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Japanese

We love Japanese food. And I was fortunate enough to live in what’s arguably the most concentrated area of exceptional Japanese restaurants and chefs outside of Japan (the East Village, NYC) which is also known as “Little Tokyo”. You’ll find a few favorites like homemade ramen, Tonkatsu, Tamagoyaki, Gyoza, and milk bread, but you’ll also find a few inspired dishes that are uniquely mine. And while they may not technically be Japanese, they’re inspired by this amazing culture and its delicious food.


 

A Japanese Pork Bun BLT on a vintage Italian plate with gold trim.

The Best BLT Bao Buns (Japanese-Style BLTs on Homemade Buns)

If you love BLTs and Japanese pork buns as much as we do, I think you’ll love this ultimate and very delicious BLT. One part American classic and two parts Asian deliciousness makes one of the best BLTs ever. Super-soft homemade bao buns, slathered with a quick sesame-soy spicy mayo, […]

a piping hot bowl of tonkostu ramen with homemade ramen noodles, chashu pork, pork bellly, seared corn, scallions, braised pork belly, seaweed, sliced chashu braised shitake musthrooms, toasted sesame seeds, sliced scallions and

8-Hour Rich and Creamy Homemade Tonkotsu Ramen Broth

This rich and creamy tonkotsu ramen broth is incredibly easy to make from scratch. It’s the ultimate umami-packed, lip-smacking ramen broth loaded with complex flavors and slurpy deliciousness. And while it requires ample cooking time, it could not be simpler or more satisfying to make (or eat). Plus, it freezes […]

a tray with four pork buns each with two pieces of braised pork belly, quick salt and sugar pickled cumbers, sesame-soy-mayo, hoisin sauce, and scallions topped with a little shredded lettuce

The Fluffiest Ever Homemade Pork Buns (Momofuku & Ippudo-Style)

This Momofuku & Ippudo-style pork bun recipe includes the best, most tender soft homemade bao buns (Gua Bao or Baozi) and slow-braised pork belly which is basically a set-it-and-forget-it kind of dish with otherworldly deliciousness. As for the bao (the buns), I use a special ingredient and method for the […]

two long pieces of golden brown braised pork belly in a white ceramic casserole dish

Easy Japanese Braised Pork Belly (Momofuku & Ippudo Style)

This easy braised pork belly recipe is perfect for making Japanese-style pork buns, but you can also use it as a topping for homemade tonkotsu ramen, or as a delicious side to your eggs for brunch. Brined overnight and slow-braised until super tender, you’ll never need another pork belly recipe. […]

closeup of a super shiny single soft boiled caramel colored ramen egg resting in a ramen spoon in an empty ramen bowl

Perfect Jammy Ramen Eggs (Ajitsuke Tamago 味付け卵)

Learn how to make perfectly jammy soft-boiled ramen eggs at home with just 3 ingredients (4 if you want to get fancy). Also, known as Ajitsuke Tamago, Nitamago, or Ajitama, these caramel-colored umami-rich eggs are a favorite addition to homemade ramen or eaten as a snack. When cooked well, ramen […]

an aluminum foil-covered sheet pan with baking soda spread out evenly over the entire top

Easy Baked Baking Soda (for Ramen, Alkaline Noodles & Pretzels)

You might be wondering what is baked baking soda and what’s it used for?  For starters, when you heat baking soda in the oven for a long period of time, it chemically alters it from being bicarbonate of soda into sodium carbonate which is an even stronger alkaline salt. This […]

closeup of sesame egg salad on whole wheat bread that's been cut into triangles and the middles facing out and up towards you

Easy Toasted Sesame Egg Salad Sandwich (Tamago Sando たまごサン)

This is not your run-of-the-mill egg salad sandwich. It has so much more flavor and texture. Toasted sesame seeds add a crunchy flavor twist while creamy egg yolks and a little mayo give this egg sandwich an ultra-smooth finish. We think egg salad is perfect any time, but especially during […]