Fine Dining in Kanab, Utah?
If you’ve been to any of the multitudes of small towns that serve the National Parks across the USA then you know that we’re not exaggerating when we say good food is hard to come by. The choices typically range from mediocre “fusion” and “all-American” joints to fast food with poor reviews and all of it tend to come with the $$$$ price tag. Not in Kanab though!
We were pleasantly surprised to find a wide range of culinary options for all appetites and diets in this gem of a town. We also found the quality of the offerings at the local restaurants to be comparable to and better priced than their big city counterparts. Check out some of our more memorable meals in kanab below!
Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen
Serving everything from wood fired pizzas and burgers to pastas and specialties named after the local attractions, Peekaboo sets itself apart from competitors by being an all-vegetarian spot that takes vegetarianism to the next level.
Being generally skittish around vegetarian only venues in small towns, we sat down to dinner here without any foreknowledge of what we were about to plunge into and, truthfully speaking, we had an entire meal without ever recognizing a difference. As a matter of fact, we didn’t find out that this place was vegetarian only until a few days later when our tour guide broke it to us! Our point being that you won’t be disappointed by anything you order here.
Don’t miss a chance to try out the Coyote Buttes latke and the White Pocket pizza all of which were indescribably yum. Also don’t miss out on their specialty cocktails! Get amped for your visit by checking out the menu here.
Sego Restaurant
For a true fine dining experience in Kanab Sego is a must try. Serving tapas style plates at affordable prices, Sego’s mouthwatering varieties are hard to beat!
We tried out the fried rice, the sego noodles, the street food style tofu, the Rendang Ayam and the Elote style fritters. The Rendang Ayam, while well prepared, was unfortunately our least favorite dish as it had a somewhat overpowering flavor.
Our favorite bites here and for the entirety of this trip were, hands down, the tofu and the fritters. Soft and succulent, flavorful and well composed, both the fritter and tofu dishes leave you wanting for more.
If you’re into desserts then wrapping up the meal with Sego’s elegant flourless chocolate torte, or if chocolate is not your thing, then of the the other drool-worthy desserts is a must!
Check out Segos food and drink options here.
Wild Thyme Café
Boasting a farm-to-table menu including locally, organically sourced items, Wild Thyme brought a fresh twist to what could be loosely described as comfort food with a southern flair. The menu even included gluten free entrees, a good selection of vegetarian offerings and inventive drinks.
We found the menu to be somewhat eclectic but, once again, the prices were affordable, portions were large enough to share (depending on your appetite of course) and flavor was top notch.
We sampled the ribeye which was aptly described as a beef lover’s dream. The steak was tender, cooked to perfect temperature and well seasoned. While it’s hard to compete with a perfectly grilled steak we also found the pistachio chicken to be delectable.
The chicken was light and artfully prepared with its crisp pistachio crust and pairing of an earthy poblano cream sauce and sweet pepper pico. And finally, the most southern and soulful part of our meal was undoubtedly the beef bowl with its roasted potatoes, corn and black bean pico, slaw and fork-tender braised beef. Check out the menu here.
Of course Kanab has many more restaurants than we had time to try. Sadly we didn’t have time to try out the Rocking V Café, Iron Horse Restaurant or Vermillion 45 just to name a few more highly reviewed local spots. Be sure to also check out the Kanab Creek Bakery a local mom-and-pop spot serving up breakfast and decadent pastries to start the day. Overall, we would say Kanab is definitely on its way to becoming a notable foodie destination.
Our Top Three Favorite Foods in Calgary, CA
Poutine
How about some french fries for breakfast!? Sounds too good to be true? Well then you clearly you haven’t tried Poutine! Originating in Quebec, Canada and taking the world by storm, Poutine is a must try for all breakfast enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. Made from fresh cut french fries, melty cheese curds and topped with a silky and savory brown gravy this dish will leave you so satisfied you may need an after-breakfast nap.
Poutine is ubiquitous in Canada and can be found on breakfast, lunch and dinner menus in establishments that range from hole-in-wall to fine dining. In fact, Poutine’s scrumptiousness has spread so far and wide that it has now infiltrated much of the unsuspecting USA leaving us teased and unfulfilled as we Americans only have access to the most basic version of this dish.
Our most memorable Poutine experience was at the Diner Deluxe in Calgary (check out menu here) We thoroughly enjoyed the crisp fried potatoes topped with chorizo, creamy cheese curds, a perfectly poached egg and a bright and velvety hollandaise sauce. Can you think of a better way to start the day?
