Each week, my Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.
This week we explore a paradox: why do Japanese airlines offer the best western food? Maybe because they just do everything right. Let’s compare first class steak on ANA and JAL.
One of the great mysteries of airline travel is why beef is generally available well done, very well done, or shoe leather style. Yes, most airline meals, including beef dishes, are pre-cooked. But that doesn’t mean they must be well-done.
Before I compare the two, let me first commend both carriers for 1.) asking how I wanted my meat cooked and 2.) delivering. Amazing! It really can be done…
ANA First Class Steak
My beautiful beef filet was cooked a prefect medium rare. The roasted potatoes and gnocchi (perhaps a bit redundant) were nice accompaniments. I also appreciated the mustard, though it was not necessary. In fact the sauce was not necessary. Although the red wine sauce was very nice, a nice cut of beef requires no sauce at all.
JAL First Class Steak
My JAL beef skirt steak had a bit more marble in it, but included a wonderful eggplant puree and a was topped in fresh coriander. It was also served a perfect medium rare and had a wonderful taste.
Winner?
Thinking back to both meals, I cannot pick my favorite…both were essentially perfect.
So I guess the lesson is this: you cannot go wrong ordering steak in first class on a Japanese carrier.
I’ve been criticized for not ordering Japanese food when I fly a Japanese airline, but can you blame me when the steaks are this tasty?
Can’t blame you. Some of the Japanese food is delicious , sometimes it’s downright slimy and not to my liking. I did get the Japanese food last time and the main was a Wagyu beef filet , so best of both worlds.
when these guys see a 3 min delay as a slap to their grandma’s face, track you down in the lounge to apologize for it, you know we are in a different universe.
I just flew business class from Narita to Newark with United. The beef choice was horrible. It was not a steak, rather some junk smelly beef. I am not a picky, too demanding person but the beef like this for business class in completely unacceptable. The beef on this route before used to be much better. Don’t take my word, try beef choice on flight UA 78.
I also had an excellent steak on ANA last year flying J from NRT-KUL, which I would say is even more impressive considering that it was in regional business class. I still consider it to be my best meal on a plane yet.
“I’ve been criticized for not ordering Japanese food when I fly a Japanese airline, but can you blame me when the steaks are this tasty?”
Yes, if only because steak is something you don’t seem to be deprived of (you even have it for breakfast in Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal and Loungers). Whereas slightly more authentic Japanese food you don’t probably have access to. Yes, I’m sure LA has fantastic Japanese restaurants but as with all food, it isn’t quite the same when having it abroad versus having it in it’s country of origin.
And if you think ANA and JAL’s Western options are delicious, imagine how divine their Japanese options would be…
Could not agree more.
Would you say an airplane is an optimal place to experience “authentic” Japanese food?
I’d rather wait and have the real stuff on the ground and not ruin it on the flight there…
I know it’s not the case for Matthew, but a lot of times, I fly between places that have limited western food options, so in-flight meals allow me to get a “taste of home” since I ain’t getting it on the ground.
It’s definitely a bit more authentic than what you’d get in much of the western world, so yeah, would say it’s a good place to experience it. I mean, if they can deliver a quality piece of steak on an airplane, I’m sure they can do the same with their own food.
Interesting. My wife and I flew JAL first class last month NRT-ORD and my wife made an interesting observation: the Japanese menu was Japanese and the Western menu was also Japanese, so she just ordered the Japanese menu, since she was getting Japanese food anyway. She did say that it was mostly quite good. I looked at the menu with a fresh take and she was right. No steak or any other Western entree in a traditional manner. Now I know a bit how the Italians and Chinese feel about food here in the US.
How about an ANA-versus-JAL business class steak comparison? I’d guess the results would be similar, but don’t know.
As luck would have it, I’m flying JAL in business in about 10 days, and I’ve been wrestling with menu choices. Two legs: SEA-NRT, then NRT-BKK. Looking over the menu, on the first leg, for the western menu, they’re offering beef tenderloin, and I’m tempted. On the second leg, it’s wagyu beef sirloin (although the Japanese menu is also tempting). I’m not sure if I should do two beef-heavy meals in a row, might put me in a coma. Then again, I’ll probably be eating no red meat for the next couple of weeks before I return.
Is there a significant difference in the quality of the beef entrees served in business class versus first?
Great question on the beef quality.
Skip one of the beef options and have their delicious curry instead (assuming that isn’t a beef option as well).
Aaron, you sound like you’ve never flown JAL or ANA F or probably J fir that matter. Curry is available anytime as a snack.
I tend to get “western” food going to Japan and Japanese food flying from Japan. Japanese food is just not quite there when not originating in Japan.
Actually, it isn’t available on every flight. It is available quite a bit, but not always. Not sure about JAL but ANA publishes it’s menus online, so you can always plan what you will have before traveling.
Also, have you ever been on JAL or ANA in F or J? It’s listed as a snack but is usually a decent sized portion, and the FAs will gladly serve it to you in lieu of one of the main meals if you ask them to. Even in business class. And not just the curry, the FAs are pretty flexible with regards to most snack options. I once flew in ANA business and didn’t care for the appetizer and asked the FA if i could have a snack item as an appetizer instead. She didn’t have any problems serving it to me as an appetizer.
The problem with Japanese curry is that it’s far too sweet; virtually inedible to those who restrict sugar in their diets ( it tastes like eating savoury candy). I hate to think what real curry aficionados, like Indians, would make of it.
It’s odd because generally Japanese have great savoury dishes; curry isn’t one of them….
Personally, I prefer Japanese curry to Indian curry, but to each their own.
Heh. I’m an Indian that loves Japanese curry. It is sweeter compared to Indian curries, but I find it odd that it tastes super sweet to you. As someone that prepares Japanese curry from scratch, the sweetness usually derives from fruits like Apples.
So if Apples are too sweet for you, then you won’t like Japanese curries.
Its classic example of, “whatever you’re best doing at, there’s always Asian doing it better than you!”
I like how the wine stands inside the glass!
Only in a flight.
This summer flight from NRT-SIN on JAL used my Alaska miles for a flight on 777-200 Sky Suite.
Only 25,000 miles!!!
Had the best steak I’ve ever had on thay flight.
Every bite was delicious,I should have asked for another!
Wait until you read my ANA F review tomorrow. I’m confident you’ll regret not ordering the Japanese option. 🙂
Heh. I’m an Indian that loves Japanese curry. It is sweeter compared to Indian curries, but I find it odd that it tastes super sweet to you. As someone that prepares Japanese curry from scratch, the sweetness usually derives from fruits like Apples.
So if Apples are too sweet for you, then you won’t like Japanese curries.