I finished the list, and then a new Japanese restaurant opened. It's great that we have so many options for Japanese food in Marin. "Fusion" in this group seems to mean 'serves more than one cuisine' rather than the actual fusion of the dishes. At any rate, I've updated the list!
Japanese and related Fusion
Corte Madera
Pacific Catch - Fusion
Larkspur
Fukusuke
King of the Roll
Sushi Ko
Mill Valley
Amberjack
Ino Sushi
May Lee's - Fusion
Robata Grill & Sushi
Samurai
Sushi Gourmet
Tsukiji Sushi
Novato
Masa's Sushi & Appetizer Bar
Matsuyama
Neo Tataki - Fusion
Sushi Holic
Taki Japanese Restaurant
San Anselmo
Sushi 69
San Rafael
Arigatou
Fujiyama Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Kamikaze
King of the Roll II - Fusion
Mikado Sushi
Sushi Boat Restaurant
Sushi-to-Dai-For
Tenkyu
Umi Sushi & Grill
Yu Shang Restaurant & Sushi Bar - Fusion
Sausalito
Sushi Ran
Sweet Ginger
Tiburon
Ginza Sushi
Japanese Restaurants reviewed elsewhere...
San Francisco
Ai Sushi
Anzu
Cha-ya
Delica rf1
Hime
Japanese Tea Garden (A nice place to enjoy Japanese Tea)
Kabuto
Kamakura
Oyaji
Shabu House
Sozai Restaurant & Sake Lounge
Sushi Bistro
San Franciso's Japantown
Izumiya
Juban
Kuishinbo
Kushi Tsuru
Mifune
Mifune Udon
Miyako
On the Bridge
Osakaya
Sanuki Udon
Sapporo-ya
Suzu
Takara
Sonoma County
Boat House Sushi
Gohan
East Bay
Tokyo
Monday, September 21, 2009
Japanese Flavors in Marin
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Japanese Restaurants in Marin, and Beyond
Well, I did it. I've visited every Japanese restaurant in Marin at least once. At least until the next new one opens up! I've visited a few in San Francisco as well, and that list is expanding too. If I'm missing any in Marin, please let me know!
Japanese Restaurants and others serving "Japanese" food (and link to my review, if I wrote one, or other info)
Pacific Catch - Fusion
Larkspur
Fukusuke
King of the Roll
Sushi Ko
Mill Valley
Ino Sushi
May Lee's -Fusion
Robata Grill & Sushi
Samurai
Sushi Gourmet
Novato
Masa's Sushi & Appetizer Bar
Matsuyama
Neo Tataki
Sushi Holic
Taki Japanese Restaurant
San Anselmo
May Lee's Asian Bistro - Fusion
Sushi 69
San Rafael
Arigatou
Fujiyama Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Kamikaze
Mikado Sushi
Oedo Grill
Sushi Boat Restaurant
Sushi-to-Dai-For
Tenkyu
Umi Sushi & Grill
Yu Shang Restaurant & Sushi Bar - Fusion
Sausalito
Sushi Ran
Sweet Ginger
Tsukiji Sushi
Japanese Restaurants reviewed in other places...
San Francisco
Ai Sushi
Anzu
Cha-ya
Delica rf1
Hime
Japanese Tea Garden (Not really a restaurant, but a nice place to enjoy Japanese Tea)
Kabuto
Kamakura
Oyaji
Shabu House
Sozai Restaurant & Sake Lounge
Sushi Bistro
San Francisco's Japantown
Izumiya
Juban
Kuishinbo
Kushi Tsuru
Mifune
Mifune Udon
Miyako
On the Bridge
Osakaya
Sanuki Udon
Sapporo-ya
Suzu
Takara
Other Greater Bay Area Places
Boat House Sushi
Tokyo
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Marin Japanese Restaurant Scene. The Japanese restaurant scene has had quite a few changes in the last few months, so I thought it time to post an update, and expand it to some other Japanese restaurants visited.
I find it rather amazing that I've visited every Japanese restaurant in Marin save one. If I'm missing any, please let me know!
Japanese Restaurants and others serving "Japanese" food (and link to my review, if I wrote one, or other info)
Larkspur
Fukusuke
King of the Roll
Sushi-ko
Mill Valley
Amberjack
Ino Sushi
Robata Grill & Sushi
Samurai
Sushi Gourmet
Novato
Masa's Sushi & Appetizer Bar
Matsuyama
Sushiholic
Taki
San Rafael
Arigatou - Japanese Food to Go (haven't tried)
Oedo Grill
Fujiyama
Kamikaze
Mikado Sushi
Sushi Boat Restaurant
Sushi-to-Dai-For
Tenkyu
Umi Sushi & Grill
Sausalito
Sushi Ran
Sweet Ginger
Tiburon
Ginza Sushi
Non-Japanese Restaurants featuring sushi...
