When it comes to Japanese cuisine our brains automatically think of sushi. However the cuisine is far more diverse and delicious. If you are going to visit Japan anytime soon then you will get a chance to try out the best Japanese food. No matter how many Japanese restaurants you have tried outside Japan, they will never beat the authentic flavors that are served in Japan.
Here are our top picks for the best Japanese food that you must try while you are in the country.
1. Buta-No-Shogayaki (Ginger Infused Pork)
Buta-No-Shogayaki might be the most delicious food you will try in Japan. This is a pork dish that is marinated in ginger flavor along with other condiments. The pork is thinly sliced and then grilled with a dressing of sauce made of mirin, soy sauce, sake (Japanese rice wine), granola oil, sliced onions, and ginger.
This is quite a popular dish in Japan which means you can get it anywhere from fine dining restaurants to grocery stores!
2. Gyudon (Beef and Rice Bowl)
Gyudon is another one of the popular dishes that you must get a taste of. This bowl consists of beef over rice. The beef is thinly sliced, topped with tender onion, featuring a broth as its base, and all of this is served over a bowl of steamed rice.
This is another quick and tasty meal that you can easily find in every corner of Japan.
3. Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki consists of two words, okonomi means “what you like” and yaki means “grilled”. This is a kind of savory Japanese pancake that is grilled nicely to make it crispy and delicious.
The pancake is made with a long list of ingredients such as cheese, soba noodles, green onion, garlic chips, pork, egg, and kimchi. It can either be made with pork or cabbage and it will be topped with fish flakes and dried seaweed.
It’s a rather fun dish that will bring a smile to your face and will certainly make you want it more. You might get a different taste in every okonomiyaki you try in Japan because there are a variety of recipes.
4. Unagi
Even with being exclusive to Japan, this dish might not need an introduction thanks to its reference on the famous TV show Friends.
The dish is made with a river eel which is then marinated with sweet barbecue sauce and then grilled over charcoal. The dish is said to be ideal to consume in monsoon or summer season as it helps to ease the humidity or heat when consumed. The fresh unagi is available through May to October, so it will be the best time to consume the dish!
5. Karaage
There are some deep fried food options in Japan and Karaage is one of them. The dish is kinda like a chicken nugget. These are usually made with chicken meat but at some places you might get its pork version.
The dish is made with chicken that is sliced chicken that is marinated and then coated with thin wheat flour or potato starch layer before deep frying it. It’s quite affordable and delicious, and you can easily get it everywhere in Japan.
6. Miso Soup
Miso Soup is a staple dish of Japan and people have it as a comfort food. It’s a simple yet delicious dish that you can have as a side dish with your breakfast, lunch or dinner. However it is best to consume during winters as it provides a soul hitting warmth.
Miso means fermented soybeans, the dish features a miso paste as the main ingredient. There is one other ingredient added to the dish and it can be customized as per your choices. Typically it is eaten with tofu, however you will get many options such as daikon, shrimp, fish, mushrooms, potatoes, onions, or meat.
7. Onigiri
Onigiri is nothing but the famous rice balls that we Japanese people have in their TV shows or movies. So it is definitely a must try dish.
It is the simplest dish on our list and to our surprise it was quite delicious. These are simple rice balls filled with a variety of ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables, and more. It is then covered with seaweed.
8. Ramen
Asian cuisine might be incomplete without Ramen and Japan is no different. Japan has its own version of Ramen that you must try.
The Ramen is cooked simply and then other ingredients are added. You will find variety of ingredients such as meat, eggs, and vegetables paired with various sauces or paste of miso, dashi, or soy sauce. You will get many varieties of Ramen throughout Japan and you can easily customize the ingredients as per your preferences.
9. Sushi
We are ending our list with the most popular dish of Japanese cuisine, Sushi!
There is no point in describing the dish because you may be already well versed with it. There are endless types of sushi that you can have a different one with for every meal during your stay in Japan. Make sure to try as many types of sushi as you can including some fine dining options as they will do the justice for the price!
Conclusion
So these are some of the most recommended dishes that you must try in Japan. You might be familiar with some while others would be totally new for you, but you will enjoy it all in Japan. Don’t forget to visit the fun themed restaurants to have an unique experience in Japan. That will be all for now and we hope your visit is as delicious as Buta-No-Shogayaki!
