Intro

Not so long ago, Japanese food such as sushi was something exotic and weird. No one would every think to eat a piece of raw fish over a ball of rice or to use seaweed to wrap various things with rice. Now, however, sushi is readily available everywhere. For example, just typing in "Japanese food" in google maps shows more than a dozen Japanese Restaurants within a five mile radius of my house. Japanese food has become global food. People all around the world eats Japanese food. Japanese food is as abundant as McDonald, without the big name brand. This makes Japanese food more of an individual specialty because Japanese food can be of any style or value. Living in Portland, I know that there are sushi restaurants in the downtown area that cost well over fifty dollars per person per serving, while there are some sushi restaurants that cost a dollar a plate. Also, Japanese food is easily changed to match the taste of anyone. For example, here in the United States, Ramen has typical beef, chicken, and shrimp flavor. However, in places such as Japan and China, there are flavors such as barbecue pork, seafood, and XO flavor. Also, things such as sushi can easily be changed such as california rolls and Philadelphia roll which incorporates ingredients that is not used in Japan. These ingredient include avocado and cream cheese.


Japanese food is no longer just an exotic food. It has become a food that is on the menu for people all around the world. Places can easily get Japanese recipes and sauces at the super market. Foods such as teriyaki and sushi can be bought at your typical American grocery store. Japanese food is a global food.   Next time you get dinner out, try a Japanese place! You'll be surprise how your local taste gets incorporated into the food.

Sushi: History and Globalization

Sushi was first eaten in the Edo-era in Tokyo in the nineteenth century. Sushi use to be a method or meat preservation with vinegar rice. Sashimi was widely eaten way before there was "sushi", however, it was later combined to create modern day sushi. Now it is virtually found in every major city in the United States. Sushi, however, is not from big corporations like McDonalds who opens restaurant all around the world; it globalized in a different way. Sushi came from immigrants who traveled to the United States in the nineteenth century when they came to the United States to work on the railroads. However, sushi is not just enjoyed in the United States and Japan, it is globalized. Sushi is eaten in many countries all around the world. Sao Paulo in Brazil has the largest population of Japanese people outside Japan. There is more sushi bars in Sao Paulo than Brazilian barbeque shops. Sushi has also changed to match the taste of local flavors. For example, one of the greatest (and popular) addition to sushi is the California Roll. California rolls inclues avocados which is not used in traditional Japanese cooking. In Brazil, Mango is used in sushi to match local taste. 

Source: The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy

Sushi Land

Being native to Southeast Portland, Sushi Land is THE place for everyone who wants cheap sushi to dine at. When I went in, this place was packed as usual. For newbies, finding this place can be hard. It's tucked away by a Kohl's and across the street from Southeast Portland's premier shopping location: Clackamas Town Center. However, location was never a factor for this place. It always has a full house almost all day and the waiting for seating takes forever!

Info:

Location:
8424 SE Sunnyside Rd
Clackamas, OR 97015-7783
Phone: 
503-794-1800
Hours:
1:00 am - 9:00 - Everyday
Website

Green Tea Ice Cream - $1.50

Nom Nom Nom

Bit Blurry

Overall:

This place is just your typical sushi conveyor belt. There is nothing special about it. The wait to get seating is FOREVER. There has not been a time where I went for lunch and I did not wait less than 45 minutes. This place is popular mainly because of the price and not quality. It is however better than many other sushi conveyor belts I've had and is more fresh because of the popularity. I recommend this place for cheap sushi to fill your cravings, not to have actual authentic sushi. 

RATING: 

Overall: ★★★
Price: $

Service: ★★★
Seating: ★★
Parking: Parking lot

Conveyor Belt Sushi

Called kaiten-zushi in Japanese. This is an extremely popular way to eat sushi today. Especially amongst the youth. I know this because me and my friends often go out for sushi, but we rarely ever go to an actual sushi restaurant and order from a menu. Also, there are many of these types of sushi restaurants popping up everywhere! 


