Help - Japanese food advice please

[Tigerpit]

My friend's celebrating her 50th birthday at a Japanese sushi restaurant. I've looked at the menu online and it's mostly sushi/fishy type things, as expected.

The problem is that I loathe fish. This she knows, and she's assured me there are non-fish choices. Unfortunately I also find cold rice or noodles unpalatable, and really don't enjoy "seaweedy" type flavours. I think that rules out the veggie or vegan sushi options. I'm lost.

Are Japanese stir fry rice or noodle dishes served hot? I could go for a veggie stir fry if so, as they're on the menu.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Every Japanese/sushi restaurant I’ve been too also did hot dishes. A stir fry would be hot. Can you share the menu and we can tell you what would be warm?

[Twofishfingers]

could you link to the menu?

If they serve katsu curry it might be a good option.

[RebeccaCloud9]

Chicken katsu curry or most noodle/broth dishes may work for you

[fannyanddick]

Teriyaki chicken with rice? Basically plain rice with non breads chicken in a light coating of a sweet soy like sauce. Usually comes with a bit of salad and sesame seeds.

[YogaPants]

Yaki soba is the Japanese equivalent of a chow mien, a hot fried noodle dish.

[Tigerpit]

Oh thank you so much, you lovely people.
Yes, there's yaki soba on the menu, and a few rice and noodle stir fries with chicken and vegetables. That's lifted my spirits considerably!

Thank you, I hated to think of not going but I also hated to think I'd end up sitting there refusing to eat and spoiling my pal's birthday meal.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Enjoy the meal!

[Upsidedownandinsideout]

Tons of hot dishes. Anything with 'yaki' means fried (usually wok not deep!), or katsu is just rice with breaded pork or chicken, like a really nice schnitzel.

[kateandme]

noodle dishes are often hot when stir fried and are amazing if done well.
sukiyaki warm noodle dish with added veg usually beef or other meets cooked in broth
yokisaba is japenese stir fried noodles
mizutake it a warm hot pot dish
just ask them if they are good restaurant ive found they love to let you know the best dishes.
well done for going come back and tell us what you had eh

[Tigerpit]

I will do. It's not for a few weeks, but I needed to tell her now if I was going to go or not. Hubby's relieved too - he's a fish lover but he's never had sushi, so I think he's pleased there will be other options if he decides against trying it. Thank you everyone, I can now look forward to it rather than dreading it xx

[Tigerpit]

OMG
It's this week, and I've just noticed they've updated the menu...

All trace of hot dishes has gone. It's exclusively sushi or sashimi.

There ARE veg sushi options, but I loathe cold rice and seaweed. What the eff am I going to do??? I can't pull out now but I'm going to have to sit there without eating, aren't I?

Fck.

[GreatThingsWork]

Why not call the restaurant and tell them your dilemma and see if they can accommodate you?

[chocoshopoholic]

Do they have a salads section if they no longer do hot food?

[Classter]

Our local sushi place doesn't do hot food. It doesn't have a kitchen, just a counter where they prepare the fish and a plug-in rice steamer so I don't think it's that unusual.

[Tigerpit]

Solved. The OH and I are going to eat at home before we go, then just have a few drinks with her to celebrate her birthday. Best of both worlds!! Pity they changed the menu but hey ho, at least I double checked and we won't put anyone on the spot in the restaurant. Even better, OH is driving so I can have a glass of wine!

[Tigerpit]

Classter - That may be the case here, although they DID have hot noodle dishes on the menu a couple of months ago. I'll be intrigued as to how it works, as I've never been to a Japanese restaurant before. They're not thick on the ground in rural Scotland...

[Weedsnseeds1]

Have they got tempura or shabu shabu?

[Mominatrix]

Sushi is not made with cold rice if the restaurant is an authentic Japanese one. It should be warm.

[Tigerpit]

Mominatrix - it's definitely NOT an authentic Japanese restaurant.

As it turned out, OH did try the sushi, and said it was "all right" but he'd not rush to have it again. But birthday girl had a wonderful night, and that's what counted!