Is It Sushi? I Don't Know, But It IS Food
Jan 16, 2014, 3:52 pm
#16
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Jan 16, 2014, 4:04 pm
#17
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: DL PM, 1MM, DL SC, Kimpton Inner Circle
Posts: 2,416
This reminds me --my first dinner ever in Tokyo was from a yatai right outside the Keio Plaza -- I didn't know what half of it was, but it was great!
Jan 16, 2014, 5:18 pm
#18
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
No, they are still all over the place. As are crab vendors at stations outside of the city where people are likely exiting the station to walk home.
And a general thought directed at no one person in particular....
I am intrigued by this thread. It reminds me of western food items here in Tokyo. No resemblance to the real item but wildly popular with the locals. Pizza comes to mind. What passes for sushi in the US is always good for a laugh.
And a general thought directed at no one person in particular....
I am intrigued by this thread. It reminds me of western food items here in Tokyo. No resemblance to the real item but wildly popular with the locals. Pizza comes to mind. What passes for sushi in the US is always good for a laugh.
Jan 16, 2014, 5:43 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FSD
Programs: BAEC, Delta SkyPesos, VS FC, SQ KF, AA, HHonors
Posts: 1,884
Generally, I go for traditional stuff. My palate prefers the basics, and I don't go in for the heavier ingredients (cheese, red meats, avocado, lots of mayonnaise).
I detest cheese, so that is categorically refused. I never went in for artificial crab, so that's out. I find avocado to be a filler with an unpleasant texture.
I do love shrimp tempura rolls. Mayonnaise, IMO, should be used very sparingly. Spicy tuna, salmon, and yellowtail rolls are amazing.
I can't wait to go back to NY. I really need the good sushi. Sushi in Australia leaves much to be desired (highly variable quality, lots of mayo/canned tuna, relatively high prices).
I detest cheese, so that is categorically refused. I never went in for artificial crab, so that's out. I find avocado to be a filler with an unpleasant texture.
I do love shrimp tempura rolls. Mayonnaise, IMO, should be used very sparingly. Spicy tuna, salmon, and yellowtail rolls are amazing.
I can't wait to go back to NY. I really need the good sushi. Sushi in Australia leaves much to be desired (highly variable quality, lots of mayo/canned tuna, relatively high prices).
Jan 16, 2014, 6:25 pm
#20
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Generally, I go for traditional stuff. My palate prefers the basics, and I don't go in for the heavier ingredients (cheese, red meats, avocado, lots of mayonnaise).
I detest cheese, so that is categorically refused. I never went in for artificial crab, so that's out. I find avocado to be a filler with an unpleasant texture.
I do love shrimp tempura rolls. Mayonnaise, IMO, should be used very sparingly. Spicy tuna, salmon, and yellowtail rolls are amazing.
I can't wait to go back to NY. I really need the good sushi. Sushi in Australia leaves much to be desired (highly variable quality, lots of mayo/canned tuna, relatively high prices).
I detest cheese, so that is categorically refused. I never went in for artificial crab, so that's out. I find avocado to be a filler with an unpleasant texture.
I do love shrimp tempura rolls. Mayonnaise, IMO, should be used very sparingly. Spicy tuna, salmon, and yellowtail rolls are amazing.
I can't wait to go back to NY. I really need the good sushi. Sushi in Australia leaves much to be desired (highly variable quality, lots of mayo/canned tuna, relatively high prices).
What is in NY is at best amusing sushi.
Jan 16, 2014, 9:47 pm
#21
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
I do love shrimp tempura rolls. Mayonnaise, IMO, should be used very sparingly. Spicy tuna, salmon, and yellowtail rolls are amazing.
I can't wait to go back to NY. I really need the good sushi. Sushi in Australia leaves much to be desired (highly variable quality, lots of mayo/canned tuna, relatively high prices).
And a general thought directed at no one person in particular....
I am intrigued by this thread. It reminds me of western food items here in Tokyo. No resemblance to the real item but wildly popular with the locals. Pizza comes to mind. What passes for sushi in the US is always good for a laugh.
Last edited by cblaisd; Jan 16, 2014 at 10:37 pm Reason: Merged poster's two consecutive posts
Jan 16, 2014, 10:04 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,404
The sign for this one says "onigiri set ¥250":
And a link to an image nearish Tokyo station (too big to include here)
http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/minka...4ef59ad65c.jpg
You can paste
路上 弁当
Into google images to see more examples
And here is another onigiri as street food example:
Last edited by LapLap; Jan 16, 2014 at 11:09 pm
Jan 16, 2014, 10:22 pm
#23
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Perhaps it's not what a visitor expects when they think of "street food" but the lunch time trade in the business districts of bento and onigiri is what I personally think of whenever I consider the topic of street food in Japan:
And a link to an image nearish Tokyo station (too big to include here)
http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/minka...4ef59ad65c.jpg
You can paste
路上でお弁当
Into google images to see more examples
And here is an onigiri as street food example:
And a link to an image nearish Tokyo station (too big to include here)
http://cdn.mkimg.carview.co.jp/minka...4ef59ad65c.jpg
You can paste
路上でお弁当
Into google images to see more examples
And here is an onigiri as street food example:
In any event, beyond the nightly yatai of Fukuoka and the 包子 in various Chinatowns, street food - in the style of Mexico City or Bangkok - is not commonly associated with Japan.
Though, since you brought up the lunchtime setups, I noticed a couple of itinerant bentō vendors in Midtown Manhattan by Radio City, because that part of town has many Japanese offices.
Jan 16, 2014, 10:24 pm
#24
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
Give me Moishe's Bake Shop or Ostrovitsky Bakery any day of the week. Hands down.
In Japan bread products are good but not the level of their soba shops for example.
Jan 16, 2014, 10:57 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,404
There were discussions about bringing in actual regulations to control the lunch time street food trade in summer 2013, but I don't know what came of it:
Source (in Japanese) http://www.excite.co.jp/News/column_...607_19642.html
Where the signs at Nihonbashi erected recently?
Jan 16, 2014, 11:44 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
U.S. sushi definitely has its place, even if it resembles the real deal in name only. I remember taking a good friend of mine from Tokyo to Blowfish Sushi in San Francisco. He was blown away and began plotting to make millions by opening up his own branch in Tokyo.
Jan 16, 2014, 11:54 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: London
Posts: 18,404
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...hi-yasuda.html
Jan 16, 2014, 11:58 pm
#28
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
It has to be said that even the most "unique" sushi inspired items available in the US are still one heck of a lot better for you than many other choices. So I suppose it is a good thing from that perspective too.
Jan 17, 2014, 3:20 am
#29
Join Date: May 2010
Location: FSD
Programs: BAEC, Delta SkyPesos, VS FC, SQ KF, AA, HHonors
Posts: 1,884
I did have the pleasure of partaking in sushi in Hong Kong, where they seem to take it far more seriously than what I am used to. Eating something flown in that morning from Tokyo was...special.
NY is my "home", so I have become accustomed to the sushi there. The price/quality ratio, IMO, is also quite good at my local place.
Jan 17, 2014, 7:46 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
Two of the things I miss most about Japan are real sushi and high quality tempura. Both were a rare treat even in Japan (I was a student most of the time I was there), but they are quite difficult to find here in the states. I knew of maybe three places in San Francisco that offered real sushi, two of which are now closed. I just moved to Chicago, and I have yet to find the real deal here (though I haven't spent much time looking).