Japanese food

[caseylim]

Rant about japanese food here.

I myself think that Jap food doesn't have much quality although it's healthy.

For example, the mitarashi anko, I bought it and ate and I felt japanese food is not special at all and very expensive. the mitarashi anko is just boiled/steamed glutinous balls with brown sugar.

Next is tempura rice. it's just prawn fingers with rice and cost me usd5. I could get a salmon steak for it.

Japanese ramens are cheap too. it's just empty noodle with some salty soup.

However sushi is fine but too expensive. A 2 piece set cost 1 usd or more. Dimsum is even cheaper and it's made of full meat.

So any comments on Jap food?

[Varia]

I don't like it. A lot of it tastes really bad.

But most of the stuff they have gotten from other countries tastes really good.

Real Japanese food is just disgusting.

WARNING: NEVER EAT A SANDWICH IN JAPAN. I KID YOU NOT.
________
Ford Mel Engine (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Ford_MEL_engine)

[hapacheese]

???

Japanese sandwiches are awesome.

And I'm not quite sure what you mean by "real" Japanese food.

[Henjin]

I'll be in Japan in 2-3 days... I plan on trying to sample as much Japanese food as possible... Japan is not the place to eat a hamburger! :D

[caseylim]

Yeah, yakisoba pan. Fried noodles put in bread....wouldn't it be better if it's just be eaten the noodle why does they have to sdd in bread.

Another, anpan, or bread with red beans filling or lotus paste, they did not mash the paste properly, more like just boiled them and put in bread.

Most japanese food are variations from chinse food.

-

[nice gaijin]

are you kidding me? Japanese food is very good and high-quality in general, and cheap in Japan... The only 'bad' meals I had in Japan were at a McDonalds and a 'Mexican' restaurant.

caseylim, is there something you want to get off your chest? your endless Japan-bashing is tiring; why don't you tell us why you are so upset with a country you've proven time and time again that you know next to nothing about?

[caseylim]

First, japanese invaded my countries, commits massacre in my country and race.

I have some knowledge on japan and stuff but not experience.

I agree that some japanese food have quality, but most of them are cheap skate food that can be made by everyone. I watch Iron chef and , I know their food are easy to be made. Their food contains very little and simple ingredient and it is expensive.

[hapacheese]

Okay. I am officially out of this thread :D

[caseylim]

OK, if you think any jap food you think is good feel free to share it.

[nice gaijin]

So something that happened (I figure) about 50 years before you were born shapes your opinion of the current incarnation of Japanese culture? I'm sorry but could you try finding a better reason to nitpick? I'm not condoning what they did between 1941 and 1945, in fact I deplore it, but you're reasoning makes about as much sense as a Jewish person hating German beer because of what the nazis did to their people.

Yes many Japanese dishes are cheap and simple to make; if you pay a lot for something that is easy to make yourself then you have only yourself to blame. And so far all the "dishes" you've been referring to have been conbini food...

[hapacheese]

Japanese ramens are cheap too. it's just empty noodle with some salty soup.

Fine, I'll humor you. Perhaps you should try experiencing real Japanese food before putting it down? That'd be like judging Chinese food based on Panda Express. The Chinese food that I've gotten in Hong Kong or even Japan blows most of the Chinese food I've had in America away. Same goes for Japanese food.

Case in point. You think Japanese ramen is just "empty noodle with some salty soup (sic)"? I'd like to disagree. This is a picture taken from a local ramen shop near my aunt's house in Japan:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/hapaklay/Ramen.jpg

[caseylim]

Combinmi food? It's like some economy rice, or pick and mix type ain't it.
Anyway just rant about food, don't care about history. I simply make up the reason but the japs are nice now but they still can't be too fond of because of what they did in the past. They did those evil deeds and expect people to forget about it.

[hapacheese]

Also, caseylim... It usually doesn't bother me, but given your tone in your other posts, I'd appreciate it if you didn't use the term "Japs" when refering to the Japanese. It's a derogatory term.

[caseylim]

http://www.sushi-king.com/catalog/images/Tendon%20Double400.jpg

that's what you get for 7usd. rice and 2 piece prawn fritter and a small bowl of noodle soup with a layer of tofu skin. I don't mean to offend anyone.

Ok, anyway how's japanese agricultural produce?

