The New Jersey Foodhound™

When most people think of Japanese cuisine, foods such as sushi, tempura and ramen often come to mind. Those who dig deeper into the diverse culinary offerings of Japan will be astounded by the flavors of soba noodles, various pickles and of course, curry. Yes, curry is another incredible, complex and addictive Japanese food offering. Curious? Head over to Abiko Curry , located in the food mecca of Palisades Park, NJ. When crossing the threshold, one senses are treated to a preview of the delicious food to come. The spicy sweet smell of curry permeates the air supported by the aroma of crispy-fried pork and chicken katsu. The options for curry range from the basic curry and veggies, chicken, pork or shrimp to the interesting and quite tasty bacon-spinach option. Whatever you choose, it traditionally is served along with rice, but can also be enjoyed with udon noodles. Abiko also offers combo sets that come with katsu, rice and curry and a soda too!  As a fair warning, ...

Oh shabu-shabu, I'm so glad I found you. What the hot pot has provided us before, you have certainly perfected. Never have I experienced dining that is at the same time so communal and yet so personal. Crafting your own special bowl of bubbling soupy goodness with vegetables, meats and noodles galore, there are few things I find myself craving more. Look at me, getting mildly poetic. The Grub: For the uninitiated, shabu-shabu is a meal consisting of your own personal bowl of boiling hot broth, with a myriad of vegetables, fish bites, noodles and dumplings you throw in, along with thinly sliced meat or fresh seafood. Once you cook everything to your liking, there are sauces, oh so many sauces to dip your cooked goodies into. Then, you can get crazy and combine the sauces to create even more flavors - it is truly some of the most fun you can have dining in my opinion. Pay a set price for your broth, then have at the unlimited wall of noodles, dumplings, vegetables, ...