Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Friday, March 29, 2024

Hiro restaurant gets an A for creativity but that's it

Hiro
Hiro

Hiro, an Asian sandwich bistro, recently opened in Gainesville on Archer Road. Curious, and completely confused by what an Asian sandwich place could possibly offer me, I decided to try it.

The restaurant, with modern décor and some trendy lighting, gives off a warm feeling when entering the store. The staff was helpful, as there was absolutely no precedent set in my mind in the Asian sandwich category.

My menu item of choice was the Miyagi Five-O, which had teriyaki chicken, lettuce, pineapple, onions, mushrooms and peppers. The employee sold me on the Mantou bun, which was delicate, sweet and much different then anything I have ever tried before.

I wanted to give the restaurant a true shot at winning my heart. So I thought, what better way then to experiment with dessert?

The fried mantou buns stared at me from the large plaza screen at the entrance. They looked like they were dripping in cinnamon bun drizzle and I truly couldn’t resist.

I received my food and was ready to dig in. Cracking open my little side of teriyaki sauce, I got ready to dunk the side of my sandwich in. Diving right in, I dipped and took a big crunch.

Did I hate it? No. Did I like it? Not really. I don’t know if it was because it was not what I was expecting or because I ordered the wrong dish. Perhaps it is just because when I think of sandwiches my mind goes into a world of salami, provolone and a large slathering of mayo. This sandwich was different than anything I have ever tasted.

The sandwich was creative, which I applaud. But I am not quite sold that the creativity translated well into an actual dish that someone would crave, order for dinner or tell his or her friends about.

The pineapple added a nice, sweet flavor to the sandwich, but mixed with the crunch of the peppers and onion I could not quite get myself to fiend for more bites.

But, there was still dessert on my mind and in my near future, so I quickly shifted gears.

The fried mantou buns were incredibly disappointing, but I think it’s my fault to think what is essentially fried bread would be good in the first place. They tasted like a strange version of a churro. The sugary drizzle on top was the best part, but the dish sadly left me disappointed that I wasted the calories.

Perhaps in the future I will give Hiro another shot. They are on 2DollarDelivery after all, and, because I can be lazy at times, any restaurant that will deliver right to my doorstop already has a step up in my book.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox
Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.