[hapacheese]

Ah, no problem then. I wasn't sure of your intent in using the word. Most people simply use it as an abbreviation, which I just ignore.

As for the link you posted, well, you can't judge something simply based on the price. I assume you're from a different country... in Japan (or heck, even in the US), $7 isn't much. And with Japanese cuisine, it's more about the quality of the ingredients and the preparation, rather than the quantity.

Agricultural produce is *fantastic*. BUT, it's ridiculously expensive (I'll concede that one). Go to the store and you'll find nothing but pristine and fresh produce, meats, poulty, fish, etc. But, everything is priced accordingly. When I'm in Japan, I love going to the supermarket and buying stuff just so I can cook; everything is so fresh. But, buying ingredients for a slightly extravagant meal for a single night can end up costing you a pretty penny.


But alas, I must go to sleep. It's 1:20 am, and I've got to leave for work around 6:30~7:00.

[hanacker]

I'll be in Japan in 2-3 days... I plan on trying to sample as much Japanese food as possible... Japan is not the place to eat a hamburger! :D

The spicy burger (don't exactly remember the name...) from Mos Burger is pretty good.

[caseylim]

Alright anyone care to review the food in this restaurant?

http://www.sushi-king.com

Yes, i can't believe when I heard those agri produce so expensive. It's more then 5 time more expensive than the same local produce.

[nice gaijin]

I can tell you that their website sucks...

Japanese produce is certainly expensive, but coming from Malaysia where the consumer prices are much lower it must seem much more outrageous to you.

and conbini means convenience store; as in the food you were referring to before like dango, yakisoba pan and anpan is purchased from a 7-11, not a real restaurant. Snack foods do not comprise Japanese cuisine. A few dishes that I like include yakiniku, tenpura udon, okonomiyaki, sushi, takoyaki, shabu shabu, ramen, korokke, karaage, donburi, kare raisu (though Japanese is not my favorite kind of curry), zaru soba, yaki udon, and unagi. I'm also fond of castella. Some of these are traditional Japanese dishes, some were influenced by foreign cultures and adapted to the Japanese palette. On the whole, Japanese food can be pretty heavy on the salt, but the better prepared dishes have a nice balance to them.

[Kustom]

Ahem, I'm not a big fan of Japanese food myself (although if you talk bad about sushis and sashimis our tastebuds are obviously galaxies appart), but I'll try to explain. Japanese taste is subtle (I'm talking traditional cuisine, here, I have nothing to say in defense of omurice awash with ketchup). They dislike most things spicy and anything with strong taste, especially in Kyoto, that's why it ends up tasting like watery tasteless stuff if you're not used to differrentiate between very subtle flavors. I've met Americans with very subtle taste, but, well, let's say they're not the majority. Now, you may like things with stronger taste (I certainly do), but you can't say Japanese food is bad or too simple; when skillfully prepared, people who enjoy the subtle taste appreciate it very much. It's just not for us.

But anyway, people should always stick to that rule: "Les gouts et les couleurs, ca ne se discute pas" (rough translation, "never argue about taste or color").

[mikormack]

if you don't like fish, or other different seafood, eating in Japan can be kinda rough.

personally I didn't like the taste of Japanese food (I still don't care for a lot of it) for a while, but after eating here for a few months I've come to enjoy miso soup and the various different meat-based Japanese meals. even some of the fish stuff I'm beginning to eat (and I hate fish), but ramen and soba and all that are actually pretty tasty.

can't say I particularly care for combini food, and I have been sorely missing fresh fruit produce, but there is some very good Japanese food if you know where to look (or have the money to spend).

[caseylim]

so what is true , reaL good japanese cuisine? care to recomend some?

[nice gaijin]

see the edit to my last post ^

[hanacker]

I think Japanese food is definitely in the top ten of world cuisines along with Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and a couple others I can't think of at the moment. Not sure where I'd put it though.

[caseylim]

What is the difference between normal indian/chinese curry and japanese curry.

Anway rant about the japanese food you like and dislike. So that more knowledge on Japanese food could be obtain. Sorry if, I sounded really rude. about japan causing massacre, it's just crap talking, I don't mean to hate japan, it's just I describe them not-so-nice.

