Date Night Done Right: An Enchanting Evening at Janken
Exploring the Flavors of Japan and Korea in the Heart of Portland
Preface
I just realized that it has been four months since my last post. I’ve been out and about enjoying the town and exploring the Great Northwest these past few months, but I had developed a mental block of sorts where I told myself, “You can’t write a story unless its expansive and describes a whole day”. I felt as if I had to tie a bunch of experiences together in order to make it worth your time and mine.
“Putting pen to paper” so-to-speak is something I’ve missed, and I knew I had to come up with something different. Henceforth, my promise to myself and my readers is that I’m just going to get over that mental block and going forward if I have something I want to say or share, no matter how insignificant I may think it is, I’m going to take the time to post. One never knows how the readers use the information in this blog (hopefully they find it valuable and/or entertaining). Maybe a quick post about a local spot, good or bad, might be exactly what they were looking for when seeking places to go (or to avoid) on their next outing and the timeliness rather than the expansiveness of the article is what adds value.
In the Beginning
With that thought in mind, I want to take us back to late March to a day which really changed my good fortune and amplified my enjoyment of Portland. It was Kay’s birthday, and we had tickets to see Hamilton at the Keller Auditorium. I won’t be talking about that here, but I will say that the show itself was less than ideal due to the venue's poor acoustics.
That’s ok though because it’s what preceded the show that made the evening so memorable (though I didn’t know by how much at the time). Kay and I decided to enjoy one of Porland’s Pearl District charms, an incredible Japanese Korean fusion restaurant called Janken, for a second time. We settled into our favorite spot, nestled in the center of the floor beneath the breathtaking Japanese cherry tree, its delicate blossoms softly illuminated by warm, inviting lights that cast intricate shadows around us.
Kay started with a mocktail version of their Lychee Martini adorned with an edible orchid and a peeled, juicy sweet lychee on a spear.
I ordered up their Pineapple Express (grilled pineapple infused mezcal,
Cointreau, cane syrup, cardamom bitters and lemon juice), which came smoked in a bell jar. However, when I ordered it somehow the server delivered it to the table right next to us instead of to ours. About halfway through the server’s presentation our waiter realized the server’s mistake, came over to our table and corrected the situation by expediting another drink for me.
But the “damage” had been done. We joked about it and before you know it we had sprung up a conversation with our next-door table mates, Marshall and Esther Jones. We found out we had so much in common and at the end of the meal Marshall and I exchanged business cards, and we all went on our separate ways. Little was I to know at the time how that would be the beginning of a burgeoning and very meaningful relationship going forward. We’ll hear more about Marshall and Esther in future posts as we explore the town together.
The Apps
While oysters aren't my preference, we started out with an order of these salty bivalves. Upon arrival Kay's eyes lit up at the plate of six glistening, plump oysters, each nestled on a bed of crushed ice, promising a briny start to her culinary journey.
I was into what followed. First, some incredible wagyu dumplings with their delicate wrappers, slightly translucent and hinting at the rich, marbled wagyu within. They were perfectly pan-fried to a light golden-brown. As I bit into one, the savory juices burst forth, a testament to the quality of the beef.
Next, melt-in-your-mouth slices of fatty belly tuna. Thin slices, almost iridescent with their marbling, practically melted on my tongue, leaving a lingering richness that was both decadent and clean.
Finally, the octopus teriyaki was a visual delight – tender, charred tentacles boasting a glossy, deep brown glaze, accompanied by the vibrant orange of the kabocha puree and the fiery red streaks of the spicy gochujang teriyaki. The aroma alone was enough to make your mouth water.
The Mains
Our culinary adventure continued with the miso black cod. The flaky, snow-white flesh glistened under a delicate citrus miso glaze, its sweet and savory aroma filling the air as it arrived at our table. The crispy leeks scattered atop provided a delightful textural contrast.
Following this masterpiece was the A5 Wagyu fried rice. Each grain of rice was coated in savory richness, studded with colorful house vegetables and topped with a vibrant orange jidori egg yolk. The subtle fragrance of yuzu kosho added a bright, citrusy note, while more crispy leeks provided an irresistible crunch.
The Desserts
Though we were nearing our limits, the allure of dessert was too strong to resist. Just as we were about to order, a beautiful plate of miniature cream-filled profiteroles, dusted with powdered sugar, arrived – a thoughtful birthday surprise for Kay. Despite this sweet generosity, Kay couldn't pass up the matcha tiramisu. Its layers of vibrant green matcha-soaked ladyfingers and creamy rum mascarpone looked as enticing as it tasted.
I opted for the ube creme brulee, its subtly sweet purple hue peeking out from under a brittle caramelized sugar crust. The coconut cream offered a tropical note, and the delicate, intricate chocolate coral tuile added a touch of artistic flair. Both desserts were so generous in portion that we happily took the remaining halves home to savor later.
What a night, what a meal.
Janken will always be in our hearts and stomachs as a great place for food and friends. I can’t wait to go back again and until it becomes impossible to get reservations, I encourage each of you to go check it out as well.
If you’ve been to Janken what did you think? What was your favorite part? I’d love to hear more about your experience and favorite dishes in the comments below.