Trying Japanese and Jewish Fusion Food

She is Japanese. He is Jewish. Together, they cook up all kinds of deliciousness. Meet Sawako Okochi and Aaron Israel. Their love for each other led to marriage, and their love of cooking led to Shalom Japan. The Brooklyn restaurant merges Japanese and Jewish culinary influences. On the menu? Matzoh ball ramen and a lox bowl version of chirashi.

This story is a part of our Flavors series, where we do so much more than play with our food. Come with us as we dive into deliciously different and tastefully off-beat stories in the culinary world.

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[johnfranks]

Aaron Israel has to be the most jewish name of all time.

[jeffer]

Missed an opportunity to call it jewpanese food

[cohenb]

I would totally try that Ramen Matzo ball soup

[uriel]

On a similar note, Jews are very into Sushi. In every Jewish neighborhood there is a Sushi restaurant or a grocery shop that will sell fresh sushi.

[SakuraMoonflower]

No lie, I came here after I mistakenly thought I saw a romance manga where the male love interest was wearing a yarmulke. I thought, "What would a love story look like between a Japanese person and a Jewish person?" Apparently, they own a fusion restaurant. :) I love this Love story. <3

[DrElyG]

He has probably the most Jewish name I (a jew) ever heard in my life!!!!

[toqa]

I'm 🇮🇶☪️ whose obsessed with the Japanese culture and I always try to make Japanese dishes without pork and alcohol (halal), so this is interesting since ✡️Jews don't eat pork as well(◍•ᴗ•◍)

[alhur]

There’s a restaurant near me called Mexichina. I don’t think I have to explain

[MoxieBeast]

as a new yorker this place makes so much more sense to me now!

[nancyrimar-howard]

Was lucky enough to eat there before the pandemic. Matzo ball Ramen is my favorite. Looking forward to going back to Brooklyn for dinner at Shalom Japan.

[Borninxixax]

This is the most New York thing I’ve ever seen

[LeninFN]

Fun fact: Japan was the only country that actively helped jews during ww2 by encouraging them to move to japan and hiding them from the nazis. Hideki tojo was a great friend of the jewish people and refused to turn them over to hitler

[elliekomoda]

This is exactly what my family is. Half Jewish and half Japanese 🥰

[clairai]

this is an absolute bucketlist restaurant for me. love it so much!

[marcypink]

I am totally going here in the summer when outdoor seating is back. This is a dream come true.

[ragnarock]

MATZA BALL RAMEN PROBABLY TASTES LIKE HEAVEN

[HeyMelani]

Wow what a combination when different cultures get together and understand each other instead of hating! Magical 😍🥰
Much love from Italy and I hope I get to come to New York and try this restaurant 🙏🏽🌸

[nusrat]

The Ramen matzo ball soup looks delicious!!!

[Paelorian]

I love Jewish and Japanese cuisine, and I live in Brooklyn, so for my birthday next week I may go here instead of the American-French restaurant I was planning on (Minetta Tavern). I can get that food another time and another place, but this may be my only opportunity to try a Jewish-Japanese fusion cuisine. Except in my own home cooking, of course, since I love cooking Jewish food and Japanese food! This fusion seems like a good way to get my parents, who are comfortable with one cuisine but not the other, to try something new.

[れいい-qm]

I’m Japanese and I’m pleasantly surprised by this