Yaizu Restaurants

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We discovered this little gem on a recent visit to Yaizu. If you're looking for an experience off the beaten path, then this is the place is for you. Catering to the local crowd, this place is known for its delicious Sushi and reasonable prices. They offer the traditional eat-in restaurant and tatami room, but also sell take-out sushi platters for event catering.

There's a certain charm and special feeling in family owned places like this... maybe it’s the feeling of being treated as a guest, maybe it's the hand selection of quality ingredients and time honored recipes, or maybe it’s the simple pride a father and son take in their craft... I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it’s something that just doesn't exist in the chain restaurants. I don't know when I'll be in Yaizu again, but when I am - this place is on the visit list.

Favorite Dish: Honestly, I can't just pick one! I asked the chef to prepare an assortment of dishes for us and he did. Each one was delicious! When we left I was so full that I couldn't even eat supper! The chef's wife is from Northern Japan, so in addition to the deliciously fresh fish available in Yaizu, you can sample some Akita inspired fare.

For sure though, you shouldn't leave without having the sakuraebi no kakiage!

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Okonomiyaki restaurants (okonomiyaki-ya) serve something that look like large pancakes made with diced seafood, meat and vegetables.

"Okonomiyaki" literally means "cook what you like," you get to choose your favorite ingredients and then cook it up right at your table.

Because you choose your own ingredients, Japanese sometimes compare okonomiyaki to pizza, although the similarity really ends there.:)

The waiter or waitress will come by to turn on the grill at your table and brush the surface with oil; after that you're on your own.

The pictures shows the grill table, some have japanese style seating....

The menu will list the main ingredients available; an order of okonomiyaki consists of a bowl of pancake-like batter, plus a dish of diced vegetables and the main ingredient, such as shrimp or pork.

A regular order of shrimp okonomiyaki is called ebi-ten (or ebi-tamayaki); some restaurants also serve monja-yaki, which is a somewhat thinner and more watery pancake

First mix together all the ingredients, then pour the mixture onto the grill when it's hot enough.

You'll find small spatulas for flattening the pancake and pushing it into shape, and a larger spatula for turning it over.

Before and after turning, you can brush the top of the pancake with Worcestershire sauce, then you can sprinkle it with aonori (green seaweed powder) and katsuo (dried bonito shavings) before eating it.

It takes a bit of experience to figure out when to flip the pancake and when to take it off the grill. Okonomiyaki takes longer to cook than you might expect, and the finished product doesn't hold together nearly as well as a pancake.

You might ask your waiter for advice, or else pay close attention to the technique of the people at the next table.:-) this works for me..