Traditional Korean Eats - Tuna Buffet

One of the common Korean traditions is their take on buffets. In Korea, you will find the Tuna sashimi buffet in almost all areas of Seoul. This is definitely something that all sashimi lovers should go for, especially those tuna fish fans. With different sections of the tuna fish that is shared between you and a group or your restaurant buddy, you are getting different textures all on one plate, from one fish. The concept is simple, simple pick a price range of tuna fish that you would like, the higher the price, the better quality of the tuna of course. Because you are sharing between a group, it is required that all orders the same set of tuna to help keep track of the type of fish that each table is getting.

The endless amount of tuna sashimi that is served to you will continue to come without any questions until you order it to stop. This bed of tuna consists of different parts of the tuna fish which depends on the price level you order for. It can be consumed alone with wasabi and soy sauce like the Japanese, or with a slice of dried seaweed and topped with a few vegetables of your choice. Being that I am a bit on the "special" side when it comes to raw fish, I am extra excited for the service of free food that comes along with the meal which usually is a soup, a la carte fish, or even a hand roll. The good thing about the side service is the fact that it takes away from the number of raw fish that one can consume through their course of their meal. A slab of protein can only go so far, it's always best to have a more balanced meal which is what the extra dishes on the side offer.

The slices and services offered all differs from restaurant to restaurant, but it is definitely suggested to those who are big on raw fish, especially tuna fish. It is worth a $30-50 splurge for dinner here and there, especially when you consider the amount of money that you spend when going on a date night out to a Japanese restaurant anyway. You should reward yourself and enjoy the sea!

Restaurant Review - Tenzan

It was about this time last year that I had a family feast after finishing up a year in Korea. This time around I miss it because of traveling but I'm still excited to blog about of of the tasty and private Japanese restaurants in New York. 

Tenzan is one of the very few restaurants that allow a special kind of seating for guests who are looking to enjoy their meal in private. This is extremely popular for a group gathering which can involve family and a group of friends who are simply looking to enjoy conversation in private. With individual rooms that can accompany up to 20 guests at once, Tenzan is the one restaurant that tries to maintain Japanese culture. Upon entering these rooms, you must remove your shoes and sit in a bamboo like seating. They provide cushion for guests and try to modernize the seating with actual leg rests so you are not actually sitting on the floor. 

In addition to a private setting, the food at Tenzan is absolutely amazing. They provide the traditional Japanese sashimi and a la carts, but they break away from having only traditional rolls. Tenzan combines the popular rolls with a new twist in taste. Many restaurants lack the creativity behind their foods so if you are looking to sample a new kind of roll, Tenzan is the place to go. 

Furthermore, they specialize in a handful of special dishes. Depending on the season, they provide other kinds of raw fish and dishes which are worth ordering. They cater to the special season of each raw dish and bring out the best in taste. Tenzan is definitely the place to go to break away from the limited menu of popular fishes. The one must order dish at Tenzan is the Kobe Beef Maki Maki which uses the top grade beef, battered and deep fried for your enjoyment. With a handful of restaurants around, it is definitely worth visiting. Be sure to call ahead of time for reservations if you are looking to enjoy your meal in a private room. 

Restaurant Review - Sushi Palace

Sushi Palace is one place that is popular for all who are able to fill a belly with an unlimited amount of food. The concept is simple: all you can eat Japanese. This beats out all the Japanese restaurants that have all you can eat sushi. Such restaurants limit their choices to just sashimi and sushi rolls, but Sushi Palace breaks from the concept. 

They support the title of all you can eat by providing all you can eat everything from appetizers to sashimi to sushi rolls to dessert! Yes, all you can eat everything. The best part about Sushi Palace is the simple fact that they make it fresh as you order. This definitely tops all the other all you can eat restaurants that keep the dishes out for quite a while, maybe even overnight! Sushi Palace ensures that food is fresh which is crucial for those raw items. 

