partitions helped to keep the wasabi from spreading to the rest of the food. My friends commented that the labels on the buffet were very useful and helped guide them through their selection process.
Some other notable items from New No Da Ji's buffet include fried sushi, four different soups (miso soup, a beef soup, a tofu soup and a fourth soup that was unidentifiable), at least three different noodles and a spicy beef dish that was oily compared to the rest of the meal.
However, the beef dish did include some very nice peppers and shitake mushrooms, which I've missed during the semester. Also, there were fried bananas, which were surprisingly delicious. The concept of fried sushi was new to me, but it tasted great, nice and crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. For those craving rice, embedded in the countertop was the biggest rice cooker I've ever seen, about 18 inches across.
A trip to New No Da Ji is easy and, in my opinion, worthwhile. As you leave the restaurant, be sure to grab a cup of the cinnamon drink. I find it's a great way to finish off a meal spanning multiple cultures and countries. In these coming winter months, it's good to know that there is hearty, hot food just down the street to warm you up.
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