When you think of Japanese cuisine, your first thought is probably sushi. If there’s anything that Japan does better than any other country, it’s creating amazing food and drinks with the highest quality ingredients. But what about all those other amazing foods in boat quay restaurants?
Introduction
Japan has a lot of variety when it comes to its cuisines. You can find everything from ramen to sushi but there are some things that you should know before going out for dinner.
Tip 1. Order in advance
If you want to dine at a Japanese restaurant, make sure you book ahead. This way they will have enough time to prepare your meal and also get enough customers to keep up their business.
Tip 2. Dress appropriately
At a Japanese restaurant, people dress formally. They wear traditional kimonos or yukata (the formal version). The restaurant staff will usually not let you enter the restaurant if you don’t have on proper attire. So remember to bring your kimono along so you won’t be judged by anyone else.
Tip 3. Know how to use chopsticks
Chopsticks are easy to master but if you haven’t used them before, you may need to practice a bit more. It takes some getting used to but once you do, you will wonder why you didn’t learn this long ago!
Tip 4. Do not order raw fish
This goes without saying but just so you know, you shouldn’t order raw fish at Japanese restaurants. If you want to order raw fish, go to a special seafood restaurant like Sushi-Zanmai.
Tip 5. Don’t order too many dishes
Japanese cuisine is known to be rich. Just because you love their food doesn’t mean you are allowed to order too much. Remember, people eat here everyday and they work hard to provide good service to their customers. So, try to stick with two main dishes and maybe one side dish.
Tip 6. Don’t order alcohol
Just because you are dining in an authentic Japanese restaurant, don’t order alcoholic beverages. Instead, stick to water and/or soda. This is because Japan is a drinking nation!
Tip 7. Don’t expect much in regards to service
Japanese restaurants are mainly family businesses. As such, they only hire family members who have a strong background in running the place. Most of the time, the waiters will not speak English. So, if you are looking for someone to help translate or even take care of your table, you might as well look elsewhere.
Tip 8. Eat slowly
Most of the items served at a Japanese restaurant are small. So, most of the time you are going to be eating very little at one time. And this is because they want you to finish every bite. When you start eating, you should chew your food thoroughly and then swallow it. Do not chew each piece of food separately. Also, do not gulp down your food – you should savour it instead.
Tip 9. Make sure you wash your hands
In Japan, it’s extremely important to always wash your hands. Even though you’re in an authentic Japanese restaurant, you cannot assume that the workers there wash their hands regularly.
Tip 10. Eat in moderation
There is no need to overindulge on Japanese cuisine. The best thing you can do is to enjoy yourself while you are there. Don’t stress yourself if you are having a bad day because you ate something delicious. Just relax and enjoy the company.
If you want to know more about Japanese culture, check out our guide to Japanese etiquette where we have discussed some basic rules you should follow when visiting Japan.
