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. 

Korean Traditional Eat - Raw Fish Bibimbap 회덥밥

With all these different takes on the traditional Korean eat of bibimbap, which includes vegetable, beef, squid, and even raw beef, there is one for raw fish as well. This raw fish bibimbap (회덥밥) is another take on this traditional dish by infusing sashimi fish with rice and a blend of vegetables. Raw fish is definitely on the top of the list for Korean food choices of huey so having a raw fish bibimbap is expected. 

This dish is extremely delicious, pricing and vegetables that are mixed in varies from restaurant to restaurant. There are some places the allows for you to mix in your own choice of vegetables by serving it on a platter whereas other restaurants have this dish served ready to eat. The concept is still the same where you served a bibimbap (rice with a mix of vegetables), red pepper sauce (고추장 gochujang), and fresh sashimi. Simply mix and enjoy!

One restaurant chain across Korea where you can find this traditional eat is Misoya. For those looking more of an authentic meal, be sure to go to a restaurant that specializes in fresh fish sashimi. 

Korean Traditional Eats - Raw Beef Bibimbap 육회

Koreans are the creators of the bibimbap which is a rice dish topped with meats, vegetables and a spicy sauce mixed to perfection. It can be ordered in a regular bowl or a hot stone which is my ultimate favorite because of the crispy rices. A type of the traditional bibimbap is the raw beef bibimbap 육회 which is the same concept, except the meat is raw. 

The importance of this dish is the meat. It must be marinated a certain way and cut in a certain size and length to be served to perfection. The texture takes some getting used to for someone who has never had raw beef before or likes their steak cooked well. It is suggested for those who are a fan of sashimi, but I have even witnessed individuals who never had raw meat and do not like raw fish to love this dish the first time they have had. Be bold and take that step to try this Korean traditional eat, you will not regret it!