So i'm having Japanese tonight..
 

And apparently it's a fairly expensive Japanese restaurant. As such, I don't want to waste it getting sushi (not that it's a waste, in fact I love sushi. But the point is, no matter how expensive it is, it's still going to taste similar to the cheaper stuff. Unless expensive stuff really does make a difference?) I've never been to a Japanese restaurant that wasn't pretty cheap, so I have no idea what kind of food to order. Any suggestions? I hear that expensive tempura is a fair bit better than the cheaper stuff.

Thanks guys :)

Get very good sashime... get some good sake. Expensive tempura is usually better because they chef a) knows how to make it and b) uses fresh oil.

Cheap sushi is to expensive sushi the same as cheap steak is to expensive steak. It is prepared with alot stricter guidelines and usually a better cut of meat. ( i had japanese style sushi in a chinese buffet once, and they used canned chopped tuna for the tuna rolls...sick! ). I suggest you look for a dish that has a type of fish/seafood you like, and then just try it. I don't know any specific dishes off-hand, but experimenting is the only way you will know what you like and don't like. I had to do the same for Korean food.

if it's a really expensive restaurant... or a fancier type restaurant - they might have a tasting menu... where you can sample the chef's favorites...

if i've never been to the restaurant before, i woudn't hesitate in asking the waiter for suggestions on what he'd recommend...

Good tempura should have a fairly light, very delicate batter, that shouldn't be remotely oily - and the shrimp inside should be perfectly cooked... it would be much better than the processed stuff at cheaper places...


and sushi, and better restaurants is much better than the cheaper places - presentation especially...

Good point. Perhaps I should make myself more clear. While I have eaten some pretty terrible sushi, the sushi I normally eat would probably place "average" on a scale of garbage to amazing.

Sashimi sounds tempting Charlatan, but it takes a trawler full of fish to get me full :lol:

Some resturants have all you can eat bar, some have a large combo for the whole company and lets everybody eat whatever its on the bar. Or you can eat it off a naked chick ;)

Like this?
http://www.ecardica.com/ecards/postc...imi%20Boat.jpg

I don't mean to scare anyone. But I could easily eat that. And more :crazy:

Sushi and steak are the 2 things that cause my stomach to become bottomless.

I don't think the other people attending with me would be too pleased if I chose to do this. Assuming it was even offered. Maybe I should show up early for a bite or 2 before the other people arrive ;)

Don't get sushi! I mean, sushi is good and it will most certainly be better there than some cheap place, but Japanese cuisine is awesome!
Just order some sort of entree with beef! You won't be disappointed...unless you hate meat.

If I could, I would TOTALLY get some kobe beef. However, I highly doubt that that will be on the menu :(

Kobe beef can be awesome if prepared right. The rarer the better IMO.

If this is is a restaurant in a city of a decent size or a sizeable Japanese population, then I'd at least give the sushi a try. Personally, I can fill up pretty easily on a dragon roll, spicy tuna roll, a spider roll and an unagi roll. But that's me.

Yummm getting hungry. Need lunch. Anyways, I havn't been to an expensive one myself, and I may be thinking of the wrong thing but a buddy recommended some kind of squid or octupus or something with tentacles.

Edit: Just remembered I have been to a fancy japanese restuarant once, I got this crispy sort of shrimp with a honey almond sauce. Sooo freakin good.

Charalatan-

Is that a boat from Ichiban? My wife and I have had that a couple of times (with other people, of course). So much tasty food!!! Siege, if you go to Ichiban, I suggest that. Otherwise, yes, maybe sample some GOOD sushi and sashimi as an appetizer. Get some good miso soup to help fill you up. GOOD tempura is very good, even veggie tempura from a good place can be fantastic. Softshell crab is also a good appetizer. Uhm... man... it's japanese food, it's ALL good!!!

Negimaki - rolls of beef around scallions broiled and basted with teriyaki sauce.

Tonkatsu - breaded pork cutlet with tangy tamarind plum sauce

Hamachi Kama - broiled yellowtail collar, this is the meat between the head/gills and the fin

One word.



