I know most Americans go by what they can get here but I personally think its soooo bland tasting. horrible food. only some of the sashimi, rolls, etc. are good. Japan’s regular home cooking is SOOO much better and fufilling. Why do Americans still think that Japanese restaurant food is so yummy? It doesn’t offer much variety besides what they can give in rolls, sashimi, and sushi. and it’s blandly flavored.
Japanese people don’t eat in little lunchbox sets, and certainly they eat with more variety and flavor. i think the food is altered to American tastes because some Japanese food may be too extreme for Americans like pork heart, liver, etc. but its so tasty! i’ve also been there many times.
Hi,
I’m Japanese living in the US.
Well, I understand what you are saying. But this is America and many Americans don’t usually like authentic international food. It’s not only Japanese food but also any international food from other countries. I was very surprised that when I asked Americans what kind of food they liked, many of them usually answered Italian food. But usually the italian food they refer to is not authentic Italian food but Americanized Italian food that has lot of sauce, cheeses and chicken breasts…
Well…but even in Japan, we do the same things. We don’t usually serve real authentic international food but we adjust the flavor to the flavor that many Japanese people want to like to have.
But as a Japanese living in the states, I can’t go to a typical sushi restaurant and Japanese restaurant that many Americans like to go to because the food is so horrible. And I really hate this all you can eat sushi idea. It’s just lower the status of sushi. It’s like every body can eat sushi any time because it’s so cheap and I don’t like the idea at all. I feel like eating all you can eat sushi is like eating some cheap crappy sushi. But that’s actually what it is! That’s why, I just hate to see all these all you can eat sushi restaurants everywhere. And I hate many Americans say, " Oh, I had sushi today" so proudly. Probably they think eathing sushi makes them feel like eating some expensive food. But to me, eating all you can eat sushi crap is eating a hamburger at McDonald’s.
Anyways, you are right that many Japanese Restaurants in the US don’t have decent Japanese food. I don’t know why they want to add red and yellow bell peppers, mushrooms, brocolli, cauliflowers, zucchini, yellow squash, and other wenstern vegetables that we don’t use for Japanese dishes. I really hate that. And also instead of using ketchup for some Japanese dishe, many Americans love to use tomato sauce…a lot of tomato sauce. I really don’t understand that. But they like it so I guess it tastes good to them…..
I agree. Same goes with most Thai restaurants. You walk into one and it’s more American/Chinese than Thai. Preaching to the choir.
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japanese cats are grain fed, not dumpster fed.
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It’s not just Japanese food.
In most western countries, you’ll get bastardized versions of other cuisines, unless you ask for the advice of a resident of that city who happens to be of the cultural background of the cuisine in which you want to indulge.
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To answer your question, No, I don’t think Americans feel it is bland. Reason being is that it is what we are used to. But I do agree, authentic Japanese, or Mexican or whatever is nothing like what is normally served at the majority of restaurants here. The large majority of Americans will never experience authentic cuisines from said countries and we would like to assume that Chef Kim behind the sushi bar is preparing what is served at "home". However, things are adapted to more American tastes. The Mexican chalupa served in Mexico tastes nothing like a Taco Bell chalupa, the food at the local Japanese steakhouse is nothing like what you’d get overseas. It’s all a matter of preparing what you know your customers will like
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yes. And some americanised japanese food are not even served in japan!! Not totally authentic. And its so common that people think sushi = raw fish. Oh come’on!!
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Your question makes me wonder if Americans who go overseas ask the same question of the local McDonalds they visit there.
"Don’t people think Japanesed McDonalds is nasty and far too varied in taste?" Quickly followed by, "Is that a paw in my burger?"
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Hi,
I’m Japanese living in the US.
Well, I understand what you are saying. But this is America and many Americans don’t usually like authentic international food. It’s not only Japanese food but also any international food from other countries. I was very surprised that when I asked Americans what kind of food they liked, many of them usually answered Italian food. But usually the italian food they refer to is not authentic Italian food but Americanized Italian food that has lot of sauce, cheeses and chicken breasts…
Well…but even in Japan, we do the same things. We don’t usually serve real authentic international food but we adjust the flavor to the flavor that many Japanese people want to like to have.
But as a Japanese living in the states, I can’t go to a typical sushi restaurant and Japanese restaurant that many Americans like to go to because the food is so horrible. And I really hate this all you can eat sushi idea. It’s just lower the status of sushi. It’s like every body can eat sushi any time because it’s so cheap and I don’t like the idea at all. I feel like eating all you can eat sushi is like eating some cheap crappy sushi. But that’s actually what it is! That’s why, I just hate to see all these all you can eat sushi restaurants everywhere. And I hate many Americans say, " Oh, I had sushi today" so proudly. Probably they think eathing sushi makes them feel like eating some expensive food. But to me, eating all you can eat sushi crap is eating a hamburger at McDonald’s.
Anyways, you are right that many Japanese restaurants in the US don’t have decent Japanese food. I don’t know why they want to add red and yellow bell peppers, mushrooms, brocolli, cauliflowers, zucchini, yellow squash, and other wenstern vegetables that we don’t use for Japanese dishes. I really hate that. And also instead of using ketchup for some Japanese dishe, many Americans love to use tomato sauce…a lot of tomato sauce. I really don’t understand that. But they like it so I guess it tastes good to them…..
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yes i do think most "japanese restaurants" in the US are nasty and bland, which i why i go to more authentic places like the tiny places along st.mark’s in NYC. they don’t serve anything like sushi and the like but rather more authentic things like yakitori with chicken gizzards, etc. and takoyaki and onigiri type things. a lot of japanese teenagers hang out around that street and the atmosphere is pretty cute too.
and when i want to eat sushi, i try to go somewhere where i know i’m getting actual sushi, not some crap put together. and yes, that means that it runs pretty expensive – it’s expensive to have fresh premium fish shipped to your restaurant every morning!
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me. japanese living in usa.
As an American, I have never had the pleasure of actually going to Japan (or a number of other countries), so I wouldn’t know authentic or not. My American taste buds do tell me what I like and do not like and can tell the difference between fresh and so-so food. I love ethic food or all kinds, and tend to try to go to restaurants that have a good crowd of people that are actually of that culture.
I’m sorry you find the Japanese restaurant food so bad here, but maybe you could share some of your recipes for your favorite authentic dishes. I’d love to try to make them authentic.
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It actually depends on where you go to get your sushi, i like mine but that is my opinion. America can’t bring everything here.
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It’s the same with Chinese food. I’m Chinese and have always compared food at restaurants to that of my mom’s, and there aren’t many good ones out there. I tell all my friends that a Chinese restaurant lacking Chinese people is not a good place to eat.
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Americanized ethnic foods in general are awful.
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