The first restaurant I ventured out to during quarantine was Ebesu Sushi and Robata. They came out of the gate almost immediately with bento box specials that they are still running to encourage carry-out orders. The bento boxes are incredibly generous and Ebesu is offering a 20 percent discount if you call the order in directly to the restaurant.
Ebesu is still relatively new on the scene, a concept that comes straight from Japan. The downtown location is the first in the U.S. In a previous article, I praised their Japanese snapper sashimi, topped with the barest hint of cerrano, as well as the artful serving of sliced Kurobuta pork jowl, fanned on a block of pink Himilayan salt.
Usually when I visit restaurants for the food section of our magazine, I’m doing it from the comfort of a booth, accompanied by a photographer, or joined by the chef so we can discuss their culinary vision. It’s a little different to sit at my own table, fending off a dog with my elbow and a cat with my chopsticks just to get down one slice of yellowtail.
They serve it tightly wrapped for sanitation reasons and warn you to be careful with the double-wrapped container of miso soup on the drive home. After unwrapping it all—the plastic bag is given to the cat as a distraction—I open the culinary equivalent of a jewelry box.
Sashimi, hamachi, tuna, and salmon, coils like a blossom. Easily spritzed with lemon and dipped in soy sauce, it’s refreshing and cool after miso soup. Every box faithfully comes with two little pork gyoza, Japanese pan-fried dumplings, nestled in with seaweed salad sprinkled with sesame seed. The house salad is garnished with bright, citrusy ginger salad dressing. On one side, a California roll sits pretty, surrounded by marinated ginger and wasabi.
All bento boxes have the same accompaniments; the only change is the entree, but other entrees include salmon teriyaki, sakura pork, and a DIY Temaki box that certainly requires further exploration. It’s under $20 even before the call-in discount.
Good things come to those who don a mask and support their local restaurants.
Ebesu Sushi And Robata
1007 E. 15th St., Plano | 972.212.4564 | ebesu-usa.com