Sizzling sounds and enticing aromas account for positive first impressions about Kura Japanese Restaurant, but there’s much more to appreciate here than hibachi-prepared foods.

Sonobana is anything but new, but a major renovation of the dining room has made this sushi and noodle restaurant better than ...

We wander through displays of bright red tomatoes, the longest asparagus I’ve ever seen, wagyu beef and artistically presented bento boxes ... It’s the freshest tempura I’ve tasted.

Kimi-san walks at the head of the group. A bell hangs from her daypack, tinkling to ward off bears as she strides along, ...

Kyoto offers a decent-sized menu including sushi rolls and potstickers to tempura, dynamite scallops, garlic shrimp, and teriyaki chicken or salmon. The bento box is one of the most popular dishes ...

The chef-owner Hiroyuki Iwata opened this sliver of a restaurant in 2019, on the site of his mother’s former bento store in the ... It resembles a petite shrimp tempura — same linear shape ...

From boozy izakayas to teppanyaki buffets and my personal fave—a ramen bar where you can sink cocktails served in keepsake ...

At lunchtimes on the trail we stop at shrines, under trees, or in tiny villages where the locals serve us green tea when we pull out our bento boxes ... soba noodles, tempura and more.

Begin your evening with an Asian-inspired cocktail and a starter of crispy duck leg confit, wagyu beef tataki, soft-shell crab tempura ... for casual fare like bento boxes, tacos, salads, sushi ...