Restaurant Review - School Food 스쿨푸드

School Food 스쿨푸드 is a restaurant that takes Korean school food for the young as an upgrade for the adults. School Food offers a fun play on traditional Korean foods of kimbap, ddukbokki, ramen, and naengmyeon, and other fried goodies. With an upgrade on the kid's menu, School Food offers more variety and a mix of deliciousness in the traditional eats. 

On average, dishes at priced at $8 a plate. Served with a cup of soup along with radish, the dishes are filling but it is always an option to order a large quantity to share. Anything on their recommended list is definitely recommended, especially with the sushi list. Kimbaps in Korea are so typical that it's hard to find good tasting kimbaps.

School Food offers you the next closest thing to Japanese sushi rolls, especially with their fried shrimp roll. It is definitely great to be able to find sushi rolls outside of a real Japanese restaurant. The food is simple, yet fun to eat, a big kid's version of lunch.

Story of My Life - Kyoto Travels

Kyoto, a place known for its beautiful temples, is one of the popular tourist areas in Japan. There are temples and shrines everywhere. This is the place to go if you want to take a break from the city area and get a sense of inner peace. With so many gorgeous temples around to visit, there is quite a lot to do in Kyoto. It may be hard if you are not spending two days in the area at the very minimum, but if you have a short trip, take your pick and pick from the best of the best. 

The popular destinations to visit include the Nijo Castle (which is nothing like the Osaka Castle), Kyoto Imperial Palace inside of the Palace Park, Nishiki Market (my ultimate favorite place in Kyoto), Kiyomizudera, Gion (where, if you are lucky, you will see a Geisha come out from the restaurant) Kinkakuji (the famous gold temple there are two pavilions: gold and silver), Ryoanji, Arashiyama (where the famous bamboo groove and famous  is located), Fushimi Inari Shrine, and many more!

Unlike the main city, it is difficult to travel around Kyoto on foot, but possible. There is less to see during the walk and things are further away from each other so it is suggested to just pick up the Kyoto one day bus pass that allows you to hop on the bus for just 500 yen. With each ride at 220 yen, the bus pass is definitely worth it after hopping on for just three times! 

I definitely learned to fall in love with Kyoto although I was not a big fan of the temples and shrines at first. I think the city does speak for itself in regards to beauty and it is a place to visit. Many of the popular tourist areas will leave you speechless. Of the Kyoto trip, my favorite is the Nishiki market because I am extremely big on eating and trying all sorts of crazy foods. You can find fresh sashimi that is absolutely delicious and will melt in your mouth, tofu donuts, baby octopus, eel, Japanese pickles, snacks, and a whole lot of other goodies.

Restaurant Review - Kyotofu

The dessert bar and Japanese yum is a popular restaurant back in New York for its famous desserts. Opening one by Itaewon at the Hanganjin station in Hannam, this spot has been on my list for a while now. Finally paying a visit to the restaurant, which is extremely easy to get to from the train station, it is a place I recommend for small groups, especially dates.

This restaurant is extremely small and cozy in size, but there doesn't seem to be any long lines. They offer reservations online which can be made for the more popular nights, but wait should not be a problem. They also have a takeout menu for those who are on the go or looking to have some goodies, but would prefer not to eat in a restaurant alone.

In regards to the food at Kyotofu, every dish is spot on with a modern twist on each American selection. I love the infusion of Asian and American, recommending practically every dish at Kyotofu. For starters, the recommended is their sliders which includes the prawn, crab meat, and chicken-tofu slider which is palm size. As for the main course, you can never go wrong with sushi, but it can be a bit pricey for something that is not so fresh. Then again, dinner isn't the main course here; the best part about the restaurant, of course, is the dessert.

