Just Japanese at Mikan on Brickell

Tokyo is called the Big Mikan (tangerine), but Miami has its own little slice in Mikan Japanese Restaurant, tucked into a building that also houses the Japanese consulate. In a welcome change from our typical sushi-Thai outlets, the emphasis here is on traditional Japanese dishes skillfully prepared with seasonal ingredients.

If you go

Place: Mikan Japanese Restaurant

Address: 80 SW Eighth St., Miami (in the Brickell Bay View Center; entrance is on Southwest First Avenue)

Contact: 305-373-5484, www.mikan-miami.com

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 5-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 5-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Prices: Appetizers $4-$10, soups $2-$14, rolls $4-$11, entrees $8-$18, lunch specials with miso soup, salad or rice $8-$14

Salad

Tangerine and Watercress Salad with Sweet Vinegar

Serve this salad with pan-roasted salmon or stir-fried shrimp and steamed rice.

1/2 white onion, sliced into thin half moons

1 bunch watercress (about 8 ounces), washed and trimmed

4 tangerines, peeled, pith removed and segments separated

Juice of 2 tangerines

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon soy sauce

Place the onion slices in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes and drain (to remove pungency). Place watercress in a serving bowl and add onions and tangerine segments. Mix the tangerine juice, sugar, vinegar and soy sauce. Add to the salad and toss to coat. Makes 4 servings.

Source: Adapted from “The Japanese Kitchen” by Kimiko Barber (Kyle, 2007).

Per Serving: 61 calories (3 percent from fat), 0 fat, 2 g protein, 0 cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 15 g carbohydrates, 107 mg sodium.

This story was originally published March 24, 2011 at 12:03 AM.