Japan food thread

[panDaz]

smallkuku..

no offense here but I think most people here just want to know about the normal roadside stores which a lot of other Japanese also queue up for. I think that's good enough. I mean, we can't possibly book a few months ahead for the high class restaurants unless we live there and know a certain level of Japanese. (+ having enough money to spend on these extravagant meals)

Yup, the blogs you posted do look impressive and useful. I do appreciate it. But tourists like us also wanna have a taste of good local food. You don't really have to post things like "its nothing impressive", "this thread covered ****". I believe everyone who posted just want to share their memories of "good" food to everyone.

 

[mroneder]

sorry to burst ur bubble, if japanese wanted to get really good unagi they would go to minami senju to obana.. undisputed..

this is a better blog to check out
www.potatomato.com/seat

thanks..would try it if i ever visit tokyo again. But izuei honten was good enough for me and furthermore it was in Ueno which was in my itinerary.

Anyone has recommendation for good food in Hokkaido?

 

[furyoo]

Yeah, agreed. Some of the "impressive" places aren't even frequented by Japanese. For example, what's the point in talking about New York Grill in Tokyo when most of the locals might go there once in a lifetime?

Michelin guide isn't the end all and be all of everything. I can think of local food to recommend that will never get a Michelin star or two.

 

[smallkuku]

Yeah, agreed. Some of the "impressive" places aren't even frequented by Japanese. For example, what's the point in talking about New York Grill in Tokyo when most of the locals might go there once in a lifetime?

Michelin guide isn't the end all and be all of everything. I can think of local food to recommend that will never get a Michelin star or two.

if u bother to check most locals eat restaurants most of the time.. thats the reason why most restaurants are booked anyway... wads the point of randomly eating in japan when the standard of food is comparable to authentic japanese restaurants in singapore

 

[samshio]

Different strokes for different folks.

if you like to go high end rest., micheline guide and all, all power to ya.

For me, I find that spending that huge amt of money for food is not worth it. Thus, I tend to go places that have good value. perhaps I have an unrefined palette.

Just like singapore, I do not enjoy going to Mortons nor Les Amis. I enjoy hawker centers and coffee shops. I will not make reservations for more than 1 week, and I will not plan my travels around restuarants.

But if you do, than that's yr choice.

I think this thread can support all types of recommendations, from the high end to the lower end. The most important criteria is to be happy, and not critisize other people choices.

Peace

 

[furyoo]

if u bother to check most locals eat restaurants most of the time.. thats the reason why most restaurants are booked anyway... wads the point of randomly eating in japan when the standard of food is comparable to authentic japanese restaurants in singapore

I don't know who you go out with, but the last time I went out with my Japanese friends in Tokyo, I went to Negishi, Kyushu Jangara and some cheap sukiyaki place that we had to book in advance. I think that was in Shibuya. So what's this about randomly eating? Try to find a Negishi in Singapore if you can.

I'm really surprised you think all locals eat at restaurants all the time. Good restaurants are booked always, yes, but not by the same patrons. Take for example sushi joints that aren't conveyor belt style. That is regarded as food for the upper class, and you won't see the middle class eating there day in and out.

Ultimately, both types of eateries have their own plus points and minus points, as many have already pointed out. Some people prefer to eat like how a normal citizen in Japan will eat, and I can show you Japanese food review sites that laud these cheaper places over the more expensive and fully booked restaurants. Others, like yourself I gather, may go for quality at a premium.

 

[stars87]

eh chill.

different strokes and different folks. to each to his own capacity. to eat according to the size of your wallet. whatever floats your boat.

i mean, some people will get a kick out of going to tokyo and hunting down all the best japanese unagi stores ( i for one think that NARITA city -actually a small town just outside of narita airport- has GREAT unagi) or even the best sushi/sashimi in tsukiji. im personally going to go to ikebukuro this winter and check out which is the best yakitori store there. go explore and hunt and look around for whats the best.

other people on the other hand will prefer to check out tokyo's Michelin star restaurants (they recently got a Michelin guide) and go check out all the haute couture of food and all the molecular gastronomy or whatever has been critically acclaimed.

there's no right or wrong in that. its just a different aspect of food in japan. different perspective ?

and in truth, you'd have people eating a bowl of quickie ramen in japan for dinner and people eating kaiseki set course dinners in japan at the same time. it really really depends on the individual.

