Sawayaka

I knew I had to try the rare Genkotsu hamburger steak after learning about it, so I dealt with the two hour wait and then made my way over to the restaurant when it was time. Luckily, their ticketing system is online so you can get real time updates about how long your wait's gonna be.

My server had the same last name as my mom, so I had good vibes from the beginning, and it didn't disappoint: the steak was delicious. The only thing I didn't know was that I was responsible for holding a paper placemat over myself while they sizzle the thing in front of you.

This is a food highlight of Japan in my opinion. It's so regionally unique. There's nothing like it elsewhere in the country. And as a bonus: I didn't get the runs the way I do from, say, a beef tartare in France.