Here's a neat site highlighting great food in some other areas of Japan, including Tokyo, Yokohama, and Osaka.
They've also got some recipes you can check out if you have access to a Japanese grocery store to make at home.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Get the Best Sushi NOW
I've already written about the 100 Yen sushi restaurant, Point, which was a favorite haunt of my wife and I. That place is the best deal we could find that would get us both stuffed for under $20.
I'd like to introduce you to the best cut of sushi I've ever eaten, chutoro, which is fatty tuna belly. Right now is the BEST time of the year to get it, as the tuna are fat from the winter cold. While most places will have this, I can personally attest to the quality I've had at the sushi restaurant found on the bottom level of the Yokosuka Chuo train station.
How to find it:
If you're heading southeast on Blue Street, that is, away from the ocean and towards the train station, you will find the sushi restaurant on the east side of the bottom level. You can walk in from the street, and if you turn around you will look across the street at a McDonald's.
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What to order:
You may order it in Japanese: "chutoro, kurasai". Note: you are going to pay a little more for this, probably $4 to $5 a plate (roughly 100 Yen to $1). So, enjoy your chutoro and eat slowly!
When to go:
You'll want to go as soon as possible while it is still in season, and early in the morning (before noon) will ensure a fresh and tasty experience. If you order enough they may begin cutting it just for you, which would be super fresh! Such was my experience.
Be careful! You might get really spoiled...
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Ramen!
Ramen noodles are a Japanese staple that many Americans are familiar with. In fact, I imagine the first Japanese food many of us eat is ramen. However, if all you have had is cup o noodles dried soup ( a college staple ), I suggest you give a ramen restaurant in Yokosuka a try.
Ramen noodle restaurants are pretty common in Japan, but there is an easy to find one right off of 16 and between the two gates to the Naval Base that is really good. There is a red awning on it and it is found by taking a left from the main gate, across the overpass, and about a half block further. Below, you start at "A", the main gate, and end at "B".
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There are English menus available and if you don't look Japanese you will be offered one. I really recommend getting gyoza as an appetizer. Those are the little dumplings that have pork in them. With a little soy sauce they are heavenly! Also, a small bottle of sake will run about $5 and will add to the enjoyment of your meal.
As for the ramen, there are different types. The Miso ramen is a good one to try your first time. Of course, try the one that interests you most! There is a spicy one too which I recommend.
Your soup bowl will contain a few slices of pork, some scallops, and some mushrooms that are very firm (not like the mushy kind you might be used to). Of course, there are the noodles, too, enough for two people to eat from one bowl. Ramen seems to be the only dish in Japan that can fill up an American with ease. There is also a Japanese spoon to drink broth.
If you're used to having good manners, remember that it is expected that you'll slurp your noodles here. Watch others for a hint.
A quick side note on Japanese ramen: while I've had it many times, I have only had the cheese ramen twice, in Sapporo. Apparently Sapporo (on the northern island, far away from Yokosuka) is known for its cheese, and they have a ramen soup that has a finely crumbled cheese on top. It is the best ramen I've ever had; so good I went back another day for more. While I don't know what kind of cheese it was, I would recommend if you ever have a chance to try to make this at home if you get good ramen take out. The cheese adds a little body and flavor to the broth (which is already yummy) and certainly brings it to the next level. I think freshly grated parmesian would work well.
Ramen noodle restaurants are pretty common in Japan, but there is an easy to find one right off of 16 and between the two gates to the Naval Base that is really good. There is a red awning on it and it is found by taking a left from the main gate, across the overpass, and about a half block further. Below, you start at "A", the main gate, and end at "B".
View Larger Map
There are English menus available and if you don't look Japanese you will be offered one. I really recommend getting gyoza as an appetizer. Those are the little dumplings that have pork in them. With a little soy sauce they are heavenly! Also, a small bottle of sake will run about $5 and will add to the enjoyment of your meal.
As for the ramen, there are different types. The Miso ramen is a good one to try your first time. Of course, try the one that interests you most! There is a spicy one too which I recommend.
Your soup bowl will contain a few slices of pork, some scallops, and some mushrooms that are very firm (not like the mushy kind you might be used to). Of course, there are the noodles, too, enough for two people to eat from one bowl. Ramen seems to be the only dish in Japan that can fill up an American with ease. There is also a Japanese spoon to drink broth.
If you're used to having good manners, remember that it is expected that you'll slurp your noodles here. Watch others for a hint.
A quick side note on Japanese ramen: while I've had it many times, I have only had the cheese ramen twice, in Sapporo. Apparently Sapporo (on the northern island, far away from Yokosuka) is known for its cheese, and they have a ramen soup that has a finely crumbled cheese on top. It is the best ramen I've ever had; so good I went back another day for more. While I don't know what kind of cheese it was, I would recommend if you ever have a chance to try to make this at home if you get good ramen take out. The cheese adds a little body and flavor to the broth (which is already yummy) and certainly brings it to the next level. I think freshly grated parmesian would work well.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Have a favorite restaurant?
