Nichi Bei Kai, Columbia

At Nichi Bei Kai, the owners seek to present authentic slices of Japanese culture for American consumption, from Teppan-style tableside cooking to beautifully plated sushi rolls. During meals, cooks juggle knives and fire, flipping ingredients before them as they fry rice; dice chicken, steak, and seafood; and fill plates with hot eats. Meanwhile, behind the sushi bar, sushi chefs perform knife work no less impressive, if far more delicate. They dice fine rolls of seafood, rice, and vegetables into perfectly even, bite-sized chunks after measuring each diner’s mouth with only their well-trained eyes.