Unable to decide what I wanted, I ordered the chefs special, Dessert Omakase Season, which practically included a sample of each dessert. It was a perfect three course dessert to share between two. The starter included a fruit jelly that is paired with a confetti sugar. Next course consisted of three desserts which included an orange chocolate creme brûlée, a blueberry cheesecake, and the match green tea ice-cream. Every dessert is blasted with flavors, not enough to go around. The last course of the dessert consisted of four mini pastries which included Japanese flavored fudge and cookies. The one part of the dessert which did not provide any hype was the mini cookies and cakes because it was a little on the dry end. I prefer cookies that are soft and chewy, but these cookies are best paired with a cup of coffee. 

Not getting enough of the desserts in the restaurant, I had two take home goodies as well. This includes the extremely popular Yuzu Tofu tart and the Miso Chocolate cupcake. I sure wanted to take home a few more goodies, but I just couldn't help it.

Exit three from Hanganjin station on line 6. Go straight and it will be on your left.

Address: Yongsan-gu, Hannam Dong 682-1
Phone: 02-749-1488

Restaurant Review - 스시쿠니

I'm a big fan of sushi served on a conveyer belt in the restaurant so I can take my pick and eat until my stomach's content. I have yet to visit one since my favorite East Restaurant back at home, but this long weekend lead me to great discoveries. In the Star City building of Kongdae on the east side of Seoul, there is a Japanese restaurant 스시쿠니that serves freshly prepared sushi on a rolling belt. 

I finally was able to try out the restaurant. There are two ways of ordering food. One is pick up the desired plates of sushi that you wish to consume and the other is to order from their menu. Each plate is a different color which distinguishes the pricing of each dish. It can be a bit hard to limit yourself when using the conveyer belt because everything looks to be so appealing and there are so much to choose from, you my want to sample every piece of sushi there is. The good thing is that the sushi are set off in pairs so you are able to sample each piece with a  friend and move on to the next dish. It is recommended to order plates of sushi from the menu if eating a large quantity but they are usually plain pieces of sushi which are not decorated with the various sauces and presentation is not as great. 

Although the restaurant is a little on the expensive side, and the selection of sushi is limited, the pieces are phenomenal. They do not serve the cliche sushi and sashimi pieces on a rolling belt. 스시쿠니 dresses up each piece of sushi and provide you with the best complimenting sauces they have. I am a big fan and will return again.

Restaurant Review – Hatsuhana Restaurant

17 East 48 Street

New York, NY

(212)355-3345

http://www.hatsuhana.com/

Hatsuahana, a restaurant located by Rockefeller is known for their high end Japanese food. Hatsuhana is known for their fresh fish which I definitely back up. When eating at Hatsuhana, there is a set lunch and dinner menu. Lunch prices average at $25 for a set lunch which includes a soup or a salad.

I ordered the Sushi lunch which includes 5 piece sushi, 2 rolls and a salad. For those of you who are not a fan of wasabi, do not order the sushi. The fish is glued to the rice with a dallop of wasabi. It is enough to clear your nose. The food was delicious, well worth its price. Fish are extremely fresh, I do recommend it for a date.

Service was great. Not once did I have to turn around and ask for a refill for my drink. They are constantly walking around with water pitchers and tea pots to fill. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, even if it’s a few hours prior because they will not have seating upon arrival. There is usually a bunch of business men and women in the area fighting for a seat, and those on dates at night. 

Today’s Lunch – Haru Restaurant

I love team lunches because I usually try something that I’ve never had before. Today was the one exception, we visited Haru Sushi on Park Ave. I have not been to this specific location before, but I have ate at the other Haru restaurants. I’m a big fan of this restaurant for etiquette, design, and food.

Today’s lunch was the Duck Salad (for the second time). I absolutely love this citrus salad that I never seem to finish. For the first time today, I had the King Crab Dumplings and can you say delish? They were absolutely delicious. I didn’t know how I would feel about it at first, but it was pretty much king crab stuffing, much like my Lobster Salad Sandwich yesterday. Sushi is pretty fresh here, but they stick with the classics. I suggest going for an entree when eating at Haru, unless you're absolutely craving for sushi. 

