Japanese cooking is all about doing simple things really well, and that’s exactly what these recipes are about. From thick, juicy tonkatsu with a crispy panko crust to the konbini style sandos that make every trip to Japan memorable, these are the Japanese dishes I keep coming back to at home.
You’ll find crispy katsu and fried favorites, comforting rice bowls, noodle dishes and the kind of easy, satisfying meals that taste like a little Tokyo corner shop. Every recipe walks you through the techniques that matter most, like how to keep your breading from falling off and how to make sauces from scratch that beat anything from a bottle.
The very first time I ate an Ebi Katsu Sando, I stood at a tiny counter in Tokyo, eyes closed, completely ignoring the people around me. A crispy, golden shrimp patty inside cloudlike shokupan bread, slicked with tangy tartar sauce and fresh shredded cabbage. It tasted […]
When I visited Japan a couple of years ago, I genuinely feasted on some of the best food I have ever had in my entire life. World-class sushi, unforgettable ramen, and smoky yakitori from tiny counters tucked into alleyways. But interestingly enough, among all of […]
If there is one thing I can never say no to, it is hibachi, and it’s something that I’ve loved since I was a little kid when my oldest brother first took me to one back in 2002. To me, teppanyaki is more than just […]
There’s just something about hibachi that hits every craving at once. The sizzling meat, the buttery fried rice, and that irresistible smell of garlic wafting through the air. I love hibachi. The whole experience, from the sound of knives clanking to the onion volcano, to […]
I fell in love with Japanese food and culture early on, long before I ever set foot in Japan. Then, back in 2017, when I finally made my first trip, it was everything I dreamed of and more. From the highest quality sushi counters to […]
Food has always been one of the ways I feel most connected to the people I love. My partner, Hanna, is Korean, and I’m Vietnamese, so it feels only natural that our kitchen is a mashup of both our cultures. This Korean Spicy Pork Banh […]
When most people think of teriyaki, it’s safe to assume that it’s usually chicken or beef teriyaki, and for good reason, too. With that said, though, I’ve always had a soft spot for pork teriyaki, and it’s such an underrated dish. When pork teriyaki is […]
When I first visited Japan eight or nine years ago, it quickly became one of my favorite travel destinations. Everything about the experience left a mark on me. The people were kind and polite (even though I was covered in tattoos), the culture was rich […]
When I lived in First Hill, there was one dish I found myself craving constantly: chicken yakisoba, and the one spot I kept going back to was Yoshino Teriyaki, big shoutout to all my friends from O’Dea High School who put me on, because if you […]
One of my best friends recently threw a fried chicken party (Happy Birthday Samantha!) and went all out, catering a massive spread of fried chicken and all the fixings from Ezell’s. There was so much fried chicken that everyone went home with a generous share […]
Welcome to feedthepudge! I was originally born in Saigon, Vietnam and my family and I spent some time at a refugee camp in the Philippines. We eventually immigrated to Seattle in the 90's, where I've spent most of my life. I created feedthepudge as a vehicle for me to share my love of culture and food, while passing on my family's recipes and stories. Most of the recipes shared are Vietnamese dishes I grew up eating, but definitely not limited to just that - I'll also be sharing some of my favorites along the way!