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When it comes to Japanese cuisine, we often immediately think of Sushi or Ramen. However, the truth is Japan boasts an incredibly unique and diverse culinary scene, not limited to the dishes we commonly mention. In this article, our travel company will share some delicious dishes from the land of the rising sun, ensuring the best culinary experience when visiting here. Below are 15 famous Japanese dishes with distinctive flavors and cooking methods cherished by the Japanese!
1 – Sushi
The first dish is the most iconic and famous Japanese dish: Sushi. A globally renowned delicacy.
Sushi is made from rice mixed with a vinegar seasoning, shaped into small bite-sized pieces, and topped with various ingredients, such as different types of fish, vegetables, and nori (seaweed). Depending on the shape and ingredients, sushi can be categorized as Nigiri sushi, Maki sushi, Oshi sushi, Temaki sushi, etc.
Sushi is often eaten with soy sauce and wasabi, or both, according to individual preferences. This dish can be considered the epitome of Japanese cuisine. You might have tried it in Vietnam, but enjoying it in its home country would undoubtedly be a perfect experience.
2. Sashimi
Similar to Sushi, Sashimi is a delicious Japanese dish that has become popular in many countries worldwide, including Vietnam.
Sashimi – another famous and iconic dish of Japan. Sashimi essentially consists of thinly sliced raw fish or seafood (such as shrimp, octopus, etc.) served with wasabi (horseradish) and soy sauce. It is also often accompanied by slices of radish.
The kanji characters for Sashimi are 刺身 – which means pierced body. The name 'sashimi' originates from the Japanese way of eating this dish, literally meaning 'cut and eat slices'.
Some excellent sushi and sashimi restaurants in Tokyo:
– SUSHIYA
Address: 6-3-17 Ginza Chuo Tokyo
Opening hours: From 12:00 – 14:00 and From 17:00 – 22:00
– UOBEI
Address: 2-29-11 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: From 11:00 – 0:00
3. Ramen
Another popular choice to enjoy Japanese cuisine is Ramen – a handmade noodle dish served with soy sauce or miso soup along with various ingredients. Typical toppings include green onions, slices of pork, egg, and seaweed. But the most important part of this dish is the broth, each restaurant having its own unique recipe that creates the uniqueness of this dish. The tender slices of pork that melt in your mouth upon tasting will stimulate all your senses. This is also the most commonly seen dish in Japanese movies, most notably in the world-famous manga Naruto.
Great Ramen restaurants in Tokyo
– MADAI RAMEN MENGYO
Address: Inoue Bldg 1F, 2-5-3 Kotobashi, Sumida, Tokyo
Opening hours: From 11:00 AM – Until sold out
– ISSHO
Address: 1-9-5 Asagaya-Minami, Suginami, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
4. Tempura
Tempura resembles more of a snack than a main dish, with ingredients such as seafood and vegetables deep-fried to perfection, seasoned with a sauce made from soy sauce, ginger, and sugar. In addition to seafood, sometimes meat is also used to make Tempura. The size of the Tempura pieces is carefully measured to be bite-sized even after being fried to crispiness. Tempura is often served with Tetsuyu sauce – a blend of consomme, sweet sake, soy sauce, ginger, radish, and spices. Surprisingly, Tempura is originally a classic dish from Portugal brought to the Land of the Rising Sun, becoming a famous dish in Asia.
Great Tempura Restaurants in Tokyo
– TSUNAHACHI
Address: 3-31-8 Shinjuku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
– IPPOH TEMPURA TOKYO
Address: 6-8-7 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
5. Kare raisu
Kare raisu - A simple yet delicious dish found in restaurants and households across Japan. Kare raisu is a favorite among Japanese children, featuring rice with curry. However, its flavor differs significantly from the original Indian curry. Japanese curry often incorporates various meats and vegetables. Common meats used include chicken, pork, beef, and occasionally duck. Vegetables commonly found in Japanese curry include onions, carrots, and potatoes. This dish also comes in different levels of spiciness to cater to individual preferences: mild, medium, and super spicy.
Great Kare raisu Restaurants in Tokyo
– BONDY
Address: 2F, Kanda Secondhand Book Center, 2-3 Kanda-Jinbocho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
– YOSHIDA CURRY
Address: 3-8-2 Amanuma, Suginami, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM and 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
6. Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki - This fragrant Japanese savory pancake is a mixture of flour, grated yam, and eggs. The name Okonomiyaki literally means 'grilled as you like it,' indicating that you can add ingredients of your choice to this pancake according to your preference.