Dutch Pancakes
For a truly one of kind food experience in Calgary, CA you must visit the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus. As whimsical as it’s name, this breakfast and brunch spot is best known for showcasing authentic Holland cuisine namely in the form of their famous Dutch pancakes or pannenkoeken (check out the menu here).
Resembling a crepe more so than a traditional pancake, the pannenkoeken is a build-it-your-way dream come through. With tons of savory and sweet toppings ranging from bacon and ham to ice cream and chocolate syrup you’re guaranteed to need at least 20 minutes to make a selection. If the choices seem too overwhelming then you can skip the make-your-own pancakes and try one of the ready to go concoctions on the menu! We particularly loved the spinach, egg and mushroom pancake and the chocolate whipped cream and fresh strawberries pancakes. We understand if you’re judging us right now for not adding a luscious scoop of vanilla ice-cream to our sweet pancake but in our defense it was breakfast and each pancake was the size of a large pizza! Anyway, make sure you don’t miss this Pfanntastic restaurant the next time you’re in Calgary!
Alberta Beef
Can you think of a better way to end a long day of hiking in Banff National Park than with a superb cut of red meat? We can’t! And if you agree too then you’re in luck because, as it turns out, Calgary is a hotspot for legendary beef!
Being proud cattle country, the Alberta region is known for its family owned and sustainably operated ranches producing grass fed beef of almost unmatched quality. As such there was no dearth of steakhouses to choose from. We opted for try out the Modern Steak Kensington (check out the menu here) where we quickly learned just how little we knew about the beef we had consumed up to that point in our lives (check out the menu here)
After serving us a bowl of the best truffle popcorn in possibly the entire world, our waiter proceed to describe not only all the cuts of steaks available but also which ones came from cattle that were fed particular sections of grass from particular pastures within the Alberta region. Slightly panicked and more than a little dazed after the detailed presentation, we opted for a ribeye from a ranch of our waiters choosing. The steak arrived flawlessly seared and seasoned. We were overcome by the succulence, pure flavor and the perfectly melt-in-the-mouth tenderness of the meat. Our only regret here was not taking advantage of the Tomahawk Tuesday special! We can honestly say that we have never again encountered grass-fed beef of this quality and, given the opportunity, would return to Calgary just to savor this again!
The best things we ate in Japan that you HAVE to try too!
If you’re thinking that we’re just about to list practically everything we ate in Japan, then take a bow because you’ve nailed it! Since virtually everything we ate was incredible though, can you blame us? The perfectionism that is frequently associated with Japanese culture and that is apparent in everyday life in Japan also extends to the food and we arrived fully prepared to take advantage of this. Knowing the amount of talent and effort being placed into food preparation, 5 years of culinary training to be able to prepare sushi!!?, we were excited to try everything we could including the street foods. Here are some of the things that we absolutely loved and that we want to make sure you don’t miss out on when you’re in Japan!
Ramen
As you probably already know, Ramen is a staple of the Japanese diet and, with weather largely predisposed to being rainy or cool most of the year, who would object? We can all agree that there’s nothing more comforting than a cozy blanket and a bowl of noodle soup on a wet day, right? Anyway, we thought we had a pretty good handle on Ramen before our arrival to Japan, but it turns out that you can consume gallons of a thing and still not know that much about it. For example, did you know that there are three main types of ramen broth and Tonkotsu is not one of them!? Don’t feel bad, we didn’t know either. We actually didn’t even realize this until faced with ordering either a Shoyu (soy sauce), Miso or Shio (salt) Ramen. And before we come to blows about it, Tonkotsu is sort of Ramen, but the broth is actually inspired by a Chinese soup.
Regardless of these technicalities, Ramen can be found everywhere in Japan and, once you figure out how to use the cash machines to order a bowl, you won’t be disappointed. Our absolute favorite bowl of Ramen was made by Billiken Homemade Noodles in Asakusa. The tiny restaurant with counter seating for 8-9 people serves up a mean bowl of duck ramen that will keep you coming back. Some other honorable mentions that we also enjoyed in the Ramen arena are Omamiya’s egg ramen at Nagiso train station in Tsumago, Gion Ramen’s shio beef ramen in Kyoto, Inoichi Hanare also in Kyoto and any Ichiran restaurant that you can get a seat in.
