26 May, 2025
Japanese Food Guide
Mastering Sushi, Tempura & More with the Right Tools
Japanese food is all about balance—simple ingredients, carefully prepared, to create something truly special. Whether you’re making silky ramen broth, light and crispy tempura, or fresh sushi, having the right tools can make a big difference. From a good rice cooker to a proper noodle pot, the right gear helps you cook with ease and bring out those authentic Japanese flavors. Let’s take a look at some essentials that’ll help you bring a little taste of Japan into your own kitchen.
1. Sushi Rolls
Fresh fish, creamy avocado, crisp vegetables, and perfectly seasoned rice wrapped in nori—homemade sushi rolls bring bold flavor and texture in every bite. The key is the rice, and a good rice cooker makes all the difference. It ensures your rice is fluffy, sticky, and just right for rolling. Want to elevate sushi night? Start with the perfect rice.
Equipment: Rice Cooker
The Town RM-55N-R 55 Cups Commercial Natural Gas Rice Cooker is built for high-volume kitchens, delivering perfectly cooked rice batch after batch. With its powerful natural gas operation and large capacity, it’s ideal for sushi prep—producing fluffy, consistent rice that’s essential for rolling high-quality sushi. Durable and efficient, it’s a must-have for any restaurant aiming for authentic results with ease.
The Panasonic SR-42HZP 23 Cups Commercial Electric Rice Cooker delivers consistent, high-quality rice with every batch. Its electric operation and medium capacity make it perfect for sushi prep, producing the ideal texture needed for smooth, even rolls. Reliable and easy to use, it’s a great fit for restaurants and sushi bars alike.
2. Tempura
Light, crispy, and golden—tempura delivers delicate texture with every bite. From shrimp to vegetables, each piece is coated in a thin batter and fried to perfection. The key is a dependable fryer that holds steady, high heat for that signature crunch without excess oil. For consistently crisp, restaurant-quality tempura, the right fryer makes all the difference.
Equipment: Deep Fryer
The Imperial IFS-40-E 40 Lb Electric Floor Fryer offers consistent heat and large capacity—perfect for frying crisp, golden tempura. Its electric design ensures even cooking, making it a reliable, efficient choice for busy kitchens focused on quality and speed.
3. Miso Soup
Warm, savory, and comforting—miso soup brings a delicate balance of umami with every spoonful. Made with rich miso broth, tofu, seaweed, and scallions, it’s a staple in Japanese cuisine. The secret to serving it perfectly is a reliable soup kettle that keeps the broth at the ideal temperature, preserving flavor and freshness throughout service. For consistently delicious miso soup, a quality soup kettle is essential.
Equipment: Soup Kettle
The Eurodib SB-6000 10 Qt Soup Kettle Warmer keeps soups hot and ready for service with reliable, even heating. Its spacious 10-quart capacity is perfect for miso soup, maintaining the delicate flavors and warmth essential for a satisfying experience. Durable and easy to use, it’s an ideal choice for restaurants seeking consistent, fresh soup service.
The Omcan FW-CN-0010-P 10 Lt Soup Kettle with Plastic Lid provides consistent, even heating to keep soups hot and flavorful. Its 10-liter capacity is ideal for serving miso soup, preserving the delicate taste and warmth needed for an authentic experience. Durable and easy to operate, it’s perfect for restaurants focused on reliable, quality soup service.
4. Teppanyaki
Sizzling, flavorful, and interactive—teppanyaki delivers a show-stopping dining experience with every meal. Fresh meats, seafood, and vegetables are grilled to perfection on a flat top griddle, locking in juices and creating bold, smoky flavors. The key to great teppanyaki is a high-quality flat top griddle that maintains even, consistent heat for perfect searing and cooking. For restaurant-quality teppanyaki, the right equipment makes all the difference.
Equipment: Griddle
The Atosa ATMG-24-NG 24″ Manual Natural Gas Griddle delivers powerful, even heat ideal for teppanyaki cooking. Its spacious 24-inch surface allows for grilling meats, seafood, and vegetables with precision, locking in flavor and texture. Designed for consistent temperature control and durability, it’s a reliable choice for restaurants aiming to serve authentic, sizzling teppanyaki dishes.
The Vollrath 40716 Cayenne 24″ Electric Griddle provides consistent, even heat perfect for teppanyaki cooking. Its roomy 24-inch surface delivers precise grilling of meats, seafood, and vegetables, locking in flavor and texture. With reliable temperature control and durable construction, it’s an excellent choice for restaurants serving authentic, sizzling teppanyaki dishes.
