Top Cuisines to Try in Japan.
- Ondrey
- Jan 17, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 2, 2023
Japan has a lot to offer and nothing tastier than their wide variety of food. Though they don't use a lot of spices they make up for the flavor in their fresh and savory combinations.
When you think of Japanese cuisine the first food to jump to mind is Sushi. Though Japan will not have the colorful crazy black dragon roll. Their simple Sashimi or raw fish and Sushi which is just a piece of raw fish atop a bed of rice will still bring such an exquisite taste that it will blow your western sushi rolls out of the water. Even though fish is a large portion of the Japanese diet there are still plenty other traditional meals the meat lover and vegetarians alike can try.
A must try in food while in Japan is Shabu Shabu. I tried serval restaurants that specialized in this dish and if I had to pick one restaurant Nabezo was by far the best. They were multilingual and took the time to explain how to prepare and eat the food and yes you will want to pay attention. You can order the dish by single serving or do an all you can eat option at most restaurants. I won't lie this dish is expensive, but I recommend it to anyone
visiting Japan to try it at least once. So now that I've made you curious back to the dish itself. First you pick your broth, and you can have more than one, then you pick your meats, I preferred the beef over the pork. Next you have your vegetables. The broth is heated at your table, and you dip in your meats and vegetables until they're cooked. The secret to pulling out the succulent flavor of the meat is dipping it into a beaten raw egg before putting in your mouth. Yes, I was skeptical too at first, but I cannot describe the melt in your mouth flavor it creates and if I could you would be hoping a plane to try it right now.
Another common and well-known food of Japan is Ramen. No this is not your instant .99 cent ramen. If you're looking for something hearty and flavorful ramen is a good way to go. Every region will have different versions using local vegetables and spices. If it turns out, you love it then I'd suggest going to the Ramen Museum in Yokohama (not to be confused the Cup 'O Noodles Museum). There you can try all kinds of variety of ramens from different types of noodles to how spicy you think you can handle.
Okonomiyaki which translates into what you like grilled. There are many versions of the okonomiyaki based on the region of Japan you are in. It's also known at the Japanese pancake often times made with a batter made of flour and egg. The varieties are quite endless. The first picture in the post is of an okonomiyaki with noodles and seafood inside the below picture has more egg cheese and meat so what every type of eating lifestyle you have chosen okonomiyaki is a dish you can try. And in Tokyo you can find a more liquid middle version called Monjayaki.
If you're looking for something simple and inexpensive, then Yakitori is the way to go. Traditionally yakitori means fried chicken on a stick, but it has become a more all-encompassing word for fried food on a stick. My personal favorite is bacon wrapped asparagus and the garlic is always good too, but they have plenty of beef and pork options as well. Just keep in mind they consume more parts of an animal than people from the west so pay attention to what you order if you don't want to try something new like tongue.
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