Its the Variety and scope ( pretty much anything you want, everything you want) that can be found throughout japan that makes it such a food paradise.

 

[smallkuku]

I don't know who you go out with, but the last time I went out with my Japanese friends in Tokyo, I went to Negishi, Kyushu Jangara and some cheap sukiyaki place that we had to book in advance. I think that was in Shibuya. So what's this about randomly eating? Try to find a Negishi in Singapore if you can.

I'm really surprised you think all locals eat at restaurants all the time. Good restaurants are booked always, yes, but not by the same patrons. Take for example sushi joints that aren't conveyor belt style. That is regarded as food for the upper class, and you won't see the middle class eating there day in and out.

Ultimately, both types of eateries have their own plus points and minus points, as many have already pointed out. Some people prefer to eat like how a normal citizen in Japan will eat, and I can show you Japanese food review sites that laud these cheaper places over the more expensive and fully booked restaurants. Others, like yourself I gather, may go for quality at a premium.

the places u have mentioned are the more popular type of restaurants normal japanese would think of.. they are however not the best in their respective fields in the eyes of a japanese foodie.if u bother to check the websites i have said, it not only covers top end dining.
alternative to negishi in singapore, go to aburiya, gyukaku .. the website on negishi states that it uses beef from usa and aus.
ramen fanatics would say yes to ramen jiro ... http://www.ramentokyo.com/

 

[fox1]

the places u have mentioned are the more popular type of restaurants normal japanese would think of.. they are however not the best in their respective fields in the eyes of a japanese foodie.if u bother to check the websites i have said, it not only covers top end dining.
alternative to negishi in singapore, go to aburiya, gyukaku .. the website on negishi states that it uses beef from usa and aus.
ramen fanatics would say yes to ramen jiro ... http://www.ramentokyo.com/

most of the ppl here may not be a foodie like you know knows how to eat top end food. but i believe everyone knows the bottom end result. for those interested in japanese dining atmosphere in singapore, try the restaurants in le meridien hotel. run by japanese for japanese

 

[feryl]

To each their own. some ppl die die must rinse their mouth with shark's fins and dine on degustation in order to feel satiated. They enjoy making reservations and waiting in anticipation for explosive good food. And they have the deep pockets to sustain this habit.

There are others who are either less demanding, less patient or, more bluntly, less well-to-do. And there is nothing wrong/vulgar/plebian about enjoying basic foods and dishes.

Personally, I feel that even random restaurants are a mark above the better japanese restaurants in Singapore. Of coz if you are going to compare a restaurant that charges $200 for a meal with one that costs $20 in Japan, you're just playing the 'captain obvious' card. And frankly, I have found $20 food in Japan that DOES taste better than some so-called kaiseki in Singapore. Case in point, some Japanese back-alley unagi specialist compared to a place like Keyaki.

Also, good food also needs a good tongue. Not everyone can appreciate the nuances of haute cuisine. And not everyone wants to.

Lastly, most people in this thread are looking for a value-for-money trip to Japan because they have been saving up the whole year for that special experience. Thus, it makes more sense for them to spend evenly on all aspects of the trip, rather than blow everything on a few meals (which even requires the trouble of booking months in advance).

Maybe when they're retiring or strike a lottery, or work in investment banks...

 

[Kahlan]

To each their own. some ppl die die must rinse their mouth with shark's fins and dine on degustation in order to feel satiated. They enjoy making reservations and waiting in anticipation for explosive good food. And they have the deep pockets to sustain this habit.

There are others who are either less demanding, less patient or, more bluntly, less well-to-do. And there is nothing wrong/vulgar/plebian about enjoying basic foods and dishes.

Personally, I feel that even random restaurants are a mark above the better japanese restaurants in Singapore. Of coz if you are going to compare a restaurant that charges $200 for a meal with one that costs $20 in Japan, you're just playing the 'captain obvious' card. And frankly, I have found $20 food in Japan that DOES taste better than some so-called kaiseki in Singapore. Case in point, some Japanese back-alley unagi specialist compared to a place like Keyaki.

Also, good food also needs a good tongue. Not everyone can appreciate the nuances of haute cuisine. And not everyone wants to.

Lastly, most people in this thread are looking for a value-for-money trip to Japan because they have been saving up the whole year for that special experience. Thus, it makes more sense for them to spend evenly on all aspects of the trip, rather than blow everything on a few meals (which even requires the trouble of booking months in advance).

