A Guide to Japanese Cuisine

Japanese food has become extremely popular throughout the Western world. The attraction is not just the delicious food, but the entire atmosphere. The nearly acrobatic preparation and colorful presentation add to the appeal.

Grab your chopsticks, and let's go!

Japanese Food in the Western World

Japanese steakhouses generally offer hibachi dinners. Diners are seated around a flaming grill, where a skilled chef juggles knives and spatulas and cooks appetizers and entrees to order. The preparation is a major part of the dining experience. Often, smaller groups are paired together, and you never know what friendships and acquaintanceships may develop.

Sushi bars and restaurants offer artistic uncooked fish and vegetable sushi. This may be presented on trays, or diners may be seated at a counter to watch the sushi chef prepare their orders.

Dining in Japan

Restaurants in Japan tend to specialize in one or two types of cooking. You can expect to remove your shoes upon entering each establishment. (Often, slippers are provided for customers.) In many Japanese restaurants, diners will sit on the floor or on mats at low tables.

Here are several examples of authentic Japanese cuisine:

Gyodon-Ya restaurants serve economically priced beef rolls and other fast-food-like options.

Kaiten-Zushi restaurants offer sushi dishes on conveyor belts. Customers select the items they wish. At the end of the meal, the plates are counted up to tally the bill. (Plates may be color-coded for varying price levels.)

Kare-Ya restaurants are known for kareraisu (curried rice) offerings.

Okonomiyaki-Ya restaurants offer okonomiyaki, a pancake-like pastry filled with seawood, vegetables and a choice of fish or meat.

Ramen-Ya restaurants serve Oriental-style noodles in soup with several topping options. (This is a far cry from the 25-cent dried-out pre-packaged ramen noodles you might find in a Western grocery store! You will be pleasantly surprised.) The soup may be a vegetable, chicken, or beef broth. Fried rice and orzo may also be offered.

Soba-Ya restaurants offer hot and cold noodle dishes with soups and dipping sauces.

Sukiyaya-Ya restaurants serve sukiyaki (sauteed sliced beef) and shabu-shabu (boiled beef). These pricey spots can be hard to find, but worth the trip!

Sushi-Ya restaurants seat customers at a counter, where a sushi chef prepares dishes to order.

Tempura-Ya restaurants have crunchy, fried breaded seafood or vegetable offerings.

Tonkatsu-Ya restaurants are famed for deep-fried pork chops with various dipping sauces.

Unagi-Ya restaurants are known for bowls of cooked rice topped with cooked vegetables and fish or meat. Eel is extremely popular at such spots.

Yahitori-Ya restaurants boast shish-kebobs, usually made with chicken. Beef or fish may also be offered.

Are you ready for the finest in Asian cooking?

"Oishii!" (Delicious!)