My Favourite Japanese Foods
Japan, a land of rich cultural heritage and culinary tradition, offers a plethora of delicious and unique foods. From sushi to ramen, Japanese cuisine has captivated the taste buds of people around the globe. There are many to choose from but here, are my favourite Japanese foods, in no particular order.
Sushi
Sushi is perhaps the best-known Japanese dish worldwide, consisting of vinegared rice accompanied by various ingredients, primarily raw fish. There are several types of sushi, including nigiri (hand-pressed sushi), maki (rolled sushi), and chirashi (scattered sushi), often enjoyed with soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.
Personally, I am not as adventurous as my Japanese wife when it comes to sushi, tending to stick to salmon, tuna, horse mackerel and other basic fish, but for me the experience of visiting our favourite conveyor belt sushi restaurant, Hamazushi, is what makes it one of my favourite foods.
The older style conveyor belt sushi restaurants are transforming into “straight lane stores” where diners order their sushi from a tablet and it arrives directly to their table via a conveyor system. This ensures the safety of the food you consume, having no chance of other people interfering with it. Hamazushi is one of these “straight lane” type stores.
You get a lot for your money at these types of sushi restaurants and the quality is always pretty good! The variety of items and the speed at which they arrive makes it a great option for eating out.
Ramen
Ramen is a popular noodle soup dish consisting of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a rich and savoury broth. There are various types of ramen based on the broth: shoyu (soy sauce), miso (fermented soybean paste), tonkotsu (pork bone), and shio (salt). Toppings for ramen often include sliced pork, boiled egg, green onions, and seaweed.
There are many Ramen places in Tokyo, both in the city centres and locally in the residential neighbourhoods. Ramen chefs pride themselves on their broth and I am yet to taste a bad ramen.
Most Ramen restaurants have a ticket machine ordering system, which makes things super easy. Simply put your money in the machine, select which ramen you want and hand the ticket to the chef.
My personal favourite style of ramen is Tsukemen, where the noodles are served separately to the broth or soup. You take the noodles, dip them in the soup and slurp away!
Udon
Udon are thick and chewy wheat noodles, often served in a hot broth or cold with a dipping sauce. Common udon dishes include kitsune udon (with fried tofu), tempura udon (with tempura), and nabeyaki udon (cooked in a hot pot with various ingredients). The simplicity and heartiness of udon make it a beloved comfort food in Japan.
I go through phases of preferring Udon or Ramen, so at any one time it could be either. Bottom line though, I love both Udon and Ramen!
Tempura
Tempura features seafood or vegetables that are lightly battered and deep-fried to perfection, well known for its delicate and crispy texture.
Common tempura ingredients include shrimp, squid, sweet potato, pumpkin, and bell pepper. Tempura is typically served with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, mirin, and dashi.
Tempura is a popular side dish addition to Udon.
Yakitori
Yakitori refers to skewered and grilled chicken, seasoned with either salt or a sweet soy sauce-based glaze. Different parts of the chicken, such as thigh, breast, liver, and skin, are used to create a variety of yakitori options. This dish is often enjoyed as a snack or appetiser and pairs well with beer or sake.
Yakitori restaurants often operate as Yakitori Izakaya (Japanese style casual bar/pub) and one of our favourite spots is our local Yakitori Izakaya, which serves excellent Japanese beer and sake. Yakitori and alcohol, a perfect partnership.
Yakiniku
Yaki meaning cooked with direct heat and niku meaning meat, typically beef, yakiniku is Japans answer to indoor Korean barbecue.
Most yakiniku places have tables where the diners can grill their own meat, with the meat being delivered to the table raw, with various marinates and seasonings.
Yakiniku is another Japanese food which pairs exceptionally well with beer, and so similarly to yakitori, many places operate as a yakiniku izakaya.
Gyudon
Gyudon is Japans answer to fast-food. Simmered beef and onions in sweet savoury sauce served over rice, often accompanied by miso soup in a set meal.
Affordable and ready to serve, gyudon is a go-to for workers and anyone who requires speedy service, a hot meal and a table to eat it at, without spending too much money.
Most gyudon restaurants will have a ticket machine, similar to ramen places and the food will already be prepared. They simply take your ticket, and serve within moments.
It’s delicious, warming and filling for less than ¥1000
Onigiri
Onigiri, or rice balls, are simple yet versatile snacks made from white rice and typically wrapped in nori (seaweed). They can be filled with various ingredients such as salted salmon, pickled plum, and tuna mayonnaise.
Onigiri are perfect for a quick and portable meal, available at convenience stores and bento shops across Japan.
I include onigiri not only because they are delicious but also for how convenient they are. Many Japanese people and foreigners alike will pick up an onigiri at the convenience store, almost without thinking. They are simply such a perfect go-to option for a quick but filling snack.
Originally created to serve as sustenance for travelling Samurai and pilgrims to take with them “on the road”, onigiri continue to serve the same purpose to this day.
Japanese Food In The Home
So far I have only mentioned restaurant and convenience store food, so now I will take a moment to mention some of the dishes we typically prepare and consume in the home.
Somen are very thin wheat noodles which are typically served with a light dipping sauce. During the summer months we like to cook and then chill the somen with ice for a refreshing meal that also helps to keep the body cool.
Japanese Curry is quite different to Indian and Bangladesh style curries that many people back in the UK will be very familiar with. Typically prepared by using a roux block and some veg, served with rice and sometimes meat. It is a very popular dish in the home, most supermarkets will have a large amount of shelf space dedicated to various Japanese curry roux blocks, making it a really simple yet hearty dish.
Nabe is a Japanese style hotpot that is often consumed in the home during colder months. Similarly to the Japanese curry roux blocks, many different nabe broths and soups are available at the supermarket. We have a table-top nabe pot, so it’s easy to just throw in the veg, pour over the soup and finally by adding thinly sliced meats (which cook in seconds), complete the dish in no time at all and with very little effort.
Japanese Breakfast can include many small dishes, but essentially it’s fish, rice and miso soup. We often like to make “Japanese Breakfast” as a lunch or evening meal, as we don’t tend to have time to eat together in the mornings. So we tend to add things like tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), mozuku and pickled vegetables.
Japanese cuisine is a harmonious blend of flavors, textures, and presentation, reflecting the country’s deep respect for nature and tradition. Whether enjoyed at a fine dining restaurant, a humble street stall, or even in the home, Japanese foods offer a delightful and unforgettable culinary experience.
Thank you for reading!
