Eat: Cassava
I’m not sure this is considered a typical Japanese restaurant (they have a variety of items on the menu) but, their Japanese breakfast is about as traditional as it gets. Nestled deep in the outer Richmond amidst the foggy avenues, you’ll find the perfect way to warm up on a weekend. Their perfectly cooked onsen egg comes in a flavorful dashi broth and the miso soup is balanced with deep umami flavor. You also get a fresh bowl of rice that is the perfect base for the nutty, slimy, and funky natto. The side dishes are pickled, salty, and a great compliment to all of the items served.
If you haven’t tried natto before, it’s definitely something of an acquired taste but I would encourage you to try it once. My Grandpa Seido used to eat it and when I was younger I thought the sliminess was off putting but now, I’ve come to appreciate the intense, fermented flavor.
The history of natto goes back to before the 10th century and there are many stories on how it came to be. One of the most popular stories is that a famous samurai general was robbed while cooking soybeans for his horses during a journey. They quickly grabbed up the beans, stuck them in straw bags and when they opened them up a few days later, they had fermented into a delicious treat. The straw produced a slimy stringiness that comes from a specific strain of bacteria called bacillus subtilis.
The health benefits associated with natto are vast. These fermented soybeans contain protein, vitamins and K2 (which is not commonly found in food). Many people say it helps with bone health, skin, purification of blood, diet and is a great source of probiotics. So, go ahead, give natto a try!
Location - 3519 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121
Traditional Japanese breakfast set up at Cassava.