For over a decade now, authentic restaurants have been on the rise in Dhaka City. In authentic restaurants, food is prepared in the same fashion, with the same ingredients, as the original versions of the dish as they are prepared in their nation or region of origin.
Authentic restaurants are usually those which are run by people aligned with the restaurant's theme or background. For example, an Italian-owned Italian restaurant, with Italian chefs.
In such a restaurant people will look for dishes that are found in Italy, and that have not been modified too much. The closer it tastes to the food from the country of origin, the better.
Since Italian chefs will know and understand how to cook Italian food much better than non-Italians, their food is considered authentic. There are certain tastes in dishes that are often extremely difficult to replicate if one has never been to the country or learned from someone who has.
On the other hand, an example of an inauthentic' restaurant is a sushi restaurant that is owned by Chinese people or Korean people. That is often not considered 'authentic' since sushi is from Japan.
The experience one receives also plays a large factor. If for example, one goes to a Korean restaurant but gets no free side dishes, no kimchi, then it may feel less like real Korean food, since the side dishes are guaranteed and free in Korea.
If one goes to a Chinese restaurant and gets a fork instead of chopsticks, it completely changes the dining experience. All these important factors play a part in the "authenticity" of a restaurant.
Some of the authentic restaurants in Dhaka have been identified below:
Thai Nation
This restaurant located at Banani provides one of Dhaka's newest and the most magnificent Thai dining. Their husband and wife Iron Chef team draw inspiration from the food of the Thai Royalty, and its kitchen operates only on a "Truly Royal Thai" philosophy.
Chows
Located at Banani, Chow's invites city dwellers to discover the very best of Cantonese cuisine. Their chef ensures that Chow's boasts the most authentic and delicious Cantonese cuisine in the region. This is only possible because he has decades of experience as a culinary artist. They also source speciality ingredients directly from China.
Izumi
It is a high-end Japanese restaurant located in Gulshan. Their kitchen is led by Chef Masayuki Nakajimaya from Hokkaido, Japan. Trained in Tokyo, and later France and Germany, he has been with Izumi since it started its operations in 2010. The place also boasts an excellent interior and exterior.
Lotus Etang
Lotus E'tang offers cuisine from the Pan-Asian palate. This upscale restaurant with a unique blend of luxury and an authentic Pan-Asian kitchen is located at Gulshan. It provides a thrill for food lovers with its true to the region of South East Asian cuisine.
Samdado
Located at Gulshan, Samdado offers a unique dining experience with delicious food from a menu of authentic Japanese dishes. These include a variety of beverages, soups and sushi rice. The freshest Ingredients from Japan are used to complete this experience. At Samdado, their culinary art is everything that comes with a bona fide Far Eastern signature.
Fools diner
Sporting a rustic decor and an artsy old-school vibe, Fool's Diner offers Asian cuisine, namely Chinese, Thai and Japanese. Located at Banani, their Sushi and Maki roll set them apart. They offer a satisfying meal at affordable prices.