Recently, I had the chance to visit a local Japanese Izakaya that specializes in Japanese beef. We ordered the course menu for 5000 yen per person (about £25), and I’m excited to introduce the incredible dishes we received.
At the same time, I’ll introduce some vocabulary related to Japanese food!
Vocabulary for English Learners
- Specialize (verb): To focus on a particular subject or activity, making it a primary skill or expertise.
- Course meal (noun): A meal that consists of multiple dishes served one after another, typically in a pre-arranged sequence.
- Izakaya (noun): A type of informal Japanese bar that serves drinks and a variety of small dishes, similar to a pub.
- Curate (verb): To carefully select and organize items, often related to art, food, or exhibitions.
- Texture (noun): The feel or consistency of a surface or substance; how food feels in the mouth.
- Savor (verb): To enjoy the taste or smell of something for as long as possible.
- Marinate (verb): To soak food in a liquid mixture, usually containing spices or acids, to add flavor or tenderize it.
- Refreshing (adjective): Something that revives or reinvigorates, often used to describe food or drinks with a cool or light taste.
- Tart (adjective): A sharp or sour taste, often used to describe food that is acidic.
- Delicacy (noun): A rare or expensive food that is considered highly desirable.
- Tender (adjective): Describes food that is soft and easy to chew, often used to describe well-cooked meat.
- Sashimi (noun): A Japanese dish of raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces.
- Sear (verb): To cook the surface of something quickly at a high temperature so it becomes brown while the inside stays undercooked or raw.
- Radish (noun): A small, crunchy root vegetable, often red or white, with a peppery flavor.
- Enhance (verb): To improve the quality or taste of something by adding to it.
- Buttery (adjective): A texture or flavor that is rich, smooth, and similar to butter.
- Grate (verb): To reduce food to small shreds by rubbing it on a rough surface, often used with cheese or vegetables.
- Citrus (noun): A family of fruits that includes lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruits, known for their tangy and acidic taste.
- Caramelize (verb): To heat sugar or foods with sugar until they become brown and develop a sweet, rich flavor.
- Infuse (verb): To flavor something by soaking it in a liquid; often used with tea or beverages.
- Compliment (verb): To go well with something, enhancing its qualities.
Course Meals in Japan
This kind of dining experience is very common in Japan. You pay a set price for a “course meal” and are treated to a carefully selected range of dishes.
These courses are typically chosen by the chef to showcase a variety of flavours, and ingredients.
The portion sizes are often smaller compared to what you might find in the UK, but the attention to detail, presentation, and quality are usually high.
Since I often receive questions about Japan and Japanese cuisine, I thought this would be a great opportunity to share some of the dishes I enjoyed!
1. Mozuku
The first dish was mozuku, a type of edible seaweed that’s very popular in Japan. This mozuku was marinated in vinegar and ginger, giving it a sharp and refreshing flavour.
Although I’m usually not a big fan of seaweed in general, the sourness of the vinegar balanced the natural taste of the seaweed and made it quite enjoyable.
2. Salad
Next up was a refreshing salad.
It combined an interesting mix of fruits like pineapple, melon, and blueberries, paired with lettuce and korinki squash. The blend of sweet and savoury was refreshing and highlighted the creative combinations that the chefs use in their cooking.
3. Tempura
The third course was a trio of tempura.
We were served crispy fried pieces of okra, shishito pepper, and “hamo” (a type of eel). This dish was light and crunchy, and the tempura batter wasn’t oily at all.
It was served with pickled ume plums, which added a tart, tangy contrast to the fried elements.
4. Basashi
One of the most unique dishes we tried was basashi, a local delicacy in this part of Japan.
Basashi is raw horse meat, served sashimi-style with spicy garlic miso on the side.
While horse meat isn’t common in the UK and the idea of eating it raw might seem strange to some, it’s quite a popular dish in certain regions of Japan.
5. Aged Japanese Beef
The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the aged Japanese beef.
This cut of beef had a deep, rich flavour that was almost buttery in texture. It melted in my mouth with every bite. We were given salt, soy sauce, and wasabi to enhance the flavours.
Unfortunately, we had to share the steak between three people, but each bite was heavenly.
6. Beef Tataki served with Daikon and Ponzu
Tataki is a cooking technique in which the meat (or fish) is seared quickly on the outside, while the inside remains raw.
This beef tataki was thinly sliced and served with freshly grated daikon (a type of Japanese radish) and ponzu, a citrus-based sauce.
The combination of flavours was light and refreshing, with the tang of the ponzu cutting through the richness of the beef.
7. Potato, Bacon, Asparagus, and Courgette/Zucchini
This course was more Western in style—baked vegetables with bacon, covered in melted cheese.
8. Yaki-onigiri
Finally, the meal ended with yaki-onigiri—grilled rice balls.
These rice balls were brushed with a sweet soy sauce before being grilled, which gave them a crunchy, caramelized outer layer while keeping the inside soft and warm.
It was a satisfying conclusion to the meal.
9. Drinks
The drink menu had a few interesting options, but the standout for me was ジンと肉 (jintoniku).
This was a clever pun on the classic gin and tonic, with the Japanese characters translating to “gin and meat.”
The drink itself was a sweet gin tonic infused with black pepper.
Overall, this dinner was a real treat. I don’t often get the chance to eat at higher-end restaurants, so I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
If you ever visit Japan, I highly recommend trying a course meal at a local izakaya—you’ll get to taste a range of flavours and dishes that might be new to you!
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