Top 16 Most Remarkable Traditional Japanese Dishes

The first sushi in Japan appeared a long time ago, about 1300 years ago, and since then, sushi has been diversified with various flavors and ingredients. Also made from rice, but Japanese sushi clearly shows the long-standing cultural traits of the 'Land of the Rising Sun' as well as the ingenuity of its people. For a long time, sushi has been considered one of the popular dishes in Japanese meals, similar to rice in Vietnam. On traditional holidays, sushi always appears at important and most formal positions on the table with various flavors and diverse colors. Japanese people often make sushi from rice mixed with vinegar with various other foods such as cucumbers, eggs, squid, tuna, shrimp,...

Yakitori is a quite popular dish in traditional Japanese cuisine. It is made from chicken meat, chicken liver, and some other types of vegetables. All are pre-marinated and skewered onto bamboo sticks, then grilled over charcoal. At this point, along with the aroma of the chicken meat, combined with its rich flavor, it will make the diners hard to forget the taste of Yakitori.

Initially, many might confuse between Sushi and Sashimi. However, these two traditional Japanese dishes are completely different. While Sushi is wrapped with mainly rice, Sashimi consists mainly of raw seafood, often accompanied by shiso leaves or julienned daikon, dipped in soy sauce, soybean paste, or other spices like wasabi, ginger,... depending on the type of seafood being prepared. If Sushi is considered one of the main dishes in Japanese meals, Sashimi plays a very important role as an appetizer to awaken the senses of all diners. Fresh seafood is usually sliced thinly, just enough to be enjoyable. Some types of seafood commonly used to make Sashimi include salmon, yellowtail, tuna, shrimp, squid, octopus,...

Kaiseki Ryori is one of the dishes that best exemplifies the refined and profound characteristics of Japanese cuisine. Crafted from various vegetables, fish, and flavorful seasonings, Kaiseki Ryori features familiar Japanese ingredients such as seaweed and mushrooms. Its distinct aroma and delicious taste make diners crave for more, wanting to eat endlessly. Perhaps, it is the seemingly 'bland' ingredients that make such an attractive dish.

Tonkatsu originated in Japan in the late 19th century. It is made from thinly sliced pork loin marinated with seasonings such as salt, pepper, ... then lightly coated with a layer of flour and egg wash, and deep-fried until crispy. Served with cabbage and miso soup, its golden crispy exterior and tender, flavorful meat are enough to mesmerize diners. Even the most discerning guests are likely to be impressed by this seemingly simple dish.

Udon noodles are a highly popular type of noodles sold in most Japanese restaurants or street stalls. Made from wheat flour, salt, and water, these noodles are crafted following traditional Japanese methods, boasting the rich flavors of the 'Land of the Rising Sun'. Typically enjoyed while hot to fully savor and experience the delicate flavors the dish offers, Udon noodles are characterized by their opaque white, thick, and chewy strands. The broth accompanying them usually has a very clear and savory taste: lightly salty and sweet.

When it comes to Japanese cuisine, one cannot overlook the ubiquitous Shabu-shabu. This familiar dish involves thinly sliced beef, gently cooked and dipped into a special sauce for an exquisite taste experience. While the preparation may seem simple, the sensation of a thin slice of beef, perfectly cooked and melting in the mouth, combined with the flavor of the dipping sauce, is truly delightful.

Okonomiyaki Pancake is an extremely popular dish not only among the Japanese people but also among tourists visiting Osaka. In Japanese, the meaning of the word Okonomiyaki is 'grilled as you like.' The pancake is a mixture of rice flour, eggs, vegetables, meat, and many other ingredients grilled together. During the grilling process, chefs often add cabbage to the pancake on top of the egg surface. Then, when the pancake is cooked, it is drizzled with sauce and topped with mayonnaise, seaweed, and tuna. Okonomiyaki Pancake makes diners curious and intrigued throughout the enjoyment process, thinking about what ingredients are in the pancake.

Tempura is a dish that many people mention when talking about Japanese cuisine. At first glance, Tempura may seem like simple deep-fried shrimp coated in batter served with chili soy sauce, but it truly embodies the essence of Japanese cuisine due to its diverse ingredients including shrimp, young tofu, various vegetables such as green beans, seaweed,... After preparation, this mixture is coated with a layer of batter and fried to crispy perfection. Tempura is always served hot with soup to ensure the crispiness of the dish.

Alongside savory pancakes as mentioned above, Takoyaki octopus dumplings are also considered a delicacy that reflects the flavor of Osaka city, Japan. These dumplings are fried to a crispy outer shell with a soft filling inside. After frying, they are drizzled with a layer of meat sauce on the surface, along with a touch of seaweed, tuna, or onions. This dish is typically enjoyed skewered on sticks.