How Japan is Destroying American Restaurants!!

Key Concepts

• American casual dining in Japan
• Denny's Japan vs. Denny's USA
• Red Lobster Japan vs. Red Lobster USA
• Menu variations and adaptations
• Cultural influences on American food
• Price comparisons
• Food quality and freshness
• Customer experience
• Live Maine lobster preparations
• Japanese ingredients and flavors

Denny's Japan: A Unique Diner Experience

Breakfast Menu

• Differences from US Denny's: The video highlights the absence of the "Grand Slam" breakfast, a staple in US Denny's.
• Japanese-inspired items: The menu includes rice and miso soup with natto (fermented soybeans), grilled salmon breakfast, rice porridge with shrimp and chicken, and a variety of pastas.
• Natto: The presenter expresses surprise at finding natto on the Denny's menu, emphasizing its unlikely presence in a US Denny's. He describes the sliminess and initially unappealing flavor, but notes that it can be improved with wasabi, soy sauce, and seaweed.
• Banana: A simple dish consisting of a sliced banana in a cup.
• Brunch Plate: A substitute for the Grand Slam.
• Ordering Process: The presenter uses an iPad to place his order, highlighting the modern ordering system.
• Price: The total cost for the breakfast items, including an alcoholic beverage, was $13.50.

Lunch Menu

• Substantial and Complex Dishes: The lunch menu features more complex dishes like rice casserole with hamburger steak and curry sauce, a variety of pastas, and hamburger steak options.
• Cheesy Rice Omelette: The presenter orders a customizable cheesy rice omelette with French fries, cod roe, and mayonnaise.
• Hamburger Steak with Fried Shrimp: Another dish ordered, highlighting the combination of American and Japanese flavors.
• Oriental Sauce: The presenter requests extra "oriental sauce," noting the unusual name.
• Interior and Vibe: The Denny's in Japan has a sleek and modern interior, popular with students and salarymen. Unlike the 24-hour vibe in the US, it closes at 11:00 p.m.
• Drink Bar: Denny's Japan features a drink bar with a wide range of beverage options, including coffee, tea, soda, and even "disgusting American drip coffee."
• Price: The presenter notes that the lunch items cost $20, which he considers remarkable.

Food Review

• French Fries with Cod Roe and Mayonnaise: The presenter describes the taste as mayonnaise with a little bit of fish.
• Cheese Omelette Rice: He describes it as tasting like "daycare food" and praises its simple flavors and satisfying nature.
• Hamburger Steak: The presenter finds the hamburger steak to be similar to meatloaf and suggests it would be better with ketchup.

Red Lobster Japan: A Seafood Experience with a Twist

Menu and Atmosphere

• Sake Options: The presenter notes the presence of sake options, which are not available in US Red Lobster locations.
• Live Maine Lobster: The menu features several different preparations of live Maine lobster.
• Oyster Sampler Platter: An oyster sampler platter is available, including fried oysters.
• Ultimate Seafood Plate: The presenter orders the "ultimate seafood plate," which includes snow crab legs, cold mussels, salmon with capers, raw oysters, shrimp, and lobster claws.
• Restaurant Layout: The restaurant layout is described as big, open, plain, and a bit dated.
• Call Button: A button is available to call a server.

Food Review

• Oyster Trio: The oyster trio costs $25.66 and includes plain, cheese, and "green sludge" (pesto) oysters. The presenter finds the oysters to be somewhat fresh but needing improvement.
• Ultimate Seafood Plate: The ultimate seafood plate costs $31. The presenter finds the salmon to be similar to cold salmon from a breakfast buffet. He praises the muscle with vegetable salsa. He criticizes the shrimp for not being fully deshelled and the lack of tartar sauce.
• Salmon Roe and Caviar Jewel: The presenter describes it as an open-faced sandwich with chicken egg, salmon roe, and "caviar" (likely not real caviar). He admits to enjoying it despite his initial reservations.
• Fried Shrimp with Heads: The presenter notes that fried shrimp served with the head, shell, tail, and legs still attached is not common in the USA.
• Fried Soft Shell Crab: The presenter acknowledges that soft shell crab is eaten in the USA, but not typically served whole at mainstream restaurants like Red Lobster. He describes the taste as similar to fried crickets and finds it to be "out of this world in not the best way."

Live Lobster Experience

• Lobster Selection: The presenter observes the lobster tank and notes the presence of larger lobsters compared to those typically found in US Red Lobster locations.
• Lobster Price: A large lobster costs $130.
• Lobster Preparations: The presenter orders two lobsters: one classic steamed lobster and another with a special sauce.
• Lobster Cutting: The server cuts the lobster, removing the claws and splitting the tail.
• Secret Lobster Area: The presenter learns about a reserve tank with even larger lobsters that are reserved for specific customers.
• Lobster Taste: The presenter finds the wrist meat to be the best bite of the night. He notes that the lobsters come from Canada.
• Sauces: The presenter appreciates the drawn melted butter but finds the "miso" sauce (likely lobster head fat) to be unique and savory. He also tries a sea urchin sauce, which he finds to be an "epic strange sauce" that works well with the lobster.

Conclusion

• Denny's Japan: The presenter concludes that Denny's Japan is better than Denny's USA in some ways, particularly due to the iPad ordering system and the unique menu items.
• Red Lobster Japan: The presenter is less impressed with Red Lobster Japan, stating that the food quality is not as good as Japanese seafood restaurants. He notes that the variety of ways to prepare fresh live Maine lobster is the only significant improvement over US Red Lobster locations.
• Overall: The presenter concludes that sometimes Japan improves American casual dining food, and sometimes it makes it worse. He recommends eating Japanese food when in Japan.