IF you’re craving for the 
freshest sushi and sashimi and other Japanese favorites on Saipan, check out Himawari Restaurant in Garapan. It was not my first time to eat there but it was my first time to order from the lunch menu. I decided to try the $7 salmon with butter lunch set, a choice which food staffer Connie said was among the bestsellers for lunch.
My roommate, who was still half asleep since I just dragged him out of bed, decided on the $7 Poki with rice set upon Connie’s recommendation.
It was still 11 a.m. and we were the very first diners but soon, the tables started to fill up. Our orders came in too soon. My grilled salmon was dripping with butter on a platter and served with onion rings on top of steamed kangkong leaves on the side. It also came with a serving of rice and miso soup.
My salmon was delicious, the melted butter blending well with its natural flavors. My roommate’s Poki with rice set followed — fresh yellow fin cubes on top of noodles and rice in a wooden bowl. He shooed the wasabi paste aside after Connie told him to go easy on it if he’s not used to it (and he’s not!) because it was freshly made.
Other lunch set option from $7 to $10 are sushi and tempura set, sashimi, tempura and rice set, sashimi and rice set, sushi set, unagi tempura with rice set, broiled salmon and ikura with rice, and yellow fin and yam or Yamakake rice set, and over 10 choices of assorted Ramen and Udon noodles.
Himawari serves more choices for dinner. Browse through the wide variations of sushi and sashimi and other Japanese favorites you must not miss.
Himawari has been in operation for a long time but it started offering sashimi and sushi set menus for lunch last January only. 
The place is a favorite hangout of many people— not Japanese, Filipinos, Chinese and locals.
At Himawari, you don’t have to wait for the restaurant to open for lunch or dinner. You can buy fresh bento and assorted meal boxes from the store, heat it in the microwave for a few minutes and bring your food to the restaurant to eat. The choices are endless. You can pour yourself a steaming cup of brewed Marianas coffee, choose from the everyday available hot soups, cold mouthwatering desserts such as cakes, chocolate mousse, and more. The Himawari bakery is also a favorite of many as it offers various kinds of fresh bread.
And oh, if you wait until 6:30 p.m. every day, you can avail of big discounts on all the food boxes fr
om 20 to 50 percent.
Himawari is your ideal destination to get something to eat — whether you are in for a leisurely meal, or just grab some food to go.
The homey ambiance of the restaurant adds to your dining experience. The cubicles provide diners some sort of privacy but diners can also sit in the counter if they want to watch television over dinner.
Himawari is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for dinner every day. All major credit cards are accepted. For more information, call 233-1530.
Himawari: Your ultimate Japanese foodstop on Saipan | out-to-eat.
Frank Stewart
We like the great food and good service. Himawari is a “good value” restaurant. The “locals” , like us, frequently eat there. Cheers.