The Best Japanese Restaurants in Memphis - Nagasaki Inn

by Libby Pelham | More from this Blogger

29 May 2006 06:49 PM

Even though Memphis is in the heart of the South, it has many great ethnic restaurants. Maybe it is because there is such a blend of people that call Memphis home. There are many great Japanese restaurants in Memphis, but my personal favorite is the Nagasaki Inn at 3951 Summer Avenue. It is located in an older part of Memphis, so many people forget about it, but it has a great, relaxed atmosphere, great service and prices, and best of all, great food!

Nagasaki Inn specializes in teppanyaki cooking. Teppanyaki cooking is the art of cooking foods on a large grill. Patrons of the restaurant are seating on three sides of a large grill, surrounded by a tabletop for eating. Unless you come with a large party of eight or more, you can expect to be seated with strangers. Which is okay, because it is not really as uncomfortable as it sounds.

After the drinks and soups are served, the teppanyaki chef appears on the unoccupied side of the table and heats the grill. He sharpens his knives and usually starts the meal by cooking the fried rice. The teppanyaki chef is not only there to cook your food, but also dazzle you with his skills. He (it is always a male chef) will usually balance an egg (used in the fried rice) on a spatula, throw it in the air, and catch it again on the spatula. Once the fried rice is done, he serves it to you hot off the grill. He then starts cooking the vegetables, which are followed by the meats. Each item is served as soon as he prepares it, so it is fresh, hot and tasty! However, you may find yourself so interested in watching him as he amazes you with his abilities to quickly slice and dice vegetables and meats that you may forget about eating.

Most people who have been to Nagasaki Inn keep coming back for the warm, family atmosphere and the delicious food. Each week, for as long as I can remember, they offer a 2 for 1 coupon in the local newspaper, making it an even better deal!

If you cannot make it to Memphis, check in your local Yellow Pages under Restaurants. Chances are, you have a teppanyaki style restaurant in your own town.

Learn more about Libby Pelham

Libby Pelham is a work-at-home mom located in Jacksonville, NC. She has a beautiful little boy, Will, born in July of 2004.

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Michele Cheplic (37236) 29 May 2006 08:45 PM

Libby, I had some of the best sushi at a Japanese restaurant in Atlanta; coming from Hawaii that's saying a lot. I am Japanese and adore Japanese food which is hard to come by in the Midwest. By the way, one of my dreams is to attend Memphis in May... though sometimes I feel that I have already been, after seeing coverage of the event on an endless Food Network shows.

Libby Pelham (12866) 29 May 2006 09:02 PM

Thanks Michele! Did I spell teppanyaki right? I found it spelled with two p's and one p both :-( I just recorded a show on the Food Channel today about Memphis in May! I have not been in years, but it is quite an event - well, a month of events :-)