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Review content:
We stopped in on a Saturday night, were greeted by eerie silence (no familiar ""irasshaimase"" from the staff)--and were seated and given menus within 15 minutes. It was busy and there was only one waitron--but she was doing well. We ordered, and were pleased to feed ourselves reasonably well for 31$ for two, including tip and no drinks.
The vegetable tempura bento is fairly good truckstop fare--local sweet potato, broccoli (??), and perhaps some kind of mushroom were represented. Notably not tempura, but just deep-fried breaded vegetables--and oily! Still, quite good. The rice was a sort of SE Asian pilaf with carrot shards--not topped with black sesame seeds or strips of nori. Two deep-fried gyoza (??) accompanied by a dipping ramekin of very watery tentsuyu. Not bad pork gyoza--for Minnesota.
The tempura batter was probably kept too warm, or not chilled at all--yielding a sort of ""furai"" instead of a tempura experience. Edible, but not tempura. Also, the vegetables should have included at least one slice each of renkon and kabocha. Local sweet potato isn't Japanese--and broccoli should only be served if it's presented as an odd specialty.
My guess is that they attempted to economize on ingredients and have substituted less-expensive Western staples for actual Japanese supplies.
Requests for daikon oroshi for the tempura--de rigeur for that dish--were met with a puzzled, ""Um, no.""
Edamame were served hot with sea salt--and were tasty.
I asked for a cola and was handed a plastic bottle of Pepsi without comment.
The ""Rainbow Maki Sushi"" turned out to be a very tasty selection. The fish was fresh and the rice was under-vinegared, but quite palatable. The presentation was good for beginners in a cooking class, kind of mashed-together, rather than the customary precision slicing typical of sushi chefs. Still, the flavor was a welcome ""mmmmm"" to washoku-starved Minnesotans.
We spent nearly two hours in the restaurant, and were comped a serving of maccha ice cream for our 2-year-old, which we loved.
Don't expect authentic atmosphere, presentation, or preparation--but there are hints of Japan in the comfort chow at Taiko Sushi Bar.
The restaurant sits incongruously in the middle of a bunch of shrubs off of the highway. It's worth a stop, but could use some improvement in the ""authenticity"" department.
After getting the food, you look and wonder, ""Has anybody on this staff ever seen or eaten actual Japanese food, let alone ever visited Japan at all?!"" Not all bad, and certainly not all good.
Pros: Low prices, edible entrees
Cons: SE Asian feel, oily, super inattentive service
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