Japanese Restaurants in America

The influence of Japanese food can be seen in many areas of American culture. Japanese food has been diffused into many areas of the American restaurant industry. A typical town in American includes restaurants with all different types of food. These different types can be differentiated by type of food it serves (i.e. vegetarian, steak or seafood), the ethnicity of the food (i.e. Italian, Chinese, or Middle Eastern food), or the price range of the restaurant (i.e.fine dining or fast food). Many of these categories overlap. The influence of food from Japan can be found in many different types of restaurants, and this wide range of diffusion exemplifies the fact that Japanese restaurants are not just defined as expensive sushi bars.

The influence of Japanese ingredients, Japanese meals, and the overall experience of dining in Japan can be seen in a wide range of restaurants. These vary from very expensive to fast food. The 1980s were a time of high priced Japanese restaurants popular in the U.S. By 1992, this trend has shifted to the age of fast-food sushi restaurants. Many high priced sushi restaurants are hurt financially by the loss of the novelty of Japanese cuisine ("Traditional Products Take the Lead"). In addition, its pricey artistry is too costly for many Americans. Japan's economic troubles cause many Japanese companies to scale back to U.S. operations reducing the Japanese restaurants' most devoted constituency--the Japanese nationals working in the United States ("Traditional").

Why Americans like Japanese Food

In addition, restaurants in New York City offer modest dinners at $12-$15 instead of conventional $30-$40 dinners ("Traditional"). This shift is explained by the efforts to get the middle-class person to like Japanese food. However, Japanese fast food is catching on as many of its qualities appeal to the lifestyles of Americans. The health conscious, hurried, value-seeking customer is looking for nutritious entrees in a hurry. Even lower income people can afford the chicken teriyaki served in the fast food restaurants. Americans' growing concern about healthy and reasonably priced eating can lead them to fast-food Japanese style. Instead of enjoying the delicacy of Japanese food once a month, the fast-food sushi can be afforded two or three times a week. The obstacle of Japanese restaurants in America is that many people associate Japanese food as sushi only; thus, those who do not like fish, and are unaware of the different types of Japanese food, steer clear of Japanese food.

American Preconceptions of Japanese Food

Many Americans consider Japanese food to consist of sushi and chopsticks. To avoid this stereotype, one Japanese fast-food chain steers clear of sushi because the owners believe sushi has been overdone in America. Instead, they serve a limited menu of noodle dishes, fried rice and gyozo, or pot stickers (Barry). These are foods that Americans will recognize and can be eaten quick and cheap. In addition, the dishes are attractive to health conscious individuals. In order to gain a larger clientele, people need to get used to eating Japanese foods. Traditionally Japanese the preparation and presentation are important to exactly what Japanese food is. So, having a Japanese meal, even if it is fast-food, includes eating food served in ceramic bowls. The menu also serves ice cream and yogurt, which seems like an Americanization of the Japanese food. The drink list includes both hot and cold beverages as well as beer, wine, and sake. The fast-food restaurant is successful in America due to the relative uniqueness and nutritional value of the food, as well as the fact paced service akin to American society.