Chiswick Sushi Bar

Well, Jerry, they're Japanese. I mean, that TV you watch, that sushi you eat, I mean, even that kimono you wear. Where to you think all that money goes, hmm?

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld quotes “The Checks”)

Makoto is a small sushi bar near by Turnham Green station. Fresh quality seafood, good execution, and fast delivery make it a great option in Chiswick if you have appetite for Japanese cuisine.

Starters

We got some tempura for starters, and also the soft shell crab. For sushi we went for a selection of spicy tuna, king prawn, and also salmon. Rolls were quite nice, my only complain was that some of the rolls are XL and not bite size, so when eating makes it a bit difficult and the roll crumbles apart. I will stay with the 6 pieces portion, as they are perfect small bite size rolls. 

Sushi time

To end a lovely wasabi and green tea ice cream. Overall great flavours.

Ice Cream

Makoto

T: 020 8987 3180

Sushi Bar

Approx Damage: £30pp

Area: Chiswick

Borough: Hounslow

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When Sushi Met Ikea

Well, Jerry, they're Japanese. I mean, that TV you watch, that sushi you eat, I mean, even that kimono you wear. Where to you think all that money goes, hmm?

Cosmo Kramer (Seinfeld episode “The Checks”)

I would have never believed I was going to love a Danish Japanese restaurant. Let’s face it, Denmark has become in a culinary centre so it was about time that some of their concepts start to spread around the world. The place Sticks ‘n’ Sushi. The credentials “voted the best sushi restaurant in Copenhagen”. The concept sushi and Yakitori.

A Modern concept from Denmark that was born 18 years ago, Two locations in London Wimbledon and Covent Garden. Ample space, modern, upscale, Scandinavian atmosphere and functionality, definitely the place is IKEA meets sushi.

The decor

We opened with a miso soup, OMG! The Miso was dense, depth flavours, really nice, I can’t believe I’m praising a miso soup, but it was absolutely fantastic, a great start. Then we went for some sushi and obviously some sticks. Extremely difficult to choose as everything looked amazing. I was worried as they have pictures on the menu, but I think I found the exception of the rule! We got the table for 2 meal, Nigiri, Uramaki, Futomaki, Yakitori, edamame, and spicy chicken bites. It was fantastic, great flavours, the sushi and sashimi were fresh, the sticks had a nice and lovely flavour.

Sushi & Sashimi

Chicken wg

Yakitori

We got more sushi roles, the Futomaki, a soft shell crab with abocado, fantastic. Great flavours again, flawless execution.

Futomaki

We moved for more sticks and got the Man Food. Great name and amazing flavours. More Yakitori, more edamame, and lamb chops. The highlight I have to say was the goat cheese in dried ham, it was exquisite, it was so good we ordered more of that ham and melted cheese delight.

More sticks

Chops & Ribs

Sorry for the broken record but the food was perfect, this is one of my favourite restaurants in London for sure! A piece of advice the edemame in the meals wasn't hot, so you will need to tell the waiter in order to get it hot. Service spot on, food amazing, 10 over 10 for the Danish Sushi chain.

Sticks 'n' Sushi

T: 020 3141 8800

Japanese Cuisine

Approx Damage: £42pp

Area: Wimbledon

Borough: Merton

Twitter: sticksnsushi_UK

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Coco Thai a lounge with a view

A good thing about Caracas is that you can find any type of cuisine you want, and the execution is quite good. So one of my stops this time was for Thai cuisine, Mary’s favourite have to say Coco Thai & Lounge. The place is in the Tolon Fashion Mall, quite famous for the gastronomic movement due to a dedicated floor to restaurants (5th floor). Typical Asian decoration and a terrace with an excellent view of the Avila. Menu is basically Thai with some additions of other Asian cuisines, mainly Japanese rolls, and a good cocktail list. 

Coco

We decided to share different dishes and mainly sushi rolls, so we went for a tempura salmon (Coquitos de Salmon), an special wakame salad, and then three different sushi  rolls Alaska special, Spicy Tuna, and a Tempura one. 

An overcast view of the Avila

The food was excellent, the coquitos were great, salmon with cream cheese tempura was superb, with a drizzle of a sweet mustard sauce just excellent, the wakame special salad was the best dish of the night, light and tasty, with tempura shrimp and octopus, just awesome. Sushi rolls were perfectly executed, which is pretty standard for Caracas, but this ones where definitely spot on. Alaska special, quite good, salmon, avocado, and cream cheese, with salmon eggs, excellent, then the spicy tuna quite good, and finally a shrimp tempura with cream cheese and crab, nice flavours. 

Salmon tempura

Wakame salad

Shrimp roll

Spicy Tuna roll

Alaska roll

Excellent food, nice ambience, superb view, a place to relax and enjoy a couple drinks. 

Thailand remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Bookstore” 

Peterman: Elaine, do you have a moment? It's about your lover 

Elaine: Oh yes. I know all about his little performance in the break room 

Peterman: Elaine, who among us hasn't snuck into the break room to nibble on a love Newton? 

Elaine: Love newton? 

Peterman: I'm afraid the problem with Zach is more serious. He's back on the horse, Elaine. Smack. White palace. The Chinaman's nightcap 

Elaine: An addict? Well, it just keeps getting better! 

