June 2023
There's good news for the folks in Raanana and the Sharon area!
Mushi Mushi is a new kosher Asian and Sushi restaurant in the unlikely location of Kiryat Sharet, Raanana. Whooda thought.
If you haven't been to Kiryat Sharet in a while, here is a very good reason to visit this neighborhood. In fact, having been to Mushi Mushi only once, we are itching to go back. I am guessing that being located off the main commercial areas of the city helps keep the costs down. And the restaurant passes these savings to you, with reasonable prices and convenient free parking behind the shopping center.
We visited this restaurant for a mid-week lunch. Our expectations for a good dining experience were tempered as we made our way through the grungy passageway from the parking lot to the row of shops. We passed several unimpressive fast food eateries before we found the entrance to the modest Mushi Mushi restaurant.
The indoor area of the restaurant is mostly kitchen and a sushi counter that doubles as a bar with seating. There is one table for folks who insist on air conditioning. That would be us. Diners at Mushi Mushi are invited to sit in the covered patio shared by the other eateries. This would probably be pleasant enough in the evening or on a cool day. As we were soon to learn, a restaurant should not always be judged by its location.
Behind the counter/bar stands an Asian sushi chef and Mor, the  owner/manger of the restaurant. Lively, upbeat, energetic Mor is exactly what a restaurant owner should be. Mor has been managing Asian and sushi restaurants in different parts of the country for 17 years, She knows this business. Mor is gregarious and people-loving, and if you are not her friend when you come into the restaurant, you will become her friend by the time you leave. Talk to her for just a few minutes and her life story comes tumbling out. It won't be long before she pulls out her phone to show pictures of her baby and asks if I know a nice single woman for a male friend of hers. Sorry. I am already spoken for.
Mor placed a bowl of pickled Asian vegetables on the table and then recited the dishes on the menu.
No printed menu? The new menu is almost ready, she said. By the time you read this, there will be a long printed menu with choices of meat, noodles, fish dishes and sushi rolls. As she spoke we noshed on the vegetables, a bit sharp for me, but perfect for my companion. In the meantime Mor suggested the dishes that we would like.
She had us pegged. I guess the 17 years of feeding people has honed in her intuition. My companion opted for a hot meat dish, but it was fish for me. I got you, she said. Meat and spicy for the gentleman and fish and no spices for the lady. Correct.
No sushi? She asked. One roll, for the write up, all vegetable, inside out, wasabi on the side, to please us both.
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My companion was delighted with the noodle and chicken dish that Mor suggested. The noodles were mixed with broccoli and other vegetables and cooked in a mild curry sauce with cocoanut milk. The portion size was generous, as was the chicken. The dish was attractively presented with small boats of crushed peanut and parsley leaves balanced on the side of the bowl. This is a complex dish, Mor told us. The sauce takes hours of preparation, and contains about 30 ingredients.
"We have the most amazing fish dish" she said pointing at me, "that you will love." I'm going with Mor.
She definitely got that right. Out came a platter of two skewers of panko coated salmon, beautifully prepared and delicious. The fish was moist and tasty, and the panko coating gave it the crispy crunch that we love. This dish is a crowd pleaser and I understand why. The salmon was served with all the Asian sauces, but who would disguise the taste of the fish with these sauces?
And then came the sushi. It was so attractive that even though we hardly needed more food, we each had a couple of pieces. We took the rest home for a later meal, which I must confess was so tempting that it happened a lot sooner than expected.
Like most good sushi restaurants, you can order sushi from Mushi Mushi delivered. Take away is never as good as eating in so I suggest that you make your way over to the restaurant. Say hello to my new friend Mor and take a look at her baby pictures.
Catering and platters also available.
Our bill for the foods just crossed 150 shekels.
Ample free parking in the lot of the sports center and Clalit Offices, behind the shopping center.
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