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restaurants in Japan specialize in just one type of food.
Sushi-ya
Sushi-ya are restaurants which specialize in sushi. In most
sushi-ya, customers can sit either at a normal table or
at a counter (sushi bar), behind which the sushi chef is
working.
Kaiten-zushi
Kaiten-zushi are sushi restaurants, where the sushi dishes
are presented to the customers on a conveyor belt. Customers
can then freely pick the dishes that they like or order
dishes which are not available on the belt. In the end,
the number of plates is counted to determine the cost. There
are usually a few kinds of plates (differing in color or
pattern), each being associated with a certain price. Kaiten-zushi
tend to be less expensive than usual sushi-ya.
Soba-ya
Soba-ya specialize in soba and udon noodle dishes. Most
noodle dishes come either cooled with a dipping sauce or
hot in a soup with different toppings. The menu often changes
slightly with the seasons, with hiyashi (cold) noodles popular
in summer and nabeyaki udon popular in winter.
Ramen-ya
Ramen-ya specialize in ramen dishes, Chinese style noodles
served in a soup with various toppings. Every ramen-ya has
developed its own soup, the most crucial ingredient for
a restaurant's success. Several other dishes of Chinese
origin, such as gyoza and fried rice, are usually also available
at a ramen-ya.
Kare-ya
Kare-ya are restaurants that specialize in curry rice (kareraisu)
dishes. There is usually at least one kare-ya inside or
around any major railway station.
Tonkatsu-ya
Tonkatsu-ya serve tonkatsu, deep fried breaded pork cutlets.
Korokke and other deep fried dishes are also available at
many tonkatsu-ya.
Gyudon-ya
Gyudon-ya specialize in gyudon (beef domburi). Gyudon-ya
tend to be inexpensive fast food style restaurants.
Okonomiyaki-ya
Okonomiyaki-ya specialize in okonomiyaki and sometimes monjayaki.
Customers are usually preparing their okonomiyaki by themselves
on a hot plate which is built into the table.
Yakitori-ya
Yakitori-ya specialize in yakitori, grilled chicken skewers.
They are particularly popular among salarymen after work.
Tempura-ya
Tempura-ya specialize in tempura dishes, such as tendon
(tempura domburi) and assorted tempura.
Unagi-ya
Unagi-ya specialize in unagi (fresh water eel) dishes such
as unajuu and unadon (unagi domburi).
Sukiyaki-ya
Sukiyaki-ya specialize in sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. They
tend to be expensive and are not very numerous.
General
Restaurants
The following are some restaurant
types that offer a broader range of dishes than specialized
stores.
Izakaya
Izakaya are drinking places that offer a variety of small
dishes, such as robata (grilled food), salads and finger
food. It is probably the most popular restaurant type among
the Japanese people. Izakaya tend to be informal, and the
people at one table usually share all dishes, rather than
ordering and eating individually.
Family
Restaurant and Shokudo
Family restaurants (famiresu) offer a variety of Western,
Chinese and Japanese dishes in order to please all family
members. Shokudo also offer a variety of dishes, however,
the term is not commonly used anymore, and the difference
to family restaurants is small.
Teishoku-ya
Teishoku-ya are restaurants that sell teishoku (set menus).
A set menu usually consists of a main dish such as a fried
fish, a bowl of cooked rice and small side dishes. Teishoku-ya
are especially numerous in business areas and popular during
lunch time.
Foreign
Cuisine
Many restaurants in Japan specialize
in a foreign cuisine. Especially Korean, Chinese and Italian
cooking, as well as American style fast food enjoys a great
popularity among the Japanese.
Yakiniku-ya
Yakiniku-ya specialize in Korean style barbecue, where small
pieces of meat are broiled on a grill at the table. Other
popular Korean dishes such as bibimba are usually also available
at a yakiniku-ya.
Chinese
Restaurants
There are very many Chinese restaurants in Japan. Many of
them serve slightly Japanized Chinese dishes, while others
offer authentic Chinese food.
Italian
Restaurants
The Italian cuisine is very popular across Japan. Many Italian
restaurants have Japanese flavored pasta dishes on their
menus besides conventional dishes.
Hamburger
Fast Food
There are many hamburger fast food restaurants across Japan.
They include major American chain stores such as McDonald's,
but also various Japanese chain stores such as Mos Burger
and Lotteria.
Yoshoku-ya
Yoshoku-ya specialize in yoshoku ryori (Western Food). The
dishes served at yoshoku-ya are heavily Japanized Western
dishes, such as omuraisu and hayashiraisu.
Ethnic
Cuisine
In Japan, ethnic cuisine means South East Asian food, such
as Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese food.
Other
Restaurant Types
Kissaten
and Coffee Shops
Kissaten are coffee shops that offer Western style sweets,
such as cakes and ice cream, besides beverages. Coffee chain
stores such as Starbucks are also quite numerous.
Kaiseki
Ryori and Ryotei
Kaiseki Ryori may be called "Japanese haute cuisine".
It is a refined cooking style related to the tea ceremony,
which emphasizes concepts such as simplicity and elegance.
It can be enjoyed at special kaiseki ryori restaurants or
at ryotei, expensive and exclusive Japanese restaurants
for business banquets and similar events.
Yatai
and Rotensho
Yatai are movable food stalls that can be found along busy
streets. They sometimes include seating space inside a tent.
Dishes commonly offered at yatai include oden and ramen.
Rotensho are food stands that are temporarily constructed
for festivals and other large events. Okonomiyaki, takoyaki
and yakisoba are just a few of the many dishes commonly
sold at rotensho.
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