Growing up, how many of us were told by our mothers or grandmothers that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?

It was 2015 the last time I was here in South Korea, in the city of Uijeongbu, and got my first taste of an Italian mushroom risotto at a local restaurant.

The quality of a pizza parlor coincides with the quality of its Margherita pie. Luckily, the pizza at Dumbo Pizza Factory near Naval Air Facility Atsugi is a standout — and not just by Japanese standards.

Toriyoshi Shoten, which translates to “good chicken store” in Japanese, offers a variety of dishes, but its specialty is poultry.

The party’s over, the bars are closed, the lights have gone up, and you have a hangover hunger to satisfy. If you’re in Shinjuku, you’re in luck; that’s the home of Roast Beef Abura Soba Beefst, a “build your own” soba noodle restaurant that unlocks its doors just in time for lunch and stays open deep into the night.

Finding a quiet spot near Tokyo's Shibuya Station — just steps from the world’s busiest intersection — isn’t as hard as it might seem when you’re struggling to think over the clatter of pachinko parlors. All you have to do is navigate with thousands of others across that busy intersection and wander down a few back alleys to arrive at a staircase leading to Pizzeria La Soffitta, which touts authentic Milanese pies and imported Italian pastas and wines.

Don’t let the name fool you when visiting Cafe & Dining Santorini on Okinawa. Qwner and chef Yoshitomo Nagamine said the name of his eatery, which specializes in staples like grilled chicken and sauteed fish, was inspired by a past trip to Santorini. This spurred a dream to one day open a restaurant on the island, which attracts millions of tourists each year.

In early March, after my family of five and I settled in for another two-year tour in Korea, I was invited out to a welcome dinner with coworkers. Since I was still unfamiliar with the area, I elected to ride with a colleague to the lively locale, something I hadn’t seen yet in my short time in Pyeongtaek.

Amasake-chaya, a teahouse and rest house located along the Old Tokaido Road, has been serving the same amazake recipe to weary travelers since it opened in the 1600s.

On Okinawa, La Polleria Pipeline Coffee in the Ginowan area is embracing Japan’s Instagram obsession by serving up delicious breakfast and lunch fare in a stylish, yet homey setting.

South Korean chain Raracost claims to be "The World’s Best Family Restaurant" — but does the restaurant's take on Italian cuisine help it live up to its title?

As a longtime resident of Okinawa, I often have friends and coworkers coming to me for advice on where to go and what to do on the island. The most common request? Where to enjoy a fine meal without breaking the bank.

On Okinawa, there are a variety of restaurants residents can flock to whenever a craving for red meat strikes. But Ralph’s Burger Restaurant, which opened in early 2018, is the perfect place to go when you need burger fix.

In order to sample Sapporo Beer's best brews, however, you’ll have to travel to Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, where Sapporo began producing its famous eponymous beer in 1876.

Sea Life Park’s Ka Moana Luau is among the best on Oahu, offering diners a bountiful banquet — as well as activities for young and old, a gorgeous seaward vista and hula dancers aplenty.

Many foodies who visit Japan expect their meals to be filled with the likes of sushi and ramen, the most common forms of Japanese cuisine served abroad. But there’s a wide range of Japanese fare beyond these staples — and one of the most popular among locals is tonkatsu.

Yes Cafe, a new addition to Yokota Air Base, is keeping residents of the installation’s east side caffeinated — and they’re doing it all out of a small truck.

Foreigners lacking in chopstick skills but too embarrassed to ask for a fork will be relieved when they sit down at Hoejen Hwa Hwa, a Korean barbecue restaurant located near Camp Humphreys, just a few blocks down the main street leading from the base’s Anjeung-ri access gate.

Authentic Peruvian food on Okinawa? They're easier to find than you might think, thanks to a small neighborhood restaurant owned by two Peruvian sisters.

Located near Yokota Air Base, Dana Chula Family Indian Restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes perfect for anyone unfamiliar with the fragrant, complex dishes common to Indian cuisine.

Located inside Okinawa’s Grand Mer Resort, Waryu Sushi Shuna offers ample counter seating — which means diners can experience an authentic sushi experience by ordering directly from the chef.

Cafe Doka Doka serves a small menu of Western-influenced fare on Okinawa — and it also offers patrons an incredible view overlooking the East China Sea via its outdoor patio.

Those living near Iwakuni won’t have to travel far for a handcrafted coffee experience, thanks to Marifu Coffee, a small cafe just a 10-minute walk from JR Iwakuni Station.

Noodles are undoubtedly one of Japan’s national treasures — but in Okinawa, soba noodles hold a particularly special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of the island’s residents.

Tucked away in a sleepy residential neighborhood in Okinawa City is Akai Helmet, a spacious and trendy traditional Japanese izakaya opened in honor of one of the most popular teams in Nippon Professional Baseball.

Throngs of diners are drawn in by the hubbub of a popular Honolulu food truck haven — but most stay for the diversity of offerings, which includes everything from Hawaiian, Thai, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese and even Laotian food.

Makan Makan — a dim sum restaurant located inside the upscale Coco Garden Resort in Okinawa’s Uruma City — offers authentic Chinese flavors in a tropical setting.

Japan is famous for its culture of cuteness — better known as kawaii — embodied by popular characters like Hello Kitty or unique fashion subcultures such as Lolita and Decora. In Tokyo, the undisputed epicenter of kawaii culture can be found on the streets of Harajuku, a neighborhood long known for its status as the place where Japan’s offbeat fashion trends come to life.

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Daily Chico's eight-layer cone, which has long been popular on social media and television, comes with all eight flavors of ice cream sold at the shop.

Just a short walk from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Rib House Bar & Grill is serving up something different for the locals, while offering a taste of home to its American patrons.