That stamp on your passport says “México,” but a dinner at Daikoku will have you feeling transported to Japan. The decor is 100 percent Japanese, starting with a serene koi pond. A bougainvillea tree has been shaped into a bonsai dwarf sprouting blossoms of peach and white, likened to a cherry blossom. A wooden paddle wheel gives a soothing whooshing sound of water. On a warm summer night, you may want to opt for the air-conditioned dining room with a glass floor showcasing a Zen garden below. On a cooler day, choose Daikoku’s delightful Japanese garden. It is almost sacrilegious to not have sake, but there are other choices of wine, Japanese beer, and the usual cocktails. We choose a cool sparkling wine that goes well with our teppanyaki grilled items, like rib eye and shrimp with vegetables (another popular choice is a mixture of shrimp, fish, beef, salmon, and chicken). Sides include fried rice, asparagus, mushrooms, and other delicacies. Our chef expertly handles the knives and spatulas, shaping the fried rice just so, stacking the sliced onions into a pyramid and then filling the hole with oil and setting it on fire, a delight to us as well as other diners nearby. On other occasions, the chef’s recommendations include a listing of nine rolls including a lettuce roll with avocado, cucumber, shrimp with Japanese horseradish, and a mixture of Japanese spices. Other favorites include noodles served in broth with chicken, fresh tuna sashimi, grilled eggplant with miso sauce, and fried baby crab. Plaza Nautica, Blvd. Marina, Cabo San Lucas, (624) 143-4038, (624) 143-4267. Daily noon–11:30 p.m. AmEx, MasterCard, and Visa accepted.

Contact Page in Los Cabos Guide: www.loscabosguide.com/daikoku/