Finding MSG free restaurants in Tokyo

[CKuzushi]

How can I avoid 味の素(MSG) in Tokyo without cooking for myself every day? I know some really fancy places that don't use much, but they are wayyy out of my budget.

TIA

PS Sorry if this has already been covered, I tried the search but came up with nadda.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by CKuzushi

How can I avoid 味の素(MSG) in Tokyo without cooking for myself every day? I know some really fancy places that don't use much, but they are wayyy out of my budget.

TIA

PS Sorry if this has already been covered, I tried the search but came up with nadda.

Maybe I am ignorant, but I have never heard of MSG being used in Japanese food in Japan. The whole point of Japanese cuisine is subtle flavor, and therefore MSG would have the opposite effect.

[CKuzushi]

Yes, I guess you are ignorant.


MSG was invented in Japan, afterall. It is included in almost every sauce in the store as well as added to food in most restaurants. Here it is called aji no moto, as per the kanji and kana I posted above.

It has had wide spread use here in japan since the 40's. America stole it after 45, when the GI's realized that the Imperial Army's rations tasted signifigantly better than the American counterparts.

So, can anyone help out here? Perhaps a list of "health food" restarurants in Kanto?


PS to MMM

Of course if you get nice kaisekiryouri or anything made from scratch here, or eat sushi, you will probably avoid MSG, but I can't afford that everyday.

[Nyororin]

I think you`re going to have a very very hard time.
Even the fanciest restaurants are going to contain MSG - although not sprinkled in. It`s generally extracted from seaweed right there in the shop. Anything with 昆布 or 昆布エキス is also going to contain quite a lot of it...

I think that you`ll probably find the only way to avoid it is to cook for yourself and avoid anything with naturally occurring MSG (ie. Anything containing seaweed).

[CKuzushi]

I am going to keep up the hunt, darn it!

Anyway, the glutamates extracted from kombu are not nearly as bad as the refined MSG (which is, indeed, extracted from Kombu).

I am not adverse to kombu extract as much as the super concentrated glutamates. I think the health ramifications are much different.