After you sit down at the bar/table/floor, the waiter will probably bring you an
oshibori (hot towel for wiping your hands and face) before asking what you would like to drink. Your first impulse might be to go for a Coke or a Bud Lite, but you've come this far, so why not try to be authentic? We recommend one of these three options:
- Sake (Japanese Rice Wine): Made from fermented rice, sake is served warm and is drunk before eating, not during or after. Some would say that the drink is obligatory, while others would say it is redundant because (like the sushi) it is made from rice. Drinking sake during the meal is certainly akin to ordering bread with a sandwich. But it's tradition, so cope. Remember that the waiter will continue to fill an empty cup, so flip it over when you're done. And yes, it is acceptable to have sake with sashimi (which doesn't have rice).
- Green Tea: Green tea is served throughout the meal. It removes aftertastes and freshens the mouth for the next serving. Don't be miffed by the color; the flavor is actually quite mild.
- Beer: Sapporo, Kirin, or Asahi, please. You'll have to try them on your own.