Maybe when they're retiring or strike a lottery, or work in investment banks...

How true. I'm one of those that are looking for value-for money food in Japan.

 

[samshio]

To each their own. some ppl die die must rinse their mouth with shark's fins and dine on degustation in order to feel satiated. They enjoy making reservations and waiting in anticipation for explosive good food. And they have the deep pockets to sustain this habit.

There are others who are either less demanding, less patient or, more bluntly, less well-to-do. And there is nothing wrong/vulgar/plebian about enjoying basic foods and dishes.

Personally, I feel that even random restaurants are a mark above the better japanese restaurants in Singapore. Of coz if you are going to compare a restaurant that charges $200 for a meal with one that costs $20 in Japan, you're just playing the 'captain obvious' card. And frankly, I have found $20 food in Japan that DOES taste better than some so-called kaiseki in Singapore. Case in point, some Japanese back-alley unagi specialist compared to a place like Keyaki.

Also, good food also needs a good tongue. Not everyone can appreciate the nuances of haute cuisine. And not everyone wants to.

Lastly, most people in this thread are looking for a value-for-money trip to Japan because they have been saving up the whole year for that special experience. Thus, it makes more sense for them to spend evenly on all aspects of the trip, rather than blow everything on a few meals (which even requires the trouble of booking months in advance).

Maybe when they're retiring or strike a lottery, or work in investment banks...

Agreed.

even in sg, I rather eat a $5 meal at a hawker center than eat high class french food at $100. once in a while is ok, but staple food is heartland food.

In japan, I also enjoy "heartland" japanese food, like ramen, katsudon, sushi. cheap and filling. I do not really like urchin, fugu, fish roe.

For me, enjoyment per dollar is higher in these "common" places than those places where I must queue > 1 hr or must dress up.

but if you enjoy such places than more power to you. You are welcome to such places. Meanwhile, I'll be sitting in the parks, watching the falling leaves with my packet of supermarket bought inari sushi.

 

[stars87]

Agreed.

even in sg, I rather eat a $5 meal at a hawker center than eat high class french food at $100. once in a while is ok, but staple food is heartland food.

In japan, I also enjoy "heartland" japanese food, like ramen, katsudon, sushi. cheap and filling. I do not really like urchin, fugu, fish roe.

For me, enjoyment per dollar is higher in these "common" places than those places where I must queue > 1 hr or must dress up.

but if you enjoy such places than more power to you. You are welcome to such places. Meanwhile, I'll be sitting in the parks, watching the falling leaves with my packet of supermarket bought inari sushi.

amen to that ! i absolutely agree. sitting under cherry blossoms drinking ashashi beer and eating gyoza bought from some random store is fantastic.

btw. have you eaten fugu in japan before ? the place where i stayed at kanda had a fugu restaurant right around the corner !!

i wanted to eat but the fugu in the tanks looked ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. they were flopping around bumping themselves against the glass and had "open wounds/sores" along their bodies. those were the ones still swimming. most of them were lying at the bottom of the tank. live food sure can be cruel.

kinda takes away any appetite after you look how miserable and sad they are.

btw, another quirky thing is pepper rice in singapore cannot match japan pepper rice. no idea why , but it simply just tastes better over there.

 

[samshio]

amen to that ! i absolutely agree. sitting under cherry blossoms drinking ashashi beer and eating gyoza bought from some random store is fantastic.

btw. have you eaten fugu in japan before ? the place where i stayed at kanda had a fugu restaurant right around the corner !!

i wanted to eat but the fugu in the tanks looked ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. they were flopping around bumping themselves against the glass and had "open wounds/sores" along their bodies. those were the ones still swimming. most of them were lying at the bottom of the tank. live food sure can be cruel.

kinda takes away any appetite after you look how miserable and sad they are.

btw, another quirky thing is pepper rice in singapore cannot match japan pepper rice. no idea why , but it simply just tastes better over there.

I tried fugu when my colleages in japan brought me out to eat.

It does not taste anything special to me. Rather eat tuna, salmon or yellowtail.

If I saw fugu like that in the tank, I wouldn't eat it either.


Pepper rice ?? you mean pepper lunch ? Nope have not tried it.

Ashashi beer !! yummy.

but nowadays old already, cannot drink too much

 

[stars87]

I tried fugu when my colleages in japan brought me out to eat.

It does not taste anything special to me. Rather eat tuna, salmon or yellowtail.

If I saw fugu like that in the tank, I wouldn't eat it either.


