Search results
Feb 6, 2024 · Discover the rich culinary heritage of Japan with our comprehensive guide to the famous food in Japan. From sushi and ramen to matcha desserts and mochi, explore the flavors, history, and cultural significance of Japan's most beloved dishes!
- What Is Traditional Japanese Food?
- Popular Japanese Foods
- Japanese Fish / Seafood Dishes
- Japanese Meat & Poultry Dishes
- Japanese Noodle Dishes
- Japanese Mixed Ingredient Dishes
- Japanese Desserts / Drinks
- Japanese Food Tours
- Japanese Cooking Classes
- Final Thoughts on Japanese Food
Traditional Japanese foodor washoku is characterized by its sense of balance, aesthetics, and the seasonality and freshness of its ingredients. Different dishes are served depending on the season. Rice is a staple dish in Japanese cuisine, and to a lesser extent, so are noodle dishes like soba and udon. Like many countries in Asia, rice is combined...
If you don’t have a lot of experience with Japanese cuisine and want to try the most popular dishes, then you can start with these ten famous Japanese foods.
11. Kaisendon
Kaisen is the Japanese word for “seafood” while donburi translates to “rice bowl”, so kaisendon literally means “seafood rice bowl”. It refers to a family of Japanese dishes made with raw fish and seafood sashimi topped over unseasoned white rice. Kaisendon isn’t to be confused with a similar-looking dish called chirashizushi. At first glance, both dishes look the same but chirashi is topped over vinegared sushi rice while kaisendon is made with plain steamed rice. You can find kaisendon at m...
12. Anago Meshi
Anago meshi is a very similar dish to unagi donburi, but instead of freshwater eel, it’s made with anago which is saltwater or conger eel. Compared to unagi, anago is softer in texture and glazed with a sauce that isn’t as sweet as kabayaki sauce. It’s more subtle in flavor and not quite as oily. Anago is often used as an ingredient for sushi but anago meshi is considered a specialty dish of Hiroshima prefecture.
13. Zuke
Zuke refers to an old Japanese method of preserving raw fish by soaking fish fillets in a soy sauce mixture. It was a technique long forgotten since the onset of refrigeration but has seen a resurgence in recent decades as a method of food preparation in Japan. Today, thinly sliced fillets of raw fish are marinated in the zuke method not for preservation, but for flavor. We had this delicious bowl of maguro and shake zuke (tuna and salmon) at a restaurant in Nagasaki.
19. Gyoza
Gyoza refers to Japanese dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables wrapped in a thin sheet of dough. They’re originally from China but they’ve become very popular in Japan as well. Gyoza are typically filled with ground pork, chives, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other ingredients. They’re usually pan-fried but they can be served steamed or deep-fried as well, either on their own or as a side dish to more substantial dishes like ramen.
20. Karaage
Karaage is a Japanese cooking method that involves deep frying meat, poultry, or seafood in oil. Chicken karaage is most common though other types of meat and fish are also used. Karaage is similar to tempura except the ingredients are marinated before being coated in a heavier wheat flour, potato or corn starch. This results in a thicker, crunchier coating.
21. Japanese Curry
Curry rice is hugely popular in Japan. It was introduced to Japan by the British during the Meiji period but it wasn’t until the late 1960s that it exploded in popularity when it became widely available at supermarkets and Japanese restaurants. Today, Japanese curry rice is considered by many to be a national dish of Japan. It’s available throughout the country and commonly served over rice, over udon, and in savory Japanese pastries. A Japanese curry meal typically consists of curry sauce, r...
32. Udon
Along with ramen and soba, udon is one of the most popular noodle varieties in Japan. It refers to a type of thick chewy Japanese noodle made with wheat flour. It’s typically served hot in winter or chilled in summer and can be topped with ingredients like thinly chopped scallions, tempura, abura-age, and kamaboko (fish cakes). Like ramen, the type of udon broth and toppings vary from region to region in Japan. Eastern udon tends to be darker brown in color while western udon is lighter. The...
33. Soba
Soba refers to thin noodles made from buckwheat flour. They can be served cold with a dipping sauce called tsuyu, or in a hot broth as noodle soup. Chilled soba noodles are often served on a bamboo tray (zaru) with a tsuyu of dashi, mirin, sweetened soy sauce, wasabi, scallion, and sesame seeds. To eat, you dip the buckwheat flour noodles into the tsuyu before slurping the noodles. Eating them chilled is said to be the best way of appreciating soba noodles. Allowing them to soak in a hot soup...
34. Champon
Like kakuni manju, champon is a Japanese-Chinese dish from Nagasaki. It’s a noodle soup dish made by frying pork, seafood, and vegetables with lard, then adding a soup made with chicken and pig bones. Champon ramen noodles are then added to the mix before boiling. Champon was first served in Nagasaki by Chinese restaurant Shikairo. According to the restaurant, it was based on a dish in Fujian cuisine called tonniishiimen. It was created during the Meiji period to provide a cheap, filling meal...
