A premier foodie destination, here is a short guide to the best foods to eat in Japan. Some items listed are found at local street vendors, others are ordered using a vending machine and one item comes down a high-tech conveyor belt. Read on to find out what these tasty foods are made of.
1. Taiyaki
My personal favorite street food is Taiyaki. It is a pancake like batter with different fillings. The most common filling is sweet adzuki bean paste. Other fillings include custard and chocolate. You can find this at many street vendors. The batter is put in a fish shaped pan and comes out hot.
2. Ramen
Unleash your inner Naruto and indulge in ramen of all kinds. Steaming hot goodness with noodles that melt in your mouth and flavorful broth, there are many types of restaurants to choose from. Some restaurants you order from a vending machine and the server brings it to you, while at others you are separated from the people by a curtain to give you privacy. Make sure you slurp when you eat this delectable dish to show signs of respect to the cook.
3. Sushi/ Sashimi (Raw fish)
This is a pretty obvious choice. My favorite sushi is tamago (egg), unagi(eel), and orange roe sushi which is sushi with fish eggs on top. I recommend trying a conveyor belt sushi place which can be found in multiple locations in Tokyo. It is cheap and a fun, innovative way to eat.
4. Onigiri
Simple, cheap, but packed full of flavors. Onigiri can be found at any local 7/11 in Japan. My favorite filling was tuna/mayo, but other popular choices are pickled plum, salted salmon, and konbu seaweed. I prefer my onigiri to have the crisp seaweed outer layer that gives it an extra crunch.
5. Okonomiyaki
Savory pancake dish made with flour, cabbage, and eggs. You can choose if you would like protein in yours and what kind of toppings should be put on it. Usually, they are made on a teppan( griddle) in front of you to keep it hot.
6. Ichigo Daifuku/ Dango/ Mochi
Any kind of mochi is a must. This is a complex ingredient that takes pounding rice over and over to create the chewy consistency. Ichigo daifuku is mochi that has red bean paste in it and a sweet strawberry on top. Dangos are mochi balls that may have a sweet soy glaze over them.
7. Sukiyaki
This is a dish that is cooked at the table. It usually consists of thinly sliced beef, mushrooms, tofu, and a variety of other vegetables. A lot of people will dip this dish in raw egg.
8. Tonkatsu
Crispy pork cutlet that has been deep fried. Need I say more?
9. Takoyaki
Another popular street food, Takoyaki, is a street food composed of balls made from flour, octopus, tempura scraps, green onion, and pickled ginger. The toppings can include takoyaki sauce, mayo, and dried bonito flakes.
10. Gyudon
Beef and onion topped onto a bowl of rice is what this dish consists of. The perfect comfort food. The sauce used is slightly sweet and it is composed of dashi, mirin, and soy sauce. I topped mine with some cheese and Japanese kimchi.
If you are planning a trip to Japan, here is a link to my top things to do in this surreal country.