The Japanese excel as specialists, not generalists. If you want good food in Japan, first decide what type of food you want to eat- sushi, ramen, yakisoba, yakitori etc and then find that type of restaurant. A restaurant that serves all of the above isn't likely to excel at any of it! It's been 30 years since I've lived in Japan and my local noodle shop and the yakatori place under the tracks are still vivid pleasant memories!
I always wondered if someone mistakenly ever tried to bite into one of those plastic dishes ... and if the plastic tasted better than the actual thing.
Wow, I keep hearing about how great Japanese food is from Americans (U.S. and Canada) living in Japan on YouTube, so it was a shock to hear how much crap food you found in Osaka!
Had a good laugh over this one. We spent a night in Osaka after our Kumano Kodo hike and also foraged through Dōtonbori for our meals, which was an overwhelming experience for all senses. We ended up at a ramen shop with thousands of Google reviews where we bought our meal tickets from a vending machine, sat in a solo booth to eat, and were given our bowls of soup through an individual window at our seat, only ever seeing the server's hands. Apparently eating ramen in a totally isolated way is a sought-after dining experience in Japan.
What a fun article! I had no idea Osaka was campy, I had always envisioned Japan as elegant and perfect. Maybe I need to go there. Thanks for the laugh at the end.
You can actually watch them make the plastic food. I haven’t done it myself, but the level of detail is incredible- very much in line with everything in Japan. Here’s a short video of them making a lettuce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMvH__R1nig
This is such a clever investigation! The idea that restaurants are commissioning these beautiful sampuru models but then serving something completely diffrent gets at a fascianting tension in food culture. The higher-end tonkatsu place actualy matched its model suggests that attention to the display might correlate with kitchen quality control, but then that omelet diner with terrible models served great food and won everyones hearts. Maybe the models say more about marketing priorities than culinary ones.
Lived in Japan for 8 yrs and even though the models didn't match the food served was fun to window shop. We ate at a small neighborhood noodle shop and could order delivery and they would pick up the dishes the next day from our front porch. I always regretted not going up to Tokyo/Asakusa district to buy some models to bring back to the U.S.
This was such a delightful post to read. Your honest review and the way you compared the food samples with the real dishes felt both refreshing and insightful. I’ve also experienced a few disappointing first visits to restaurants, so your story resonated with me.
Japan has many wonderful places to eat, and I hope you’ll discover some favorites during your travels. Wishing you a lovely stay in Japan.
The Japanese excel as specialists, not generalists. If you want good food in Japan, first decide what type of food you want to eat- sushi, ramen, yakisoba, yakitori etc and then find that type of restaurant. A restaurant that serves all of the above isn't likely to excel at any of it! It's been 30 years since I've lived in Japan and my local noodle shop and the yakatori place under the tracks are still vivid pleasant memories!
Yes, this is an excellent point! (I also think "tourist" food tends to be worse in general.)
Interesting observation! We went to an out of the way place serving mostly okonomiyaki and it was excellent!
I always wondered if someone mistakenly ever tried to bite into one of those plastic dishes ... and if the plastic tasted better than the actual thing.
Thankfully they are behind glass!
LOL
Wow, I keep hearing about how great Japanese food is from Americans (U.S. and Canada) living in Japan on YouTube, so it was a shock to hear how much crap food you found in Osaka!
It’s been kind of a shock for us too. I came here with the idea that the Japanese ate nothing but amazing food. Definitely not the case.
I'd love to know what tasted good in Osaka!
We have a forthcoming article on that!
Had a good laugh over this one. We spent a night in Osaka after our Kumano Kodo hike and also foraged through Dōtonbori for our meals, which was an overwhelming experience for all senses. We ended up at a ramen shop with thousands of Google reviews where we bought our meal tickets from a vending machine, sat in a solo booth to eat, and were given our bowls of soup through an individual window at our seat, only ever seeing the server's hands. Apparently eating ramen in a totally isolated way is a sought-after dining experience in Japan.
oh no! Their love of vending machines is NEXT LEVEL here. Don't understand it at all...
What a fun article! I had no idea Osaka was campy, I had always envisioned Japan as elegant and perfect. Maybe I need to go there. Thanks for the laugh at the end.
Oh, it is definitely not perfect. At least not how I envisioned it! Much of Japan is very utilitarian and not attractive.
You can actually watch them make the plastic food. I haven’t done it myself, but the level of detail is incredible- very much in line with everything in Japan. Here’s a short video of them making a lettuce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMvH__R1nig
We watched that video before! Isn't it fascinating?? 😍
Absolutely is! Glad you’ve seen it!
This is such a clever investigation! The idea that restaurants are commissioning these beautiful sampuru models but then serving something completely diffrent gets at a fascianting tension in food culture. The higher-end tonkatsu place actualy matched its model suggests that attention to the display might correlate with kitchen quality control, but then that omelet diner with terrible models served great food and won everyones hearts. Maybe the models say more about marketing priorities than culinary ones.
Thank you..and I like how you put it -- it captures the reality of life!
Quite possibly!
Such a unique tradition that I kind of like, even if it's often not representative of the actual food or informative of quality!
It is definitely a kind of entertainment in itself!
Omg that’s so unusual. A very different food tour!
Also, there has to be a Japanese game show for this surely? Is it plastic, or is it real?
🤣🤣🤣🤣
They're absolutely should be!! 😂
Lived in Japan for 8 yrs and even though the models didn't match the food served was fun to window shop. We ate at a small neighborhood noodle shop and could order delivery and they would pick up the dishes the next day from our front porch. I always regretted not going up to Tokyo/Asakusa district to buy some models to bring back to the U.S.
They are plastic models for sale in many places. Souvineers!
Oh, I love the window shopping! I have mumble mumble pictures of food models! LOL. And they picked up the dishes?!?! That’s so Japan!
fun assignment, and really nice pano shot of Namba. To me, all the plastic food look horrible, but what can I say? Well done.
Thanks, Jeff. I certainly find them fun to look at!
This was such a delightful post to read. Your honest review and the way you compared the food samples with the real dishes felt both refreshing and insightful. I’ve also experienced a few disappointing first visits to restaurants, so your story resonated with me.
Japan has many wonderful places to eat, and I hope you’ll discover some favorites during your travels. Wishing you a lovely stay in Japan.
Thank you, SJJ. And we definitely have! Just had some delicious ramen in Kyoto!