Sushi
Silly as it may seem considering our eat-everything-we-see outlook, it took us many years to work up the courage to try Sushi and a few years more than that before we even dared to eat a raw piece of fish. Although we wanted to wait until we got to Japan to try sushi for the first time, we’re glad we didn’t as getting used to eating raw foods is a hurdle in itself no matter how good it tastes. The main reason we’re happy we weren’t having sushi for the first time in Japan though is that we could compare exactly how much better it was in Japan compared to everywhere else in the world. And, oh boy, is it better! Even the lowest grades of Sushi in Japan are tremendously better than any that we’ve ever had in the western world. Fish, so fresh that you can’t detect a scent, precisely sliced, and served as minimally dressed as possible provides an unparalleled experience. Every plate of sushi prepared in Japan is essentially a reminder that Sushi is as much art as food, one that the Japanese has perfected. Sadly, we may be forever ruined for sushi in any place other than Japan but, on the bright side, we ate enough to see us through the next year. You can pretty much get sushi or a fishbowl anywhere in Japan, but we immensely enjoyed the Tsukiji Market where we sampled fatty blue-fin tuna as well as salmon bowls served with salmon roe, rice and the creamiest sea urchin! Grab a seat at any of the stalls in the market and make sure to order a “high quality” bowl for a rapturous- (we’re not exaggerating)- experience.
If you find yourself craving sushi but can’t get to the Tsukiji market, then check out Katsu Midori Sushi Seibu Shibuya or Uobei Shibuya-Dogenzaka in Tokyo.
For a fun evening of grabbing sushi off a conveyor belt in Osaka, we recommend Daikoku-suisan in the Dotonbori shopping area. The restaurant does not take reservations, but seats are plentiful, and we did not have to wait for a table despite the crowd in the entrance on a Saturday night. While those with refined palates might find the sushi to be less inspired, us regular folk found it to be fresh and plentiful. We loved that there were options like fried fish and chicken karaage for those not wanting raw items only. It was also a nice plus that you could order anything available on the belt from a screen at your counter if you want it to be fresher. This might all sound a little expensive, but we assure you that it’s very affordable as we ate almost 20 plates of sushi for around 50 USD. Now, who can beat that?
Wagyu Beef/Teppanyaki
Where to start with this topic that is so near and dear to our hearts? Well, how about we talk about the types of Wagyu to start? Sorry, you didn’t know there were different types of Wagyu. Honestly, you’re not alone. As much as we would like to think of ourselves as connoisseurs of high-end beef, we have to admit that our knowledge in this area was shamefully lacking. Anyhow, this has thankfully been rectified now and we can help guide you through Japan’s wide selection of melt-in-your-mouth beef.
First, the type of Wagyu you order makes a difference as they all have different degrees of marbling. The main wagyu types are referred to as Tajima beef and include Kobe, Ohmi, Matsusaka and Hida. The other non-Tajima beef, which are still Wagyu by the way, includes Miyazaki, Yonezawa and Hitachi. While Kobe is the best known and most expensive of these types, if you’re looking for the type of wagyu reputed to come from pampered and massaged cows then look no further than Matsusaka beef. In fact, this particular type of Wagyu comes from a remote area in Japan and is highly valued by the locals and therefore rarely exported making it a must-try when you’re in Japan!
Secondly, the cut of the meat matters. We learned this the hard way after buying skewers of Matsusaka and Kobe beef from a street vendor and spending the next 20 minutes making a spectacle of ourselves as we tried to chew through what should’ve been beef so soft you don’t even need teeth! Anyway, there seems to be over a hundred different cuts of beef when it comes to Wagyu. Honestly, though, if you’re not a butcher and only want to enjoy a nice beefy meal, just pick a good restaurant and don’t sweat the details on cut as you’ll likely love whatever cut you’re presented with.
So, how do you find a “good” Wagyu restaurant? The easiest way is looking at online reviews. The lesser-known way is to look for restaurants showcasing a golden cow’s head trophy to signify their commitment to top quality beef. More specifically speaking, we suggest looking in your area for a Yakiniku or Teppanyaki restaurant and making reservations. Oh, and don’t be too worried about price as Wagyu in Japan cost a small fraction of what it does in the western world.
Our second favorite Wagyu experience was at Rokkasen in Shinjuku where we were introduced to Yakiniku, grilling meat on a small grill set in the table much like Korean barbecue, and Shabu-Shabu where the beef is dipped into a hot liquid to cook then into various sauces before eating. The cuts of Matsusaka that we tried there were exceptionally tender. We recommend getting the all-you-can-eat for two menus so that you can try all the cuts of beef and the seafood items.
The absolute best Wagyu that we had in Japan was Kobe beef prepared Teppanyaki style in the city of Kobe itself! Before we go further, we need to clarify that Teppanyaki in Japan is very different from Hibachi in the USA. Yes, in both cases chefs cook on a griddle in front of you but that’s about it as far as similarities go. Where Hibachi is all about the show, Teppanyaki is more about precision cooking and serving each dish at the appropriate time. In fact, Teppanyaki chefs often train for many years to be able to prepare a meal.
