Month: August 2021

There are plenty of fine dining establishments serving popular American style food such as steak and seafood in Charlotte, NC and Springfield Missouri. A nice alternative to the traditional fine dining experience is the Japanese steakhouse. In Charlotte, Springfield and cities across the United States, Nakato  Japanese Restaurant bring a unique twist on meal preparation that is a hybrid of cooking styles from America and Japan.

Chefs in a Japanese steakhouse practice what is known as “Teppanyaki” style cooking. In the Japanese language Teppanyaki means broiling or cooking foods over a hot plate or griddle. When you visit the steakhouse you’ll see each table has a large griddle attached. That’s something you won’t find in other restaurants. This style of Japanese cooking brings diners up close to meal preparation. After you are seated at your table, you’ll have the pleasure of being assigned a chef who will cook your meal on the griddle as you watch. You could say that this is truly an interactive dining experience.

Diners in the United States enjoy eating steak and that is why you’ll find it prominently featured on the menu. In fact, serving steak is what sets the Teppanyaki restaurant apart from traditional Japanese restaurants. Top quality beef dinners include NY Strip steak, Hibachi Steak, Teriyaki Steak and Filet Mignon. These tender cuts of beef are brought directly to the table grill and cooked to perfection according to each diner’s preference. It is hard to stop your mouth from watering as you sit there watching the beef brown and release its savory juices. Every morsel tastes heavenly to a steak lover.

Teppanyaki style cooking isn’t just for steaks. Chefs also prepare fresh chicken, seafood, noodles, rice and vegetables on the grill. A typical meal at a popular Japanese steakhouse may include large jumbo prawn, chicken, scallops, lobster tail, steak, salmon, calamari and any number or Japanese style appetizers. Vegetarians delight in a hearty vegetable dinner that may include fried tofu. Diners that want more traditional Japanese food may order fresh sushi from the sushi bar. This combination of American food done with Japanese flair is what most people love about these steakhouses.

Of course, a discussion about Teppanyaki cooking is not complete without mentioning the entertainment factor. Your personal chef is there to entertain you as well as serve up a scrumptious meal. The chef handles his cooking tools with an expertise that rivals any stage performer. He places the meat on the grill and works his magic as it sizzles. Meat is seasoned, tossed in sauce and sliced if needed. Cooked food is served up immediately.

The chef’s sharp knife blade and handy spatula are used to chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces. He may choose to make a face out of your rice, which puts a smile on everyone’s face. Some items are tossed in the air and caught with precision moves worthy of an NBA player. Watching a chef play around with eggs is highly amusing. Meals prepared the Teppanyaki way seem to taste much better for some reason. Visit your local Nakato Japanese Steakhouse for a truly memorable dining experience.

If you are bound and determined to stay on a healthy eating plan when you go out to lunch or dinner, your local Japanese steakhouse should be included on your good list of dining establishments. The reason why a family restaurant like Nakato Japanese Steakhouse is a great choice is because Japanese food is considered by many to be healthier than other types of cuisine. The Japanese are well known for their love of fresh seafood. But, you don’t have to limit your choices to fish.

A Japanese steakhouse is going to have a fine selection of quality lean beef, as well as, chicken.

Whether you are dieting to lose weight, or simply want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the Japanese steakhouse has lots of menu items that are filling without making you feel weighted down. Eating healthier doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on flavor. The Japanese style of cooking truly does place lots of emphasis on fresh ingredients. The hibachi chefs do not feel a need to pour fattening sauces over a perfectly grilled steak or piece of salmon. You will quickly grow to love eating grilled meat that has the perfect balance of searing on the outside and juicy tenderness on the inside.

Grilling is considered by many nutritionists to be the best way to cook meats because you get all of the protein the body needs without adding fat. Hibachi-style cooking allows diners to truly enjoy savoring every bite. You may even have a difficult time choosing between the deliciously grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp or steak. All are excellent choices that allow you to experience what really fresh meat and fish taste like. If you would like a little extra flavor with your selection, you can get tasty dipping sauces on the side. But, you certainly can enjoy your meal without them.

Often, when you are eating out your meal includes heavy sides that are filled with too many calories. At the Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar, the typical sides are fried rice, noodles or salad. The cooking oils are light and you can order a light salad dressing as well. Eating good food to nourish the body is all about making smart choices. For instance, someone on a strict diet can choose to indulge in the Sukiyaki Steak, which is thinly sliced sirloin. Add a side of crisply grilled hibachi vegetables and that would be a fantastic guilt-free meal.

Portion control is just as much a part of healthy eating as what you choose from the menu. You are free to alert the Nakatos chef that you want a smaller serving. Another good idea is to order a serving of edamame as an appetizer. Edamame are young soybeans inside of a pod that are boiled and lightly salted. The beans make a tasty low-calorie snack that will satisfy your hunger pangs as you wait for your main meal.

Healthy menu choices extend to a wonderful array of Sushi that is freshly prepared and made with low-fat foods. The Sushi selection at Nakato Japanese Steakhouse features healthy seafood choices such as tuna, salmon and shrimp. For the more adventurous, try the octopus, squid or sea urchin flavors.