Origami Asian Grill

Apr 2

Origami Asian Grill is a restaurant with a very simple ordering system. Though their menu is small, you can customize your meal with some nice choices that are given to you to select from. Simply pick if you’d like ramen or rice, your veggies, and then your protein. If you’d like an appetizer, you can order one, but that’s really all there is to it when it comes to what you can expect at Origami Asian Grill. Like I said, the menu is small, but I think just about anyone will be able to find a delicious meal to order and enjoy.

Origami Asian Grill does the whole ‘a few things done very well’ concept. Each meal that they prepare is presented nicely with ingredients that have been well thought out and flavored. In fact, that’s really the star of the experience here: the flavors. I found that the flavors in the food were very pronounced and heightened. Every bite of my meal had pop to it. If you like having your taste buds aroused, then Origami Asian Grill will do it for you!

But if you’re feeling more in the mood for food that is more tame and goes a little easier on you, then you might want to look elsewhere.

In my family, it’s hard to find a place that everyone enjoys because some folks in my family like bland food while others like spicy. We really run the gamut of tastes. So while I really enjoyed the food at Origami, it was a bit much for some others who came with me on this visit.

That being said, the food at Origami Asian Grill is certainly above par. We tried the poke appetizer and found it to be very refreshing. The portion was also a nice size so it was something that could be shared. I really wanted to see what the fried chicken was all about, but the portion and price seem a bit much. On my visit it was $19 for a full half bird… and that’s just how it comes. Origami has a neon sign that boasts how good their fried chicken is. This is something that I’m really curious about and want to come back to try.

The only other appetizer on the menu is the sunomono, which is a pickled cucumber dish. I’m sure this would be a nice little dish to get you ready for your main course, but we opted for the poke and found it was exactly what we wanted. The sunomono, however, is the least expensive appetizer on the menu at $6. The poke was $15.

The main courses consisted of either rice bowls or ramen. The rice was just fine and the ramen was definitely adequate. The broth didn’t particularly stand out too much in terms of its flavor, but it did the job, and it certainly wasn’t offensive. The ramen noodles were a nice texture and I enjoyed them as they were as there were supposed to be.

The protein is the main part of the bowls that make the difference. The five spiced beef came in a medium temperature and was strong with the five spice. The flavor was pronounced and I felt it was a solid add to my ramen. If you’re not a fan of five spice, it may be too much for you.

The pork belly was something that we really wanted to try, and the portion of pork belly was generous. My only complaint about it was that it was a bit tough. Often when I think of pork belly I think of a very easy to eat, melt in your mouth meat. These had much more chew to them than I thought they would have. They made you work for them, that’s for sure! Good flavor, but had to work.

Origami Asian Grill is a place I’d take my more flavorfully adventurous friends. It’s a happening place that the community around it seem to enjoy because the place was buzzing on a slow midweek dinner service.

If you’re into flavors that really stand out, I’d certainly recommend Origami Asian Grill.

Website: www.origamiasiangrill.com

Address: 4801 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95819