Japan

Japanese Beer-Fed Kobe Beef Jerky May Be the Best Beef Jerky on the Planet

Japanese beer-fed Kobe beef jerky is a real, glorious thing, and now, thanks to Kickstarter, you can soon get it in your mouth. Called Kobe Red, the gourmet snack is created by Los Angeles-based Magnus Fun Inc. It's made with beer-fed, hand-massaged cattle from Japan. It has been wet-aged with sav ... More >>

There's A Ramen Burger, You Guys

This was bound to happen someday, and of course, it happened in Japan. Burger joint Lotteria teamed up with ramen restaurant Menya Musashi to create a--you guessed it--ramen burger. Two burger buns sandwich a pork cutlet, mayo and a bed of lightly fried ramen noodles. The concoction is served wit ... More >>

Full Moon Sushi: New Order

[Hole In the Wall] This mini-chain has grown without sacrificing its excellence

Gyu-Tan, Beef Tongue Restaurant, Opens at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Costa Mesa

Here's how I know we've come a long way from teriyaki chicken bowls: A new restaurant inside Mitsuwa Marketplace called Gyutan Tsukasa is a beef tongue specialist. The original Gyutan Tsukasa hails from Sendai, Japan and serves the BBQ'd meat with barley rice, ox tail soup, and pickles. 

Geeta Bansal Interviews Legendary Catalan Chef Carme Ruscalleda of Restaurant Sant Pau!

Every Monday, Clay Oven Irvine executive chef/owner Geeta Bansal shares an interview that she's done with some of the heavyweights of European cooking. Today, she regales us with a visit with Carme Ruscalleda, the renowned Catalan chef. Enjoy!

Franchesca Robi Carries the Platters' Torch

Paul Robi was the booming baritone of the 50s vocal group the Platters. He stayed with the group through their chart topping heyday, performing on timeless classics like "Only You," "The Great Pretender" and "Twilight Time." He passed away in the late 1980s, performing for as long as his body would ... More >>

Who Invented The California Roll?

For sushi novices, it's the gateway dish. The California roll can be found everywhere from grocery-store fresh-food aisles to cafeteria menus in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Typically packed with crab or imitation crab, avocado and cucumber, then rolled "inside out," the nonthreaten ... More >>

"Human Meat" Butcher Shop Opens in London

Relax. It's a PR gimmick. But man is it making the rounds on the interwebs...which makes it an ingenious if perverse PR gimmick. To promote the upcoming release of the Resident Evil 6 video game, Capcom has set up a shop at London's Smithfield meat market featuring edible meat-products molded to loo ... More >>

Watching The News Can Make You (Physically) Sick, UC Irvine Study Finds

Planes crashing into the Twin Towers. Bodies washing up on the shore after the Japan tsunami. Bloodied victims being rolled out of the Aurora movie theater.    We watch on our TVs and computers in horror and heartache. And it may be making us sick.  Researchers at UC Irvine studied ne ... More >>

Mochi Cream, New Dessert Shop, Opens At Mitsuwa Costa Mesa

The Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa has a new sweet addition to complement its roster of savory food stalls like Santoka and Sky Express. Mochi Cream is a, well, mochi cream, specialist--a dessert that's made by wrapping the sweet, glutinous rice paste called mochi around flavored fillings like red bean.The p ... More >>

Burger King Introduces Black Truffle Angus Burger In Hong Kong

While Taco Bell foists another Frankenstein's monster food item on us made from the interchangeable parts of its existing menu, the other parts of the world get actual innovation from their fast food restaurants. We heard about the Pizza Hut in England's hot-dog-stuffed pizza crusts and the gri ... More >>

Man Orders a Whopper with 1,050 Pieces of Bacon; Attempts To Eat It

So a man walks into a Burger King in Japan and orders a Whopper with 1,050 pieces bacon, and Burger King, true to their "Have It Your Way" slogan, gives it to him.