To be honest, I didn’t really know where to put these dishes. They aren’t predominantly meat or seafood dishes but I couldn’t categorize them as vegetarian either so I decided to create this section of mixed ingredient Japanese dishes.
41. Matcha
Matcha is an important part of Japanese culture. It refers to a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves. Traditionally, matcha is mixed with hot water to make tea. It’s the central component in Japanese tea ceremonieswhich revolve around the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha as hot tea. The Japanese drink it often as it’s touted to have many health benefits. Pictured below is a cup of matcha with wagashi from an informal tea ceremony I enjoyed in Kana...
42. Mochi
Mochi is one of the most well-known Japanese sweets. It refers to a popular Japanese rice cake made from mochigome, a glutinous short-grain rice. The rice is pounded into a paste before being molded into the desired shape. Mochi can be enjoyed year-round in Japan though it’s traditionally eaten to usher in the Japanese New Year. It’s often eaten on its own but it can also be used as an ingredient in many products like confections and ice cream. Apart from attracting good fortune, it’s believe...
43. Hokkaido Dairy
Hokkaido is the biggest prefecture in Japan and home to a massive dairy industry. They produce about half of the country’s milk and 90% of its cheese. Dairy from Hokkaido is more expensive than dairy from other prefectures because of its reputation for quality and freshness. It’s so highly regarded that you’ll often find labels on packages proudly showing they were made with Hokkaido dairy. This is true even outside of Japan. Many dessert and pastry shops in Asia will often create and highlig...
No one knows Japanese food better than a local, so what better way to experience Japanese cuisine than by going on a food tour? A knowledgeable local will take you to the city’s best spots and markets and explain every dish to you in more detail. We’ve gone on food tours in Tokyo and Kyoto and enjoyed them both very much. If you’re visiting Japan, ...
Aside from food tours, we enjoy taking cooking classes when we travel. For me, it’s one of the best ways to learn about the local cuisine because you get to see the different ingredients and methods that go into making it. As described, I took a cooking class in Tokyo where I learned to make Japanese dishes like tempura, udon, and tamagoyaki. Befor...
We’ve been to Japan many times but I feel like we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of Japanese cuisine. We’ve visited less than half of the 47 prefectures in Japan so this Japanese food guide still has a long way to go. As described, it’s a labor of love that I’ll be expanding and refining after every trip to Japan. We enjoy the food in Jap...
- Ninja Akasaka. Ninja Akasaka isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a ninja-themed entertainment and dining experience you’ll never forget! As soon as you enter Ninja Akasaka, with its labyrinthine stone hallways, waterfalls, and sound effects, you’ll be transported back to an Edo-era ninja village.
- Shunsai Tempura Arima. Tempura is one of the dishes you must try while in Japan, and this eatery in downtown Kyoto is a great place to give it a taste.
- Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511. Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Another dish you must eat while you’re in Japan is Kobe beef, and there is no better place to try it than Kobe Beef Kaiseki 511.
- Den. Den is one of the top-rated restaurants in Tokyo, if not the world. Go in with high expectations, and expect them to be surpassed! This Michelin starred restaurant is owned by Zaiyu Hasegawa.
- Osaka. Osaka, commonly known as “the kitchen of the nation,” is one of the most famous cities in Japan for culinary delights. When people think of Osakan food, heavy, flour-based foods such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki are typically what come to mind.
- Tokyo. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is another gourmet city that cannot be missed. High-quality restaurants from all over Japan and the world have gathered in Tokyo, delighting the palates of many foodies.
- Kyoto. Kyoto, with its long history and culture-rich atmosphere, is known for its exceptionally high level of cuisine. Japanese kaiseki cuisine is served in Kyoto’s high-class Japanese restaurants, and ryotei (traditional Japanese-style restaurants) is often beautifully presented to the extent that one would hate to ruin it by taking a bite.
- Sapporo. Sapporo, one of the major cities in Hokkaido, is a cold city, and as such, it is home to many dishes that warm the body. Sapporo Ramen, a combination of the richness of miso and butter, and spicy soups are sure to whet your appetite.
Karaage: Japan’s mouthwatering take on fried chicken. Katsuobushi: Some travelers resist the ubiquitous bonito fish flakes, but those who love them do so with a passion. They’re served on top of a variety of foods, including tofu and takoyaki. Kushi-katsu: Deep-fried skewered meats and vegetables.
Jun 12, 2020 · By Paulina. Published: June 12, 2020 - Last updated: February 2, 2023. A foodie guide on the best food to eat in Spain, and about the best dishes to try in Spain. From Catalonia’s beloved paella to Seville’s iconic tapas, Spain is a foodie paradise!
Jun 4, 2021 · Posted on June 4, 2021 by Wanderlust Crew. 04. Jun. Japan is full of culture, fun, and flavor! Blending many influences from the east and west along with ancient traditions, Japanese food is some of the tastiest in the world. This list will walk you through the best Japanese food in the country!
