I went to Rakuen Sushi Bar and Lounge downtown for the first time. This is Chinatown’s first sushi bar and lounge located on Bethel Street next to JJ Dolans. I was pleasantly surprised to find a new fun bar with good food, drinks, and excellent service. Downtown really needed a sushi and sake place, so Rakuen has filled the void. They serve lunch and dinner with a menu of pupus, salads, don bowls, and sushi rolls. The food I tried wasn’t the best sushi of my life, but it was above average fresh and tasty food.
My favorite thing about my first visit to Rakuen was the service. The bar staff, waitresses, and management were very prompt, friendly, and attentive. We had a large party of people that night and the manager/owner (not sure what he was) who helped us get a table was sooo very nice. He gave us a free bottle of sake for waiting, free french fries, and was very and nice, which can be hard to find in a busy downtown bar.
The other thing that was unusually great about this place is that every day at the end of happy hour the same manager/owner guy plays Jan Ken Po (Rock Paper Scissors) game with the whole bar for $50. As it turns out that night with my strange luck I WON!!
If you want to hit the downtown bar scene and have a craving for sake and sushi, you can now have your cake and eat it too with Rakuen. If you want a chance at $50 be there for their daily Jan Ken Po game around 7 pm.
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