Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/856981
28 / the tasting panel / august 2017 Exploring Japan WHERE WE'RE EATING D epending on who's counting, there are 80,000 to 100,000 restaurants in Tokyo, compared to 24,000 in New York and London. There are tens of thousands more in Kyoto alone. And though I'd be a fool to suggest that all of them are good, a lot more are good than not good. And a lot more are better than that––which means finding a tasty meal in Tokyo or Kyoto is both easy (you can hardly go wrong) and difficult (how to possibly choose?). And no, you don't have to spend much—dining out in Japan can be far less expensive than commonly thought. A handful of obvious don'ts. First, don't eat at your hotel. Did you really travel halfway around the world to eat hotel food? Second, don't eat at Italian restaurants. You'll notice that they're everywhere, but Italian food in Japan is. . . strange. Pizza crusts taste as if they were cooked in an Easy-Bake Oven. Toppings run to canned tuna and corn. Pastas are overcooked and washed in tomato water. In Japan, ramen, udon and soba are great; spaghetti isn't. And third, if you opt for a Wendy's or a Mickey D's, it's on your soul. You'll have to answer for it when you get to the Pearly Gates. Ramen in Japan can be found at many restaurants, but ramen-ya spots specialize in the noodle dish, served in each restaurant's proprietary broth. EATING WELL IN KYOTO AND TOKYO by Merrill Shindler Kyoto and Tokyo's best restaurants and bars are often found in the maze of alleys that funnel through the cities. Japan Japan there are 80,000 to 100,000 restaurants in New York and London. There are Kyoto alone. And though I'd be a fool to lot more are good than not good. And that––which means finding a tasty meal tasty meal tasty in Tokyo hardly go hardly go hardly wrong) and difficult (how to don't have to spend much—dining out in than commonly thought. commonly thought. commonly First, don't eat at your hotel. Did you world to eat hotel food? Second, don't notice that they're everywhere, but Pizza crusts taste as if they if they if were they were they Toppings run to overcooked Japan, ramen, isn't. And Mickey D's, Mickey D's, Mickey answer for it Ramen in Japan can be found at many restaurants, but ramen-ya spots specialize in the noodle dish, served in each restaurant's proprietary broth. EATING Japan EATING Japan WELL Japan WELL Japan IN Japan IN Japan KYOTO Japan KYOTO Japan AND Japan AND Japan TOKYO Japan TOKYO Japan by Merrill Shindler