[Kustom]

Things I enjoy eating:
- Sashimi, I love sashimi, and sushi too. Even if you don't like cooked fish, raw fish is a completely different taste so I don't think it compares, it's a different realm (unless you have a fish allergy like Az...). And wasabi rocks.
- Ramen, and tantannen because it's one of the few spicy foods. Simple but always good.
- I like tempura too, if you are not turned down by the simplicity of it, it's all good.
- Onigiris: pretty good snack when you feel a bit hungry, and always fun to open.
- Yakiniku and shabu-shabu but argueably I have been away from steak too long
- I like shoyu (soy sauce), the base of Japanese cooking, so I'm never too unhappy if I can add soy sauce...

Things I don't like:
- Japanese sweets. I just get tired of red beans all the time.
- Nato. I could eat it at first but when the novelty wore off I found myself wondering why the hell I should eat that.
- Clam. Always hated clam anyway.
- Omurice. I don't see the need to mix rice with omelette, just makes the whole thing heavy on your stomach, and half a bottle of ketchup on top doesn't help. Japanese junk food.

Japanese curry is very different from other curries. First of all, it's not very spicy at all, even if you take the five star one it pales in comparison with Thai or Indian curry. Japanese curry is eaten with rice mostly and some vegetables, not much meat, while Indian curry is often made to accompany a specific kind of meat (except veggy curry, of course). In fact compared to the rest of Asia the Japanese don't use much meat in their cooking, which changes quite a lot of things.

[caseylim]

http://www.goto5.com/page4.html

pls review this Japanese restauran.

[Yokohama]

The first time I read this thread, I didn't understand what you were talking about. :confused:

Thank you for the link you posted. Now I understand what you wanted to say.
You are definitely right. Those food must suck. I agree with you. :)

However I am very sorry to say that.......unfortunately those are not real Japanese food.
I can tell you that some people who come from other countries except Japan must make those imitation Japanese food. Those are completely differnt from real Japanese food. Those are not Ramen, Tenpura, and Sushi but something else.

You really don't know anything about real Japanese food so that mistakes were just made. Don't worry, it's not your own fault but just lack of your knowledge. ;)

[Arilou]

Since I've moved to Stockholm i've been eating Sushi now and then... Great stuff, especially since I'm usually not that fond of fish, and 12-piece meal for 10 USD (roughly) isn't that bad. More expensive than junk-food certainly, but far less so than "real" restaurant food.

[Sayaka]

Japanese food is my favorite food. Then again, I really haven't tasted many countries' food.

[Katiekoneko]

Theres a japanese rest. where I live
And theres something called tonkastu on it..which is breaded pork with a sauce and its served on top of cabbage. I get a nice salad, rice and sprouts and veggies with it.
I love it.
(this is NOT the same as kastu-don...which is breaded pork with egg and onions over rice.. BLEH. I dont like it at all... I like the sauce with the first one)

Anyone hear of it?

[atomiton]

North American Tastebuds are assaulted with saturated flavours so often, that it's nice when you can enjoy the subtleties of Japanese food...

Many from other countries think all raw Sushi tastes the same... and it does, at first... until you start to appreciate the subtleties in texture and taste. I've had the chance to experience very close to genuine authentic cultural foods in Vancouver... including Japanese... my "honest" Japanese friends admit that some are of the same quality as Japanese Restaurants.

In addition, a japanese meal is a form of art... if you ask me. The garnishes are meant to be eaten and are prepared as part of the meal... and it still looks gorgeous.

Usually, it's pretty light fare, and in Japan, the fish is so fresh that I've seen one live on Ice, with a price sticker in a market in Wakayama... even took video of it... took me by surprise!

[Varia]

By real Japanese food, I mean that a large amount of popular dishes and whatnot aren't actually Japanese food, but are from other countries. korokke, ramen, curry, mcdonalds etc. Here's an interesting fact: Tenpura is actually not Japanese. It originated somewhere in South America. My memory is telling me either Peru or Chile.

That stuff is usually really good, but real Japanese food is just something I can't handle.
________
Medical Marijuana States (http://mmjp.org)

[hapacheese]

Katie - You need to try tonkatsu in Japan. They use "fresh" panko (which is the bread crumbs/flakes they use) instead of the dried out stuff they have here. One of the restaurants I always hit up in Japan is a place called Tonki in Meguro that has some of the best tonkatsu and best tonjiru (pork broth soup) I've had.

