Buying a few sushi rolls for a quick lunch is very popular. And going to a restaurant where the sushi rolls past you on a conveyor belt is no longer considered bizarre. These are both signs of how much Australians have embraced the delicate flavours, fresh ingredients and smooth textures of Japanese cuisine.
If just reading about Japanese food make you want to rush out and get your fix of salmon sashimi or seaweed rolls, here's a list of Brisbane's Japanese restaurants.
For Japanese with a water view, try the elegant Sono at Portside, Hamilton.
For dining at one of Brisbane's longest established Japanese restaurants, try Little Tokyo in Spring Hill. It opened in 1966, when Brisbane's knowledge of Japanese food was a lot less than today. Take your shoes off and sit on floor mats or be seated at western style tables and chairs.
For great teppanyaki with a group, head to Kabuki at Stamford Plaza Hotel.
Or for an eatery with casual style, go to Edamame at St Lucia.
Mizu Japanese restaurant at Teneriffe is one of the only places to offer Japanese breakfast, each weekend. It also runs regular Japanese cooking classes and sake appreciation events. A great way to get to know more about the cuisine.
Pick up your asian grocery supplies - seaweed sheets, pickled ginger, Japanese mayo, tempura batter mix and much more from asian grocery stores. You may also be able to get basic supplies from large supermarkets too.
Apart from sushi (when raw fish sits atop rice) or sashimi (simply slices of raw fish), there are other types of Japanese food. You might like to try:
Teppanyaki - BBQ style
his style of Japanese cuisine is a lot of fun, especially for groups. Teppanyaki is like a large barbecue plate on which a chef prepares your meal while your group sits around the outside. Good teppanyaki chefs make it a fun show, cutting at high speed and throwing eggs through the air for you to catch. Chicken, seafood and vegetables are cooked and served with hot rice.
Table top cooking
This fun Japanese dining option can be in the form of sukiyaki or shabu-shabu. Cook the ingredients on a grill plate or in hot stock in the centre of your table. These are healthy food options and a very sociable way to dine, cooked exactly to your liking because you are the chef.
Noodles
Hearty Japanese noodle soups make good cold weather food. Try soba (thin, buckwheat noodles) or udon (thick wheat) noodles. Wagamama noodles bars serve great Japanese-inspired meals in Fortitude Valley, Chermside and Wintergarden in the city.
Some other Japanese favourites include:
Dengaku - half an eggplant cooked until very soft, topped with sweet and salty miso paste then grilled. Divine.
Agedashi tofu - deep fried squares of tofu, lightly battered and drenched in a delicate soy broth.
Chirashi sushi - this is like a dozen types of sushi served in a bowl. The rice lines the bowl and various varieties of raw fish and other sushi toppings are layered on the top. A good chirashi sushi always looks beautiful with a mix of colours and textures. You need reasonable skills with chopsticks for this dish.
Unagi - rich and saucy, these pieces of smoked eel taste so much better than they sound on a menu. Give them a try.
Umeboshi -is a very salty pickled plum. Perhaps, like Aussies and their appreciation of vegemite, you have to grow up with umeboshi to appreciate the flavour...
Presentation is very important to the Japanese. At fine restaurants you'll see vegetables carved into flowers and a wonderful palette of colours on glossy serving platters. It's simple, understated and elegant.
Desserts traditionally aren't a large part of Japanese meals. Instead, try a selection of fresh fruits or maybe green tea ice cream. Drinks to accompany the meal include green tea, Japanese beer (such as Asahi) or sake (served warm or cold).
There's so much more to Japanese cuisine than sushi rolls. Be adventurous and take a culinary journey.