Peterman: And, in a tiny way, I almost feel responsible. I'm the one who sent him to Thailand in search of low-cost whistles. Filled his head with pseudoerotic tales of my own Opium excursions. Plus, I have him some phone numbers of places he could score near the hotel 

Elaine: Look, uh, Mr. Peterman, the fact is that I was planning on breaking up with Zach anyway. He was cheating on me! 

Peterman: Damn it, Elaine. That wasn't Zach. That was the yam-yam. Now, he is going cold turkey, and you will be at his side 

Elaine: Oh. Well, you know, I had planned to uh… 

Peterman: No buts, Elaine. Or I will strip you of your associate status. Uh, P.S., the first twenty-four hours are the worst, better bring a poncho

Coco Thai & Lounge

T: +58 212 300 8562

Aprox Damage: BsF 200pp

Area: Las Mercedes

Caracas
Twitter: CocoThaiRest

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Probably the best Sushi in London

A place I wanted to go for a long long time was Asakusa. I found excellent reviews about the food , the price was reasonable, actually quite cheap, and every time I tried to go without a reservation was impossible to get a table, add to that a couple cancelled reservations as my friends changed their mind at the last moment or got busy.

The Place

Inside

The place is quite small and intimate. Two levels and just a handful of tables in each of them. Simple decoration but nothing simple about the food and the vast menu offering Japanese classics including a Sake tasting which caught my eye and couldn’t resist. I got to the place with my lovely friend Sarah, and we went with a mission trying as much as we could. 

Decor and Menu on the white board

We went for sushi, sashimi, tempura, scallops, octopus, salmon, octopus, tofu, eel, seaweed, and of course the Sake sampler. The sampler brings three different Sakes, Akitabare (Northern Skies), Masumi (Mirror of Truth), and Dewazakura (Tenth Degree).

Agedashi Tofu (deep fried tofu with special sauce) 

Zucusu (seaweed in vinegar)

Yasai Furai (deep fried vegetables in breadcrumbs) 

Sake Sashimi (salmon)

Scallops

Umaki Tamago (eel omelette)

Sushi Time

Asakusa Sake Sampler

The food was superb, the price is cheap, and probably it is one of the best Japanese I have had. Really worth all the hassle to get a table. 

Sake reminds me the Seinfeld episode "The Checks"

Jerry: Yeah? 

George: Jerry! The Japanese guys had sake in the hot-tub! You got to get them out the drawers and get them down here, or I don't have a focus group to sell the pilot to Japanese TV! 

Jerry: Uncle Leo? 

George: JERRY! 

Jerry: Alright, alright. I'll wake them up.

Asakusa

T: 020 7388 8533

Japanese Cuisine

Area: Camden

Borough: Camden

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Teppanyaki still strong in Toledo

Japanese steakhouse style in Perrysburgh, if you check the different sites looking for the best places to eat in the area, Nagoya is a common name you will find. The place is based on the traditional Japanese cuisine using the iron griddle to cook food (Teppanyaki) and skill chefs to give the patrons a show. Flaming onion volcano, quick use of the knife, juggling the cooking utensils, catching eggs in the chef hat, and flip flattened chicken pieces to the costumers between others tricks.

Teppanyaki trick

Flaming Volcano

Burning Hat

Soya

I went to the place a couple times so had the chance to try a vast selection of their menu, including sushi, hot and cold appetizers, and the hibachi dinner (teppanyaki). The food is excellent and the teppanyaki show is good.

Soup

Meat in the griddle

For the hibachi I got the seafood deluxe, which gives you swordfish, scallops, and shrimps. As a side fried rice, soup, salad, and fresh vegetables.

Seafood deluxe

Sushi we got the boat so it was a mix of most of their roles and sashimi.

Sashimi time

The Boat

More Sushi

Finally, some of the entrees we got that I remember were tuna tartar, yellow tail jalapeno, and crispy calamari.

Calamari

Edame

Yellow tail

Tuna tartar

The food is excellent, no doubts one of the best restaurants in the area.

Japan reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Checks” where Kramer met a group of Japanese tourists.

Kramer: Uh, listen, uh, can I borrow some pillows?

Jerry: What for?

Kramer: Yeah, well, uh, my Japanese friends are gonna stay with me.

Jerry: I thought they all had suites at the Plaza?

Kramer: Well, I'm sorry, Jerry, we all don't have checks rolling in like you do.

Jerry: Well, what about all that money from the kimonos I wear?

Kramer: Well, they ran out of it. Manhattan can be quite pricey. Even with fifty thousand yen.

Elaine: Fifty thousand yen? Isn't that only a few hundred dollars?

Kramer: Evidently. Oh, by the way, tell Brett that his chest of drawers are a big hit. My guests are very comfortable in them.

Elaine: In them?

Jerry: You have them sleeping in drawers?

Kramer: Jerry, have you ever seen the business hotels in Tokyo? They sleep in tiny stacked cubicles all the time. They feel right at home.

Jerry: This has 'international incident' written all over it.

Kramer: Oh yeah, yeah.

My sympathy and support to all the people and families affected by the recent tragedy in Japan


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