2sukiyaki japanese

Japan is a dreamland of many tourists, especially for those who love cherry blossoms. So, if you have the opportunity to set foot in the country with full of the elites of culture, art, history … especially cuisine, you definitely cannot ignore 14 foods to try when you visiting Japan. Hey! Carefully make a list and “do” now. So, what is the best Japanese food? And what to eat in Japan in general and in Tokyo in particular? Let’s check it out our Japanese food blog: Japan must eat (must eat food in Japan) with top 17 best Japan must try food (must try Japanese food) & most famous Japanese food to eat in Japan with Living Nomads below.

Sushiya Kodai otaru sushi best sushi in otaru best sushi restaurant in otaru (1)
Sushi, one of the famous Japanese food you have to try in Japan.
unagi eel japan how to cook unagi unagi sauce (1) must eat in japan, must try japanese food, must try japanese food in tokyo,
You can not miss grilled Unagi (Japanese eel), one of the Japan must try food.
Sakananoaji, Hong Kong 2
Sashimi, another dish from fish that you definitely have to eat in Japan
kyoto kaiseki cuisine must eat in japan, must try japanese food, must try japanese food in tokyo,
Kyoto Kaiseki cuisine
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Yakitori, is a must try Japanese food
osaka cuisine osaka blog osaka travel blog osaka blog 2018 osaka travel guide blog
Osaka street food
Tempura (including eel spine kara-age) – Kawatatsu, Kyoto
Tempura, One of the traditional dishes of Japanese cuisine and one of the most famous Japanese food to eat in Japan.
Tonkotsu Ramen
Ramen, you definitely have to try this dish when coming to Japan

Like Vietnam, in Japan each region will have its own specialities. And it will not be easy to enjoy all the specialties right in its hometown only in a Japanese trip.

japanese kaiseki cuisine
Japanese Kaiseki cuisine

Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake)

japanese-snacks-hajime-nagahata Okonomiyaki
Credit: japan must eat blog.

The first dish that Living Nomads wants to introduce to you is Okonomiyaki or also known as Japanese savory pancake. This is one of the dishes you have to try when coming to Japan, though there will be many people who are no stranger to this dish.

Okonomiyaki ryoanji

japanese-snacks-hajime-nagahata Okonomiyaki
Picture: must eat food in japan blog.

This is a familiar dish, also a long-standing traditional dish originating from Osaka, which is considered a Japanese pizza. You can easily enjoy this dish in Japanese eateries, street food stalls, or restaurants, but the best and most famous Okonomiyaki is Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima.

okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)
Okonomiyaki is one of Japan’s signature foods
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Osaka is home to Okonomiyaki, must eat in Osaka

What makes the pancake here different from other regions is that its ingredients are not mixed and half-fried, but consist of two layers: the upper – the bottom is flour layer and the core layer in the middle of the cake (including chopped cabbage, thin sliced beef, octopus, shrimp, cheese and noodles. At the first glance it seems like a fried sandwich, but it is still basically a traditional Japanese pancake.

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki
Hiroshima Okonomiyaki
okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)
Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima with the separate layers between flour and core.

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki3

And of course, when eating this signature pancake, Okonomi sauce is indispensable, some fatty mayonnaise, scallions and dried bonito flakes (Katsuobushi).

okonomiyaki osaka

okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)
Okonomiyaki is so attractive that you should not miss it when visiting Japan.

Fluffy Kansai-style Okonomiyaki

Some also argue that the pancake in Kansai region is as delicious as Hiroshima, and is also considered a quintessential Japanese cuisine. However, if you can not arrange to visit these two places, you can still enjoy Japanese pancakes at eateries, street food stalls or restaurants throughout Japan. Some places also serve on-demand pancakes with ingredients and doneness on the grill will be entirely decided by you.

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okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)
Okonomiyaki in Kansai region. You can enjoy okonomiyaki everywhere in Japan and served with Katsuobushi.
Fluffy Kansai-style Okonomiyaki
Fluffy Kansai-style Okonomiyaki

Ramen

japanese-snacks-qasic ramen
Photo: must try japanese food blog.

Ramen can be considered the “national essence” of Japanese cuisine, because it is one of the first foods to be remembered when talking about the land of the rising sun. Ramen is a noodles cooked in broth from meat or fish, served with eggs, soy sauce and meat. There are many types of ramen, from simple to varied ingredients. The ingredients themselves can also be added or reduced depending on the cook or the taste of the guests, creating a lot of different ramen tastes.

ramen must eat in japan, must try japanese food, must try japanese food in tokyo (1)
Famous ramen noodles of Japanese cuisine.

