Japanese Food

Tokyo boasts a staggering number of restaurants, with estimates ranging from 137,000 to over 160,000. This makes it a culinary paradise. You would think most of them specialize in Japanese dishes but every ethnic taste is covered and the Japanese people have drifted away from their traditional fare to try alternative fare.

Tokyo boasts a fascinating culinary history. Over 2,000 years, dishes have evolved and refined to a point where it still retains their simplicity. Highlighting ingredients and achieving a balance in taste define what we know of Japanese cuisine today.  And yet, rooted in this food culture is the desire of so many Japanese chefs to go beyond the craft of cooking and bring forth new dishes, setting a new standard of cuisine. 

So many of the 10s of 1000s of restaurants to be on the main streets – sure, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, etc. on the main streets. But, most restaurants are small, family-owned cubby holes in the myriad of alley ways. Check out this video of a typical alley way.

I did not have any sushi on my visit. But, I consumed about 15 bowls of ramen and udon. And, one thing I really dove into was Japanese curry.

Restaurant prices are half what they are in North America. For example, the standard price on almost every signpost for lunch (Bento Box) is 800 yen ($5.50US).

Bento Box every primary student either takes to school or is provided by the school.

I did not have any sushi on my visit. But, I consumed about 15 bowls of ramen and udon. And, one thing I really dove into was Japanese curry.

Restaurant prices are half what they are in North America. For example, the standard price on almost every signpost for lunch (Teishoku or Bento Box) is 800 yen ($5.50US). A Bento Box is like our lunch pale while Teishoka is served in restaurant settings.

The heart of any teishoku is the main dish. It can vary widely but often includes grilled fish, breaded and fried meat or seafood, or teriyaki-style proteins incl: White rice, Miso Soup, Pickled vegetables a palate-cleanser, dipping sauces such as soy sauce, grated daikon radish, or wasabi, may be included to enhance flavors.

In many restaurants in Japan, particularly those serving ramen, soba, and udon, ordering is done through a vending machine, known as a “shokken” or “food ticket” machine. To order, you’ll first insert cash or card into the machine, select your desired meal by searching through the pictures of food then pressing the corresponding button, and then receive a ticket. You then hand the ticket to the restaurant staff, who will prepare your order. 

OK. This set me back at first because I entered a restaurant (when I first arrived), sat down at the counter and started fiddling with my cellphone. Then I looked up and everyone was pointing at this object near the entrance. I soon figured it out – I went through all the pictures on the screens, selected my entree, paid with my Suica card, printed the ticket and then handed it to the girl who greeted me at the door.

Teishoku – notice they gave me a fork and spoon because I am a white guy

Japanese Curry – OMG

Curry