Japanese food the night before T-day

On the night before Thanksgiving, eating out on the light side is a great way to give family cooks a reprieve. And who wants to overindulge on heavy food in advance of the big meal?

A Japanese restaurant seems an ideal pick. The food is nothing remotely like what will follow on Thursday night, plus it’s a cuisine that's relatively virtuous when it comes to fat and calories.

Here are three Japanese favorites. Feel free to add your own:

At Chan’s Sushi & Teriyaki, a pretty and comfortable new spot in Lake Ronkonkoma, precision-cut pepper tuna tataki is a good way to start.  Maki rolls, such as the Paradise roll (spicy salmon, tuna and avocado) feature rice and fish at ideal room temperature. Chicken teriyaki is moist and generous. Chan’s Sushi & Teriyaki is at 295-297 Smithtown Blvd., Lake Ronkonkoma, 631-588-1558

Daisho of Japan, a newcomer to Huntington, is a Long Island nexus for yakitori, ingenious little  bites of skewered grilled meat, seafood, vegetables and chicken. Another specialty here is soul-satisfying ramen soup filled with noodles and topped with something delicious, like roast pork, grilled eel or velvety beef. From the sushi bar come colorful, skillfully put-together rolls. Daisho of Japan is at 308 Main St., Huntington, 631-385-8102, daishony.com

In Lynbrook, Hisashi Manabe has spent over two decades behind the sushi bar of Satsuki, his simple little Japanese restaurant. Here, Manabe crafts maki rolls so light, they seem bound by air. His chirashi is a flawless marine-sweet assortment of raw fish. Cooked food rates highly, too. Satsuki is at 47 Atlantic Ave., Lynbrook, 516-599-1713.

Photo: Maki rolls at Daisho of Japan in Huntington