Favorite Japanese food

[Kokoro]

I have watch anime since my college days, and one thing I enjoy is Japanese food. Rice balls became an addiction for me. What foods do you like to eat from Japan or are inspired by anime?

 

[TopSilver]

I like hibachi steak and shrimp with fried rice and that pink shrimp sauce they give you. A restaurant I eat this at is called Saki express. They have some super great food.

 

[Sailor Marin]

I adore sushi and ramen. There are also foods from Japan that I wish I could go back just to try them, though I'm unsure what to call them.

 

[Senkusha]

I used to have a Japanese cookbook a few decades ago. I occasionally make my own Hibachi. Japanese food really isn't all that difficult to make, you just need the techniques and the right cookware helps...and finding the spices!

 

[Ravenfreak]

I like Ramen, and Pocky and I've had sushi before. My childhood crush told me that I should try it, she was really into anime and Japanese culture when we were in High School and I basically tried it because she told me to lol. I got it from a Chinese buffet and it wasn't that good. :V My wife is allergic to seafood so if I do give it another try I won't be able to eat it in front of her since the smell of fish makes her sick.

 

[Sailor Marin]

The difference between good sushi and bad sushi is pretty big in my experience. One of those things that's only worth getting if you're willing to pay restaurant prices for it. Same with the cheap ramen that comes in a single package at the grocery store vs authentic non-instant stuff with a whole bunch of other ingredients in it.

My rule of thumb is, sushi should not feel wet. That's usually a sign of cheap sushi to me. And ... while the first bite should be just to savor the plain sushi, after that the soy sauce and wasabi make a big difference. I usually snack on the ginger between bites of sushi as a pallet cleanser.

Ramen's a bit simpler to describe. Full non-instant ramen has cutlets of meat and diced veggies and all sorts of goodies in with the noodles. Whole different beast than the instant stuff. The broth is where a lot of the taste comes from in my experience, so don't be afraid to try different broths to find one that suits you best. =3

 

[Senkusha]

Well, there's your first problem. You tried sushi at a CHINESE BUFFET. You need to go to a place that offers things like Sushi Boats, and has a dedicated menu of like 50 different sushi. You want to see the word MAKI on the menu. An authentic Japanese restaurant is crucial! Literally, buffet sushi is only like a half-step above GAS STATION sushi on some random sushi scale....

I found that I enjoy eating sushi with just a dab of wasabi, literally just a pinhead's worth, and a quick dunk of soy sauce topped with a strip of fresh ginger. All one bite. Scrumptious!

Ramen. We've got a crap-ton of ramen places here in Boston. Problem is that I don't have money to go try them. And not really the time. It doesn't help that my fiancee can't leave the apartment either, because she lacks suitable clothes and something called SHOES-- again, takes money to get those things, and we're literally treading water financially right now.

But someday, I'll get to try REAL ramen!

 

[Sailor Marin]

Y'know I've actually been to Japan? The ramen and sushi there was wonderful. Very much a buffet, very much affordable.

 

[Senkusha]

I am SO jealous. Because I'll never get to visit Japan. I'm glad you got the experience though! <3

 

[Sailor Marin]

I know right? I feel so blessed that I got to go... It was a fun time! I visited a pokemon center and the international manga museum!