How to Eat
How to Behave at a Sushi Counter Without Embarrassing Yourself
The mid-tier and high-end sushi counters of Tokyo run on rules nobody writes down — because everyone who eats at them already knows. Here are the rules, and…
How to Eat
Tipping in Japan: The Complete Story
You may have read that tipping in Japan is "not expected." That phrasing softens what is actually true. Tipping in Japan is, in most settings, a small social…
How to Eat
What “Omakase” Actually Means (And Why “Chef’s Choice” Misses It)
Most English-language menus translate omakase as "chef's choice." That translation is technically true and substantively wrong. What you are actually doing when you say omakase is something specific,…
How to Eat
The Unspoken Rules of Eating Ramen in Tokyo
Most of what tourists hear about ramen etiquette is either wrong or out of date. Here are the rules Tokyo regulars actually follow — and the ones nobody…