VIDEO: Ramen Gets Set on Fire at Kyoto Restaurant

I just returned from an awesome trip to Japan, home of sakura blossoms, crazy vending machines, maid cafes, kawaii adorableness, Pocky and ramen--so much ramen. I slurped my weight in noodly goodness. Oh, pork broth and soft-boiled soy sauce egg, how I love thee. The most unique ramen experienc ... More >>

5 Reasons To See Jiro Dreams of Sushi, in Theaters TODAY

​​​Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the exquisite documentary about Jiro Ono, the 85-year-old chef at the famed Tokyo sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro. (Read a Q&A with director David Gelb here.) Need a reason to drive out to L.A. to catch the film, which opens today? Here are five delicious ones. ... More >>

New Trailer for Anticipated Sushi Documentary Released

Magnolia Pictures​There is already a movie about ramen. It's called Tampopo, which isn't just one of the best food movies, but in my opinion, one of the greatest films of all time. Now there's a documentary called Jiro Dreams of Sushi where the central subject is Japan's other ubiquitous dish: sus ... More >>

Shonen Knife's Naoko Yamano: 'I'm Ashamed to Write Songs About Love'

Shonen Knife​It's been three decades since beloved all-female Japanese pop-punk trio Shonen Knife formed, and although they have only one remaining original member, singer/guitarist Naoko Yamano, they still pump out an endearing mixture of pop, punk, food and fantasy that has attracted fans all ov ... More >>

Japan Has More Top Restaurants Than France Says Michelin Guide

​In the battle of sushi versus foie gras, sushi wins. Or so says the Michelin Guide, which has decreed that Japan has more top restaurants than France for the first time since the book started rating restaurants in The Land of The Rising Sun in 2008.

'Hand Pulled: The Complete Shag Print Collection'

Grand Central Art Center

'Hand Pulled' Opening Reception

Grand Central Art Center

No. 79: Pork Curry at Miyabi-Tei

​Welcome to the Weekly's list of our 100 Favorite Dishes for 2011! Tune in every day until we get to número uno! Now, on to the latest entry. . . .Supposedly, Portuguese missionaries introduced curry to Japan after they picked up the meal in Goa, India--I say "supposedly," because almost all food ... More >>

OC Art Galleries Will Feature Japan, Shag and More!

[SUMMER GUIDE] Highlights from Orange County and Long Beach galleries for the summer

This Week in Food: Cone-Ing, Breastaurants, and Tamal vs. Tamale!

​Always awesome weeks here, so jump after the jump to learn what made us jump this week!

Sanrio.com and Select Boutiques Donating Net Proceeds to Japan Disaster Relief Tomorrow

​It's now the world's most famous mouthless white cat's turn to help out Japan: Tomorrow, Sanrio.com and select participating boutique locations will donate all net proceeds toward Japan disaster relief.The company (whose stateside headquarters is housed in Torrance) seems to be following in the f ... More >>

Rebecca Black's Ultra-AutoTuned Jay Leno Appearance Was Sadder Than We Expected

​Here are the things we learned from watching Rebecca Black on Jay Leno last night: Nick Jonas sang her song at a charity Sunday night, she's had 35 million views on YouTube and it's been watched more times than Lady Gaga's "Born This Way." Simon Cowell wants to meet her; Ryan Seacrest has been "a ... More >>

This Week in Food: Italian Holiday, Final Pho, and Arrested Development Pub Quiz!

​Between the start of our epic Final Pho tournament and news of quizzes that we can actually win, it was quite the week here at your favorite infernal blog. Highlights after the jump!

Japanese Tsunami Aid: Chef Eric Ripert

This just in from New York's Le Bernadin restaurant. From celebrity chef Eric Ripert's Twitter feed:​ It's a big move from a high-profile chef which might prod others into their own ways of helping victims in Japan. Know of others doing their part? Let us know in comments!