Common ingredients added to this pancake include green onions, shrimp, beef, vegetables, squid, mochi, and cheese. At restaurants, diners can cook this dish themselves as a way to experience cooking in another country. It might be challenging for those who have never made this dish, but the staff is always ready to assist you, making it a memorable experience when traveling to the land of the rising sun.
Places to enjoy delicious Okonomiyaki:
- NAMI
Address: Koizumi Building 2F, 5-15-1 Toyotamakita, Nerima, Tokyo
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Sunday and holidays: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- OSAKA KITCHEN
Address: Great Building 2F, 4-14-19 Ginza Chuo, Tokyo
Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
7. Shabu Shabu
Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hot pot dish consisting of various meats (beef, pork, chicken, shrimp...), vegetables (Chinese cabbage, shungiku, spinach, garlic, chives, bean sprouts, etc.), mushrooms (shiitake and shimeji), and noodles (udon, konnyaku, kamaboku, etc.).
Ingredients will be simmered in beef broth and served with ponzu (a special dipping sauce often flavored with sesame). This broth is meticulously prepared before cooking the main dish, as the cooking process itself is quite time-consuming. To make this dipping sauce, pork or chicken (or both) is boiled with konbu (kelp) and shiitake mushrooms - without adding any seasoning. Additionally, there are bottled versions of this sauce available, but they surely won't taste as delicious and enticing as homemade.
Best Shabu Shabu restaurants in Tokyo
- IMAFUKU
Address: 1-12-19 Shirokane Minato, Tokyo
Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM
- SERYNA
Address: 3-12-2 Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo
Opening hours: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 10:30 PM
8. Miso Soup
Miso Soup (Japanese: 味噌 | misoshiru) is a famous traditional side dish in Japanese households. The term 'misoshiru' means 'fermented soybean broth,' composed of two parts: 'miso,' meaning 'fermented soybean,' and 'shiru,' meaning 'soup.'
Miso soup is typically made from soybeans, hondashi, tofu, green onions, and sometimes other vegetables. It's served before the main course in most meals. This is a dish you must try if you truly want to explore Japanese culinary culture. You can find miso soup at any restaurant across Japan.
9. Yakitori
Yakitori (焼き鳥, やきとり) is a famous Japanese grilled chicken skewer dish. This Japanese delicacy is often sold at small restaurants or yakitori stalls grilling skewered yakitori over charcoal, accompanied by alcoholic beverages (usually beer or shochu) in the evenings. These establishments are known for their cozy, down-to-earth atmosphere and are popular meeting spots for young people and workers on their way home. In some regions of Japan, there are many streets and alleys specializing in yakitori.
Top Yakitori Restaurants in Tokyo
– ISEHIRO KYOBASHI
Address: 1-5-4 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM
– UCHIDA
Address: 3-14-7 Koyama, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 5:00 PM – 2:00 AM
10. Onigiri
Onigiri (お握り), also known as nigiri or omusubi (おむすび), is a traditional Japanese rice ball usually shaped like a triangle or oval and wrapped in a sheet of nori (dried seaweed).
This is the most common light snack in Japan. Onigiri often has various fillings, but traditional Japanese onigiri typically contains grilled salmon, umeboshi, katsuobushi, or other salty or sour ingredients. In Japan, Onigiri can be found everywhere, from convenience stores, supermarkets, free markets, sushi shops, or even specialized onigiri restaurants called onigiri-ya. It's a perfect food to take along for picnics or travel.
11. Udon Noodles
Mì Udon (ど or 饂) is a type of thick, round noodle made from wheat flour, equally famous as Ramen noodles. Udon is often served as a soup, with a hot broth made from dashi, shoyu, and mirin. Starting from the basic Udon dish, various ingredients can be added to create new and unique flavors for this noodle dish.
The flavor of the broth and toppings varies depending on the region. A dark brown broth made from strong-tasting shoyu (koikuchi shoyu) is characteristic of Udon noodles in restaurants in Tokyo and northern regions of Japan, while a lighter brown broth made from mild-tasting shoyu (usukuchi shoyu) is preferred in Osaka and many southern regions of Japan.
