Wabi-sabi is hard to explain but essentially, it is a beauty of things unconventional, modest and humble. A Japanese concept, it is a feeling often compared with Zen. I find a little wabi-sabi every time I visit Asian Grill, which is located across from the mall.

Experimenting is half the fun. Tonight I had to try the spicy baby octopus salad for which I'd lusted on previous occasions. Served tall in a martini glass with slim and leggy vegetables trailing gracefully over the side, the salad is a concoction of baby octopus with Japanese seaweed, cucumbers and carrots in sweet vinaigrette. It did not disappoint. Octopus-a cousin to snails, oysters, mussels and clams-has a sweet, mild flavor. It is, by the way, an excellent source of iron, selenium, vitamin B12 and zinc.

For the less adventurous, the house salad with the zesty ginger dressing will do just fine. From Ancient Greece to modern-day, scholars have said ginger can help everything from arthritis to migraines. The salad and miso soup accompany dinner entrees.

For the main course, I am partial to Massaman Curry, a Thai dish that features chicken in a delectable curry sauce with avocado, snow peas, coconut milk and peanuts. This slightly spicy dish is nicely done and one of my favorites because of its unique blend of flavors. An equally delicious and perhaps less risky dish is the Spicy Chicken from the Korean kitchen.

Other recommendations include salmon teriyaki, Bul-Go-Gi (sliced beef in barbeque sauce), Jab-Chae, and Pad Thai (a wonderful combination of chicken, beef or shrimp with stir-fried rice noodle, peanut, egg, bean sprout and scallion). This dish truly is a case of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts.

With so many great choices it's still virtually impossible to ignore the sushi bar on any visit. The sushi chef is a master with painstaking presentations that will delight your senses. And the dollar-sushi nights Monday through Wednesday will satiate your sensibility. Menu items are reasonably priced. Lunch entrees range from $5 to $10; dinner runs from about $9 to $15.

At Asian Grill, you can eat at your own level. Start with dishes that are familiar to you and work your way up to new experiences. Choose what you use:  chopsticks, silverware or chopsticks with training wheels (a pair of chopsticks connected with a rubber band for easy gripping motion).

I go to Asian Grill for the food, but equally inviting is the atmosphere. The dining room is simply appointed in exquisite tones of ochre and lemongrass. The service is always friendly. The waiters will never let you be overwhelmed by the menu, unfamiliar dishes or sushi. They are extremely helpful, whether it's your first visit or you're fiftieth. Tonight, our waiter from South Korea, a UF student, was very enjoyable, helping us with food recommendations and explaining various traditions.

It is obvious that owners Young and Hannah Park from South Korea take great pride in their restaurant because of the great care they take with the cuisine and with the customers.

One final recommendation: when you go, you must try the hot ginger tea-an aromatic source of wabi-sabi. You'll savor the smooth lemon flavor with a piquant, lingering bite of ginger. In fact, you'll savor everything about Asian Grill.