Buzz
Dining in a foreign country can be quite challenging if you're unfamiliar with the local eating customs. When visiting Japan, if you can't read Japanese, you'll notice that restaurant signs resemble paintings more than menus of the dishes they serve.
Let's delve into 10 commonly found restaurant types in Japan, so you'll feel right at home when stepping into a dining establishment in this beautiful country.
1. Sushi Restaurants
No one can mistake a sushi restaurant for any other eatery. Many Japanese sushi dishes are presented on a conveyor belt for diners. An interesting note for you is that all sushi restaurants hang noren (traditional Japanese curtains) outside the main entrance. If the noren is displayed, it indicates the restaurant is open for service; if not, it means they're closed.
2. Unagi and Dojo Restaurants
Unagi (eel) and Dojo (loach) are two of the most significant fish in Japanese cuisine. While both types of fish are mostly served interchangeably in restaurants, there are still some traditional establishments specializing in either Unagi or Dojo to offer customers the highest quality meals.
3. Ryotei Restaurants
These are upscale traditional Japanese dining establishments that many tourists are unaware of. To dine at Ryotei, you need to make reservations in advance. These restaurants are often inconspicuous, and upon arrival, you'll see morijio (a pile of salt, usually on a dish) placed outside the door to welcome customers.
4. Sukiyaki Restaurants
Sukiyaki is one of the famous Japanese beef dishes. Sukiyaki restaurants are considered upscale, popular among business elites. However, in recent years, you can find many more affordable Sukiyaki restaurants across major cities like Tokyo when traveling in Japan.
5. Soba Restaurants
Soba noodles are one of the popular noodle varieties in Japanese cuisine. Soba noodle restaurants offering affordable prices are nearly ubiquitous across Japan. Japanese people believe that eating soba noodles brings good luck.
6. Tonkatsu Restaurants
Tonkatsu restaurants are renowned for their quick service and affordable prices. They serve fried dishes such as furai (breaded vegetables and seafood), korokke (deep-fried potato croquettes), and kushi-age (skewered meat and vegetables).
7. Yakitori Restaurants
Often found around entertainment districts, Yakitori restaurants are establishments serving grilled skewers and drinks. These restaurants typically hang a large red paper lantern (called aka-chochin) outside the entrance to attract customers.
8. Okonomiyaki Restaurants
You might call Okonomiyaki restaurants the Japanese version of pizza parlors. These establishments serve traditional pan-fried pancakes, most famous in the Kansai region, especially in Osaka.
9. Oden Restaurants
These are dining establishments specialized in winter dishes in Japan such as eggs, fish cakes, or various vegetables simmered in soy broth. At any Oden restaurant, you can enjoy hotpot all year round. These restaurants are often small, so you need to be mindful of your surroundings when dining here.
10. Mixed Food Shop
This is a popular dining format in the Asian region. You'll find multiple stalls selling various foods, including Chinese, Western, Italian, and Japanese dishes, all in one place.
According to Tsunagujapan.com
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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour
MytourAugust 8, 2014
