10 Valley restaurants to take part in 'Taste of Japan' series

The Japan External Trade Organization and the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles are partnering with 10 Phoenix restaurants to host the Taste of Japan: Specialty Seafood & Sake Series.

From Friday, Feb. 16 to Friday, March 1, each restaurant will create and serve unique, limited-time dishes highlighting Japanese seafood, specifically the Hokkaido scallop.

Residents can visit the following restaurants to experience the Taste of Japan:

• Kaizen Phoenix , located inside the Lawrence Building at 515 E. Grant St., Phoenix
• Kuka Sushi and Izakaya , located at 1221 E. Apache Blvd., Suite 103, Tempe
• Shimogamo Japanese Restaurant , located at 2501 W. Warner Road, Chandler
• Mikado Sushi , located at 3125 S. Alma School Road, Suite #3b, Chandler
• Kay Sushi , located at 10115 E. Bell Road, Unit 111, Scottsdale
• Sushi Crush , located at 6501 E. Greenway Road, Suite 123, Scottsdale
• Sake Haus , located at 214 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix
• Hana Japanese Eatery , located at 5524 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
• Roka Akor , located at 7299 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
• Umami BBQ Sushi , located at 7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Suite 1090, Phoenix

Each restaurant will put its unique spin on the scallop; for example, Hana Japanese Eatery is offering the scallop dusted with potato starch, flash fried and topped with soy vinegar vegetables and ao nori while Kuka Sushi and Izakaya will offer a raw scallop served with basil olive oil, pink salt and yuzu sherbet.

"We are also committed to further strengthening the relationship between Japan and Arizona in the area of food as well as economic and cultural people-to-people ties," Kenko Sone, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, shared in a press release. "I hope Arizonans will take this opportunity to enjoy the marriage of Japanese seafood and sake."

Visit https://tasteofjpn.com/supportsake for more about the Taste of Japan: Specialty Seafood & Sake Series.