Katsu-don is basically tonkatsu which has been cooked in egg/soy sauce/sugar/mirin/etc and put on rice.

[atomiton]

tempura is a latin word... portugese perhaps?

[hanacker]

The internet is an amazing thing. Everyone should learn how to use it.

Tempura, or batter-coated deep-frying of fresh fish and vegetables, was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the late 16th century.

http://www.montrealfood.com/tempura.html

[atomiton]

Why take time to read the map, when there are people more than happy to give you directions? (^_^) thanx for the link.

[Yokohama]

This is kinda real Japanese food.

[RDClip]

Many people must like Japanese food because it's become ver influencial to the high brow chefs in North America and Europe.

I like Japanese food, but I can hardly ever afford it. The Japanese restaurants are so bloody expensive around my place. However, I do enjoy my homemade Okonomiaki.

[hanacker]

My homemade okonomiyaki is the bomb, yo. The key is to cut the cabbage really thin. I never cleaned a squid before I bought one to throw on okonomiyaki. That was an interesting experience. I had no idea there was so much stuff inside of a squid.

[koku]

god....someone tell me how screwed I am. I hate onions; can't eat them. It's not the taste oh no, it's the texture. Onion Powder? No problem. An actual onion in my burger/meal? I get nauseous. The bad thing is? This fear of feeling an onion transfers into other foods that feel like an onion

.....

You have no idea how much this sucks; let me attempt to explain.

Pickles
Tomatoes(if cooked & sliced)
Almost any crunchy small thing from subway.
Peppers sometimes
Mushrooms
Supreme Pizza is a nightmare
Picante sauce is a nightmare
Once in a while lettuce(I can muster it, but soemtimes I'll pick out lettuce)!
This list goes on and I'm sure I'm missing a lot.
- See the pattern?

Anything small and crunchy and/or slimy.....HOW SCREWED AM I!!?


I had problems stomaching seaweed because it was thin and wet and felt like an onion. Eventually I got the taste down but you see the pattern.


I'M SCREWED! I'm going to have to probably condition myself to eat anything the summer before I go. Anyone want to tell me I'll somehow find things and it's not as bad as I imagine? Anyone want to confirm my spot in the 'screwed' bus??



*sigh*

[Katiekoneko]

Katie - You need to try tonkatsu in Japan. They use "fresh" panko (which is the bread crumbs/flakes they use) instead of the dried out stuff they have here. One of the restaurants I always hit up in Japan is a place called Tonki in Meguro that has some of the best tonkatsu and best tonjiru (pork broth soup) I've had.

Katsu-don is basically tonkatsu which has been cooked in egg/soy sauce/sugar/mirin/etc and put on rice.


Cool

Im just not a big fan of egg..
I heart tonkastu sauce.. Id love to try more..real.. sauce in Japan..as well as other dishes.

[nice gaijin]

kokujin; if you have an aversion to onion-like textures, I'd recommend udon, ramen, or soba; these are mostly free of onion-like foods (except for green onion, but that has a totally different texture). katsu don and most stir-fry dishes will probably have onions in them. Why do you think you have this distate for the texture?

[Katiekoneko]

I dont like onions either
texture mostly
I dont like biting into them and hearing the crunch
I like onion flakes

[koku]

kokujin; if you have an aversion to onion-like textures, I'd recommend udon, ramen, or soba; these are mostly free of onion-like foods (except for green onion, but that has a totally different texture). katsu don and most stir-fry dishes will probably have onions in them. Why do you think you have this distate for the texture?


It's all my parents fault! When I was a kid, I went from baby food to crushed up food. They kept crushing up my food for me too long and I didn't start eating "normal" food at the age most children do. I think that's why.

All that habit from probably a year of being raised.



lol thanks for the help though. I'm going to die of starvation in Japan; I can't wait ^^.



I'll just have to condition myself. Like you noted there are a few things I can eat, but If i'm living on a dorm and only have cafeteria food, I'm going to have to adapt. Also, going to a new country and only being able to enjoy a small fraction of the food is a dissapointment.


I might actually try to condition myself, as wierd as this sounds. Mabye to start with a raw onion and build my way up to everything on the Subway Menu. After that experiment with what I have available here in MN with the "Japanese" retaraunts.