With chains all over New York and Boston, I recommend this restaurant for great Japanese food with a Western touch. 

Restaurant Review - Samurai Sushi

Samurai Sushi

1709 86st Brooklyn, NY 11214-2817 (718) 331-7100

Recall my blog about Ichi Sushi in the Bensonhurst area being my favorite sushi place, well things have changed since my latest discover. Samurai Sushi on 17^th and 86^th street has the food that makes my heart melt. Although pricing is a little more expensive at Samurai Sushi compared to other restaurants that offer half price sushi and buy one get one half off, I can tell that the fish is fresher and more appealing than any other place I have ate at in Brooklyn.

I feel that the customer service in Samurai Sushi is more pleasurable, I do not feel rushed out of the restaurant as I do in many other places. They take their time in making your dishes and send them over as appetizer followed by the main course as American restaurants do, ensuring you have the proper amount of time to digest your food. A bonus for a Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn, they provide edamame for free!

I recommend ordering the Spicy Shrimp Roll and the Spicy Kani one piece sushi when you visit. The beef udon yakatori I ordered was a little too salty for me, maybe I’m not sure if it’s normally that salty, but no worries, I’ll be updating as I eat out here again!

Restaurant Review - Ichi Sushi Restaurant

Ichi Sushi Restaurant
2040 86th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11214
(718) 373-2929 

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If you’re not familiar with this restaurant, don’t get confused by the other Ichi Sushi on Bay Parkway that is two blocks away. My review is for Ichi Sushi Restaurant that’s on 86^th street under the train tracks. If you are around the Bensonhurst area, I recommend this restaurant to you. I used to eat here every week, sometimes twice a week but I’ve been trying to not eat out as much so it’s once every two weeks or so.

Sushi here is extremely cheap, $2.75 a roll or $1 for one piece sashimi and sushi. Unlike other dinky Japanese restaurants in Brooklyn, Ichi actually looks more urban with a Zen-like atmosphere that is relaxing. There is so much to choose from the menu and I think Ichi is better than a lot of Chinese-owned Japanese restaurants that I have had in the past. It is by far my favorite. A few suggestions: stir fry udon, spicy kani roll, BBQ squid, and pineapple fried rice (they actually use fresh pineapples).

Sushi is pretty fresh for a place that feeds off of locals. I am sure they do not stock every day, but it seems that they stock a good amount. I never had a problem with a bad looking or smelling fish. Ichi’s appetizers and sushi looks extremely appealing compared to other restaurants that I have been at. Their sushi is well portioned, giving you your money’s worth. I’ve never had a problem where I had to wait too long for a seat, never had a problem waiting too long for my food either. Service is fast, definitely worth going to!

Restaurant Review - East Japanese Restaurant

East Japanese Restaurant
366 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212)889-2326

East Japanese Restaurant is well known for their sushi on a belt. It is one of my favorite places to go because food is always quick! East offers a variety of foods which include sushi on a belt, bento box lunch specials priced at $10 which can fill you up, and a variety of noodles. When I worked in the area, I would eat at East once a week. On a Monday, they offer half price Tunas; half price Salmon on a Tuesday, and half price sushi on a Wednesday.

I admit, the sushi may not be the freshest of the bunch, but it is worth it for a sushi restaurant in the city. The best thing about East Restaurant is the VIP card they have. You first pay $20 for the card, but you get 10% off your bill from thereon in. The best part about the card is it’s practically free since they give you a $20 store credit for later use and another store credit for your birthday! No restaurant in the city would provide you with constant discounts.

There’s also a karaoke longue that is connected to the restaurant upstairs. I haven’t visited this floor and don’t know how it works, but if you’re going with a party of people, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to eat sushi and sing your hearts out. Call me if you go, I would love to have sushi and karaoke, that's a two in one for me!