Feel free to write up a review for everyone! This site is about helping folks in Yokosuka find good tasty restaurants. Help us all out by adding your favorite joint-take a couple of pictures if you can, to get an idea for the food, and write about why you like it as well as the approximate price.
Send an email to albert.anderson (at) gmail.com with the title "Yokosuka Food Blog" and I'm happy to post your write up.
Thanks!
Send an email to albert.anderson (at) gmail.com with the title "Yokosuka Food Blog" and I'm happy to post your write up.
Thanks!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
okonomi-yaki
There is a mall called Shopper's Plaza (but often known as "Daiei") just a block away from the main gate of the naval base, and inside it is a wonderful food court with many varied menu items that are bound to confuse most travelers who cannot read Japanese. On the first floor as you enter, you'll see a Wendy's (pretty standard Wendy's fare if you're interested) and a conveyor belt sushi restaurant that is so-so. Going up the escalator finds you on the 2nd floor, but skip up to the 3rd floor for the food court. There you will find, among other places, a tonkatsu restaurant, a Big Boy (Big Boy!), Ducky Duck, a sit down sushi restaurant, and more.
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The okonomi-yaki restaurant might be a little puzzling to non-Japanese. The tables have flat top grills on the tops that is used to cook your own food. The food itself looks a little bit like a pancake or an omelet, and contains a mixture of cabbage, egg, meat, and batter.
I hadn't visited this place in three years of living out here because I was a little uncertain about the process and how it all worked. However, my wife was initiated into it by a friend and she showed me, and we found it to be very easy with easy to read English menus. The staff was also very helpful and checked up on us from time to time (I had a baby in my lap, so the wife cooked; when she and a friend, both with babies, visited, the staff cooked for them).
I chose pork and cheese, and put a mayonnaise type sauce on the top. The wife chose shrimp and put a barbecue sauce with mayonnaise on top of hers. It looked to me like she had more shrimp than I had pork, which was a shame, because the pork tasted very good.
This is the first flip of our meal. Four minutes left!
Now we add the toppings. BBQ sauce and mayo for the wife, special Japanese mayo sauce for me (near).
Cut into quarters, this is how it looks on my plate. I'm not sure if they have forks, but the chopsticks aren't the easiest way to eat this concoction.
This is a great place to check out for yourself. The staff is very polite and helpful, and won't give you a hard time for not knowing Japanese or how to cook it. We had put too much oil on our flat top and the host came and wiped off the HOT OIL with paper towels, and was very kind about it all, which we thought was extra spectacular.
Give it a shot and cook for yourself!
View Larger Map
The okonomi-yaki restaurant might be a little puzzling to non-Japanese. The tables have flat top grills on the tops that is used to cook your own food. The food itself looks a little bit like a pancake or an omelet, and contains a mixture of cabbage, egg, meat, and batter.
I hadn't visited this place in three years of living out here because I was a little uncertain about the process and how it all worked. However, my wife was initiated into it by a friend and she showed me, and we found it to be very easy with easy to read English menus. The staff was also very helpful and checked up on us from time to time (I had a baby in my lap, so the wife cooked; when she and a friend, both with babies, visited, the staff cooked for them).
I chose pork and cheese, and put a mayonnaise type sauce on the top. The wife chose shrimp and put a barbecue sauce with mayonnaise on top of hers. It looked to me like she had more shrimp than I had pork, which was a shame, because the pork tasted very good.
This is the first flip of our meal. Four minutes left!
Now we add the toppings. BBQ sauce and mayo for the wife, special Japanese mayo sauce for me (near).
Cut into quarters, this is how it looks on my plate. I'm not sure if they have forks, but the chopsticks aren't the easiest way to eat this concoction.This is a great place to check out for yourself. The staff is very polite and helpful, and won't give you a hard time for not knowing Japanese or how to cook it. We had put too much oil on our flat top and the host came and wiped off the HOT OIL with paper towels, and was very kind about it all, which we thought was extra spectacular.
