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Show Recently Reviewed Cocolito's A sign outside Cocolito's proclaims the restaurant to be fine Mexican dining. And we thought our meal at Cocolito's was just that fine. On our server's recommendation, we tried a house special, the Fajitas Fabulosas with beef. Although we wish more fat would have been trimmed off the beef, the special marinade it came in was tasty We also ordered the Deluxe Chimi with pork. Unlike many area Mexiflan restaurants that seem to make their pork from the same (albeit delicious) recipe, the pork at Cocolito's offered a taste we hadn't tried before. It was the perfect balance between sweet and salty and didn't need any dressing up. 820E. 800 North, ". . Orem, 225-166- 5 Carreta Peruvian Restaurant La JEREMY HARMONDaily Herald The Dragon Roll at Sakura Japanese Steak House, Teppan Yaki Grill and Sushi Lounge in Orem. Asian persuasion to return Revlew One trip to Sakura Japanese Steak House will convince you Natalie Hollingshead DAILY Asian HERALD cuisine may be in home but we prefer to professionals work at the wok. At Sakura Japanese Steak House, chefs not only cook the food for you in front of your but they throw eyes, no less in (literally) some entertainment, Our table was half grill, half-count- er and was large enough to fit eight guests. We came as a twosome and were content to make small talk with the strangers next to us, but those with social anxieties may want to consider bringing enough friends to fill a table on their own. We expected a bit of a wait the restaurant was packed so we ordered a couple of rolls from the sushi bar to tame our hunger. It was a good choice. Not only was the sushi delicious, but it took nearly 45 minutes for our chef to arrive at our table. We tried the California roll, but preferred the extra zing of the snow crab roll, made with crab, avocado and cucumber. Both rolls are perfect for too. On a recent Friday night visit, we opted to sit at a hibachi grill, rather than the sushi lounge, so we could enjoy Sakura's offerings. The word teppanyaki refers to food that is grilled or sauteed on an iron plate, and at Sakura that iron eaters. plate is practically on your lap. This fact leads to our first and After devouring the sushi, we passed the time by taking in only warning: Don't go to Sakura if you're afraid of fire, or the energetic culinary display at want to bring children who may neighboring tables and trying be tempted to run amok. The fly- to see who could pin down our server for a drink refill. (This ing knives and high flames are was easier said than done.) enough to make even the most When our chef finally arrived, lackadaisical parent nervous. teppa-nyaki-sty- he got straight to work piling the food on our plates. All hibachi meals come with a flaming shrimp appetizer, tossed salad with "secret" Sakura dressing, Japanese soup, vegetables and steamed rice. We paid extra to swap our rice for thick noodles that were slightly greasy but had a tasty teriyaki flavor. The accompanying sauteed vegetables had the perfect crunch and didn't need any seasoning. The portions of teriyaki chicken, filet mignon and salmon were generous, and had a tenderness and flavor we're sure we couldn't recreate at home. We would also never attempt the mealtime entertainment in our own kitchens for fear of death or dismemberment. Our chef flipped shrimp into his hat, lit an volcano on fire, tossed an egg and broke it in midair and attempted to juggle his sharp cooking utensil several times. He didn't appear to us to be the most skilled entertainer in the bunch, but his flubs made din- . Sakura Japanese Steak House, Teppan Yaki Grill and Sushi Lounge Where: 171 W. University Parkway, Orem Price: Hibachi grill from $8.95 to $39.95. Sushi from $1.50 to $20. Vegetarian options: Some Family call: Get a babysitter 8 Info: 426-558- ner all the more entertaining. Like all good things, a night out at Sakura comes at a price, and it's more than some would normally pay for dinner at, say, Chili's or California Pizza Kitchea But we think the prices are spot on for the taste and experience. The food was much better than what we would've attempted at home, and we didn't have to do the dishes, either. When we heard La Carreta Peruvian Restaurant had moved to a riew location, we couldn't wait to stop by. On a recent visit, wetried the house special, Bisteak a la Carreta. Although it was excellent, we didn't think it was the best La Carreta had to offer. v Artfully prepared and generously portioned, the Jalea de Pescado was a feast for the eyes and the stomach. The breaded trident filet and fried squid tasted delicious with the perfectly fried potatoes and refreshing lime salad that also come with the dish. And the topping of shrimp was significantly more than we expected from a mere garnish. 340E. 1200 South, 6 Orem, 229-269- Thai Kitchen While everything about the decor and atmosphere at Thai Kitchen is simple, the food is quite the opposite with an exciting array of tastes and flafans. vors for Thai-foo- d We tried the Thai Pepper Fried Rice wjth chicken a dish that could even please someone not familiar with Thai foods and flavors. If you're feeling daring, we'd recommend the Green Curry. The soupy curry comes with your choice of protein so we went for the tofu. Served with a large bowl of white rice, the curry was just as spicy as you'd expect. 283 E. 300 South, Provo, 370-989- 4 |