Japan cuisine is enjoyed all around the world, but there is much more to Japanese food than just sushi or ramen noodles.
If you are wondering what exciting foods to eat on your next trip to Japan, then look no further – we have created the ultimate foodie guide to the best traditional Japanese foods you must try.
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Please note this Japanese food guide originally appeared on our other site – cktravels.com in December 2020. This is an updated version for 2024.
What to eat in Japan – Best Japanese food
1. Udon (thick noodle)
Udon is a type of thick white noodle traditionally made from wheat flour and very popular in Japanese cuisine.
Udon noodles can be found in specialty restaurants (Udon-Ya) all over Japan and are served either hot or cold, and with or without soup.
The noodles are usually garnished with vegetables, egg, meat, tempura or grilled mochi rice cakes.
2. Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a classic Japanese comfort food dish that originates from both Osaka and Hiroshima. Literally meaning ‘grilled as you like it’, this savoury pancake is made by cooking batter mixed together with sliced cabbage on a big teppanyaki hot plate.
Other savoury ingredients such as pork, tofu or seafood are usually included in the mixture, and toppings normally include bonito flakes, dried seaweed, mayonnaise and a Worcester-style sauce. The Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki also includes a layer of fried Soba noodles.
You can find okonomiyaki all over Japan in restaurants that specialise in the dish, and in some places diners can grill the dish themselves on a hotplate that is built into the table.
Check out this Okonomiyaki-cooking experience in Hiroshima >
3. Takoyaki (octopus balls)
Takoyaki or ‘octopus balls’ are a very popular and iconic Japanese street food dish that was first popularised in Osaka.
These dough balls are made from a batter mixture that is poured into a special hot plate made with rows of half-circle moulds.
Bite-size pieces of ‘tako’ octopus meat are placed into the centre of the mix, and the slightly cooked batter is then turned over again and again with a pick or skewer to create a perfect ball-shaped snack (watching the vendor cook the balls by skilfully flipping them over is almost as fun as eating them!).
The takoyaki balls are usually served in a similar way to okonomiyaki and brushed with a sweet/savoury takoyaki sauce and topped with mayonnaise, dried seaweed and bonito fish flakes.
Check out this Osaka Dotonbori Food Tour >
4. Ramen
Ramen is one of the most beloved dishes in Japan that is available all around the world, and is a cheap and filling meal found on almost every street corner.
This noodle soup is made with wheat noodles served in a broth (the most popular soup flavours being miso, tonkotsu pork bone or shoyu) with toppings such as sliced pork, vegetables, nori seaweed, spring onions, bamboo shoots and a boiled egg.
Japanese ramen is so popular that there is even a ramen themed museum in Yokohama!
You might like – Design your own instant cup noodle pot at the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama >
5. Yakisoba
Yakisoba is a wok fried Japanese noodle dish that is packed with flavour and made by stir-frying together Chinese noodles, sliced cabbage, pork, carrot, bean sprouts and other vegetables, then garnished with red pickled ginger, bonito flakes and dried seaweed.
Yakisoba-pan is also popular and is a brioche hot dog bun stuffed with yakisoba noodles!! This can be found in many convenience stores across Japan.
6. Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu is a popular ‘western-style’ food and are juicy breaded deep-fried pork cutlets.
They are often enjoyed as part of a bento boxed lunch, served with a shredded cabbage salad and rice, as part of a Japanese curry or on top of a bowl of cooked rice (katsudon).
You might like – Matsunoya Tonkatsu: Japan’s Cheap Tonkatsu Chain Restaurant >
7. Yakitori (skewered meat)
Yakitori are small skewers of charcoal grilled meat and are the perfect snack accompaniment to beer!
The meat used is normally chicken, which has been seasoned with salt or a tare sauce (a sweet soy sauce-based glaze).
Most parts of the chicken are used for these skewers with the most common varieties being momo (chicken thigh), negima (chicken thigh and leek), tsukune (minced chicken balls), torikawa (fatty chicken skin) or reba (chicken livers). You can also order vegetable and seafood yakitori as well.
You will normally find yakitori in at an izakaya (a Japanese pub), and the best place to sit is up at the bar where you can watch the chefs at work. They are usually eaten in an informal atmosphere by business men on the way home from work or by young people in the late hours.
8. Tempura
Tempura is a crunchy, light and fluffy snack made from prawns, seafood, tofu, vegetables and other ingredients that have been dipped in a flour and egg batter and deep fried in sesame oil.
Tempura can be eaten by itself with a small dish of tsuyu for dipping, or as a meal with a bowl of rice or served as a garnish in a bowl of udon noodle soup.
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9. Japanese Curry
Curry was originally introduced to the Japanese by the British between 1869 and 1912, and the dish found today in Japan is a yellow-brown sauce that is sweet in flavour and thick in texture.
Known as Kare Raisu, the curry is usually served with sticky rice, tonkatsu (a deep fried breaded pork cutlet) and pickled vegetables.
