Japan is a lovely place, which is why it’s no surprise that they get countless visitors from other countries. If you are planning to visit the country anytime soon, you should think about which food you should try. Others will right away think about sushi and ramen and yes, they are definitely a must-try! However, there is a lot of Japanese food that is as delicious. Check out our list of must-try Japanese food when in Japan!
Table of Contents
#1 Sashimi / Sushi
Of course, the first in our list is the ever famous pair – sashimi and sushi. Sashimi is a renowned food in Japan that is raw seafood served with wasabi, a spicy condiment. Usually, it comes with radish slices on the side.
Meanwhile, sushi is a globally famous dish that is made of rice seasoned with rice vinegar mix as well as other ingredients, such as norie, vegetables, and fish.
#2 Kare Raisu
Kare Raisu may be a simple dish but it is really flavorful and can be found almost anywhere in Japan. It is famous among kids since even though it is rice with curry, the flavors are different from the original, which is from India.
To create Japanese curry, different vegetables and meat are used. The commonly used are beef, pork, chicken, and in some cases, duck. For the vegetables, potatoes, carrots, and onions are used.
#3 Ramen
Another Japanese dish that is famous around the world is Ramen. It is made of wheat noodles combined with miso soup or soy sauce along with other ingredients. The most common toppings are seaweed and egg, green onions, and pork slices. However, the highlight of Ramen is the soup, which is different depending on the restaurant.
#4 Shabu Shabu
Shabu Shabu is a Japanese dish made of a stew, which can either be shrimp, chicken, pork, or beef; vegetables, which can be moyashi, chives, garlic, chard, shinkiku, watercress, etc.; mushrooms, such as shimeji and shiitake; and other ingredients, like kamaboku, konnyaku, and udon.
#5 Tempura
Tempura is considered more of a type of snack rather than an actual dish. It is made from vegetables and seafood that are battered and deep-fried. It is seasoned with sugar, ginger, and soy sauce.
The recommended size of tempura should be that the person eating it can eat it in a single bite. It is served with Tetsuyu sauce, which is a combination of spices, radish, ginger, soy sauce, sweet sake, and consomme.
#6 Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki means “grilled as you like it” and is the Japanese version of a pancake. It is savory and is made of egg, yam, and flour. You can add any ingredients you like, but the most commons are cheese, mochi, squid, vegetables, beef, shrimp, and green onion.
#7 Miso Soup
Miso Soup is a favorite side dish of many Japanese people. It comes from the word, “missoshiru,” which means “fermented soy broth.” It consists of two words “misso,” meaning “fermented soy” and “shiru,” meaning broth.
Usually, this soup is prepared with chives, tofu, hondashi, and soy. Sometimes, vegetables are included as well. It is served prior to the main course in most meals.
#8 Udon
Udon is a kind of thick noodle that is made from flour. It is a popular Japanese dish that is commonly served as a soup. It is made with a hot broth that is based on mirin, shoyu, and dashi.
The broth flavor and the added ingredients depend on various regions. A dark brown broth that consists of a stronger shoyu is popular in Tokyo and northern Japanese regions. Meanwhile, a light brown broth that is made of a lighter shoyu is famous in Osaka and southern regions.
#9 Onigiri
Onigiri, also known as omusubi or nigiri, is a type of Japanese rice ball. Typically, it is oval-shaped or triangle-shaped and wrapped in nori leaves. It is the most famous snack in the country and may have various types of fillings. The common ones are umeboshi, fried salmon, or katsuobushi, but any salty ingredient may be used.
These are the top 9 Japanese food you must try when in Japan. Of course, there are still a lot of dishes that Japan can offer. If it’s your first time visiting the country, then it’s strongly recommended that you try these first! If you would like to upgrade your kitchen, Check the Electric smoker and Grills here,Good luck!
