Lynne:  Loryn has been working on me to go to the new Japanese–Thai restaurant here in Logansport. It is in the little building at the northwestern corner of 6th and Michigan Ave. There have been several small family restaurants in this location, and the only one I remember clearly is one that served some of the best tacos ever, covered in a fresh, luscious avocado guacamole.  I ate there as often as I could, and since I lived very close I could walk there every day.

It is hard for restaurants to make it in Logansport. No one is particularly anxious to spend money on unfamiliar food. It is hard to tell someone that their food is terrible if you don’t know how it is supposed to taste. You can’t complain because it may be cooked extremely well, but it is something you hate extremely much. (Like cooked turnips.)

The Ben Japanese–Thai Express restaurant was really great. I went in and ordered the filet mignon, which was $8.75. I couldn’t imagine what could be called filet mignon at that price, but since Loryn guaranteed the food (and paid for it) I felt that I could take that chance.

It turns out that this dish is small pieces of tenderloin over rice with carrots, zucchini and onions. The meat is extraordinarily tender and the vegetables were that wonderful degree of cooked where they are not mushy, but they do not crack your teeth.  There is a sauce overall that tastes to me like hoisin sauce, but as I am not terribly knowledgeable about Asian sauces I cannot guarantee that’s what it is. It just tastes like the sauce I usually get with Thai spring rolls.

The meal includes a salad and a delicious egg-roll. That’s a lot of food for your money. The restaurant is small but the service is very good. I had the regular iced tea and sometimes tea will tell you a lot about a restaurant. This was fresh. Loryn is a fan of the yellow curry (without meat as she is a vegetarian) and is trying not to order it every time she goes. She wants to try some of the other dishes.

If your palate is jaded from hamburgers, fries and chicken, this is the place to get something different and come away happy.

Ben Japanese–Thai Express

Dine In/Take Out

Business Hours: Monday -Saturday, 11 am to 9 pm

Phone/Fax: 574-722-9920

705 N. 6th St.

Logansport

(Visa, Mastercard, and Discover cards accepted)