30
It has since doubled in size. Its location
- at 3800 S. Tamiami Trail, in the Shops
at Siesta Row - is where Clarice, one of
the managers, spends most of her time.
social media and event scheduling. In
addition, she helps come up with new
menu items.
In the summer of 2016, under pressure
from loyal customers who made the trek to
Sarasota from their homes in Bradenton
and Lakewood Ranch, the Dokkos
opened the University Park location, at
minute walk from the Mall at University
Town Center.
The Dokkos have used their Korean
heritage, Brazilian hometown, and
Japanese cuisine expertise to create a
formula for an inventive and broad menu,
creative dishes.
the classics: sashimi and sushi rolls
vegetarian, and 34 specialty rolls. Among
the most popular rolls is the Volcano Roll
- tuna, cream cheese and asparagus,
topped with avocado, baked crab, and
Roll, which is shrimp tempura, crab salad
and avocado, topped with spicy tuna, and
wrapped in rice paper. The Lobster Roll -
snow crab, cucumber, and conch, topped
with avocado and Maine lobster — is also
a customer favorite, Clarice said.
While I like to think of myself as an
adventurous eater, JPAN is one place
favorites. I almost always order the Spicy
comes with tempura-battered sweet
potato paired with cream cheese, but I
order mine with steamed sweet potato,
get the Spicy Tuna Blocks appetizer,
which has avocado, togarashi pepper
and hot sesame oil. Our kids like both the
pork and shrimp dumplings appetizers.
Not surprisingly, there are Korean
offerings on the menu, including the
popular JPAN Beef, an entree featuring
thinly sliced steak sautéed in a Korean
soy garlic sauce. There is also a Korean
Short Ribs appetizer as well as Spicy
Korean Tacos, which feature shaved pork
shoulder in a spicy Korean sauce.
The menu offers plenty of options without
raw fish, including all of the entrees.
Chicken Katsu, Sizzling Teriyaki, JPAN
Beef, Volcano Chicken (crispy chicken
steamed Sea Bass, and the Seafood
Lover, which is Chinese-style lobster,
scallops, and shrimp in a ginger and
scallion sauce. All entrees are served
with miso soup, house sal-ad, vegetables,
and rice.
“We want to bring authentic Japanese
food, but also new creations,” Clarice
said of their mission. “We always have
new things on the menu - but we keep
the artistry of sushi.”
Their roots are important, but so is
creativity, she said. “We are always trying
to have the best traditional sushi, but
something new too.”
How to Get a Good Deal at JPAN
As mentioned above, JPAN knows how to do a kids’ meal right. For $8 to $10,
depending on the protein, kids 12 and under get one entree (which is not skimpy)
- Chicken Teriyaki, Shrimp Teriyaki, Chicken Tempura, Shrimp Tempura, JPAN
Beef, or Chicken Yaki Udon - served with white rice, vegetables, dumplings, fruit,
and a special Japanese soda in a glass bottle sealed with a marble - a novelty
that my kids love. As an alternative to the soda, there’s orange juice.
Weekday lunch, as well as the daily happy hour, offers affordable ways to give
JPAN a try. The lunch special is two rolls for $10 - or three rolls for $13. While not
every roll on the full menu is offered, there’s a good selection. Also, at lunch, you
can get a bento box - complete with a Spring Roll, Cali Roll, Shrimp Dumplings,
and a choice of soup or salad - plus any of the hot entrees listed above, plus a
few additional ones, for about $12.
During appy our, every day from 5pm to :30pm, you can choose from a
selection of small plates, rolls, and drinks ranging from $3 to $ each.