• Rinshin on December 17, 2021

  I have lots of Japanese language cookbooks on izakaya (eating and drinking places) food and tradition. This is a very good book with easily made recipes using few specialized ingredients that are essential such as dashi, kombu, ponzu etc along with substituted components found in most western countries. A contemporary style of izakaya food found throughout Japan, normal everyday Japanese home cooking and what is available as ready made meals found all over Japan in convenient stores, markets, etc written English language.

Notes about Recipes in this book

• Nikumiso lettuce wraps (Nikumiso retasu maki / 肉味噌レタス巻き)

  • Emily Hope on December 15, 2022

    This was totally delicious and super simple -- you saute ground pork with some onions, ginger, and garlic, plus miso and a few other seasonings. To make it a meal, rather than lettuce wraps I served it with a brown rice/red rice combo plus a simple vinegared cucumber salad. Everyone enjoyed it -- with the accompaniments it made enough for 3 adult + 1 kiddo serving, plus a small amount for leftovers the next day. Would definitely repeat.

• Grilled broccoli with white miso and sesame sauce (Burokkorī no gomamiso-ae /ブロッコリーの-ごま味噌和え)

  • joneshayley on October 28, 2021

    Another hit, the dressing is really nice and compliments the broccoli. One to make again. Pairs really well with the soy steak in the book

• Okonomi fries (Okonomiyaki aji furaido poteto /お好み焼き味フライドポテト)

  • joneshayley on October 28, 2021

    Nice enough although it’s all about the toppings really. Especially the tuna flakes. Makes a bowl of chips a lot more interesting - great snack / movie night food

• Pepper steak with garlic soy sauce butter (Peppā sutēki no shōyu gārikku batā yaki / ペッパーステーキの醤油ガーリックバター焼き)

  • joneshayley on October 28, 2021

    An outstanding dish! Easy to prepare but the flavours are so good. Deep savoury salty. I’ll make this again.

  • Foodycat on July 26, 2022

    I think my honey was too strongly flavoured - it was just very honey-y.

• Addictive cabbage (Yamitsuki kyabetsu / やみつきキャベツ)

  • joneshayley on October 28, 2021

    I was dubious of dressed raw cabbage but needn’t have been. This is great snack food. Salty and addictive as promised

  • CheesyKranskyLove on October 03, 2022

    This is so tasty and my go to veg side for Japanese meals

• Ham and cheese mille-feuille katsu (Hamu chīzu no mirufīru katsu / ハムチーズのミルフィールカツ)

  • joneshayley on November 09, 2021

    Easy fast food- not healthy but not supposed to be! We loved these

• Spicy gyoza hotpot (Pirikara gyōza nabe / ピリ辛餃子鍋)

  • joneshayley on November 01, 2021

    Firstly the negative- despite lowering the miso by a third, the chicken stock, dashi and miso combine to an overly salty broth to my taste. Husband loved it though , but next time (always a favourable note when there’s a negative) I will half the miso. Super fast, super easy and absolutely brilliant mid week meal. So good on an autumn night. Warming soothing but spicy and fresh.I used udon noodles and Korean beef gyoza from Costco.

• Cheese-stuffed tsukune (Chīzu tsukune / チーズつくね)

  • joneshayley on November 05, 2021

    Great recipe, perfect snack food and great for a bbq

• Baked potatoes with butter and salmon roe (Jagaimo no batā to ikura nose hoiru-yaki / じゃがいものバターとイクラ乗せホイル焼)

  • Foodycat on July 08, 2022

    So simple but really decadent and delicious. Marinating the roe just adds a bit of extra complexity.

• Braised daikon with miso sauce (Furofuki daikon / 風呂吹き大根 )

  • patioweather on January 30, 2023

    Very good. Amazing sauce. I swapped lime for yuzu.

• Prosciutto-wrapped crab and avocado sushi roll (Nama hamu no kariforunia rōru / 生ハムのカリフォルニアロール)

  • patioweather on January 30, 2023

    We enjoyed your and it made a beautiful roll. However it wasn't the standout at our dinner.

• Eat Your Books

  Tim's books are keepers and as close to experiencing Japanese fun in your own kitchen as you will ever come.

  Full review

• Kavey Eats

  A book that makes you alternatively raise your eyebrows, giggle and salivate as you read is a joy indeed.

  Full review