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My observation: In Japan, there is no bad food being served. I am sure it's possible to find, but despite years living and traveling there, it simply hasn't hap
by komali2 8y ago
My observation: In Japan, there is no bad food being served. I am sure it's possible to find, but despite years living and traveling there, it simply hasn't happened to me.
My hypothesis: Massive population density, combined with almost nobody home-cooking and then bringing in a boxed lunch, leads to a HUGE market for lunchtime food options (restaurants, bento). However, due to population density, rent is high, and so bad restaurants get pushed out quick, because if a place is bad, there are ten other options in the same building that are delicious.
So, I often wonder if US cities achieved the same population density, if we'd get the same level of amazing restaurants crammed into 10 story tall buildings, block after block after block.
As for why Japanese food is healthier, I'm just guessing culture.
It is truly remarkable though that I have literally never had a bad food (taste) experience, ever, in Japan, despite having eaten thousands of meals and snacks there.
- innocenat 8y agoI am not sure where did you live during your years in Japan, but let me assure you it is very easy to find bad tasting food in Japan. I consistently find food at tourist trap destination overpriced and tasted pretty bad. And most married persons do bring boxed lunch. Along with a lot of female, married or not. And Japanese food is no where near healthy with all the deep-fried menu as a staple. But I guess if you compared it to US fast food..
- tlear 8y agoHonestly compared to bad food in US or Europe for that matter Japanese bad food is not bad. You have to go to really shitty all you can drink bars to get really shit food.
- innocenat 8y agoProbably. Never been to Europe so I don't know. But compared to normal Japanese food (or Asian food in general), bad food is not that hard to find.
- e12e 8y ago> almost nobody home-cooking and then bringing in a boxed lunch What? As an exchange student (high school) my (japanese/host) mum totally spoiled me with lavish bento box lunches every day - as I assume she used to do for my older host siblings. I seem to recall she used to prepare a lunch for my host dad too. (that said, thankfully, Japan's been progressing to a more equal society, so hopefully the man work/woman work at home divide is disappearing - which likely means ain't no-one got spare time to prepare box lunches - hence more of a market opening up). A bento box is very much a "make at home, bring to work thing" that just happens to be available to buy. Like a burger fried in the back yard vs various inferior commercial offerings ranging from burger king to passable restaurant grade burgers..
- komali2 8y ago/shrug Nearly all of my Japanese coworkers, in several industries, went out for lunch. I guess it's not the case in school? That makes sense.