If you ask any local about Japhy’s Soup and Noodles, odds are they will say it was one of their go-to restaurants in Arcata. After 25 years of delicious soups and curries, Japhy’s was finally forced to close. Although this tragedy still cuts deep in the web of community-oriented restaurants, a new bud has emerged from the rich foundation Japhy’s has left in its wake.
Obento is a Japanese-style restaurant that had moved into the old Japhy’s location. The changes made to the restaurant did nothing but add to the atmosphere of the new restaurant. Traditional noren (wall hangings) have been placed above the hot food bar and in the kitchen entrance, adding a nice ambiance to the open and minimally decorated seating area. Although the food is drastically different, the seating has stayed mostly the same since the establishment changed except for a large wooden bar table that leaves you looking out the front window and a couple of tables outside for when the weather is nice.
Comparing Japhy’s and Obento is challenging due to the difference in cuisine so we asked 3 students their opinion on each restaurant. Senior Emmerson Brownfield described Obento as, “pretty good. I mean, you’re getting what you’re paying for, it’s cheap. And comparing it to Japhy’s I think Japhy’s is definitely better.” Sophomore Kyla Kinyon shares a similar sentiment, saying, “It was pretty good… I think it’s a lot more expensive than Japhy’s, but they’re so different. It’s kind of hard to compare.”
As a Japanese-style restaurant, Obento has a solid variety of sushi rolls, entree bowls, and appetizers to choose from. They have the Chicken Katsu, the Lemon Salmon Roll, and the Thai Tea. The best of the three was easily the Chicken Katsu, priced at $10.99, for a solid portion of chicken layered over an excellent portion of rice and a side of pickled vegetables. The chicken was juicy and moist, while still maintaining a crisp breading. The rice was nothing special, but nothing to complain about either. However, the spicy mayo and katsu sauce layered on top was the pivotal point that made this dish worthy of high praise.
Second was the Lemon Salmon Roll with ten pieces, priced at $11.49. The roll was simple yet good, the standard rice, seaweed, and cucumber combo with a bed of raw salmon and a white sauce drizzled on top. The roll was plenty crunchy with only a hint of lemon on the salmon, but for the price point, it isn’t something we would recommend getting.
One of the most unique parts of Obento is the hot and cold food bar method of serving food. It creates an easy in-and-out experience where there is zero wait to get your food, an ideal spot for high school students where lunchtime is limited. Not having to wait for your food to be made is a huge bonus for busy people who need to eat and have places to be.
Overall Obento is a great place to get good food quickly with minimal hassle. Is it comparable to Japhy’s? Not really but we were pleased with the quality of general service and food that Obento has to offer as a replacement for Japhy’s. Senior Alex Mizoguci states “They are two different things for me. I enjoyed Japhy’s soup but I also enjoy bento boxes.” There will always be a hole in our hearts for Japhy’s but a small piece of it can be filled while eating a Chicken katsu bowl at Obento.
