Japanese food is regarded as some of the best in the world. It isn’t hard to see why when you consider their emphasis on high-quality, seasonal ingredients, and masterful craftsmanship. Some people study their entire lives just to learn to make professional grade sushi cuts. Sushi mastery isn’t all Japan has to offer, though. There is also ramen, and a whole host of other dishes. If you live outside of Japan, but want to try the best food that Japan has to offer, you do have options. Here are some tips to help you find the best authentic Japanese restaurants near you.
Read Reviews
The first thing you should do if you are looking for a Japanese restaurant is read reviews. A restaurant’s reviews can give you a good idea of what it is like to eat in. Whether you want to find a Japanese restaurant near me, or you want to travel to an established one in another city, always read reviews. Reviews will give you a glimpse into the quality of a restaurant’s food, as well as its waiting staff and customer service.
Prioritize Authenticity
If you are new to Japanese food, authenticity is important. You need to find the most authentic Japanese restaurants in your town or city. This is so that you get to experience real Japanese food. If you try inauthentic food, the chances are you will walk away with a bad taste in your mouth, literally and figuratively.
Examine Menu
Before you visit a Japanese restaurant, read its menu. Reading a restaurant’s menu before you visit will help you to get an idea about the food they serve and whether or not it’s an authentic restaurant. Most restaurants have their menus publicly available on their websites, so you should not have a hard time finding your chosen restaurant’s menu.
Ingredient Quality
The quality of the ingredients served is just as important as anything else mentioned here. An authentic Japanese restaurant will always use high-quality, seasonal ingredients. To find out what a restaurant’s ingredients are like, get in touch with them and ask. Alternatively, read their reviews. Their reviews should give you clear insight into the freshness of the ingredients they use.
Visit Restaurant
Nowadays, people rely heavily on food delivery services. If you are trying Japanese food for the first time, eat out in an authentic Japanese restaurant, rather than ordering from one. A big part of Japanese food is the rituals that surround eating it, such as using chopsticks, or bowing to your chef or server.
Avoid Buffets
A lot of people make the mistake of trying Japanese food for the first time at a buffet. Not only is the food served at a buffet usually far from being fresh, but it is also rarely made with love and care, like authentic Japanese food is. Avoid buffets if you are new to Japanese food, especially if you want to try sushi.
Locals Dining
If the restaurant you plan on visiting is located in a district frequented by ethnic Japanese, a good sign that it is worth visiting is if locals are eating there. Locals eating in a restaurant is a clear sign that the food served is authentic and tasty.
Food Critics
A good way to determine a restaurant’s suitability and assess the quality of its food is to see what food critics in your town or city have to say about it. Find the blogs of food critics and see if they are talking about the restaurant. Alternatively, you can read their reviews. Some independent or up-and-coming food critics leave highly detailed reviews.
Specialized Menus
A restaurant’s menu will tell you a lot about it. A sign a Japanese restaurant is really worth visiting is if it has a specialized, seasonal menu. A menu that is highly focused and features seasonal dishes shows a restaurant cares about the food it sells and wants to deliver the best possible dining experience to its customers.
Seasonal Dishes
Seasonal dishes are, as stated above, a sign a restaurant puts care into its food. It is also a sign ingredients are fresh. Seasonal ingredients are a fundamental part of Japanese cooking. A restaurant with seasonal dishes will source its ingredients fresh, usually from local farms, rather than from foreign countries or international wholesalers, which means there is a strong chance the produce is also organic and of a higher quality.
Public Presentation
Another indicator a Japanese restaurant is authentic is if you can see the chefs cooking the food. Many cafes, restaurants, and eateries in Japan have open kitchens. You can see the chefs preparing your food in real-time. Japanese restaurants in Australia that have open kitchens are often very high-quality and want to showcase the culinary skills of their chefs.
Word-of-mouth
If a Japanese restaurant is worth eating in, people will be talking about it. This is because Japanese food is so good, it is hard not to advertise it to your friends and family when you have a good meal. If you have any loved ones who are interested in Japanese food, get in touch with them and ask them for their recommendations. Alternatively, you could use a forum frequented by fans of Japanese cooking that is hosted in your country.
Social Media
Finally, consider checking out social media. A restaurant’s social media page will not only give you a good idea of what it is like to eat in, but it will also give you an opportunity to see what people who have eaten there before have to say. Check out the comments on the restaurant’s social media posts. Also go through their stories and see if there is any additional information you can learn about the restaurant from them. If you have any questions or concerns, direct them to the restaurant’s social media account via DMs.
Sushi and ramen are two of the most popular Japanese dishes, but there are thousands more. The best way to try them all is to visit authentic Japanese restaurants. You don’t have to be in Japan to do this, as there are plenty in Australia. Take the guidance given above and research restaurants before you eat in them, so you can be sure they are right for you.