Mill Valley
May Lee's Chinese & Sushi Restaurant
San Rafael
Yu Shang Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Japanese Restaurants reviewed in other places...
San Francisco
Anzu
Cha-ya
Hime
Japanese Tea Garden (Not really a restaurant, but a nice place to enjoy Japanese Tea)
Kabuto
Oyaji
San Francisco's Japantown
Izumiya
Kuishinbo
Kushi Tsuru
On the Bridge
Sapporo-ya
Mifune
Mifune Udon
Suzu
Takara
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Barazushi, or Chirashizushi if you'd like. I remember it as barazushi from Hiroshima, although the more common name is chirashizushi. Either of these carry the meaning of 'scattered', which the toppings are. Barazushi is a homemade sushi treat which has regional variations, and differs from home to home. One general difference between barazushi and chirashizushi is that barazushi more often has some vinegared ingredients mixed up in the rice itself, rather than just on top. The photo above is a barazushi that I made myself, and what you can't see is the vinegared shitake mushrooms and gobo (burdock) strands mixed into the sushi rice beneath. The topping is cut up omelet, cucumber, carrots and curly nori (laver seaweed).
I enjoy trying chirashizushi at various Japanese restaurants since they are usually beautiful works of art, which happen to be delicious too. But honestly, nothing has ever beat my Hiroshima grandmother's version. She always included lotus root, shrimp, shitake mushrooms, and something green like mitsuba (Japanese wild parsley) among other ingredients.
Although this can be made completely by scratch, many Japanese cooks use shortcuts, like many American ones.
First there is the bed of sushi rice, whether you make it bara-style with vinegared vegetables mixed in, or plain as in most chirashizushis. Using Mitsukan Sushi Rice Mix Powder
is one of the easier ways to make perfect plain sushi rice without measuring wet rice vinegar with granulated sugar/and or mirin (sweet rice wine).If you want to have the bara-version where vinegared vegetables are pre-mixed in and are mixed in tasty bits throughout the rice, you can either make these yourself or use a mix. One popular mix is Sushitaro, the above video clip is a cute advertisement related to Girl's Day, one of the traditional times to eat chirashizushi.
There are also canned mixes which you can open and just mix in with some premeasured cooked rice that have all the seasoned vegetables in it with the proper amount of sushi vinegar flavoring for the overall rice.
This Hinachirashi (Chirashi for Girls Day) recipe has one variation of making the vinegared vegetables from scratch, althought I usually use one that has dashi (fish stock) in addition to the rice vinegar, mirin and sugar.
Magi Yamamura makes a very pretty presentation of chirashi sushi with step-by-step photos.
I've noticed that a number of Japanese upscale restaurants have taken away the bowl, and lessened the amount of rice base for a very stylish presentation, as exemplified in the Sushi Ran version above. This version was tender and delicious. There are many interesting versions of sushi, Wikipedia has an excellent reference to the many types. As I said, I enjoy this dish, so you are likely to see more reviews of chirashi sushi as I visit and revisit Japanese restaurants wherever I may be!
And I can't resist leaving you with this adorable children's short "Honorable Sushi Picnic"!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Fine find in San Francisco. A friend of mine recommended Kabuto Sushi, and for a little change of pace, Dad and I went here a few nights ago for dinner.
There is a big calligraphy board over the sushi bar that says, simply "rythmn". And it fits. Watching the sushi chefs turn out beautiful plates one after the other is worth the visit itself.
My dinner came with a miso soup and salad set. The miso was flavorful, and the salad was fresh and had a unique miso dressing which accented the green leaves.
Dad enjoyed a main course of salmon mushiyaki, which he described as light and flavorful. He thought it was just right, and left room for dessert, adding just a bowl of rice.
I fell for the chirashi-zushi. How utterly light, cool and artful it was. The fish was so fresh, and they added some unique touches such as the addition of green tobiko as well as the traditional red, slices of red radish, and herb flavored omelet pieces.
Dad asked for some mango ice cream, which he said tasted like homemade. He recounted some summer memories of making ice cream out in the grass field next to the house where the family had a reunion each year and the children looked forward to the meal's end for this kind of cool sweet treat.
I tried a traditional Japanese sweet, ohagi. It was nicely plated. The outside consisted of sweet red bean paste with an artful sprinkling of green tea on the top.
And inside was sweet mochi rice, the texture of the grains still apparent. Very nice for small bites while sipping some sencha or hojicha.
