Sushi lovers have been eagerly anticipating the announcement that the new Japanese restaurant from Kanpai’s owner would be opening soon and they got their wish Friday when chef Michael Murphy and owner Justin Cook announced that Boken is taking reservations. The restaurant is located in the Breezeway adjacent to Mirror Pond Plaza in the former home of the Downtowner, and, more recently, Lola’s. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner with small plates ranging from $2 – $14. Here’ s a sampling of some menu items that Boken included in its press release: Pork belly and kimchee steamed buns, Thai beef salad, Green papaya salad
Pho Bo, Laotion chicken wings
As far as the name, the owners tell us that it’s Japanese for “adventure.”
Reservations and info, 541.706.9091
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2011.
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thx Eric!!
“Pork belly and kimchee steamed buns, Thai beef salad, Green papaya salad Pho Bo, Laotion chicken wings”
Which of these are Japanese?
This is most mysterious. Must visit and examine menu.
WTF Japanese
tough location for any restaurant to make it…..with all the skateboarders and local riffraff hanging out at the plaza harassing people daily, little foot traffic will visit the new spot…..how many places have gone in and out of the breezeway in recent years?
Pork belly and kimchee steamed buns, Thai beef salad, Green papaya salad, Pho Bo, Laotion chicken wings?
Do they serve any Japanese food at this “Japanese” restaurant?
Oh, having lived in Japan for nearly 4 years, I do believe “kanpai” literally means “Cheers” and is invariably said before one raises their glass to take a drink (usually of alcoholic beverage) at both small and large gatherings.
Pork belly and kimchee steamed buns (Korean), Thai beef salad (Thai), Green papaya salad Pho Bo (Vietnamese), Laotion chicken wings (Lao)?
Do they serve any Japanese food at this Japanese restaurant?
Oh, having lived in Japan for about 4 years I believe “kanpai” means cheers and is invariably expressed (with raised glass) when about to drink an alcoholic beverage such as beer or sake.
Bouken is adventure. Not sure what Boken is?
Mr. Stardust is right, it’s a tough location. But it’s also unique. Attracting customers not easily dissuaded by the street urchins will be key. So the name may not be intended to suggest that the offerings strictly Japanese, but more descriptive of the adventurous spirit of the clientele. The place will need to serve delicious, interesting food at a good price point to survive there. Here’s hoping they succeed.
A boken is a wooden sword used for practicing Japanese Iaido. I’m not sure about other translations but, as someone who practices iaido, that’s what I know it as.
“Bouken,” or “Boken.” Japanese, near as I know, has no official spelling in “romanji” for most words.
Hmmm….I have to say I am familiar with Pork Belly and Kimchi from my Korean heritage however I have never had it in steamed buns! Let me know if you want to serve authentic Korean dishes in the Japanese restaurant as I have great recipes trapped in my head!