Family-Friendly Asian Cuisine at Cafe Japengo

We dined as a guest of the venue

While staying at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, we had an unforgettable dinner at Cafe Japengo. When we first made our reservations at the restaurant, I was concerned that it might not have enough kid-friendly options, but the staff at the Hyatt ensured me that it was the best choice for dinner, and they were right.

After a day of fun in the sun, we walked across the street for dinner. The staff welcomed us and found a comfortable table for us to enjoy dinner. While looking over the menu, I was overwhelmed with the large variety of healthy options on their kid’s menu. From udon noodles to a bento box, there was something for all of my children to enjoy.

We started dinner with the house made chicken potstickers topped with a cilantro mint pesto and paired with a ponzu dipping sauce. The potstickers were flavorful and delicious. We also couldn’t resist having the roasted shishito peppers with a spicy ponzu and bonito flakes. The shishito peppers were so tasty that even my picky eater couldn’t stop eating them.

For the main course, my husband ordered a variety of freshly made sushi and paired it with cashew and organic chicken stir fry. The sushi tantalized his taste buds with every bite and was some of the best sushi that he has devoured.

While my husband was enjoying his sushi, I enjoyed every bite of the grilled filet mignon with sake prawns. The dish featured tender beef, wasabi butter, a shoyu demi and garlic mash. It was one of the most tender steaks I have had and was cooked to perfection.

The best part of Cafe Japengo is that they accommodated my son’s food allergies. They paid careful attention to all of his allergies upon ordering and helped to create a dish that he could enjoy without the fear of having an allergic reaction.

While my older son savored his freshly grilled allergy-friendly chicken, my two other children had the children’s bento box. The amount of food that comes with a child’s bento box is enough for 2-3 children to share. It comes with edamame, buttered udon noodles, wok’d teriyaki noodles, chicken katsu with mashed potatoes, and sushi. The kids loved every bite of their dinner and asked us if we could come back tomorrow night for more.

Just when we thought that we couldn’t eat another bite, the chef continued to impress us with a plate full of their delectable desserts. It was dinner that we will never forget, and plan to return to Cafe Japengo for many years to come. When planning your family staycation at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, make reservations for a delicious dinner at Cafe Japengo. Cafe Japengo is located at 8960 University Center Ln, San Diego.