20 replies to this topic

[Saburo]

Anyone who has followed me around the intarwebs knows of my love for Japanese food. Sushi, ramen, yakitori... My favorite cuisine in all the heavens. OK I haven't tried *all* the varieties of natto but not everyone's palette is perfect.

 

In this thread I'm gonna share images of great food pr0n from all over: my local digs in Honolulu, Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido... I invite everyone to do the same.

 

Here's an oldie but goodie: a grand sushi platter from my favorite hometown izakaya, Gaku.

 

 

 

In fall 2014 I visited an online friend who took me to *her* neighborhood sushi restaurant. A few of us split this grand platter:

 

 

There really isn't anything like sushi in Japan. You don't have to splurge major yen to have good quality stuff. And these local places are so friendly and relatable.

 

[Saburo]

October 2014: sashimi platter in a restaurant across the street from our hotel in Osaka.

 

 

 

Yep there be lobster in there!

[Saburo]

Real Kobe beef in Osaka:

 

 

A concierge at our hotel booked this restaurant for us after our first choice in Kobe proper was completely sold out for the day. Misono is a national chain that purports to be the inventor of teppanyaki. Pricey and a touristy trap for all I know. But at least I could cross off this particular Bucket List item.

[Saburo]

Hitting Izakaya Matsuri later this evening for the first time since the beginning of the year, pre-pandemic. Cozy place that actually replaced one of my all-time favorite restaurants a few years ago.

 

Gotta have nama...

 

Small hamachi kama

 

Gotta have sushi to nibble at the izakaya!

[Saburo]

One of the things I really miss during lockdown times is sushi. Most of my favorite places offer takeout but I find it just doesn't do well for freshness purposes.

The first sushi place I went to after our first reopening was the newly-christened RB Sushi (née Senyu Sushi) in early June. I wanted to visit earlier but our part of the globe shutdown in late March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Omakase night. Pricey but hey, when we reopened in early June I just went for it! Owner/chef Jason used to run another of our favorite places that closed in the fall of 2017 and I looked forward to any new venture of his. Grateful he's still up and running in these difficult times.

 

[Saburo]

My Sunday evening jam is the yakitori izakaya closest to home: Carp Dori.

 

 

 

I usually grab a seat at the counter, which is now squeezed due to social distancing protocols.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooked stuff on sticks. The best!

[Saburo]

A few shots of my fave teppan/okonomi place: Yaki Yaki Miwa, circa May 2015.


Daily specials.



Always cool to have a counter seat.


Mom always liked their potato salad.


Mixed seafood. We'd get steak once in a blue moon but this was usually our first main course.



Okonomiyaki: one of the few places locally that makes this savory dish. This is Osaka style.


Another favorite side of ours: grilled tako (octopus). Really good with a little salt or plum sauce.

[rurupedia]

i've never had japanese food but that place looks fancy lol

[Saburo]

Once upon a time at Izakaya Gaku...

 

 

 

Yah, that's hairy crab (kegani) on the left. If it's on the menu, GRAB 'UM!

[Saburo]

Another local favorite of mine: Izakaya Danji.

 

 

Good selection of meats and seafood. My faves are the seared saba and chicken Nanban.

[Saburo]

One of our favorites: Izakaya Torae Torae.

 

 

 

The hamachi kama and crispy Jidori chicken are must-get items.

[Saburo]

Halloween night at Izakaya UOSAN:

 

 

[Yossie_Saikou]

Omg wow those pictures got me drooling (♡°ω°♡) 

[Saburo]

Another visit to DANJI.

 

 

Butter-steamed clams, kampachi sashimi, aji fry, and gyoza.Japanese comfort food defined.

 

Oh, and a big ol' pitcher of Asahi. More comfort!

[Saburo]

New Years visit to my favorite place in town: Sushi Izakaya GAKU.

 

 

Fortunately Hawaii restaurants have been open for dine in since late September. This was contingent on lowering our counts. Rewarded with counter seat dining.

 

 

Sushi is one of my favorite things to eat on the weekends. Gaku has some of the best nigiri in town and it won't completely bust your wallet!

 

 

Be there again next week!

[Saburo]

We've been fortunate enough here in Hawaii that our COVID numbers have allowed for limited dine-in opportunities. One of my favorites is Tori Ton, primarily a yakitori/skewer tavern with a few other yummy faves.

 

Love me a cold mug of draft beer

 

Seared saba (mackerel) is one of my faves: fishy aroma and taste.

 

Izakaya are full of nibbles to accompany your adult beverages. One of my faves is french fries and I'm sticking to it!

 

Not the combo you'd see on the menu at Applebee's. I ain't wasting my dollars there.

 

 

There are a few good yakitori places in town but I think Tori Ton is my fave. Authentic and wonderfully boisterous inside, even with seating limited due to pandemic protocols.

 

The other item that Tori Ton has that the others don't is ODEN. Go do a search: fishcake simmered in dashi broth. Yeah Hawaii is warm and humid most of the year but when the temperatures drop this *really* hits the spot.

[Juandalyn]

That looks all really delicious, and the prices are also really fair. I'm hungry now

[Saburo]

Nigiri round at Bozu Japanese restaurant.

 

 

 

Really good variety here, great service and personality.

[Saburo]

Mass yakimono at Japanese Restaurant Aki last month with coworkers. The salmon belly above was pretty good too!

 

 

[Saburo]

A weekly visit to CARP DORI, my Sunday evening gig.

 

 

Fried oysters, fried chicken skin (!) and my main weakness, french fries. A pitcher of Sapporo draft doesn't hurt either, but it sure does mess with any long-term weight loss plans...