There’s this little Japanese restaurant in downtown Hayward called Wakamatsu. It’s been there for as long as I can remember. I was thinking today that I’d lived in Hayward for most of my life, and yet I’ve never been to that restaurant. So tonight I went.

Most people think that Japanese food = sushi. No. No! Wrong! There is so much more! I lived in Japan for eight months when I was in the Navy (and I loved it! see past blogs), and I fell in love with the fantastic food. Miso and edamame and sanma and katsu don and mmm mmm mmm! I’m getting hungry again just writing about it!

So I’ve had this craving for good ol’ mom and pop Japanese food lately. I’ve been searching www.yelp.com for reviews of Japanese restaurants in the Bay, but most of them are in San Francisco. However I found a half dozen places in Hayward, and for the last week I’ve been researching and scoping them out.

Most of these restaurants pretty much specialize in sushi, because that’s what dumbass Americans want to eat (for the record, I much prefer sashimi over sushi). But Wakamatsu was different. Holy shit! There are actual Japanese people working here! In fact, my server’s English was borderline–so I used my absolutely terrible Japanese to make sure she knew what I wanted.

I had pickled seaweed with miso soup and a big ol’ Kirin Ichiban to start. Soon my plate of gyoza arrived, and finally my katsu don. It was heavenly. I haven’t had food this good in sooo many years, and definitely not since I left SoCal (Ebisu, oh how I miss you). Dammit! Why hadn’t I tried this place earlier? As I sat eating my dinner I couldn’t help thinking, “All these wasted years!”

I’ll be back…