Curry House CoCo Ichibanya is a famous and popular chain restaurant found all over Japan (and even London) that sells affordable and customizable Japanese curry. Read more about Coco Ichibanya in our guide >
10. Donburi
The donburi is a ‘rice-bowl dish’ and is the quintessential Japanese comfort meal. It is made by serving ingredients over steamed rice in large bowls.
Popular toppings include raw seafood, breaded pork cutlets, fried sliced beef, omelette, tempura and grilled eel.
Check out this Donburi Cooking Class in Kyoto >
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11. Soba
Soba noodles are one of the three main varieties of noodle that are popular in Japan (the others being ramen and udon).
Soba are grey/brown long thin noodles made from buckwheat, with an earthy and nutty flavour, that can be eaten either hot or cold. You will usually find them served in hot broths, or at room temperature with a soy based dipping sauce (tsuyu).
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12. Gyūdon
Gyūdon is a tasty dish found in many Japanese fast food restaurants and are a popular lunchtime meal.
It consists of a bowl of rice layered with sliced beef and onions that have been cooked in a lightly sweet sauce made from dashi, soy sauce and mirin. It is sometimes topped with a raw or soft poached egg.
13. Sushi
This is possibly the most famous and iconic of all the Japanese dishes! Sushi is essentially rice that has been seasoned lightly with vinegar, and served with raw fish such as salmon or tuna.
Common varieties include makizushi (sushi rolled up in nori seaweed and filled with various ingredients), and nigiri (a small mound of sushi rice with a thin slice of raw fish draped over the top).
Sushi can also be served without raw fish and popular fillings include cucumber, avocado, vegetables, omelette. eel, green onions or fermented soybean.
Sushi is eaten using chopsticks and are dipped into a small bowl of soy sauce or wasabi (a spicy Japanese condiment). No trip to Japan would be complete without eating sushi at a conveyor belt restaurant which can be found all across the country!
Check out this Afternoon Sushi Cooking Class in Tokyo >
You might like – Guide to Kura Sushi conveyor belt restaurants in Japan >
14. Sashimi
Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy made of expertly cut thin slices of very fresh raw fish such as salmon, tuna, yellowtail or squid, and served with soy sauce and wasabi.
It is usually sold in sushi restaurants but is not technically classed as sushi as they are not served with vinegared rice.
You might like – Tsukiji Outer Fish Market in Tokyo Guide + Photos >
15. Onigiri
The onigiri is a very famous and cheap snack, usually found in Japanese convenience stores costing around 100-150 yen.
They are triangular shaped lightly salted boiled rice balls with a filling in the centre, wrapped in a sheet of nori dried seaweed. Popular fillings include salmon, Japanese pickled plum, teriyaki chicken, seaweed or canned tuna.
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16. Gyoza
Gyoza are traditional Chinese dumplings that are filled with savoury ingredients and wrapped in a thin dough, which are either boiled, steamed or fried to cook.
Popular fillings include minced pork, cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, tofu or vegetables, and they are served with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli oil and vinegar.
Gyozas can be found almost everywhere – find them at convenience stores, street food stalls and restaurants.
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17. Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken)
Karaage are bite-size chicken thigh pieces that have been marinaded with soy sauce, sake, ginger and garlic, then dusted lightly with flour and quickly deep-fried in hot oil.
The result is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside fried chicken which can be served with some Japanese mayonnaise or with a bowl of steamed rice.
You might like – Cult of Lawson’s Fried Chicken Kara-age Kun Nuggets in Japan >
18. Edamame
If you are wondering what to eat in Japan that is cheap and heathy then edamame is the perfect snack food!
These are young green soybeans that are served in the pod after being blanched and lightly salted.
You will find many Japanese people ordering edamame with their drinks in traditional izakaya pubs, and we saw many businessmen enjoying eating them on the bullet trains in Japan.
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19. Shabu Shabu (Japanese hot pot)
Shabu Shabu is a fun way for families and groups to eat together. Ingredients such as thin slices of marbled meat and vegetables are quickly cooked by being dipped into a traditional Japanese hot pot of simmering broth using chopsticks.
The broth is only for cooking and the ingredients are then removed and dipped into either a ponzu or sesame based sauce before eating.
20. Miso Soup
Miso soup is a famous traditional Japanese soup made from a combination of dashi stock and miso paste. Popular toppings include soft cubes of tofu, wakame seaweed and green onions.
A bowl of miso soup will often be included as an accompaniment to Japanese-style set meals in Japan.
You might like – Osaka Food Tour (13 Delicious Dishes at 5 Local Eateries) >
21. Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables)
Kushikatsu is famous all over Japan but it is said to have originated in Osaka’s Shinsekai neighbourhood.
Kushikatsu is deep-fried breadcrumbed (panko) meat, fish and vegetables that are served on skewers with a dipping sauce.
Read more about kushikatsu in our guide >
22. Wagyu
Wagyu is a breed of cattle that is native to Japan, and wagyu beef has a reputation for being some of the best quality meat in the world (and also the most expensive).
