Karaoke, Sushi, and a Bento Box, Oh My!

I recently discovered a great place for sushi and all kinds of great Japanese food at really good prices in Kenmore square. It’s called Maluken. Before you settle for Pizzeria Uno for the third time this month, walk around the corner and step into this little restaurant.

Maluken Japanese restaurant is popular for a variety of reasons. The atmosphere is authentic with Japanese decor and waitresses sporting kimonos. The fare includes a large sushi menu and other items. Maluken makes some great Japanese food including tempura (vegetables and shrimp lightly battered and deep fried), teriyaki (broiled seafood and meat with teriyaki sauce), and agemono (deep fried breaded meat or seafood with sauce).

When I went to Maluken, I got the tempura box special. I could barely finish it all because it came with so many things. It included soup, salad, rice, dumplings, and california roll sushi. Even better, my whole meal was only $8.95. I even got some melon and fruit for dessert.

I am definitely going to be going back to Maluken soon. For my next visit I plan on trying their sushi because the sampling that I had was really good. Now that I’m 21, I might also take advantage of the beer, wine and sake that they offer. The big attraction after 9 pm is the karaoke, which I probably won’t be apart of.

So, if you want to try something different and you’re in Kenmore Square, stop over at Maluken for some sushi, a bento, and some bad singing.

Be sure to check their website for more information, directions, and a full menu.

The Raw Truth: A Beginner’s Guide to Sushi

S-U-S-H-I….this word can spark fear and disgust in a lot of people. So, if you are one of the many people who are intimidated by sushi, I’m going to try to change your mind by the end of this post. My 5 simple facts about sushi will uncover the mystery behind the stuff from Japan, calm your fears, and teach you what you need to know to enjoy this highly misunderstood treat.

1.) Sushi isn’t always raw fish:

First and foremost, I want to end the misconception that many people have that sushi is all raw. If you are turned off by the thought of eating raw fish, that doesn’t mean that you won’t like sushi. There are many different types and styles of sushi for every taste. You can have teriyaki steak sushi, sweet potato sushi or lobster sushi and a large amount of sushi is actually cooked. The word “sushi” just means seasoned or vinegared rice. Not so scary anymore, is it?

2.) A Dictionary of Sushi-isms:

Don’t be turned off by all the Japanese words used to describe types of sushi on a restaurant menu. Here are some meanings for some of the commonly used sushi terms you may see…

-Nigiri = most common form of sushi with sliced fish draped over a formed rice ball

-Sashimi = raw fish (sliced and served without rice)

-Maki = sushi that comes in rolls, wrapped in seawood, and cut into six pieces

-Nori = roasted seaweed used to wrap sushi

-Shoyu = soy sauce (dip fish side down, don’t soak rice)

-Gari = pickled ginger (eaten to cleanse palette)

-Wasabi = Japanese horseradish (green and very very hot, don’t use a lot!)

-Ebi = shrimp (cooked)

-Ika = squid (raw)

-Unagi = eel (cooked)

-Toro = tuna (raw)

3.) Sushi for Beginners:

If you have never had sushi before, it is a good idea to start off with some of the less exotic types and then move your way up to more adventurous choices. If it is your first time, a good choice would be the California Roll, which is just an imitation crabmeat, cucumber, and avocado roll wrapped in seaweed. It’s not raw and it nothing that your stomach will be angry at you for. Next, you may want to move up to trying some of the raw selections, such as the tuna or the salmon rolls. Both are pretty mild and very tasty. After you have mastered these, you can graduate to things like eel and squid.

4.) It’s okay to eat with your hands and drink beer!:

Yes, that’s right, throw aside the chopsticks and utensils. For the first time, it’s proper to eat with your hands. The right way to eat sushi is by picking it up with your fingers, dipping it into some soy sauce, and popping the whole thing into your mouth. Don’t try to just take one bite, it is improper and will probably be very messy. Also, sushi is best eaten with beer, not the Japanese wine called Sake. So it is also a good reason to enjoy a beer.

5.) Sushi is healthy:

If the top 4 reasons to eat sushi weren’t enough to convince you, maybe the fact that sushi is a health food will. Sushi is naturally low in calories and fat. A typical serving of 9 pieces of sushi contains about 350-400 calories. The fish is a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Seaweed is rich in iodine and rice provides complex carbohydrates. Despite popular belief, the chances of getting sick from eating the raw fish in sushi are pretty slim so you don’t need to worry. Sushi is really a well balanced, healthy, eating alternative.

So, now that you know all you need to know; go out and get yourself some sushi!