The
Bite! Review
By Jen Wead
LITTLE NINJA THAI japanese food & cafe
II was really excited when I
learned that I was going to have
an opportunity to review The Little
Ninja in Zephyrhills, FL. I was
a big fan of the little restaurant
prior to the March 2018 change
in ownership and had only heard
good things about the new food
coming from there. As soon as I
walked into the newly redecorated
dining room, I knew that I was
not going to be disappointed. Although,
the walls are still bathed
in the same bright paint colors as
before, something is distinctly different.
There are beautiful carved
wood wall pieces that soften the
brightness and lend a feeling of
mystery to the ambience. The tables
have ornate burgundy linens
and are set beautifully, ready for
each customer, with cloth napkins
-
timate and you are immediately
greeted by smiling faces that are
clearly happy that you are there.
All of these visual treats really
don’t compare to the aromas that
are wafting from the kitchen of
The Little Ninja. You can smell
ginger, and broth, as well as the
smell of perfectly cooked veggies
and meats. As soon as I walked
in the door the smells made me
think I was going to die of hunger.
Have you ever had that happen? It
wasn’t hungry until the aroma smacked me in the face and then
I was suddenly famished!
Top left: Grandma’s Ice Cream with Mango. Top right: Pork
and Shrimp Dumplings. Bottom left: Pineapple with Fried
Rice. Bottom right: Pad Thai.
The food was as tasty as it smelled. The Little Ninja’s new
owner, Oum kept much of the old menu, but added some family
favorites. They offer a very affordable lunch menu that is in the
$7 range and comes with a small soup and spring roll from 11-3
-
ury of being able to taste a variety of the lunch dishes and they
were fresh, vibrant and clearly made with love. There was so
much attention to detail, from the beautifully chopped vegetables,
to the heart shaped rice, what
would have been a simple lunch
elsewhere was elevated to feel like
a special occasion. I can only imagine
how wonderful a dinner would
be, with the lights low and the new
classy ambience. I am looking forward
to bringing my girlfriends
back for Girl’s Night Out, but
wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it
for a perfect romantic date. They
sell beer and wine and even have
BOGO Happy Hour from 5-7 PM
daily, including sake.
The Little Ninja would be a
perfect place for a small gathering.
I had an opportunity to speak with
Oum after our dinner and asked if
her little restaurant was available
for private parties and she welcomes
the opportunity. Although
the capacity is limited, she has
some outside seating and is experienced
and ready to do offsite
caterings. Have you booked your
holiday event? You might want to
give them a call now to save a date.
Oum was born and raised in
cook from her mother and has spent
her entire life in the food and beverage
industry. Oum told me that
her goal has always been to open a
restaurant in America, and when
her friend, the previous chef told
her of this opportunity she jumped
space her own and said, “I am always looking to improve my
service and food quality and look forward to entertaining all of
As someone that was lucky enough to enjoy her food, I really
don’t see much room for improvement, and I am so very grateful
that she decided to open her restaurant here.
Little Ninja Thai Japanese Food and Cafe
5709 6th St in Zephyrhills, FL.
813.395.5908
42 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 813.682.9364 FLORIDA WOMEN MAGAZINE