I really wanted to like Nikko Garden, especially since there aren't a ton of Asian food options in Soldotna, but unfortunately, our experience was pretty disappointing. Clean seating area/decor. No alcohol/beer served, despite the bar/sushi area.
The service was friendly, and our interactions with the staff were pleasant, so I'll definitely give them credit for that. Unfortunately, the food just didn't hit the mark.
The biggest issue was how incredibly oily everything was. The dishes were so saturated with oil that it honestly felt like we were eating straight oil. It completely overpowered the flavors and made everything feel heavy.
The menu descriptions were also pretty misleading.
We ordered the "Tempura" Shrimp Udon Soup, but the shrimp was not tempura. It was regular shrimp, so I was confused by the description.
The Beef Jap Chae was probably the biggest disappointment. Jap chae is traditionally a Korean dish, but what we got was essentially Mongolian beef over vermicelli noodles that were completely saturated in oil. It really didn't resemble jap chae.
All dishes had rice saturated in the sauce and oil.
I don't mind a Chinese interpretation or fusion version of a dish, but I do think the menu should be clear about what you're actually getting.
Overall, the food had Chinese flavors, but several dishes didn't really match what was presented on the menu. Very oily, heavy, and underwhelming.
The friendly service was definitely a bright spot, but unfortunately, the food wasn't enough to make us want to come back. read more