Eating at a Japanese Restaurant - By: Andrew Stratton

If you have decided that you want to try a new Japanese restaurant in town but you are not familiar with Japanese food then you need to become acquainted with it before you arrive on the doorstep of the restaurant.

At every Japanese restaurant rice is to be found on the menu. This is because rice is a staple that is a part of the Japanese culture. You will also find that rice cakes are also very popular amongst the Japanese population. Each meal in Japan is referred to as gohan and includes steamed rice as part of the meal. If you visit the restaurant for breakfast then that meal will be referred to as asa-gohan. In the Japanese culture side dishes- ozaku- come with soup, rice or both.

Traditionally speaking, asa-gohan would be made up of steamed rice and a soybean type of paste called miso soup. Side dishes for breakfast would also be served. They would include such food options as pickles, dried seaweed, grilled fish, natto or a rolled omelet.

Lunchtime would include meal choices such as your choice of bowls of rice and/or various kinds of noodles. Some of the popular choices for this meal of the day include bowls of gyudon beef , ramen, soba and udon. You should also be able to get some Western food options at a Japanese food establishment. Look over the menu and they will be easy to spot.

Supper is the primary meal of the day in the country of Japan. Many of the modern dishes featured in Japanese restaurants for dinner are greatly influenced by the cuisines from Asia and the Western world.

Wa-shoku is the name given to authentic Japanese fare. Wa is the word used to designate the Japanese way while shoku means food. Yo-shuku is the name for Western cuisine served in many Japanese restaurants. Chinese dishes are also used and are known as chuuka. These dishes may be Chinese in origin but in Japanese establishments in the United States they are prepared in the unique Japanese-fashion which can be very tasty. A Chinese dish that is made in the Japanese way is very similar in nature to the authentic Chinese meal but it does have some differences.

Rice is not the only food that is commonly consumed in the Japanese diet. Due to its location geographically, seafood also finds its way into Japanese dishes frequently. Various kinds of fish, clams, fish cakes and sea vegetables such as seaweed are components of the Japanese menu that are used all of the time. Many traditional meals in Japan use dashi stock for the soup which derives from katsuobushi. This soup stock consists of dried bonito and/or kelp. Some of the seasonings that are used frequently in recipes include miso, mirin and soy sauce, to name only a few.

When you eat at a Japanese restaurant you may wish to use chopsticks to consume your meal. You may prefer to use a fork, knife and a spoon. Japanese people use all of these utensils. Which ones they use at any given time is connected to the kind of food that they are eating.

About the Author

Head over to the Berkley Japanese restaurant your friends and co-workers have been raving about. Make a reservation or just stroll in for a bite at http://www.hanajapan.com

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