Denver’s Best Kept Secrets
Happy Teriyaki
By: Amy Green
Happy Teriyaki may not be the most mainstream Japanese restaurant but they pack a lot of punch into their restaurant. With its fresh and light Japanese menu this restaurant is to have any item you could possibly want. Located on the corner of Havana and Parker Road, directly across the street from Stampede, this restaurant may not be in plain sight but is worth trying to find.
The red light up sign shows you the way to this run down strip mall. The window decals tell you how they do
and the type of restaurant it is. As you walk into the dining room you see paintings and prints of Japanese women, and traditional Japanese light fixtures. While there are tables and chairs, this is not a typical sit down restaurant. There is ordering window with pictures of different menu items, as well as the full menu that is set directly in front of the open kitchen. The service is excellent and everyone is very knowledgeable of the menu and cuisine. All meals are served in to go boxes but everyone is more than welcome to sit and eat there.
With many different options such as beef short ribs plate with steamed rice and a choice of stir fried vegetables or their house salad ($9.75). These beef short ribs are the house specialty; they are marinated and then grilled to perfection and topped with their tangy house made sauce. Another option is there Hot and spicy chicken also served with steamed rice and a choice of stir fried vegetables or their house salad ($6.55).
The chicken is first marinated and then grilled and topped with their house made sweet and hot chili sauce.
If you can’t make up your mind, they offer combination plates as well. I suggest the Teriyaki Chicken & Beef ($7.45). The chicken and beef are first marinated, then the chicken is grilled and beef is cooked in a wok. Both are topped with their house made teriyaki sauce, and all of this sits on top of a bed of steamed rice. They do their rice different from everyone else; this rice has a touch of sweetness to it that I would never expect. The vegetables are stir fried perfectly, not over cooked but not crunchy either. They also include daily lunch specials, Monday –Friday 10 am to 2:30 pm ($5.75).
While they offer side items like Miso Soup ($1.45), and Egg rolls ($2.00), I suggest spending a little bit more money and trying out sushi options. They offer multiple different rolls including a Tuna roll ($5.10), and a Dragon Roll, pieces of eel with cucumber and avocado around the outside ($8.50). If raw fish scares you don’t worry they also offer a Vegetable Roll ($4.45), a Shrimp tempura Roll, the shrimp is first fried and then wrapped with rice into the roll ($6.15), and a California Roll, which has avocado, crab, dried seaweed and served with soy sauce and wasabi ($4.60).
If you’re not in the mood for a whole roll they offer Sashimi, which is rice that is topped with a single slice of seafood ($2.00 for 2 pieces). With options of Tuna, Salmon, Squid, Octopus, Red Snapper, Unagi, or Tamago (egg), this is an excellent way to taste the sushi without buying more than you can eat. Each piece starts with a small mound of rice and topped with a small amount of wasabi and lastly a thin slice of your choice of seafood. The freshness of the fish, with the sweetness of the rice and the bite of the wasabi create a firework in your mouth.
This little family owned Japanese restaurant may not be the easiest to find, or the busiest in town, but if you ask anyone how the food is, they all say excellent. With large portions, fresh ingredients, and in some way a light touch on all the meals, Happy Teriyaki is a perfect lunch spot with friends.
Happy Teriyaki
Japanese Cuisine
2495 S. Havana St. F10 Aurora, CO 80014| (303)750-7085| Entrees $5.95-$9.75, sushi and sashimi $2.00- $8.50 | Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday they are closed| They take orders for pick up but no delivery | all major credit cards| parking lot
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