Hirozen
is located in the corner of a mini-mall near Beverly Center.
The interior is simple and chic, and the restaurant stands
there quietly. However, it is always crowded. It has been
here more than 15
years since its opening and always has been a popular
restaurant for all this time. It gently
welcomes first-time customers. The beautiful presentations
of the dishes please customers and they all finish with
satisfactions and smiles. One of the regulars told me
“I come here very often since my office is nearby.
But whenever I leave here, I am looking forward to coming
back here next time.
” Well-trained staffs come to a table with a pot
of green tea right when you think of asking for a refill.
Hirozen is surrounded by lots of little things that create
customers’ comfortable time.
Flexible:
Yasuyo, the manager, runs the place swiftly even when
it is overwhelmed with a lot of customers. She kindly
accepts most of requests from customers regarding food.
She says “I hate to decline our customer’s
request because we are short of materials.” Therefore,
there are numbers of dishes that are not on the menu.
It is fun to discover and explore those hidden dishes.
The Perfect Balance:
Mr. Obayashi, the head chef of Hirozen, is not only running
his own restaurant, but also involved in many restaurant’s
opening projects for renowned hotels in Las Vegas. I asked
him if there are any concerns about sharing know-hows
and techniques. To accept a case, it has to help elevating
Japanese food and culture, he says. He can train and help
others because he is confident of himself. He also says
that there are some differences in flavor when a different
person prepares a dish although the person exactly follows
his recipe. A true professional chef can adjust for each
customer. You can enjoy the dish prepared just for you
with a perfect balance at Hirozen.