It has a fatty marbled texture that melts in the mouth. Every cut of beef is graded by the Japanese Beef Association with A5 being the best.
You might like – Shinjuku Izakaya Food Tour >
23. Omuraisu / Omurice (Omelette Rice)
Omuraisu (or omurice) is the shortened name for omelette rice and is a popular Japanese food with children!
This is a famous dish that consists of a chicken and ketchup fried rice wrapped in a thin egg omelette. The word ‘omu’ in Japanese means ‘to wrap’ and ‘raisu’ means ‘rice’.
The dish is normally garnished with a demi-glace sauce or Japanese curry.
24. Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)
Oyakodon is a classic comfort food and Japanese rice bowl dish.
Chicken, spring onions, and eggs are simmered in a dashi broth with traditional Japanese seasonings, and then served on top of a bowl of rice.
You might like – Sushi Making Experience in Asakusa, Tokyo >
25. Tamagoyaki (Japanese egg omelette)
Tamagoyaki (which means ‘cooked egg’) is a sweet and savory Japanese omelette that has been seasoned with mirin and soy sauce, and has several rolled layers of beaten eggs.
You can find Tamagoyaki in many Japanese bento boxes or as a nigiri sushi topping.
26. Sukiyaki (Japanese hot pot)
Sukiyaki is a Japanese hot pot dish consisting of a sweet broth (normally made from soy sauce, sake and sugar) and adding in thinly sliced beef, vegetables, tofu, and noodles.
A raw egg is usually served alongside the hot pot. You need to whisk the egg up with your chopstick and it then can be used as a dip for the beef to add flavour.
27. Sapporo Soup Curry
A famous local Japanese food in Hokkaido, the Sapporo soup curry is a combination of a soup and a traditional Indian curry with multiple spices including turmeric, cumin, coriander and cardamom.
Ingredients usually include meats such as chicken, beef or lamb chops, plus chunky vegetables such as broccoli, pumpkin, eggplant and okra.
28. Unagi (eel)
Unagi is a delicacy in Japan and can be prepared in a variety of ways such as grilling over charcoal or broiling.
It is normally glazed with a sweet soy sauce-based ‘tare’ sauce and served with rice, on a skewer or as a nigiri sushi topping.
29. Shogayaki (Ginger Pork)
Shogayaki is a thinly sliced pork stir fried dish with an aromatic ginger flavour.
It is popular in Japanese Izakaya restaurants and normally served as part of a set meal with rice and miso soup.
30. Chanko Nabe (Sumo Wrestler Stew)
Chanko nabe is a traditional Japanese food that is famously eaten by sumo wrestlers! It is a heavy / rich stew consisting of fish, meat, tofu, vegetables and rice.
Based on our experiences at the Ryogoku sumo wrestling tournament in Tokyo, it is also VERY smelly so just follow your nose to find it.
There are several chanko nabe restaurants in and around the Ryogoku sumo neighbourhood in Tokyo, including Tomoegata Chanko, Sumo Chaya Terao and Ami Ryōgoku.
Read more about sumo wrestling activities in our Tokyo sumo wrestling guide >
31. Takoraisu (Okinawan Taco Rice)
Taco Rice is a very popular Japanese food that hails from Okinawa and is a fusion of a Japan donburi bowl and Tex-Mex tacos.
Seasoned minced beef is served on top of rice (instead of a corn taco), and garnished with cheese, shredded lettuce and tomato salsa.
The dish was created in the 1980s by an Okinawan chef which then became super popular with U.S. soldiers stationed on the island. Nowadays taco rice can be found in many restaurants across Japan.
32. Hambāgu (Japanese Hamburger Steak)
Japanese-style hamburger steak is a very popular Japanese food found in many chain family restaurants.
The hamburger steak is a ground beef patty normally served on a cast iron skillet. It is usually seasoned with a gravy or demi-glace sauce and accompanied with a side of steamed or grilled vegetables, fried egg and rice or potatoes.
33. Oden (Japanese Fish Cake Stew)
Oden is a popular winter comfort Japanese food and is essentially processed fish cakes, fish balls, tofu and vegetables simmered in a light soy-flavoured dashi broth.
Oden pots can be found in many Japanese convenience stores and street food carts.
34. Convenience Store Egg Sandwich
Japanese ‘konbinis’ are famous for many types of food but nothing has quite stirred the imagination for many as much as the simple yet sublime Japanese egg sandwich.
Quite simply, it is the fluffiest white bread you have ever eaten in your life (the crusts are chopped off), with a generous dollop of egg salad, mayonnaise, all mixed in the middle, and oozing out the bready package.
In our opinion, Lawson convenience store does the best egg sandwiches.
Read more in our guide to convenience store egg sandwiches >
35. Kare Pan (Curry Bread)
This delicious savoury snack is a dough bun coated in bread crumbs which is filled with a mildly spicy but sweet Japanese curry sauce.
It is then deep fried until it is crispy on the outside and fluffy inside!
You can find kare pan in bakeries and convenience stores.
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