Oh Really? OC Nuke Plant Safe, Say Nuke Plant Officials

​Now this is a big relief: Southern California Edison, which operates the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, or SONGS, says that their nuke plant--you know, those two pendulous white domes on the beach between San Clemente and Camp Pendleton--is totally safe. And by "totally safe," they mean i ... More >>

In Memoriam: Bassist Mick Karn Dead at 52

Myspace.com​Mick Karn, long-time bassist for Japan and then Dalis Car, has lost his battle with cancer. Karn was born Andonis Michaelides to Greek Cypriot parents in Nicosia, Cyprus. His family moved to London, England when he was a young boy. He met the other members of what would become Japan as ... More >>

Blonde Redhead

The Glass House

Five Great Regional Burgers McDonald's Offers That They Should Offer Everywhere

Flickr user fugutabetai syashin​If you spent your youth with the McRib, you're just happier than a hog in slop right now with the re-launch of that sandwich at every US McDonald's franchise. I admit it: I liked them as kid, but I've since learned about real barbecue, and welcomed the news with a s ... More >>

Tsukemen: A Rare Ramen Treat At Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa, But Only Until Sunday

Photo by my lunch date Joz​Mitsuwa Marketplace in Costa Mesa is hosting a food fair right now (they stretch the word "fair" to mean they're offering a couple special, limited-time-only dishes) and this time, pop-up shop Nidaime Tsujita is serving up tsukemen, or "dipping noodles." With this s ... More >>

Choreographed Calligraphy Competition Movie Shodo Girls!! Makes Continental Premiere

​Tonight, Santa Ana will be the site of the U.S. continental premiere of a film about a group of high school girls who decide to turn their economically battered town's fortunes around by hosting and competing in a calligraphy contest.Ryuichi Inomata's Shodo Girls!! is based on a popular televised ... More >>

So, How's Mexican Food in Japan?

Flickr user marshallkiyoshihigaHappy person enjoying a meal at El Pancho.​Maybe you have some preconceived notion of what it would be like to work in the same office as Gustavo Arellano. Maybe you imagined that whenever you announce you're leaving the country for a vacation, Gustavo says something ... More >>

Japanese Airline To Serve Draft Beer On Flights

Flickr user smullComing soon to an airline near you: keg stands in free fall.​All Nippon Airlines announced today that they will begin serving draft beer on internal flights, principally to and from Okinawa. The advertisement states that prices per cup will be 800¥-1000¥ (US $9.15-$11.43).

Shu Uemura Closes Up Shops in U.S.

[Trendzilla] Sad. So very, very sad . . .

"The Cove" Filmmakers Wade Into Edwards University

The Cove, a documentary about the annual massacre of more than 25,000 dolphins in Wakayama, Japan, created quite the buzz when it played at the last Sundance festival. An Orange County audience gets a chance to meet the creators of that buzz tonight. Filmmakers Charles Hambleton and ... More >>

This Week In Food

Our fave grub blogs of the week: Gustavo educated us on the Japexican delights (specifically, the jalapeños stuffed with spicy tuna) at Wafu of Japan. Edwin brought us news of two Domino's employees indulging in acts of unspeakable grossness relating to pizza ingredients an ... More >>

Shakespeare by the Sea

Warner Grand Theater

[Trendzilla] Digital and Air-Wave Perms

Bigger Than Life: Our Exclusive Preview of the Best (and Worst) at the Newport Beach Film Festival

Power-puffy Grrrls

Puffy AmiYumi Go Butch (Walker), Rock Harder, Stay Cute

!Ask a Mexican!

Special Rip-Off Edicion

The Asian Persuasion

Great Asian restaurants, and the Asians (and Chuck Devore) who love them

Ramen Wars!

Slurping through Orange Countys steamiest Ramen bowls

Diagnosis: Asian Babe Syndrome

Occupying Japanese territory in Far East

Im the Worlds Wealthiest Fascist!

Reintroducing the Greatest Generation to historical complexity

Fear Factory

Jin-Roh shows anime at its most terrifying

Letters

Gettin Shig-ee With It

Shigetoshi Hasegawa pursues baseball, golf balls and the American dream

Letters