Five MUST try foods in Japan
As I mentioned in my introduction, I love food. I could seriously eat all day long and enjoy every single morsel. Yet, I know this is not feasible nor healthy. After living in Japan and traveling, I find that I don’t always agree with the consensus about the “best” foods in Japan. For starters, I am not at all interested in ramen. I will probably maintain this view until someone introduces me to a ramen that blows my mind. Also, I will try almost any food as long as I am not allergic to it. Last, I prefer quality to quantity. With that said, these are the five foods that are on my “must-try” list when you visit Japan.
1. Red miso, specifically hatchomiso
This miso is most commonly produced and eaten in central Japan. While red miso can be found in other areas, it is often not as rich. The best dishes to try with red miso are misokatsu (fried pork cutlet served with miso sauce) and miso nikomi udon (noodle soup in a miso broth with vegetables and meat).
The most famous shop for misokatsu is Yabaton. It started in Nagoya but has locations around Japan. The taste is much lighter than other small restaurants in Nagoya. If you are unsure about trying red miso, try the lighter version first. Miso nikomi udon can be found in mom-and-pop noodle shops throughout central Japan. Be careful with this dish because it is very hot and tends to splatter. If you are like me, wearing white isn’t an option when eating this dish.
2. Sushi
With sushi, I think everyone should try a variety here. Not only are there regional specialties, but there are also a variety of qualities and price ranges. Kaitensushi, or conveyor belt sushi, shops are the most common and popular. This allows people to try a variety of dishes and customize their experience inexpensively.
I also recommend trying a fine dining experience with sushi. My warning is do not just choose the most exclusive or expensive. This does not mean that the quality or experience will be the best. For fine dining, budget at least $200-300 a person for an omakase course. Some places are slightly cheaper while others can be substantially more. Look for places that allow a good experience in addition to high quality food.
Another option is to visit a fish market and go to a restaurant there. Often you can get superb quality for a fraction of the cost at a restaurant. At Tsukiji Market, I had an omakase course for about $40. The same quality fish in another restaurant would have easily been double or triple the cost for lunch. There are also much cheaper options in the fish markets. You just have to search.
3. Japanese Beef
Before moving to Japan, I did not eat beef for several years. Finally, about a year into living here, I tried domestic beef. It changed my life. The marbling of fat gives it a rich quality that other meats lack. Many people have heard of Kobe beef. Without a doubt it is delicious, but there are many other regions, like Hida and Matsuzaka, that have phenomenal beef as well. The best beef almost melts in your mouth. The most convenient places to enjoy Japanese beef are at yakiniku or teppanyaki restaurants.
4. Yakitori
One of my favorite foods to have with Japanese lagers is yakitori, or grilled chicken skewers. There are so many restaurants that offer yakitori. Yet, I find the best ones are the small local places with chefs who truly care about their ingredients. I probably eat yakitori at least twice a month at a local shop.
My favorite selections are chicken breast (もも-momo), chicken thigh with green onion (ねぎま-negima), chicken hearts (こころ-kokoro), seared chicken (たたき-tataki), chicken breast with plum or wasabi (ささみ-sasami), pork belly (豚バラ-butabara), and a variety of grilled vegetables. The tataki and often the sasami are quite rare. Be sure that you know what you are ordering if you are squeamish. Also, I tend to stay away from both those if a restaurant gives off any bad vibes.
If you visit Japan, make sure you try a variety of yakitori. Prices are usually relatively inexpensive, although some shops seem to cater more to foreign or gourmet palates.
5. Takoyaki
Takoyaki are grilled balls of dough that have octopus, cabbage, and a few other ingredients inside. Traditionally they are topped with mayonnaise, Japanese Worcestershire sauce, green onions, and katsuobushi (bonito flakes). I can’t eat the traditional ones because the sauce contains tomato. I usually order my takoyaki with soy sauce in place of the Worcestershire. In my opinion, it’s even better this way.
The most famous takoyaki shops are in Osaka. There are several in the Dotonbori area. This dish is also almost always available at festival booths as well. The inside is incredibly hot and will scald your mouth so be careful while eating them!
These are my five must try foods in Japan. Of course, there are even more that I can recommend, but these would be the ones that I wouldn’t miss. Let me know if you have tried any of these or have any recommendations that I didn’t mention!
