Ichiran Ichiran is Japan’s most popular purveyor of tonkotsu ramen. The reason? It uses only natural ingredients and the latest technology to make its soup, and the odor so often associated with the pork-bone broth is completely eliminated. People turned off by the usual pork-bone odor gobble up this ramen without hesitation. Another unique feature at Ichiran is the private booth seating, known as...
“Lately, at the high-end shops in Ginza and Roppongi, it’s all fixed courses. No matter who the customers are, they get served the same sushi in the same order. Repeating the same thing over and over? I think that has to be a bore.” Tatsuro Shibuya has a 30-year career as a sushi chef. His shop is about a 40-minute drive from central Tokyo...
Uwajimaya: A Wealth of Wagyu Awaits There is arguably no better steak than the one you grill in your backyard with friends, especially if you don’t scrimp when choosing that steak. In Seattle, Bellevue, Renton, and Beaverton, there is a wealth of wagyu choices at the Uwajimaya grocery stores. Butchers are on hand to offer tips on what to choose and how to cook...
Japan wasn’t always a destination for delicious steaks and meat dishes. For much of its history, Japan consumed very little meat based on Buddhist influence, which forbade meat eating. But the wave of modernization in the late 1800s changed all that. Soon, meat was not only accepted by mainstream Japanese, it was being prepared in new and different ways by applying traditional Japanese cooking...
A once quiet residential area near Kyoto Station known as Sujin- shinmachi is being redeveloped and will soon be home to Kyoto City University of the Arts, which is moving in from the suburbs. In the meantime, something called Yatai-Mura has sprung up there. What is Yatai-Mura? A yatai is a traditional Japanese food cart. They can be seen in any downtown or main...
Built in 1603, Nijo-jo Castle was the shogun’s Kyoto residence during the Edo period (1603 – 1867), and later became Nijo Rikyu (Nijo Imperial Villa). This 400-year-old castle showcases the shoin-zukuri architectural style, more than 3,600 wall paintings. In 1994, Nijo-jo Castle was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Surprisingly, you can have a traditional Japanese meal at this historic castle. Kyoryori Isobe,...
U:DON U:don owner Taku makes some delicious udon. I was surprised to find this high-quality udon in the Seattle area. The homemade noodles have body to them and an authentic taste. Information 1) U:Don Capitol Hill 1640 12th Ave Seattle https://freshudon.com/ 2)U:Don University District 4515 University Way NE, Seattle TEINEI This is my go-to restaurant when I want to eat yummy ramen. You can...
How you can experience true Edomae sushi in Japan The unpretentious Umenoki sits in a hard-to-find alley in Tokyo’s Akasaka neighborhood. The exterior is black, and only a colorful noren curtain that changes with the seasons indicates there’s something going on inside. It’s easy to pass right by this sushi shop. But if you do pass it by, you’ll be missing out. Duck inside...
SUSHI KAPPO TAMURA WINS OPEN TABLE HONORS Sushi Kappo Tamura in Eastlake was the only restaurant in Washington state to make the Open Table list of the top 100 restaurants in the US in 2018. Open Table, an online reservation system, uses feedback from diners to compile the list. The restaurant has an exceptional rating on Open Table with 97% of the 993 reviews...
RAMEN JIRO Ramen Jiro has a cult-like status in Japan, and yet it is also known as restaurant most regular Japanese will avoid. Why is that? We will look at a report on Ramen Jiro by Fallindebu Hassy (https://lineblog.me/fallindebu/) Japan’s most popular gourmet-food blogger who gets more than 2 million views a month. Pork Ramen (700JPY including free toppings) The menu offers two sizes,...