Although we never intended to visit Kobe, we passed through the city by train enroute to Kyoto and made an impulsive decision to hop off and go in search of a fine steak. This was great in theory but was, in fact, a huge mistake! We learned the hard way that Kobe beef is so prized that restaurants only order the best, award-winning cuts daily and often procure exactly what they need for each reservation meaning that no restaurant will seat you without a reservation as they may run out of beef! After being turned away from 3 different restaurants, we were on the verge of calling it quits when a waitress took pity on us and called ahead to another restaurant that just so happened to have enough beef to serve two more patrons! Five minutes later we found ourselves taking a rather sketch looking elevator to Setsugekka where we had what had to be the most tender, buttery, juicy steak in the world! We later learned that Setsugekka was a Michelin star Teppanyaki restaurant but were pleased that we didn’t know this ahead of time so as not to color our experience! Truthfully, we might be forever ruined for all other restaurants after such wonderful service and such a superb meal.
Taste buds tingling yet? Book your trip now!
Popular Street Foods across Japan
While we fastidiously avoid street foods in most places, we were not hampered by fear of GI distress in Japan thanks to the stringent cleanliness standards followed by all food vendors. In fact, you’ll be pleased to know that our always-at-hand bottle of Pepto Bismol remained unopened upon our return to the USA. We are aware though, that even without this threat, street food can still be intimidating given that it’s sometimes difficult to know what goes into the food we’re about to eat. Well, allow us to put your mind at ease and help point you in the direction of some must-try Japanese street foods. After all, you wouldn’t want to travel all through Japan and miss out on each city’s iconic foods, right?
Tamagoyaki
Also known as the Japanese Rolled Omelet, Tamagoyaki tops our list of favorite bites in Japan because of its simplicity and unique flavor. The omelets are made of eggs mixed with dashi broth, soy sauce, and— you would never guess—sugar. The concoction is then ladled into special pans to create layers that are rolled continuously resulting in a sweet, fluffy, golden omelet that simply melts in the mouth. While getting your hands on this treat is not difficult, we do recommend holding out to try any of the stands in the Tsukiji market in Tokyo where, for around 50 cents, you’ll get a piping hot slice!
Takoyaki
Lining the streets of Dotonbori in Osaka are multiple vendors serving a special type of dumpling known as Takoyaki. We should point out that these aren’t the traditional dumplings that may come to mind when you think of a dumpling. The dumplings are small, golden, perfectly round balls of dough that are made by cooking wheat-flour batter on a custom griddle using a special technique. Each dumpling is stuffed with a small piece of Octopus and once perfectly cooked, is topped with a variety of interesting sauces. These savory, pillowy bites of perfection are the unique creation of Osaka so make sure that you get an order or two when you’re in town.
Okonomiyaki
Ever heard the term “everything but the kitchen sink?” Well, this is the best way we’ve thought of to describe Okonomiyaki. Officially, Okonomiyaki is a savory, grilled pancake originating in Osaka and containing eggs, tempura flakes, cabbage, and some type of meat or seafood or both, that is served topped by a mayonnaise-based sauce. The pancake has hints of saltiness and sweetness as well as a touch of smokiness compliments of the griddle it’s cooked on. If you want to try a superb version of this dish in Osaka, Chibo restaurant in Minami is the front runner although getting a seat might be a challenge. We were not able to try Chibo ourselves, but this was by design as we wanted to experience the special Hiroshima version of the Okonomiyaki.
Unlike the Osaka version where everything is mixed together then grilled, the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki is made by layering the batter with noodles and seafood and cheese and whatever else you might think of. How did it taste, you ask? Truthfully, we were a little confused by the appearance of the dish and a little hesitant at first but once we set our preconceived notions of what a pancake should be aside, we found it to be savory and satisfying.
10 Yen Bread
This treat is somewhat new on the Japanese street food scene and seems to be most easily found in Tokyo although we did see some food carts selling them in Arashiyama. We had no knowledge of it beforehand and encountered it by chance in the enormous Don Quixote store in Shibuya. We made it about 5 feet into the main entrance of the store and were immediately enveloped by the irresistible smell of warm, sweet bread. We might not have known what it was but the line of people in front of the counter at 9 pm told us that it would be worth our while to try it out and we were not disappointed!
The 10 Yen Bread, which cost 500 Yen by the way, is made of a thick, waffle-like batter, stuffed with a hunk of mozzarella cheese and cooked on a customized griddle. The resulting edible treat in the shape of the 10-Yen coin is a binge-worthy pairing of lightly sweetened dough and a delicate and perfectly melted, stretchy chunk of cheese. Standing in a crowd outside the Don Quixote and trying to figure out how best to share one of these without “hogging” all the cheese was one of the most fun moments of our trip!