[nice gaijin]

I don't know if I would eat a raw onion... that's just asking for punishment. If you want to try some raw veggies that have some crunch, try cucumbers, or bell peppers (I like the orange ones, they're a bit sweet). You might also want to try some kind of fried onion, like onion rings or those "bloomin onions" the Outback Steakhouse offers. Since you expect most fried foods to be crunchy, perhaps that would be an easier way to accustom yourself to the texture.

[Somnio]

I love japanese food! Sashimi and sushi are the main things that I eat whenever I go there. Tuna tastes great! I really like their ramen and potato croquettes too.

[Kustom]

Until I was 19, I didn't like either garlic or onions. Being abroad on my own and having to cook with basic ingredients did the trick. People's taste can change, really...

But if you don't like onions because they are crunchy, know that in Japanese food, onions are usually cooked to the point of being caramelised, very fudgy and sweet. It melts in your mouth, no kidding. On top of that, it is usually mixed with plenty of other vegetables, curry etc so you don't feel it nearly as much as you do when eating a Subway sandwich. Personally, I absolutely love katsudon and can't get enought of it; even though there are onions they are sweet and add to the tast, I don't mind.

[caseylim]

What does real nihon food mean?

-all ingredients from japan, recipe rom japan, chef from japan,

or, just get a japanese recipe book, cook it according toit, and is it still real japanese food?

what's the difference between japanese fish and other fish? is japanese salmon same as norwaygeion salmon?

Japanese cabbage and other cabbage, what is the difference?

If i have a cow, and I treat it like a pet, kill it, does my beef known as kobe beef?

[stsparky]

Casey? The men who invaded your country were pawns of the military establishment. Most of them have passed on.

As to food - all Japanese food is yummy to me save natto. I'm fond of Shabu shabu and sushi. I've had fugu. Robata is very good grilled food.

Being angry at the Japanese for stuff they had no control then over makes no sense now. I don't view Germans as Nazis. - Sparky

[hapacheese]

What does real nihon food mean?

I think that's a question for you to answer. What do *you* mean when you ask about real Japanese food?

what's the difference between japanese fish and other fish? is japanese salmon same as norwaygeion salmon?

Caught in different regions of the world, a lot of the time. But it's mostly the fact that Japan, being an island and close to good sources of fish, get extremely fresh fish straight from the port to the store/restaurant/etc. In addition, there are a lot of people called "shokunin" in every trade that train to be masters of their craft. These shokunin are extremely skilled at picking the most flavorful fish, for example, out of a catch. They also are extremely skilled at preparing the fish.

The flavor of sushi or sashimi, for example, can vary greatly simply depending on how the fish is cut.

Japanese cabbage and other cabbage, what is the difference?

Ever had an orange that simply wasn't quite as sweet as one you had the week before? Ever had a tomato that simply wasn't quite firm enough? Given the lack of land in Japan, Japanese farmers have to go for quality over quantity. This drives the prices up for individual produce, but they also care much more for the produce, ensuring that the quality is more predictable.

If i have a cow, and I treat it like a pet, kill it, does my beef known as kobe beef?
"Kobe Beef" is not simply "beef from Kobe," it is a certain quality of cow, fed and raise a specific way, to produce a certain kind of marblized meat. So, no, your pet cow will not be kobe beef.

[caseylim]

If I have all the ingredients to make sushi, would that be true japnese food?

Sushi, it's just something above vinegered rice right? I put steak above the rice, - steak sushi. I put steak above ramen, steak ramen.

i know produce in japan has more quality, So wouldn't that be the product made out of those pruduce is more expensive. How about imported produce in japan.

US potatoes,carrots, german tomatoes, chinese cabbage, vietnam dragon fruit, china fuji apples.

Is importaed produce more expensive in Japan? Us potatoe,carrots, are cheap stuff.

If the product made in japan is made by imported produce, do you call that japanese food. Let's say, we use norwaygeon salmon as sashimi, would it be sliced salmon or sashimi?

[hapacheese]

Rather than answer all these questions, why don't you ask the same questions about Chinese food? And if you say it is still Chinese food when you do the above things to it, then the same would likely apply to Japanese food.

