Since early times, dashi broth has been an essential part of Japanese cuisine. In 2022, a dashi specialty shop opened in New York City, and now the ingredient continues to attract attention from around the world. In order to better understand the allure of dashi, the Umami bites editorial team visited the restaurant “Okaka Shinjuku” located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. At…

Japan’s wagyū (beef sourced from specific Japanese cattle breeds), now globally renowned, comes in various brands, each offering distinct flavors and aromas. Among them, one highly recommended brand is “Kagoshima Kuroushi” from Kagoshima Prefecture. This brand has achieved the title of Japan’s best in competitions where wagyu from all across the country is evaluated. Its meat quality, texture, and the…

Shibuya, with its globally famous Scramble Crossing in front of the station, is one of Tokyo’s premier entertainment districts. Photo of Scramble Crossing in Shibuya Although strongly associated with fashion and youth culture, Shibuya’s charm extends beyond that. It’s an area teeming with a variety of eateries including restaurants, cafes, and bars. From quintessentially Japanese ramen to exquisite wagyū beef…

“Mo-Mo PARADISE” is a restaurant chain that has expanded its presence worldwide, with a focus on Asia, including Thailand and Indonesia. In Japan, it has two locations, one near Shinjuku Station’s East Exit and another in Kabukichō, where you can savor hotpot dishes made with domestically sourced beef. The standout feature of Mo-Mo PARADISE is undoubtedly their all-you-can-eat hotpot with…

Sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are classic Japanese hotpot dishes that have At “Hitori Shabu-shabu Nanadaime Matsugorou Shinjuku TOHO Building” (hereinafter referred to as “MATSUGORO Hitori Shabu Shabu”), you can really appreciate the true taste of meat at reasonable prices, which has been driving a lot of customers to its doors. “すき焼き,” Sukiyaki 2,948 JPY (tax included) MATSUGORO Hitori Shabu Shabu is…

The restaurant “Hokkaidō Menkoinabe Kumachan Onsen” (hereafter referred to as “Kumachan Onsen”) opened for business in 2020 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, quickly becoming a go-to spot for single-serve hotpot meals. What’s fun about the name? Well, in local Hokkaido slang, menkoinabe means “cute hotpot,” and kumachan means “cute bear” in Japanese. So, the name is doubly cute—it’s like saying “Hokkaido’s cute…

The Japanese word “kawaii,” meaning “cute,” has come to be a global term and phenomenon spread worldwide thanks to pop culture, including anime and manga. On top of that, you can see the influence of “kawaii” reflected in Japanese cuisine as well these days. Located in Shinjuku, “Shabu-shabu Honpo Shinjuku Usagiya (referred to below as ‘Usagiya’)” is a restaurant where…