Raku

You will have to veer off the beaten path to find this small Japanese restaurant, but by the time you are done eating, it will have been well worth it. It’s actually located in the back of a strip mall in Chinatown, but locals and visitors have been coming here for years, celebrities such as, Anthony Bourdain have shown their faces in here. Chef/owner Mitsuo Endo is the brains behind this operation and uses Japanese charcoal to create amazing daily specials. Some of the excellent menu items include Kobe beef tendon, apple marinated lamb chops, and grilled rice balls. There is also always a great selection of sake, and every month you can try three different kinds of sake in a sampler tray. The fish is shipped right from Japan, as are all the sauces and different condiments, making this one authentic Japanese restaurant. Make sure to take the extra time to find Raku and who knows, you may just find yourself sitting next to a celebrity.