Being a huge fan of Japanese cuisine, I have made sure to try different Japanese dishes in every country I visited, as well as in any new restaurant that opened up in my own hometown. And even though most of these places would have accomplished Japanese chefs, the food simply cannot be compared with what you get to taste in Japan. It isn’t just a matter of skill. The delicate business of cousine depends on many factors: appropriate tools, fresh and fitting ingredients, correct spices. Well, living abroad may or may not present some difficulties in acquiring the above mentioned.
Nonetheless, let’s leave the trials of a chef struggling abroad behind us and take a look at some iconic dishes of Japanese cuisine.
It is a pity to say that most people can’t really think of anything except sushi and maybe ramen (noodles) as Japanese cuisine. Why is it a pity, you ask? Well, because Japanese cuisine is so much more. And below we shall see what exactly!
Miso Soup
Let’s start simple. Miso soup is usually served for breakfast. However, it goes really well with dinner too. Miso is a Japanese traditional seasoning, which is prepared from soybeans. I personally like it with almost everything I have for dinner. It fits perfectly with sushi, fried fish, fried chicken, pretty much every dish you can think about. Oh and by the way, it’s an amazing remedy for a hangover! 😉 It should also be noted, that in past Japanese men used to propose to their girlfriends by asking them the following question: “Can you cook miso soup for me every day?” Well, cute isn’t it? This also shows the standing of miso soup in Japanese households.
Tonjiru
Another famous soup in Japanese cuisine. It is prepared with pork, vegetables and miso. It is similar to miso soup, yet also different. Tonjiru tends to be more substantial. You can replace everything I said above about miso soup with tonjiru, and the point would still stand.
Onigiri
This is also a simple dish, well a rice ball really. But there are so many types of onigiri. They can contain nothing, and on the other hand they can contain meat, fish, chicken, vegetables, you name it. Onigiri can even be grilled, and that my friends is a treat out of this world. Simple as it may be, onigiri is still one of the most beloved and common foods in Japan. You can find onigiri in every supermarket and/or convenience store you enter.
Tempura
Even though originally a Portuguese dish, tempura has been adapted by Japan and is now one of the most delicious things Japan can offer. It is mainly made from seafood and vegetables that have been deep fried.
Curry Rice
Well, as the name suggests this is a curry dish. Curry is a common food in Asia, from all the way in India to Korea and Japan. However, there is a strict distinction in the curry that’s served in each of those countries. Curry rice is one of the most famous and beloved dishes in Japan. It’s easy to make, it lasts for a couple of days and it’s extremely delicious!
Okonomiyaki
The amazing dish is very popular all over Japan, yet it famously tastes its best in Kansai and Hiroshima. It is worth mentioning that these two regions make it differently. To put it simply okonomiyaki is a grill of different vegetables, however the Hiroshima version also includes grilled noodles.
Soba
Talking about noodles… Japanese noodles don’t just limit themselves to ramen. Soba is one of the most beloved dishes in Japan. It is usually served with tempura, can be eaten both warm and cold, and both versions taste amazing. These particular noodles are prepared from buckwheat flour.
Udon
Another famous type of noodles would be udon. Udon noodles are generally thicker than that of soba and ramen. It can be served with or without soup. My favourite, however, is curry udon. Definitely worth a try. The udon noodles are made from wheat flour.
Oyakodon
The name of this dish in literal translation mean “parent and child bowl”. Well, as the name suggests it is a dish made of chicken and eggs upon a bowl of rice. While the name can leave to hope for better, the dish itself is absolutely delicious, so make sure to give it a shot.
Yakitori
The name literally translates to “grilled chicken”. You can go to many yakitori restaurants, or even order some in traditional Japanese bars called izakaya. The grilled chicken will be served on skewers called kishi in Japan. You can order different parts of chicken and even chicken skin, which believe me is so much more delicious than you can ever imagine.
Yakiniku
Yakiniku is not just a dish, it can be considered a ceremony. You can make it at home, of course, but if you want to experience the whole spirit of yakiniku than you should go to a specialised restaurant. To put it simply, yakiniku is grilled meat. But the best part is that you get to grill it yourself. The meat is not limited to beef only, so you can order chicken, pork and so on. Just beware, you’re probably going to smell like grilled food after you leave the restaurant!
Yakisoba
Well, since we are talking about all the grilled stuff, I thought that it would be worth mentioning yakisoba too. As you might have already guessed from the name, this is grilled noodles. The dish can be prepared at home, but it’s mostly famous for being served at yatai (food stalls) during Japanese festivals, such as hanami (flower viewing), hanabi (fireworks) and so on.
Takoyaki
Since we are talking about yatai, let’s mention takoyaki. This is more a snack rather than a full dish, but it is very famous all over Japan. Basically, takoyaki is ball-shaped and contains octopus. The snack is beloved and you might even be invited to tako-pa, in other words takoyaki party, where all you do is cook and enjoy takoyaki with your friends.
Oden
Personally for me, oden is a blessing during cold Japanese winters. The dish is served in convenience stores during the winters and can be obtained very easily. What is oden though? Even though the dish may vary a bit from region to region, in general it is a hot pot containing boiled eggs, daikon (radish) and konjac.
Shabu shabu
Shabu shabu can be enjoyed during the warm seasons too, but in my opinion it’s best to be had during winter. I personally see shabu shabu as a better variation of yakiniku (even though the two dishes don’t really have much to do with each other, except that they contain meat). Just like yakiniku it’s better to have your shabu shabu in a specialised restaurant, and just like yakiniku you get to prepare it yourself. Except this time you boil the meat and vegetables.
Sukiyaki
Talking about winter dishes, it would be blasphemous not to mention sukiyaki. This too, is a hot pot quite similar to shabu shabu. However, the dish is customarily eaten during winter. It usually consists of beef and vegetables and is slowly cooked with soy sauce. Sukiyaki may also be served during celebrations and gatherings.
This is merely the tip of the iceberg, but the list should give you a general idea of what to try when in Japan. Japanese cuisine is unique, a bit extravagant and probably quite unusual for Westerners, but believe me it’s worth the try!
