House of Yoshida, located at 25 Grassy Plain Street in Bethel, has been operating since 2002. The restaurant serves up traditional Japanese cuisine as well as dishes that are mixed with European flair.

Just recently, House of Yoshida was voted Best Japanese Restaurant in Connecticut Magazine for state and county.

Owner Aki Arai grew up in Japan and learned how to make sushi while working at his uncle’s restaurant in Tokyo. He continues to visit Japan often and always posts about his trips, along with House of Yoshida’s weekly specials, on the restaurant’s social media pages.

He likes to keep the sushi bar authentic to how items would be prepared in Japan, but he has more flexibility in the kitchen because of his love for European food.

As a chef at House of Yoshida, Arai is always accommodating customers’ requests. If there are specific dietary needs or preferences, he can make ingredient substitutions for customers and even create completely new dishes that are off the menu.

“As long as we have ingredients, we can make it,” he said with a smile.

Arai’s laid-back, pleasant attitude and culinary skills are what draw customers to frequent House of Yoshida. Many regulars can be found striking up a conversation with the owner.

Arai explained that the atmosphere at his restaurant is casual, saying, “It’s a very comfortable place. I’m friends with everybody.”

The restaurant currently seats 42 guests in the dining area, which features a variety of Japanese décor, and seats seven at the sushi bar.

Catering options are also available for all occasions.

Sample Of The Menu

Soups: House of Yoshida offers a variety of soups, including spicy seafood soup with salmon, shrimp, mussels, and mixed vegetables in a creamy, spicy broth. There’s also the miso shiru, a Japanese soybean soup with tofu and scallions.

Appetizers: Try out the seafood appetizers such as the broiled spicy scallops, which are thinly sliced and broiled with a spicy tobiko sauce, or the black peppered shrimp in a black pepper brown butter sauce with sautéed bok choy. Other popular appetizers to check out include the homemade kimchi wagyu dumplings, and the crispy brussel sprouts.

Salads: With over ten different salad options, there’s bound to be a salad for everyone. There’s the standout tuna carpaccio, made with thinly sliced seared tuna, spicy mayo, tobiko, and scallions and served with a wasabi vinaigrette. People can also try the seafood salad, which has assorted fish, radish, cucumber, and crab meat topped with a soy vinaigrette.

Specials: Every week, House of Yoshida posts its latest specials menu on its social media accounts with photos and a brief description of the dish. It won’t take long for people to learn that Arai’s creations often land outside the realm of traditional Japanese cuisine, with one of his favorites being Italian cuisine.

Main Courses: Among the different items made in the kitchen, House of Yoshida offers the traditional chicken katsu, served with noodles, sautéed bok choy, and of course the katsu dipping sauce. A customer and staff favorite is the deji galbi don, which is made up of sautéed thin-sliced pork belly and cabbage in a spicy Korean style sauce, served over white rice and garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.

Sushi: Both à la carte and chef’s choice menus are available for sushi and sashimi. Turn a good day into a great one by trying out popular sushi items such as tuna, king salmon, and yellowtail; all sushi is fresh, sliced, and served over seasoned rice.

Rice and Noodles: Don’t miss trying the nabeyaki udon, which features cod, scallops, salmon, clams, shrimp tempura, and poached egg in a savory broth. A personal recommendation from Arai is the hoisin duck fried rice, made with slow cooked duck and a fried egg on top. People looking for a hot bowl of ramen can choose between traditional soy, tonkatsu, or spicy miso, all served with pork belly, ramen noodles, seaweed, scallions, and a poached egg.

Japanese Fondue: With advance reservation, groups can share the shabu shabu, with thinly sliced sirloin steak, vegetables, and noodles served raw for diners to cook in a savory broth. It is also served with a side of sesame and ponzu dipping sauce. There’s also the sukiyaki, which has thinly sliced sirloin steak paired with vegetables and noodles served raw for people to cook in a sweet sukiyaki sauce, also served with an optional raw egg for dipping on request.

Omakase: With a minimum 72-hour notice, experience Arai’s omakase tasting menu, curated with seasonal ingredients and thoughtful pairings of flavors and unique components. Great for celebrating special occasions or elevating your Friday night dinner date.

Desserts: Recently added to the menu, you can find a delicate yet satisfying crème brûlée served with fresh blueberries, mint, and a strawberry puree.

Drinks: House of Yoshida offers an assortment of wine, beer, cocktails, and sake. The latter comes in cold, hot, and specialty varieties. Special seasonal cocktails often rotate on the specials list.

House of Yoshida is open Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 9 pm; Friday and Saturday from noon to 10 pm; and Sunday from noon to 9 pm. The kitchen closes 30 minutes before the service area, so plan accordingly if ordering to go.

Takeout, catering options, and seating reservations are accepted by calling 203-798-8128. For more information about the restaurant and Aki Arai’s trips to Japan, visit houseofyoshida.com — and for Arai’s newest weekly specials, follow the restaurant’s Facebook @House Of Yoshida and Instagram @houseofyoshida.