Classic Favorite Japanese Cuisine

Tonkatsu is a familiar friend for many diners at I Love Sushi’s Seattle restaurant. It’s a classic favorite for many first-timers to Japanese food, boasting a taste that appeals quite readily to the tastes of the average American. And indeed, this is no mistake, for the origins of the dish actually lie in one of Japan’s earliest attempts at Japanese-Western fusion cuisine.

Tonkatsu is thought to have been first served at some time around 1890 in Ginza, Japan. Though the details are difficult to be certain about, it is thought that there was a restaurant in the region that specialized in preparing food inspired by European cooking techniques.

Though the idea of “katsu” was by no means new to Japan, the deep-fried “tonkatsu” was a fresh innovation. The original tonkatsu dishes were actually served with a fork instead of a pair of chopsticks, which was almost entirely unheard of in Japan at the time!

Japanese Freshwater Eel

Have you ever tried unagi? This is a popular item in Japan, and can be found at our Seattle Japanese restaurant in the form of the classic nigiri-sushi topped with that distinctive strip of cooked brown fish.

The word “unagi” describes a particular species of Japanese freshwater eel. It is a rich source of protein, vitamin A, and vitamin E, which has given it a long-standing reputation for granting a diner strength and vigor.

Because of its nutritional properties, eel is often enjoyed during the hot months of summer so as to help the people resist the draining effects of the heat. It is customarily eaten on Doyo no Ushi no Hi, which is the midsummer “Day of the Ox” according to the lunar calendar. This day land on some point in late July.

However, regardless of the heat, unagi is always delicious and always available at I Love Sushi. So come on down for a taste today, and feel the raw power of the Japanese eel!