One popular franchise of restaurants in both Benton County and Linn County are Japanese restaurants. There are approximately four Japanese restaurants in Albany and four in Corvallis.
In Albany, one of the most talked about Japanese restaurants is one called, Love Love Teriyaki and then in Corvallis, there is a one called, Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar.
Both of these restaurants involve Japanese cuisine in their own unique style, ranging from the taste of the food, the setting and environment, and finally the prices. However, Love Love Teriyaki seems to have a little bit more advantage when it comes to these qualities and services.
Right when you walk into the Love Love restaurant you can already smell the steaming white rice, and the smell of soy sauce and the tangy teriyaki sauce. Every once in a while you hear the ding of bell signaling a fresh plate is ready.
Caroline Patton, a resident of Corvallis, enjoys eating at Love Love not only for the setting but for the food.
"I just love to hang out here, it's always usually quiet, nothing too hectic or overzealous," said Patton while waiting for her spicy Teriyaki Chicken, "it's just a nice place to come and sit and talk with the greatest food on the planet."
It's almost like one of those cliché cartoons where you see the smell and your nose follows then the rest of your body floats toward the source.
"The only problem I have with the place is that I live in Corvallis and have to wait till I get to school in Albany in order to have it," said Patton.
The environment of the place is completely calm and serene. There's not a lot of chaos and people, soft Christian rock music playing in the background, framed pictures of Japanese scenery and symbols are lined up along the wall create a familiar feel of Japan might feel like.
The food is portioned so well that no matter what someone may order, they always leave nice and full. The menu has an assortment of dishes ranging from Orange Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken to vegetarian dishes. The prices for most dishes of any sort range from $7-$8. Considering the portions they give, the prices are a pretty good deal.
Nathan Chan, an employee at Love Love Teriyaki has been working at the restaurant for about 6 months.
"I think our food has a very unique taste about it," said Chan, "I wouldn't say that it tastes exactly like regular Japanese food, because in Japan their cuisine is a little more crazy and unexpected."
As it turns out Love Love Teriyaki is one of two well-known restaurants in the area, Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar is located in Corvallis. However the reasons for why these two restaurants are known are for opposite reasons.
While Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar has a nice setting and environment, low tables, quiet atmosphere, it does not seem as comfortable as the other restaurant.
"I have eaten at both Love Love and the Steakhouse and I enjoy the food equally at both places, and the settings are similar in some ways," Ian Spaeth, 20, who lives in Corvallis, has always loved exotic tasting foods one including Japanese.
"They have Japanese fixtures and pictures everywhere, but it just feels different at the Tokyo Steakhouse, less relaxed it feels like," said Spaeth.
At Tokyo Steakhouse when you walk in, the first thing you expect to smell is some sort of authentic Japanese fragrance, however the first thing that hits your nose is incense burning. Not a bad smell, but it's not exactly a restaurant smell.
There are Japanese symbols and pictures hanging around the place, just like that of Love Love. However, the setting of the tables are different from Love Love. At Tokyo Steakhouse, all the tables and chairs are very close together. Most tables are set up next to the windows as close as possible, which is nice, but not everyone likes a window seat.
Not only are the settings slightly different between the two restaurants, the service that includes the host and hostesses are different in the behavioral aspect.
When it comes to any restaurant, food is not the only thing that plays a part in first impressions. If a customer comes to a restaurant and isn't greeted friendly and striking up a casual conversation while being seated, it can leave a bad after taste of the place in the back of your mind.
"The people who work at Love Love in Albany are always super friendly, they always ask about my day and then talk about their day," said Patton. "It's just a very upbeat and friendly place to eat at.
Another thing some people note is the dramatic price difference. At Love Love teriyaki, all dishes, depending on if you get extra sides, cost roughly around $7-8, whereas at Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse, most dishes are doubled that price, most dishes range from $15-2o and the portions are relatively the same.
Tokyo Steakhouse has a wide range of cuisine that includes, meat on meat such as Salmon and Chicken or Chicken and Steak, they also service the popular Ramen Noodle Soup, along with a variety of Sushi and unique seafood.
"The food at both places have a difference taste that's for sure," said Spaeth.
"Love Love has a little more sweet tangy taste to their food, and at the steakhouse their food seems to be a bit bolder and not as sweet," he said.
The choice is ultimately yours, if you prefer a sweet and sour tasting experience, visit Love Love Teriyaki in Albany, and if you don't mind putting a whole in your pocket, Tokyo Steakhouse would be your best bet.
At a glance:
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Love Love Teriyaki
Location:
2195 14th Ave. S.E. Suite 102
Albany, Oregon, 97322
Phone: 541.926.4142
Business Hours:
Monday - Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Tokyo Steahouse and Sushi Bar
250 S.W. 3rd St.
Corvallis, Oregon 97330
Phone: 541.754.7508
Business Hours:
Sunday - Thursday Lunch: 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Friday - Saturday Lunch: 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Dinner: 4:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
