Tempura News
New Japanese restaurant in North Richland Hills serves it fast & good

JAL Japanese Express
There's a new Japanese restaurant in North Richland Hills that's ready to bring it fast and good: Called JAL Japanese Express, it’s a fast-casual style restaurant that opened in January in a former poke shop at 8850 N. Tarrant Pkwy. #701 in the Tarrant Parkway Plaza.
JAL Japanese Express is from husband-and-wife Jonny and Linda Tran, first-time restaurateurs who've already established a reputation for their fast, friendly service, making JAL a good choice for diners seeking authentic Japanese food to-go — exactly the kind of restaurant that pretty much every suburban neighborhood wants.
The menu is wide-ranging, with a large selection of sushi rolls, as well as sashimi and nigiri sushi; plus hibachi dishes such as steak, shrimp, chicken, lobster, and tofu; plus poke bowls; plus udon noodle soup.
Appetizers range from classics like tempura to a fun twist on the usual "poppers" featuring a deep-fried jalapeno stuffed with a combination of spicy tuna & cream cheese. There are also dumplings, which you can get steamed or fried, and Asian-style chicken wings,
They even offer dessert including tempura cheesecake and mochi ice cream, with the ice cream rolled in soft chewy mochi dough.
Prices are very affordable, ranging from $2.50 for a soup or salad to $60 for a family-style shared “Love Boat” package with 12 sushi rolls, 12 sashimi, and a special roll.
The hibachi platters are a popular choice: For about $13 to $14, you get your choice of protein, plus soup & salad, and white or fried rice.
There are plans to serve alcohol including wine, beer, and Japanese sake, but they're still waiting for their permit.
Daisy Tran, who is Linda's cousin and speaks on the couple's behalf, helps with the restaurant when she can. According to Daisy, they chose to open the restaurant in North Richland Hills because it seemed like a good fit for their needs.
"It was an opportunity when we found a place that was available," Daisy says. "After seeing what people liked in North Richland Hills, we loved it. It's a growing community and a great location."