5. Mochi
Soft, chewy, and delightfully sweet—mochi is a beloved treat with a unique texture that melts in your mouth. Made from glutinous rice dough, its smooth consistency depends on thorough mixing and kneading. The secret to perfect mochi lies in a powerful planetary mixer, which ensures the dough is evenly blended and elastic for that signature chewiness. For consistent, high-quality mochi, the right mixer is essential.
Equipment: Planetary Mixer
The Hobart Legacy HL120-1STD 12 Qt Planetary Countertop Mixer delivers powerful, consistent mixing ideal for mochi dough preparation. Its 12-quart capacity and versatile planetary action ensure thorough blending and kneading, creating the smooth, elastic texture essential for authentic mochi. Built for durability and precision, it’s a trusted choice for kitchens focused on crafting high-quality, traditional Japanese treats.
The Centerline HMM20-1STD 20 Qt Planetary Floor Mixer offers powerful, reliable mixing perfect for preparing mochi dough in larger batches. Its 20-quart capacity and efficient planetary action deliver thorough blending and kneading, ensuring the smooth, elastic texture crucial for authentic mochi. Designed for durability and precision, it’s an excellent choice for busy kitchens focused on producing high-quality traditional Japanese confections.
6. Gyoza
Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside—gyoza offers a perfect balance of textures and rich flavors. These delicate dumplings are filled with a savory mixture of ground meat and vegetables, wrapped in a thin dough. The secret to great gyoza lies in skillful preparation and precise cooking—using a steamer to ensure even, gentle cooking that preserves the filling’s juiciness while creating a tender wrapper. For authentic, restaurant-quality gyoza, the right steamer and technique make all the difference.
Equipment: Steamer
The Vulcan C24EA3-LWE 3 Pan Electric Countertop Convection Steamer delivers fast, even steaming ideal for cooking delicate gyoza. Its three-pan capacity allows for high-volume preparation, ensuring dumplings are steamed perfectly—tender on the outside and juicy inside. Designed for consistent temperature control and durability, it’s a reliable choice for kitchens aiming to serve authentic, restaurant-quality gyoza with ease.
The Crown EPX-3 3 Pan Electric Countertop Convection Steamer offers efficient, even steaming perfect for preparing delicate gyoza. With its three-pan capacity, it supports high-volume cooking while ensuring dumplings are steamed to tender perfection, preserving their juicy filling. Built for consistent heat control and durability, it’s an excellent choice for restaurants focused on delivering authentic, restaurant-quality gyoza every time.
7. Harajuku-style Crepes
Thin, soft, and delightfully sweet—Harajuku-style crepes are a colorful treat bursting with fresh fruit, creamy fillings, and playful toppings. The secret to their perfect texture lies in the batter and the cooking surface. A quality crepe maker ensures an even, quick cook that produces delicate, pliable crepes ready to be filled and folded. For authentic, café-quality Harajuku crepes, the right crepe maker is essential.
Equipment: Crepe Maker
The Waring WSC165BX 16″ Round Electric Crepe Maker delivers precise, even heat ideal for crafting delicate Harajuku-style crepes. Its spacious 16-inch cooking surface ensures thin, soft crepes with the perfect texture, ready to be filled with fresh fruit and creamy toppings. Designed for consistent temperature control and durability, it’s a reliable choice for restaurants and cafes aiming to serve authentic, café-quality crepes every time.
The Omcan CE-CN-0350 14″ Round Electric Crepe Maker offers precise, even heat ideal for crafting delicate Harajuku-style crepes. Its 14-inch polished cast iron cooking plate ensures thin, soft crepes with the perfect texture, ready to be filled with fresh fruit and creamy toppings. Designed for consistent temperature control and durability, it’s a reliable choice for restaurants and cafes aiming to serve authentic, café-quality crepes every time.
Mastering Japanese cuisine is about honoring tradition and using the right tools to bring out those authentic flavors and perfect textures. Whether you’re rolling fresh sushi, frying crispy tempura, simmering comforting miso soup, grilling sizzling teppanyaki, or crafting delicate mochi and gyoza, having dependable, high-quality commercial equipment is key. The right rice cookers, fryers, soup kettles, griddles, mixers, steamers, and crepe makers not only boost your kitchen’s efficiency but also ensure every dish shines with consistency and care. Ready to elevate your Japanese menu and delight your guests? Get in touch with us today — we’re here to help you find the perfect equipment tailored to your kitchen’s unique needs.