Particular attention should be paid to food when traveling in Japan. Local dishes and traditions of their preparation are so unusual for us that this part of getting to know the culture of the country definitely needs to be tasted well. We have selected 10 dishes that will reveal the taste preferences of the Japanese and will be of interest to your friends on social networks.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki (Takoyaki) – balls of batter with seafood and a little sauce on top, very soft and melt in your mouth. You can often meet them in the “togo” format and enjoy the taste in the nearby park.
Or dine at the popular takoyaki chain Gindako. Establishments are located in different parts of the city, also in the tourist areas of Shinjuku and Roppongi. The address is ShinjukuTOHOBLDG, 1 Chome 19-1 Kabukicho, Tokyo. Prices from 500 yen.
You can also take part in a gastronomic author’s tour with a Russian-speaking guide who will take you to the best restaurants in the city and arrange a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in a kimono.
Soba
A very popular local dish, served in two ways: hot in broth, but it will be difficult to distinguish from our usual noodles, and cold. It has many useful properties. You will get double pleasure if you order Tempura Soba. Noodles are usually taken with chopsticks and dipped in soy sauce, which is served separately in a small bowl with greens.
Eating in Japan is customary with champing, this should not be too surprised. You need to have a snack with tempura – vegetables or seafood in batter. At a soba-only establishment, at the end of your meal, you’ll be served a pot of broth in which the noodles were boiled. It is usually added to a bowl of soy sauce and drunk – it turns out tasty and healthy.
Soba tastes and prices vary from restaurant to restaurant, starting at around 700 yen. We advise you to visit one of the best – Ginza Sanadasix in the Ginza area, the Ginzasix shopping center. Address: 6 Chome 10-1 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo, 6th floor. Average check here: lunch 1500-3000 yen, dinner costs 3000-8000 yen.
Udon
Udon is made from wheat flour, which is not as healthy as soba. Served in a vegan-friendly broth called kakejiru, topped with green onions. Tempura is also added, on noodles or next to it on a plate, its taste depends on the region and institution.
ramen
Ramen is a type of noodles made from wheat flour, but it is more of a fast food and a favorite snack after 24-hour clubs. This high-calorie dish is served in rich fish, chicken, beef or vegetarian broth with butter added.
And on top is specially cooked meat, then, depending on the institution: shiitake mushrooms, spinach or tempura. You can often see ramen establishments and each one serves delicious food. Prices are 500-1200 yen, depending on the area and the restaurant.
Auden
Oden is eggs, daikon, tofu, sausages boiled in dashi broth, and various types of fish that are pressed into rounded shapes. The broth includes tuna shavings and Japanese kelp. The ingredients and taste are quite unusual. You can find the dish at Family Mart, Lawson, 7eleven, prices from 100 yen. After tasting the taste, go to a specialized restaurant, where the choice of cooked products will be wider.
Okonomiyaki
This popular fast food (Okonomiyaki) is often referred to as “Japanese pizza”. The base is cabbage, flour, maybe with octopus, shrimp, cheese or meat, or maybe contain all of the above. Grilled.
There are places where everything is already fried, and there are places that are popular in Japan, “cook it yourself.” They bring you raw prepared foods and offer to create a dish right on your table. The composition and type of preparation varies by region.
Sushi
What is Japan without sushi! You will find many options where you can taste them, and with completely different prices. Cafes with a platform along the bar counter, on which sushi ride in a circle, are popular among tourists.
If you are a true connoisseur, head to the fish market (Toyosu station). You need to arrive by 6:30 in the morning and stand in a live queue. The establishment closes as soon as food runs out, usually by 11:00, but the sooner you get there, the fewer people will be in front of you.
There are small restaurants with 8 seats, and it is not customary to sit in them – they ate and left. Sushi Bun is considered one of the best. Its menu has a choice of several sets, the price is from 4,000 yen per person. But travelers need to take into account that photography is not allowed in the establishment.
Yakiniku
Yakiniku is grilled meat cut into thin layers. The guests cook it themselves: the waiter brings raw pieces that you fry on coals in the middle of the table. Establishments serving Yakiniku are common, so be guided by prices – a good steak costs from 2,500 yen.
Also in Japan there is the concept of tabe-hou-dai (tabehoudai), which means “everything you can eat.” This is a special menu with a fixed price of 2000 yen, all dishes in which you need to have time to eat in two hours.
Fugu
Fugu is a poisonous fish that the Japanese have learned to cook safely. And only licensed chefs are allowed to do so. Considered a delicacy and very popular. The best fish season is mid-February, when the puffer is larger and has more meat, but you can also try it at other times.
In all restaurants where the delicacy is prepared, you need to reserve a table in advance. The menu has a choice of several sets, usually includes grill, sashimi in batter, soup. Portions are served small. This is an elite dish and the average dinner bill for two people is 50,000 yen.
kakigori
Of the many desserts, we single out Kakigori (Kakigori) – ice cut into thin slices, poured with syrup on top. This is the perfect summer treat and you can see it often. The price is from 300 yen. Visit the ICE MONSTER cafe (6 Chome 3-7 Jingumae), which usually has queues in the center. Here, kakigori is prepared with milk. Sit in a cozy cafe on the second floor and eat in togo format. The price for dessert is 1000-1200 yen.
