What are the top 10 most popular foods in Japan?

10 Most Popular Japanese Foods Among Tourists Sushi. Ramen. Tempura. Okonomiyaki. Japanese Curry Rice (Kare - Raisu) Miso Soup. Yakitori. Onigiri. More items... Mar 23, 2023

What is Japan's number 1 food?

There are various kinds of sushi dishes, such as nigirizushi (hand formed sushi), makizushi (rolled sushi) and chirashi (sushi rice topped with raw fish). Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan , and one of the most popular dishes inside Japan, as well.

What 2 foods are served at every meal in Japan?

Japanese cuisine is sublime in its intricacy of flavor, its variety of seasonal dishes, and its surprising health benefits. A typical Japanese meal is based on combining staples; rice or noodles are almost always served with soup, pickles and at least one okazu side dish of fish, meat vegetable or tofu .

What are 2 popular Japanese foods?

Most popular Japanese foods amongst tourists 2.) Ramen. Ramen is another dish that is very popular in Japan. ... 3.) Tempura. Fried food may not always be the best for you, but no one can deny how delicious it can be. ... 4.) Japanese curry. ... 5.) Okonomiyaki. ... 6.) Shabu-shabu/Hotpot. ... 7.) Yakitori. ... 8.) Soba. ... 9.) Yakiniku. More items...

What is Japan's national food?

According to Trends in Japan, curry rice is the national dish of Japan, and it's allegedly eaten once a week. Curry was actually imported from Western cuisine; the British had discovered curry powder in India, then brought it to Japan.

What is Japan's favorite food?

1. Sushi . Sushi is one of the first foods that spring to mind when we think about Japanese cuisine. This delicacy was one of the first Japanese dishes to be exported to the US after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and since then its popularity has steadily increased year after year.

What to eat first in a Japanese buffet?

Eat from light-tasting foods first. This is because it is difficult to appreciate the delicate flavors and seasonings if you start with the more flavorful dishes first. Main dishes should be served later, and warm soup should be served first. Next, eat rice, main dishes, and side dishes in this order.

What is a normal breakfast in Japan?

Typical Japanese Breakfast: At the heart of a typical Japanese breakfast lies a bowl of steamed rice, often accompanied by miso soup . Miso soup, made from fermented soybean paste and dashi (a broth made from dried bonito fish flakes and kelp), is a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine and adds depth and umami to the meal.

What is Japan's national dish?

Curry rice is considered one of Japan's national dishes and loved by Japanese people of all ages. Currently, there are restaurants specializing in Japanese curry outside Japan, for example, the United States and even India, where curry is originally from.

What do Japanese eat for breakfast?

However, certain elements are commonly found in a typical Japanese breakfast. These include steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish, pickles, natto (fermented soybeans), tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), nori (seaweed), and a variety of side dishes such as vegetables, tofu, or salad .

What is Japan famous for?

Japan is a country famous for cherry blossoms, castles, samurai swords , and much more. The island nation has a vibrant history. It is packed with Shrines and religious sites. From technological buffs to history geeks to anime fans, every kind of traveller loves to visit the country.

Top 10 foods to try in Japan (2024)

Unique and beguiling, Japan is a country of binaries. It straddles both the traditional and ultra-modern, with buzzing cities alongside stunning natural landscapes. Its food is famously nutritious, with a diet based around super-fresh, seasonal products. We've picked 10 dishes to seek out when visiting.

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Discover even more foodie getaways, top 10 guides and essential travel info in our travel hub. Plus, check out our top 10 travel destinations for 2022.

From sushi to noodles, check out our Japanese recipes for some culinary inspiration.

Don’t leave Japan without trying…

1. Sushi

Put simply, sushi is raw fish served on rice seasoned lightly with vinegar. It’s in the variety of flavours and textures – like tangy, creamy uni (sea urchin roe) and plump, juicy amaebi (sweet shrimp) – that things get interesting. Despite sushi’s lofty image, it has a humble origin: street food.

