JP Street is a great place for students and those looking for good food on a budget. We met with the lovely Iris Pan who spoke to us about the restaurant and gave Manhattan Sideways a tour through the menu.
“The owner puts a lot of heart in this, his whole soul,” she told us. His passion is evident in both the restaurant design and the menu, which he personally put together. He is also in charge of creating the sauces to his exacting requirements. Iris explained that this is so the food remains consistent, as that is what his loyal customers have come to expect. The owner’s teriyaki sauce, which we tasted, has no added sugar. “Everyone here is about healthy, healthy, healthy,” Iris said. JP Street also uses purple rice, which tastes a bit like red bean paste, and is a more nutritious alternative to white rice.
The owner is in love with Japan, Iris informed us. Before JP Street, he worked with fusion cuisine, but chose to open something authentic on 8th Street. As an example of his commitment to taste and tradition, he only uses 100% Kobe beef. Iris told us that “Kobe beef” is often only 20% genuine in other restaurants, but JP Street goes the extra mile. The Japanese Burger with grilled onions, mushrooms, and wasabi teriyaki is not expensive and the meat is of such good quality that it melts in one’s mouth.
JP Street is also known for its Onigiri, a traditional rice ball that is eaten in Japan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is easy to wrap up and take to go, which makes it perfect for busy students. It also comes in a variety of flavors: Unagi, Spicy Tuna, Vegetable, Crab and Shrimp, and Lobster Salad. The Manhattan Sideways team tried a few of the rice balls, as well as the rock shrimp, wrapped in crispy potato noodles, and the JP wings, which are conveniently shaped to ensure non-messy eating. The most distinctive item on the menu by far was the sushi burrito. It is essentially a large hand roll chock full of goodies. Our team members tried the Atlantic Sea Burrito and Sea Dragon Burrito. They come in two sizes: small and large, if one is extra hungry.