What to Eat in Japan: The Best Japanese Foods to Try
One of the highlights on a solo trip to Japan is having the opportunity to try a variety of foods from the delectable cuisine.
Throughout Japan, there are endless spots to stop at. Wander down the maze-like streets of the Dotonbori district in Osaka, which are bursting with street food vendors serving takoyaki, ramen, and more.
Grab a seat at a restaurant counter and indulge in a hot bowl of ramen. Taste the crispy fried batter of tempura. In Kyoto, sip on a cup of sencha tea, with fresh leaves grown and picked from the neighboring city of Uji.
If you’re looking for a guide to the various traditional dishes in Japan, keep reading below to see our list of the must-try foods in the country.
Top 10 Food and Drink Dishes to Try in Japan
The first item that might come to mind when you think of Japanese food is sushi. While sushi does make up a big portion of the Japanese diet, there are a multitude of tasty everyday items from the Japanese cuisine.
Many of these Japanese dishes are available outside of the country, especially in cities with a diverse selection of international cuisines. However, trying these items while in the country itself adds a layer to the cultural experience.
Tempura
Tempura is a fried dish where individual pieces of seafood and vegetables are coated in a batter and fried until it is crisp. The batter is quite delicate and light, creating a wonderful texture. It is served alongside a savory dipping sauce.
Shrimp (ebi) is the most widely served type of tempura, which you’ll find at most restaurants. Other popular types of tempura include sweet potato, pumpkin, and eggplant.
A tempura dish can be enjoyed on it’s own, or it can be served as part of a meal called tendon (short for tempura donburi). This consists of a bowl of steamed rice topped with tempura; it’s an affordable everyday meal in Japan.
Sushi
Sushi in Japan is about precision and craftsmanship. Sushi chefs take pride in creating a delicate dish with the perfect cut of fish. Sushi typically consist of seasoned vinegar rice with a selection of raw fish placed on top.
In Japan, the most popular fish used for sushi is tuna, followed by salmon. Sushi is most commonly served as nigiri, which is a slice of fresh fish on top of hand-pressed rice. This is followed by maki sushi which are rolls consisting of a simple ingredient wrapped with rice and seaweed.
Across Japan, you’ll find everything from intimate high-end establishments to casual sushi bars, to larger chains serving sushi via with conveyer belts.
For an immersive cultural activity, try your hand at a Japanese sushi-making class.
Takoyaki
Originating from Osaka, takoyaki is the city’s most famous street food. Beloved in Japan as a tasty savory snack, these round fried balls of batter have a filling of tender pieces of octopus.
The batter also often includes small amounts of green onion, pickled ginger, and tempura scraps. They are cooked in a special molded pan, which gives them the adorable round shape. They are then topped with takoyaki sauce, lightly drizzled Japanese mayo, flaked seaweed and bonito flakes.
Japanese Soufflé Pancakes
These fluffy pancakes are made by incorporating classic soufflé techniques. Egg whites are whipped into a meringue that is delicately folded into the batter. This creates a tall pancake with a soft, airy texture. As soon as you take a bite, they melt in your mouth.
They can be consumed as-is or are often topped with fresh fruit, whipped cream, or powdered sugar. These are popular as a sweet dessert, or as a breakfast item.
These pancakes have taken off in Tokyo, which is where you’ll find the largest concentration of cafes and restaurants that serve them. Two top cafes to consider for Japanese pancakes are Flipper’s Gram and A Happy Pancake.
Udon
Udon is a thick, chewy noodle made from wheat flour. The noodles are served in a savory broth and topped with ingredients such as green onions (kake udon), tempura (tempura udon), sliced beef (niku udon), or fried tofu (kitsune udon).
The broth is a simple dashi based broth, which is a combination of kombu (kelp) and bonito flakes, and seasoned with soy sauce.
Udon is a wonderful choice for a meal that is light and comforting. The hot broth is simple but flavorful.
Yakitori
Yakitori is a Japanese street food dish made from bite sized pieces of chicken that are skewed on a stick and grilled.
The skewers are cooked on charcoal which gives it a smoky aroma. As you bite into it, taste the juicy and tender meat that is often brushed with a sweet soy glaze or seasoned with salt.
Yakitori plays a role as a social food in Japan’s evening food scene. This casual food item can be found at street vendors and izakaya pubs all across Japan, especially in lively nighttime districts. Stand-alone yakitori shops are often quite small but offer a wide variety in terms of cuts of chicken.
If you’re interested in a guided experience, try a Street Food Tour.
Matcha
A cultural symbol of Japan, matcha is a finely ground green tea powder. With a vibrant green color and a slightly earthy taste, matcha has played a big role in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The matcha is whisked with hot water to make a drink that is enjoyed in the quiet.
Today, matcha is enjoyed in more modern forms, including matcha lattes, as well as in desserts like matcha ice cream and cakes.
In Kyoto and Tokyo, a popular activity to book is a tea ceremony experience which are often held in historic tea houses.
A tea master guides you through the graceful tradition of preparing, serving, and drinking matcha in a peaceful atmosphere. It’s are a wonderful cultural experience for solo travelers, where you can slow down and appreciate the art of matcha.
Ramen
This beloved Japanese comfort food is a steaming bowl of noodles served in a rich broth with a variety of toppings such as sliced pork, soft-boiled egg, and green onions.
There are 4 main types of broth: tonkotsu which is a creamy pork bone broth, shoyu which is flavoured with soy sauce, shio, which is flavoured with salt, and miso. A bowl of ramen is incredibly rich and flavorful, and especially satisfying when it’s cold out, or after a long day of solo exploration.
Ramen is one of Japan’s most beloved dishes and is a must-try for anyone visiting the country. It can be found all across the country, from late-night ramen bars to local neighborhood shops to tiny counters in train stations.
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake made from a batter of flour, eggs, and finely shredded cabbage. It often includes other add-ins such as pork belly, shrimp, squid, and green onion. Okonomiyaki means “grilled as you like it”, so it is quite customizable where you can have your choice of ingredients.
Once the ingredients are mixed together, the batter is cooked on a hot griddle. It is then topped with okonomiyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, seaweed flakes, and bonito flakes.
The best place to try okonomiyaki is Osaka, which is the birthplace of the dish, in addition to being the street food capital of Japan.
Taiyaki
Taiyaki is a popular Japanese street snack shaped like a fish. It consists of a sweet filling in the center, wrapped around a light batter that is cooked until the shell is crisp and golden. It is cooked in an iron mold in the shape of a small fish.
Anko, or sweet red bean paste, is the traditional filling and the most common one you’ll find. However, other fillings offered these days include sweet potato, matcha, and custard.
Taiyaki can be found at various street vendors across Japan. It’s a great treat to grab while on the go. It is typically made fresh and served hot, slightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
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