[caseylim]

I think it would all be fusion food. Anyway, how is the price of imported produce in Japan. If their produce is so expensive would'nt japan go for imported stuff?

My opinion on Japanese food means- food made out of japanese recipe.

Cause I posted links on Japanese restarsant to be reviewed and you all said it's not japanese food. So I wonder what is japanese food, that's why.

[hapacheese]

Well, you made it seem like you were looking for "true" Japanese food. A lot of Japanese food has been adopted from other countries, and modified. In fact, most countries do that. So, people were talking about traditional Japanese dishes.

If you're talking about modern Japanese food, that's a different story entirely.

As for produce, imported stuff is cheaper, but the quality is also much lower. Most people prefer quality over quantity (a byproduct of the lack of space in Japan, I think), they would prefer to buy to slightly more expensive item.

[caseylim]

Yes, that's right. It's just like singapore, we have cool gadgets, cam phone,lcd tvs but our apartment was small.

If the cost of living is so high and people still prefer expensive local products, that's patriotic, indeed the spirit of samurai. In singapore we prefer imported food, yeah like we have land for agriculture.

[Kaji]

Part of the deal with Japanese and domestic foods is that the Japanese are very nationalistic and tend to believe that what they produce is the best out there. Truth is, in recent years things have declined a bit, and I've heard a number of people talk about how it's not even remotely worth the exorbitant prices that people charge for it, but people still pay it all the same because it's Japanese.

[akitaka]

(shrugs)

I find Japanese food to be just fine. I also feel less junky when I eat a day of it, as opposed to the regular mixed cuisine I consume from my mother's cooking (or food I've cooked for the enjoyment of others). Not that it's bad, or anything.

If you omit the sweet stuff, then Japanese food, at least to me, is very healthy. The same goes for Chinese; only this time it's the aversion of overly oily dishes (most of which I'm guilty of cooking myself).



And about the samurai spirit...



...(sigh)

[Kustom]

Part of the deal with Japanese and domestic foods is that the Japanese are very nationalistic and tend to believe that what they produce is the best out there. Truth is, in recent years things have declined a bit, and I've heard a number of people talk about how it's not even remotely worth the exorbitant prices that people charge for it, but people still pay it all the same because it's Japanese.

Quoted for truthfulness... Japanese rice is really over-rated - or perhaps I will never refine my tastebuds enought to appreciate its superiority.

[hapacheese]

Actually, it's not a matter of nationalistic spirit. Every Japanese I know admits to the superiority of Korean nori (seaweed), etc.

Japanese rice *is* better than, say, California rice. But, is it worth being like 3-4 times the cost? Even most Japanese don't think so. However, it's difficult to find California rice due to government interference. The rice industry is in a lot of trouble, just like the farming industry in the US, and the Japanese government is trying to do what they can to help.

Yes, the Japanese feel that home grown stuff is, for the most part, some of the best. And having several friends and relatives who are chefs - who all agree, btw - I'd have to say that while it may be slightly exaggerated at times, it is by no means false.

[Katiekoneko]

I dont like the taste of rice..

*lol*

[hapacheese]

I dont like the taste of rice..

*lol*


O_O!!!

Sacrelidge!

No rice for you! Come back, 1 week! :D

[Fishfinger]

Japanese rice is the best but too much starch compared to indian rice.

[Collapse]

First, japanese invaded my countries, commits massacre in my country and race.

Well, am I glad you're out of this place.

Hey wait, being Filipino as I am, I guess I should hate the Spanish for over 300 years of colonization, America for colonizing us again and Japan for the war. Your ignorance astounds me to no end, hating food from other races because they have done something atrocious in the past. Get over it, you immature prick.

Bullshit, you can't prove anything by what happened in the past. Good thing you are out of here.

---

Apologies for the rant folks. Terribly sorry, but I can't let that one pass, even if the person was banned.




Japanese food to me is pretty good. Even expensive, they're quite good. Vancouver has a lot of Japanese restaurants. However I am not entirely sure which ones are authentic or a "hybrid" (Japanese cooking in a different light, like different styles of cooking or fused with another international style of cooking or whatever).

But they're good.

[Katiekoneko]

O_O!!!

Sacrelidge!