Give it a shot and cook for yourself!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Point 100 Yen Sushi
Japan, the land of sushi and sushi conveyor belts, as well as the 100 Yen store (compare to Dollar General), is also apparently the land of 100 Yen sushi. 100 Yen per plate, every plate!If you've ever eaten sushi in the States, you are likely aware that it is a little costly. A plate of two pieces of fish over rice (Nigiri sushi) generally goes for about 180-500 Yen, depending on the fish. Many conveyor belt stores have different colored plates that represent different prices, which you stack until finished, and then a waitress will count up the total.Some enterprising nihonjin found a more efficient way to put the sushi together and collect the plates in such a way that they're able to serve up high quality sushi at a deep discount. Yes, the atmosphere is more casual than even a standard conveyor belt sushi joint, but the prices make it a place you can visit often without breaking the bank.My wife and I generally prefer the salmon there, and I've also found the bintoro (Albacore tuna) to be especially delicious. Tamago, the omelet sushi, is very good too. The only small complaint I have is that the touch screen is in Japanese (well, duh!) so it might take a little time to figure out if you are like me and don't know very much. However, there is a picture menu that you can try to use to line up the katakana and hiragana characters, and if that fails, you can just take sushi from the belt and enjoy.One thing that is very good to know: the red bowls with sushi on them (as pictured above) have been ordered by somebody, so don't take those. If you order some sushi your menu screen will ding before the bowl arrives at your table so you know that it is yours (and you don't forget about it). All plates are put in a slot at the table and every fifth plate you buy will yield you a shot at winning a capsule toy. We've won two so far and eaten about 60 plates of sushi in three trips.To find Point, you need to go south on 16 past the Naval base's main gate and continue on the sea side part of the road past Ave and Hom. You will find Point a couple kilometers past Ave. If you see PC Depot you've just gone too far.One more great thing about this place: free parking! In Japan! Yes, it does exist!
Salmon, highly recommended.
Toro, this was actually 200 Yen...but totally worth it.
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Follow the purple line...you'll need to click "View Larger Map" to see it all.
Salmon, highly recommended.
Toro, this was actually 200 Yen...but totally worth it.View Larger Map
Follow the purple line...you'll need to click "View Larger Map" to see it all.
Coco Ichiban
Japanese Curry. Sounds a little odd, until you think about it a little more. India is generally associated with curry. Japan...well, it's not quite next door to India (or anybody, really, it's an island after all).Nevertheless, Japanese sailors visited India sometime in the last 150 years and brought back the curry spice. According to Father John Nariai, they then "perfected it", meaning they did to the Indian food what Americans do to Mexican food. They adapted it to their taste...and boy is it good!There are a number of Japanese curry restaurants. Many offer a selection of meat (pork cutlet, chicken cutlet, sausages, seafood) but no other options. Usually the curry is served at a lunch counter. Coco Ichiban is a national chain that is terrific. Most of the American sailors in the area know about "Coco's", as it is affectionately called.
What to order:
At Coco's, you have the choice of meat, curry sauce, and amount of rice. There are so many options that I can't even begin to write them. However, a standard order goes like this:"I'd like the chicken cutlet curry. Level 2 spice. 300 grams of rice. With cheese!"And there you have it. After about 5 minutes you will get a steaming hot plate that contains all of the above. The chicken cutlet (an American classic) is tempura style chicken breast. Delicious! Level 5 is actually quite hot, but you can order up to level 10 if you are a little crazy. I order normal spice and find it perfect for my Midwestern tastes. You can also ask for "no spice" if you want zero burn.
What are some other options to have here? Well, you can order beef curry (pork is the default sauce, but you can get beef or veggie sauce as well). You can get as much rice as you can eat (I've seen a guy eat 1.2 kilograms...no joke).For meats, there are a number of pork cuts, like "hirekatsu" and "tonkatsu", hot dog curry, eggplant, shrimp, hamburger,octopus...the list goes on. There is also a large picture menu to help you order.So, if you find yourself in Yokosuka, Japan, I recommend you get yourself to Coco's.
How to get there:
You'll find it off of Blue Street by two blocks, crossing Blue Street from the Yokosuka-Chuo train station (you'll first pass a huge pachinko parlor). If you see an eighth note on the corner, you've found it. Then open the door, find a seat, and you will soon find yourself saying,"Chicken cutlet curry, kurasai!"
View Larger Map
What to order:
At Coco's, you have the choice of meat, curry sauce, and amount of rice. There are so many options that I can't even begin to write them. However, a standard order goes like this:"I'd like the chicken cutlet curry. Level 2 spice. 300 grams of rice. With cheese!"And there you have it. After about 5 minutes you will get a steaming hot plate that contains all of the above. The chicken cutlet (an American classic) is tempura style chicken breast. Delicious! Level 5 is actually quite hot, but you can order up to level 10 if you are a little crazy. I order normal spice and find it perfect for my Midwestern tastes. You can also ask for "no spice" if you want zero burn.
What are some other options to have here? Well, you can order beef curry (pork is the default sauce, but you can get beef or veggie sauce as well). You can get as much rice as you can eat (I've seen a guy eat 1.2 kilograms...no joke).For meats, there are a number of pork cuts, like "hirekatsu" and "tonkatsu", hot dog curry, eggplant, shrimp, hamburger,octopus...the list goes on. There is also a large picture menu to help you order.So, if you find yourself in Yokosuka, Japan, I recommend you get yourself to Coco's.
How to get there:
You'll find it off of Blue Street by two blocks, crossing Blue Street from the Yokosuka-Chuo train station (you'll first pass a huge pachinko parlor). If you see an eighth note on the corner, you've found it. Then open the door, find a seat, and you will soon find yourself saying,"Chicken cutlet curry, kurasai!"
View Larger Map
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