Pepper rice ?? you mean pepper lunch ? Nope have not tried it.

Ashashi beer !! yummy.

but nowadays old already, cannot drink too much

cool !

how does fugu taste like ? is there some kinda ritual before eating fugu ?

yea pepper lunch tastes alot better there in japan than it does here. somehow i feel the pepper lunch in singapore simply lacks something the japanese pepper lunch has in abundance.

 

[samshio]

cool !

how does fugu taste like ? is there some kinda ritual before eating fugu ?

yea pepper lunch tastes alot better there in japan than it does here. somehow i feel the pepper lunch in singapore simply lacks something the japanese pepper lunch has in abundance.

nope, no ritual, perhaps pray that you won't get poison

it taste a bit like normal fish with raw chicken texture. there is a slight numb feeling like dentist put LA on yr gums like that.

Don't really like it.

 

[feryl]

Agreed.

even in sg, I rather eat a $5 meal at a hawker center than eat high class french food at $100. once in a while is ok, but staple food is heartland food.

In japan, I also enjoy "heartland" japanese food, like ramen, katsudon, sushi. cheap and filling. I do not really like urchin, fugu, fish roe.

For me, enjoyment per dollar is higher in these "common" places than those places where I must queue > 1 hr or must dress up.

but if you enjoy such places than more power to you. You are welcome to such places. Meanwhile, I'll be sitting in the parks, watching the falling leaves with my packet of supermarket bought inari sushi.

Haha, maybe i draw the line at local hawker food. Not many sg hawker food got standard. There are some that are awful even if they are cheap. But on a level comparison, it is remarkably hard to find lousy food in japan, you actually need to be unlucky.

One interesting experience was a trip in Kochi, I ate at this 'canteen'-like outlet, I think it was a chain store but didn't take note of its name. It was like an army mess hall but the ingredients are all japanese, the decor is like macdonald's and it was dirt cheap. I got a stewed saba, some pickles, daikon (radishes are a real treat in japan), pork soup and a drink for about S$6 (450 yen).

so far, i have yet to understand dressing up or queuing for food, maybe i'm still low-class and simple.

 

[feryl]

amen to that ! i absolutely agree. sitting under cherry blossoms drinking ashashi beer and eating gyoza bought from some random store is fantastic.

btw. have you eaten fugu in japan before ? the place where i stayed at kanda had a fugu restaurant right around the corner !!

i wanted to eat but the fugu in the tanks looked ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. they were flopping around bumping themselves against the glass and had "open wounds/sores" along their bodies. those were the ones still swimming. most of them were lying at the bottom of the tank. live food sure can be cruel.

kinda takes away any appetite after you look how miserable and sad they are.

btw, another quirky thing is pepper rice in singapore cannot match japan pepper rice. no idea why , but it simply just tastes better over there.

Just on a note, is there any outlet in Japan, with a branch in Singapore, that doesn't taste better in Japan itself? So far, I've not found any!

 

[fox1]

Just on a note, is there any outlet in Japan, with a branch in Singapore, that doesn't taste better in Japan itself? So far, I've not found any!

和楽　waraku is good. there is one near my place. but not sure whether they are related.

 

[smallkuku]

Just on a note, is there any outlet in Japan, with a branch in Singapore, that doesn't taste better in Japan itself? So far, I've not found any!

i have ate at matsuya in japan before, i believe yoshinoya in singapore serves the exact tasting version in japan. Even there is a difference, it is only a difference in the types of combos sold, and maybe very little taste difference. U dun need to buy a ticket to fly to japan to eat fast food quality japanese food that are easily prepared in fast food chains or convenient stores. we have yoshinoya and tori q in singapore, all these are cheap and not bad quality, do you wan to go japan and eat similar type of food??? If it is so, then this is no means a japan food thread.

These kind of places are usually frequented by people who usually have no time to eat or on the rush. About expensive and all the ****.. most working japanese males often go to izayakas at night and spend hell loads of money there.. could be anything from 6000 yen and above.

Most restaurants have set lunches that cost less than 2500 yen.. Most tourists are just afraid to walk into a restaurant because of their lack of japanese language skill and lack of adventure.

some people in hwz have posted about ichiran and all those stuff.. they are quite popular are usually have queues... but all these are juz some good stuff out of the big ocean out there... yesterday i have juz found out another ramen stall that really attracted me very much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGyANEJmgPE