Driving by Annandale, there is a wide variety of Asian cuisine. This week we decided to stop by Saku Asian Diner that had just opened in Springfield.

Entering into the parking space, the buildings surrounding the restaurant had a generic look. Once we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by some Asian music playing softly in the background, drowned out by the evening news playing on the television on the wall. Wanting to enjoy some more of the Asian culture, we were confused to see portraits of teacups and more generic portraits made to fit the empty spaces.

We went to the back of the reustaurant to order. On the wall behind the cashier, we viewed the menu that offered a variety of sushi rolls, beef, chicken, shrimp teriyaki  and general tso chicken, all accompanied by either fried or white rice with some vegetables. The drinks were the traditional soft drinks and hot green tea. We chose the chicken and shrimp teriyaki with white rice.

The process of cooking the food  was quick and easy, making the wait pleasantly painless. Both the shrimp and chicken were cooked well, but there was an excess of an pungent spice that overpowered the taste of the chicken. The vegetables were boiled and did not provide any uniqueness to our taste buds. With the white rice boiled and plain, we understood that the taste of the chicken and shrimp had to be richer than the side dishes, but the taste was more than a little generic for what we were looking for. The healthy kick of the food was low and the grease that encased the food was not as appetizing in any way.

Looking at the culture and variety of what Annandale has to offer, Saku Asian diner was secondhand on all levels, but offers an inexpensive option for those interested.