Recommended restaurants in Tokyo
- TANIYA
Address: 2-15-17 Nihonbashi-Ningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:00
- MARUKA UDON
Address: 3-16-1 Kanda-Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 – 19:30
12. Soba
Soba (ば or 蕎麦), meaning 'buckwheat' in Japanese, is a type of Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour, giving the distinctive color of the noodle strands. Thin soba noodles (thicker than udon noodles) can be eaten cold or hot. Many restaurants in Japan specialize only in serving soba noodles, often accompanied by simple side dishes like Tempura. You can also buy packaged soba noodles from supermarkets to cook at home. A simpler way to prepare soba noodles is to boil them and serve with a dipping sauce called mentsuyu.
Recommended Soba restaurants in Tokyo
- KANDA MATSUYA
Address: 1-13 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 – 20:00
- TAMAWARAI
Address: 5-23-3 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:30 – 20:00
13. Omuraisu
Omuraisu or Omurice (オ ム ラ イ) is a Western dish adapted to suit the taste of Japan (Yoshoku). This popular dish in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan consists of fried eggs served with fried rice and topped with tomato sauce. Omurice was first served in 1902 at a Western-style restaurant called Renga-tei in Ginza district, Tokyo.
The owner mentioned that the idea originated from the Chakin-Zushi recipe (sushi rice wrapped in a thin layer of egg). Omurice is often served with Raisu Chikin (rice with chicken and seasoning), but it can vary depending on each restaurant's recipe, which may include beef, vegetables, and other ingredients.
Best Omurice restaurants in Tokyo
- AZABU SHOKUDO
Address: B1F, 4-18-1, Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Opening hours: 11:30 – 14:00, 17:30 – 21:30
- TAIMEIKEN
Address: 1-12-10 Nihombashi, Chuo, Tokyo
Opening hours: 11:00 – 21:00
14. Katsudon
Katsudon, a beloved Japanese classic, features a bowl of rice topped with breaded and fried pork, egg, and other ingredients. The name 'Katsudon' combines 'Katsu' from 'tonkatsu' (breaded pork cutlet) and 'don' from 'donburi' (a dish served in a bowl with rice).
Katsudon là một món ăn rất phổ biến đối với người Nhật, và được coi là một món ăn mang lại may mắn nhờ cái tên của nó. Katsu có cách phát âm giống như động từ ‘giành chiến thắng’ hay ‘giành vinh quang’ trong tiếng Nhật. Vì lý do này, việc thưởng thức Katsudon vào đêm trước ngày thi đã trở thành một truyền thống đối với học sinh Nhật.
Top Katsudon spots in Tokyo
– KATSUKURA
Địa chỉ: 5-24-2 Sendagaya | Quảng trường Thời đại Takashimaya 14F, Shibuya, Tokyo
Giờ mở cửa: 11:00 – 22:00
– ZUICHO
Địa chỉ: 41-26 Udagawacho, Shibuya, Tokyo
Giờ mở cửa: 11:30 – 20:00
Indulge in the delectable Green Tea Mochi Ice Cream
Trà xanh không chỉ là thức uống yêu thích của người Nhật, mà còn được tiêu thụ rất nhiều ở các nước châu Á, bao gồm cả Việt Nam. Loại trà này có lá màu xanh nhạt và hương vị nhẹ nhàng, chát chát ngọt ngọt rất thanh tao, và đặc biệt có lợi cho sức khỏe.
However, for the Japanese, green tea is not just a healthful beverage. Green tea in Japanese culinary culture carries historical and spiritual significance. In fact, Japan even has a ritual called the Tea Ceremony, known as Chanoyu, which is an ancient practice still preserved today.
In Japan, tea is often served with traditional Japanese sweets, with the most popular being mochi. Additionally, Japanese sweets are renowned for their deliciousness, unique shapes, and beautiful colors, making them some of the most delightful treats in the world.
Recommended spots to taste green tea and sweets in Tokyo
- NANA GREEN TEA
Address: 1-29-18 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 10:30 AM – 10:30 PM
- KOOTS GREEN TEA
Address: 2-1-3 Azabu-Juban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Opening hours: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Above is a list of famous Japanese dishes. We hope that if you have a trip to Japan in the near future, you will enjoy them to experience Japanese cuisine – one of the most renowned culinary traditions in Asia.
If you need assistance with a comprehensive tour package to Japan, please contact us at one of the following numbers: 0911 766 338 or 024 3564 2888 for the best advice and support!
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Posted by: Huong Quach
Keywords: 15 must-try famous dishes when traveling to Japan