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Watch our video on how to make your own sushi.

2. Ramen

Ramen (egg noodles in a salty broth) is Japan’s favourite late-night meal. It’s also the perfect example of an imported dish – in this case from China – that the Japanese have made completely and deliciously their own. There are four major soup styles: tonkotsu (pork bone), miso, soy sauce and salt. f*ckuoka is particularly famous for its rich tonkotsu ramen while pungent miso ramen is a specialty of Hokkaido.

Make your own ramen noodle soup for a comforting yet wholesome supper.

3. Unagi

Unagi is river eel, usually grilled over charcoal and lacquered with a sweet barbecue sauce. According to folklore, unagi is the ideal antidote to the heat and humidity of Japan’s stultifying summers. It’s a delicacy evocative of old Japan and most restaurants that specialise in eel have a wonderfully traditional approach. Fresh, wild-caught unagi is available May through October.

4. Tempura

Light and fluffy tempura is Japan’s contribution to the world of deep-fried foods (though it probably originated with Portuguese traders). The batter-coated seafood and vegetables are traditionally fried in sesame oil and served with either a tiny pool of salt or a dish of soy sauce-flavoured broth spiked with grated radish for dipping. Do not miss out on ebiten (tempura prawns).

Try making your own cauliflower tempura or create our basic tempura batter and make a variety of crunchy snacks.

5. Kaiseki

Part dinner, part work of art, kaiseki is Japan’s haute cuisine. It originated centuries ago alongside the tea ceremony in Kyoto (and Kyoto remains the home of kaiseki). There’s no menu, just a procession of small courses meticulously arranged on exquisite crockery. Only fresh ingredients are used and each dish is designed to evoke the current season.

6. Soba

Soba – long, thin buckwheat noodles – have long been a staple of Japanese cuisine, particularly in the mountainous regions where hardy buckwheat grows better than rice. The noodles are served in either a hot, soy sauce-flavoured broth, or at room temperature on a bamboo mat with broth on the side for dipping. Purists, who bemoan soup-logged noodles, prefer the latter.

Try our chicken soba noodles or for a vegan friendly meal our .

7. Shabu-shabu

Shabu-shabu is the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound of thin slices of beef or pork being swished around with chopsticks in bubbling broth. It’s a decadent dish, with platters of marbled meat brought to the table for diners to cook themselves (it takes only a moment) one mouthful at a time.

8. Okonomiyaki

Literally “grilled as you like,” okonomiyaki is Japanese comfort food at its best, and a clear violation of the typical refined image of Japanese food. It’s a savoury pancake filled with any number of things (but usually cabbage and pork) and topped with fish flakes, dried seaweed, mayonnaise and a Worcester-style sauce. It’s also a lot of fun – at most restaurants, diners grill the dish themselves at a hotplate built into the table.

Try making Japanese okonomiyaki with our recipe packed full of authentic flavours and textures.

9. Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu, breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet, dates to the late 19th century when Japan threw open its doors to Western influence. But never mind the European origin: the ingredients and attention to detail are thoroughly Japanese. Tonkatsu – especially when it’s kurobuta (Berkshire pork) from Kagoshima – is melt-in-your-mouth tender, served with a side of miso soup and a mountain of shredded cabbage.

Try our version of tonkatsu pork with a delicious sauce for a simple Japanese feast.

10. Yakitori

A cold beer and a few skewers of yakitori – charcoal-grilled chicken – is an evening ritual for many of Japan’s weekday warriors. Nearly every part of the chicken is on the menu, all grilled to perfection, seasoned with either shio (salt) or tare (a sweet soy sauce-based glaze) and served with a side of friendly banter.

Make our version of deliciously sticky yakitori chicken with a soy and mirin sauce.

Check out our top 10 foods to try in Tokyo for more delicious Japanese cuisine as well as our ultimate foodie guide to Tokyo.

A fan of Japanese cuisine? Do you agree with our selection, or have we missed your favourite? Share your must-try dishes below…