No rice for you! Come back, 1 week! :D

Ive had ppl tell me I wouldnt be able to survive Japan with all my "dislikes" of certain foods

[stsparky]

Ive had ppl tell me I wouldnt be able to survive Japan with all my "dislikes" of certain foods

It would simply be more expensive. Rice is a cheap staple food along with Ramen. You could eat at ROYAL HOST, Gusto, Denny's and McDonald's and thrive. Just be woman enough to try stuff twice before deciding. - Sparky

[Animeband]

For me, Japanese food has a wide spectrum, but in general I really like Japanese food. I think they are very talented cookingwise.

Stuff like squid skewers, pike skewers with daikon, shishamo, tonkatsu, somen, various pork ramen, oshitashi, and of course, fresh sushi are all very fine and dandy, at least to me. Their ability to create noodle soups like ramen, soba, and udon are only rivaled by the Taiwanese and the Chinese IMO. I even like natto. However, I may be an exception, as I can eat almost anything.

That being said, this is where the ALMOST comes in. They are also the dimwits that invented natsukemono. Who the HELL soaks eggplants in ammonia and calls that food?!! That has taught me to never eat anything that is big and blue, as such things just don't occur in nature. In my entire life, that was one of only two things that I have been unable to eat after trying. And I have eaten a lot (persian milk and pickled mackarel don't bother me at all).

[atomiton]

caseylim... it sounds like you don't so much want to know about Japanese food, but you actually want to just denigrate japanese food.

[Chairon]

While i've only even ate ramen(Even made a sammich out of it, because putting something between two slices of bread and adding a slice of cheese makes anything that much more awesome) Udon(Which was good, except for the seaweed, which I will get to later) and some buffet sushi(Which was a dangerous thing), I do like fish. And Wasabi is awesome. Mustard too.

I however, really really hate Seaweed.

[atomiton]

I however, really really hate Seaweed.

what about nori? ^_^

[Chairon]

what about nori? ^_^

Depends on which Nori.

This one I hate: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/aromatiques.tropicales/catalogueimages/nori.jpg


However, this one rules:
http://www.woodbell.co.jp/auto_salonph/images/nori.jpg

[NERD]

I've heard from other expats in Japan that the portions of their food is generally a lot smaller than what they normally get, especially in the States, where super-sizes and double portion dishes at steakhouses claim victims every day. Is this true?

Donkatsu is good, tempuras good, and yakitori... Mmmmmmmm.

[hapacheese]

To put it in perspective, at Japanese McDonald's, their "M" size is the American "S" size for drinks.

[NERD]

To put it in perspective, at Japanese McDonald's, their "M" size is the American "S" size for drinks.

Well yeah- I knew that. Heard it's the same thing over at Europe, which is something else since I've been dwarfed by Dutch/German/Scandinavian people, but mostly Dutch. What kind of devil's food do they eat to grow so tall?!

Which brings me to Super-size Me. Heard the book Fastfood nation deals with the same subject, which I haven't read yet.

[Arilou]

Part of the deal with Japanese and domestic foods is that the Japanese are very nationalistic and tend to believe that what they produce is the best out there. Truth is, in recent years things have declined a bit, and I've heard a number of people talk about how it's not even remotely worth the exorbitant prices that people charge for it, but people still pay it all the same because it's Japanese.

The Japanese also has (?) had HUGE amounts of tariffs on imported stuff. If they lowered their tariffs their farmers would be out of jobs tomorrow.

[raydude]

To put it in perspective, at Japanese McDonald's, their "M" size is the American "S" size for drinks.

So what unique menu items are available at the Japanese McDonalds? I know from going back home to Hawaii this past week that they now have SPAM, eggs and rice in addition to their portuguese sausage, eggs and rice for breakfast. And they have saimin for lunch (but that's always been there).

[hapacheese]

They have a lot of seasonal stuff. When I was there last (a few weeks ago), they had what was essentially a Big Mac with one of the beef patties replaced with a fried egg.

They also have the McTeriyaki Burger (which is good, once you scrape off the 3 inches of mayo they put on it) and used to have the Chicken Tatsuta Burger.

[Tanya]

The only thing that I cannot stomach in Japanese cuisine is octopus. I hate thinking I am eating something that may be smarter than I am...

[Jon885]

Octopus are smarter than humans? That's the first I've heard of that. Interesting.

I don't think I've ever actually had Japanese food. I'll have to try it some time.