HISTORY: 
Kaiten-zushi was created by a man named Yoshiaki Shiraish. He got the idea from a beer brewery conveyor belt. He opened his first conveyor belt sushi in 1958. It was not until the 1970s when the sushi conveyor belts became popular. It became even more popular when eating out became very popular in the 1980s. In the 1990s, eating out became cheaper and the even more restaurant came up.


Thoughts: 
I think the why the kaiten-zushi has become so popular is because of the cheap price. You can get a delicious meal for a fairly cheap price and that appeals to everyone from little kids to adults. Sushi is still seen as an exotic food for many people and the recent popularity has made many want to experience sushi. The cheap connotation that is given to sushi belts has made it possible for everyone to try this delicious Japanese cuisine!

  Source: Wikipedia

Sushi Island

Me and my friend found this place while driving to Wal-Mart last week and we went in for a try! When we went in, we were suprise to find out that this place has just recently opened. It's located on West 11th by the Fred Meyers so it is pretty convenient. Still doing their grand opening special, I got my 6th plate for free! They have their opening promotion of $1.50 for any plates of sushi from 2-4pm. This place has the sushi conveyor belts. Sushi Island also reminds me of a place that I go to all the time back home - Sushi Land. If you switch out the Island and add a land and knocked out 50 cents from every plate and added a few more items, the it will be almost identical to Sushi Land.


Info:

Location:

3215-A West 11 Th Ave

Eugene, OR 97448

Phone: 
541-345-6969

Hours: 

N/A

Website: 
N/A

Front

Inside

Overall:

I find this place overall to be okay for people who do not eat sushi regularly or want cheap sushi. If you don't sit at the conveyor belts, then you will not be getting much sushi because you will have to order it (unless you want to get up and walk across tables to grabs plates off the conveyor belts) and what you order is basically the same thing as the conveyors. Also, The variety is not that great. Every type of sushi roll I ate was basically a different form of a california roll. Every roll I got had a different name but consist of what is in a california roll except it had a different sauce, garnish, or some type of fish layered on top. The texture of the sushi is also off. Everything was very mushy. Maybe it is because of the crab salad and avocado...

This is one of those sushi restaurants that you sit and and wait for the belt to go round and round, but cannot seem to find anything to eat because it lacks variety. However, if you are a fan of the basic Americanized sushi, this is the place for you!

RATING: 

Overall: ★★
Price: $

Service: ★★★★
Seating: ★★★★
Parking: Parking lot

Recipe Time!!

Want to spice up your Ramen? Tired of using that packet of mystery powder in your Ramen? Well give this a try.


Ingredients:
1 package dry top - ramen
3 cups of water


2-3 cups of broth of your choice
2 TBS of Soy Sauce
Dash of salt
1-2 rings of Onion (Optional)
1 - defrosted Imitation Crab Stick (Optional)
2-3 defrosted fish ball (Optional)


Instructions:


Boil water and dry ramen until for 2-3 minutes until noodles are done. Drain the noodles and put the noodles without water in the serving bowl. Add imitation crab stick, onion rings, and fish balls on top of the noodles.


Mix in a pot broth, soy sauce, and salt. Bring to boil. Pour the hot broth over noodles.

YUMMY!

History of Ramen!

Ramen originated from China. Chinese restaurant in the Canton region started selling this type of noodle fresh. Noodles were made by hands and served with pork bone broth and seafood. Gyoza (popstickers) or jiaozi in Chinese are served along with the Ramen.


Post World war two, troops who returned to Japan and opened Chinese restaurants because many had become accustomed to Chinese food due to the occupation of China. This is when Ramen started to become popular in Japan. However the instant form of the noodle did not start until 1958 when Nissin started packaging dried ramen noodles so everyone at home can enjoy the delicious noodles.


Today in Japan, Ramen is highly popular to school kids. Students regularly go to Ramen shops to enjoy a quick lunch. Also, the packaged versions are also highly popular due to the cheap price. College students are always stereotyped as regular ramen consumers.....

My College life....

Source:Wikipedia