Nishiki Market Highlights
Marutsune’s Buttered Potato Tempura
Located within Nishiki Market, the Marutsune Kamaboko Store is a food stall best known for its delicately flavored Japanese fish cakes. We suggest making a stop here to grab one of these goodies but want to call your attention to their lesser-known potato tempura balls. Imagine biting into a crisp, golden, perfectly buttery ball of potato. Can you even imagine a better pairing for a fish cake?
Live Nishiki Market Seafood Bowl
Nishiki market is a treasure trove of seafood and there’s everything from raw to fried to pickled and even candied seafood to be had. We recommend stopping at any counter where tempura seafood is made to order. We did try some of the stalls where the seafood was fried and kept under heat lamps and, while still tasty, these could not compete with the fried-to-order joints. If you’re not in the mood for fried foods and want something a little fresher, we recommend grabbing a seafood bowl from Live Nishiki Market where you can sample some super creative fishbowls or just down the freshest raw oysters in Kyoto!
Gigi Gyoza Specialty Store
This was our favorite stop in Nishiki Market! Delicate pork and wagyu beef potstickers and the best Chicken Karaage we ever had are the reasons that we kept trying to go back to this special little spot. The so-juicy-it-drips-down-your-chin dumplings and the crunchy, perfectly salted chicken nuggets were the best version of a Happy Meal you will ever find. Don’t believe us? Give it a try then we can argue about it!
Fast food in Japan
It seems that it’s hard to escape American fast food no matter where you go but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in Japan. As a matter of fact, we must admit that there’s a certain fun and charm in checking out what’s being done differently from country to country by franchise restaurants. A surprising find for us was the spicy fried chicken and the soy sauce fried chicken from pretty much any 7-Eleven in Japan. If you need a really quick but super flavorful bite, then you can’t miss with either of these choices. We were also able to try out a Burger King in Odawara and a McDonald’s in Tokyo. While there didn’t seem to be any real menu differences between the Japanese and American Burger Kings there were some noticeable differences on the Japanese McDonald’s menu. For example: Samurai Macs and garlic shrimp burgers are not things you would find on an American menu! We didn’t have the time, or the inclination really, to try all the unique fast-food creations but we can say that everything we did try was delish!
Japanese Sweets and Pastries
Ningyo yaki
Also referred to as doll cakes, these delectable little sponge cakes are filled with sweetened bean paste and baked in shaped molds. Look for them at the Asakusa shrine where you can buy them fresh and warm!
Kibidango
Made famous by an old Japanese folk tale, Kibidango is a specialty treat that is a little harder to come by unless you’re visiting the Asakusa shrine! Look for vendors selling snacks shaped somewhat like the Elder wand out of Harry Potter and you’ll be in the right spot. These small rice cakes served on a stick are made of rice flour and sugar only and are perfectly gummy and sweet.
Shibuya Scramble Square
If you’d like some less traditional and more exotic baked treats, we recommend checking out the bakery at Shibuya Scramble Square. The bakery is enormous and houses several different pastry companies serving literally everything! We recommend getting a slice of the layered Baumkuchen cake and pretty much anything else that catches your eye!
Soufflé Pancakes
These pancakes are all the rage at the moment, and we can see why. So fluffy that the slightest breeze might float them off your plate, these pancakes have no match. We suggest trying out Hoshino Coffee in Dotonbori, Osaka where you can enjoy your pancakes while gazing out at the boats floating along the canal.
Soufflé Cheesecake
It would seem that the Japanese are the master of light desserts and have even figured out how to turn the traditionally dense cheesecake into an airy, melt in the mouth masterpiece. For the perfect Japanese cheesecake, we recommend checking out Rikuro which is also located in Dotonbori market. For just 9 USD you can be the proud owner of an entire marvelously jiggly, hot-from-the-oven cheesecake.
Traditional Japanese Meals
If you’ve had a chance to peruse our Japan page, and we hope you have, you may have noticed a segment about the Fujioto Ryokan where we spent an incredible night in the Kiso Valley area. As is common with Ryokan stays, our dinner and breakfast were prepared by our hosts and served in a traditional Japanese fashion. We assure you that we are not exaggerating when we say that our farm-to-table meals at Fujioto were better than most Michelin star meals that we’ve had! From trout caught fresh in a nearby river and flash-fried to salty perfection to impeccably prepared sashimi, we were treated to 10 incredible courses. As we lack the proper words to do justice to this mind-blowing meal that puts all other homemade meals to shame, allow us to share some pictures that will help pique your imagination and get your taste buds tingling!
