Café Green Tea
3160 Steeles Avenue East, Markham
905-470-0758
Lunch for 2 and snack (with tax, no tip required) $21

Every time I go pick up some Japanese groceries, I always make sure I have time for lunch. Next to the market is a small food court and the Café Green Tea. It isn’t really just any regular cafeteria food; to me, it is a trip down memory lane. Ever since I returned from teaching in Japan, I’ve had a tough time finding a place that can help me get in touch with Japanese food and culture.

The staff at the café are all Japanese and they understand both Japanese and English so there are no worries of communication problems. And to make life easier, since few of the items have names that reveal anything much about the dish, their menu is all in pictures hanging proudly above the cash register so you know what to expect. Armed with my wooden block number, I have enough time to do a quick stroll at the supermarket section and buy a drink before I settle into a seat and wait patiently for my meal to be brought over by one of the soft spoken and polite Japanese ladies.

While our meals are being prepared, we munched on the okonomiyaki (okonomi = what you like and yaki = grilled) we ordered as a snack. They’ve translated this snack to “Japanese pizza” but the only thing that is somewhat relevant to the translation is that both are round objects. Don’t get me wrong, I love okonomiyaki, but it is nowhere near the taste of pizza. In my definition, I would say it is a salty pancake that has small chunks of seafood and vegetables mixed in the batter. On top is a layer of okonomiyaki sauce, swirls of mayonnaise and some bonito flakes (thinly shredded dried bonito fish). Even though it is sold as is, and is only warm rather than hot off the flat pan; the rare discovery of a tasty okonomiyaki so close to home makes my sister and I jump for joy.

I ordered the usual Katsu Kare (breaded pork in Japanese curry with rice) while my sister ordered the “Father’s Meal with chicken”. My order came first while there is a 10-minute delay for my sister’s meal. The pork curry is a very popular dish because it is easy on the palate; it is a great beginner’s curry that is unlike the super spicy curry served in Indian and Thai cuisines. Japanese curry is very mild and focuses more on aroma rather than the hot and spiciness. In the sauce, not only are there chunks of carrots and potatoes, but also evidence of beef. The pork was thinly breaded and fried to perfection without any extra grease. A bite of the perfectly cooked pork along with a spoon of Japanese rice (which is chewy and slightly stickier in texture than regular rice) soaked in the curry sauce and accented with the crunchy and slightly sweet radish creates a well-balanced bite.

My sister tried the Father’s Meal with the chicken option. I’m not quite sure why they associate this dish with fathers; my guess is because it has a hamburger steak and chicken along with rice and mash potatoes, it’s a “manly” dish with all the meat. Filling for a petite Asian frame but it may not really make a grown man extremely full; this dish was very tasty and worth the wait. The breaded chicken is similar to the breaded pork from my curry; crispy and non-greasy. But no matter how well the chicken was made, the focus was on the hamburger steak. It was very tender and juicy unlike the rubber textured ones served in fast food chains. The ketchup that they used (definitely not Heinz ketchup, this was a lot lighter in colour and less sweet) did not overpower the steak’s flavour at all and was an excellent compliment to it. My sister was so satisfied with the meal that she could not finish the miso soup that came along with it.

During lunchtime on weekdays, the place is not too packed so it is easy to find a seat. But it is a totally different story on the weekends. After a simple and tasty meal, it is important to remember to return the plates to the tray near the cash counter (it reminds me of IKEA’s cafeteria). Surrounded by the Japanese staff, it is my little Japanese oasis.