SAKE.

That's a given :D

Off to the restaurant for me! Thanks for all the suggestions guys :)

I eat Japanese an average of two to three times a week.

Gilda

I am sure you get Japanese at least two or three times a week... :lol:

Exactly! Some people are afraid to try Japanese because they dislike the smell of raw fish, but I've found that if it's clean and fresh and attractively presented, it's actually quite a treat for the tongue.

Gilda

The best sushi i've had in town has been from Ichi Riki (now in the HBC centre) but other places come close ( Nami, Katsura House). When I go, I definitely try to hit the sashimi, but also some of the soups such as robata ( I think it is called) and grilled salmon bellies.

Sometimes, if you like a crowd, the tepanyaki tables are fun, or youcould order a hot water fondue (is it called sukiyaki?) that's usually a dinner for two.

Today I hit an all you can eat Japanese buffet (Maison du Japon) for lunch. There were some very tastey diced beef and spicy salmon maki.

But I agree, i would spend over $100 before sashimi would satisfy me.

I was quite disappointed by the fact that they were sold out of their king fish in butter sauce. But the food was quite delicious. I got a box that had a little bit of a lot of things.

I love Japanese. But they don't love me. This is what I get when I try to eat Japanese.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/8153/japgurlfu0xb.jpg

Leto: You should also try the Sushi at Lily. They are at 786 Broadview Ave. It's rjust north of Danforth and Broadview, right across from the Broadview Subway station.

It is some of the best Sushi I've eaten. I've had two people who know sushi tell me it's great as well (one is a chef and the other is my Kendo sensei, also a chef but also from Japan).

If you like sushi or sashimi, go for the high-end stuff if you have the chance. Order about 2/3 of what you would normally eat, then order more of the items you really liked. Ask your Itamae for some recommendations.
I eat the stuff 3-4 times a week and dropping a few extra dollars for the good stuff is worth it.

thanks Charlatan, I'm always looking for a new spot to try. I'll see if my wife would like to go (just us two). My kids all love the stuff, so I end up getting takeout from Sushi Delight because it's cheaper. But they eat a maki set apiece, and I'm sure I would go broke fast if I got some from Lily (or even Mariko's)!

** edit - u know, someday we're going to bump into each other, I'll go: "Charlatan!" and you'll know it's me immediately!

:lol: My parents loved to eat sushi when my sister and I were growing up. Neither of us would touch it... my parents were lucky in that respect. Once my sister and I got a taste for sushi it was when we were paying our own way. We laugh about it now... all that missed sushi.

One of the benefits of being a kid is that I can still get my dad to pay for most of sushi :D

One of the problems with cheap sushi is that the tuna is of a low-quality. You can tell by the texture. If you can bite each piece cleanly, then the quality is good. But if there are fibers that you have to pull with your teeth, then you're getting the cheap stuff.

You can always tell the quality of tempura with the broccoli. The batter must be light enough to become fried inside the broccoli blossoms. If it's too heavy, then you'll find uncooked batter on the inside, and that's just gross.

Sake, like wine, is something that needs to be tasted regularly to find good quality. There are times when a sake producer will have a questionable batch, so going by brand name is not always the best indicator. Plus, there are different styles, much like the differences in red wines. Find one that tastes good for you. Just because some food writer says that a particular brand is good is no indication that your palette will appreciate it in the same way.

The other thing to consider is when they get their fish delivered. Some get fresh fish daily, others once a week.

You do the math.

get shrimp tempura. To honestly tell you the truth expensive Japanes food is a little better then cheaper only because of presentation. Instead of a carrot garnish they might use seaweed with a potato slice.

So step out of the box! Japanese cooking has a great variety outside raw fish. There is a wonderful dish called Shabu Shabu. You need several people, as you cook beef and veggies in a comunal pot, dipping them in a suace to eat. Many restaurants then make a soup out of the remaining broth when you are done eating.

Check it out and just have sashimi for appetizers.

O God not Shabu Shabu!!! Personally I hate that dish mainly cus the taste is just salty vegetables and meat. Very bland tasting dish if you ask me...