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Ichiran ramen, most famous ramen chain stores in Japan

Similarly, the price of ramen noodles ranges from popular to high-end, and if you come to Japan you will be able to enjoy this dish almost anywhere. This noodle is often used by Japanese people for a late dinner, especially on nights when temperatures are low and there is a bit of cold snow.

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Greasy broth
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Tofu ramen

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The best time to enjoy ramen noodles is on cold evenings in Japan.
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Delicious bowl of ramen noodles

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Ramen Asahikawa village hokkaido2
Ramen – One of the cheap dishes in Tokyo
Tonkotsu ramen, one of the most famous foods in Fukuoka, Japan
Image by: japan must try food blog.
Bari Uma, Hong Kong 3
Mouthwatering Ramen
Tonkotsu Ramen
Tonkotsu Ramen

Referring to ramen, Sapporo ramen is often remembered. The ramen noodles in this city are quite special taste, made from firm and crispy long noodles, big slices of pork, dried bamboo shoots, fried vegetables, cabbage, onions, fish cakes, eggs … then cooked in special broth that includes greasy miso sauce and a mixture of heirloom salt. Many of the ingredients are combined that showed the elaborateness of its processing, the salty taste of the ingredients and the richness, fatty of the broth, sliced pork and miso soy sauce that have brought the distinctive brand of ramen noodles in Sapparo. So if there is a chance to visit Sapporo, ramen is a dish you must try!

ramen must eat in japan, must try japanese food, must try japanese food in tokyo (1)
The famous Sapporo ramen of Japan.

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Pork miso ramen from Sapporo
Pork miso ramen from Sapporo

Read more: Top ramen in Tokyo — Top 6 best ramen restaurants in Tokyo.

Champon

nagasaki champon noodles (1)

The next dish to try when coming to Japan is the famous delicious champon noodles of Nagasaki region. At the first glance it looks like ramen noodles because it made from fibers of ramen noodles, but the processing with flavor and color is completely different, creating a distinct character for itself.

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Champon in Japanese means “mix”, meaning it is a combination of many ingredients for cooking.
nagasaki champon noodles (1)
Champon noodles, the favorite Japanese dish of many customers, famous is associated with Nagasaki region.

nagasaki champon noodles (1)

Instead of separate cooking noodles and broth such as soba or ramen noodles, Champon noodles are cooked directly in a pot of broth, which is made and simmer from chicken or pork bones, combined with a variety of vegetables such as bean sprouts, cabbage, and carrots along with common seafood such as oysters, shrimp, etc. Even in some places, this broth also has Japanese fish cakes, seasonal products or other ingredients required by diners.

nagasaki champon noodles (1)

nagasaki champon noodles (1)
In some places, champon noodles also add more hot peppers into the broth.

Because of so many ingredients, Champon noodles have changed with quite a lot versions, the taste and color of the dish also change slightly according to each season, each kind of product – becoming a special dish of Japanese cuisine culture, not sophisticated but diverse.

nagasaki champon noodles (1)

Tempura

Tempura (including eel spine kara-age) – Kawatatsu, Kyoto
Tempura (including eel spine kara-age).

Tempura is a generic name for Japanese dishes that will be dipped into flour mix with eggs or batter mix and deep fried – one of the must eat food in Japan. Usually, people will dip seafood and vegetables into flour and deep-fried.

Tempura are Japanese deep-fried foods of seafood and vegetables.
Tempura are Japanese deep-fried foods of seafood and vegetables.
Tempura kyoto
An Tempura restaurant in Kyoto.
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Pumpkin flower tempura
vegtables tempura
Vegtables tempura

TEMPURA NO HIRAO TENJIN Best Tempura Place in Fukuoka Japan 003 must visit restaurant in fukuoka japan

Tempura made from Fukuoka Prefecture tempura with fruit figs tempura was eaten with Tempaku Tanaya
Tempura, Photo: must try japanese food blog.
Tempura, kyoto, japan
Image by: japan must try food blog.

Tempura can be said to be a signature dish of the land of the rising sun. Because deep-fried in oil so Japanese often use vegetables or seafood, aim to balance the fat and not grease for diners. Tempura bearing aromatic flavor, mouth-watering, so it is one of the most popular Japanese specialties.

tempura japan
Shrimp tempura is one of the extremely most beloved tempura foods at Japanese restaurants.
shrimp tempura
Shrimp tempura

Tempura tokyo japanese snack

Tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet)

japanese-snacks-george-alexander-ishida-newman Tonkatsu
Photo: must try japanese food blog.

Another deep fried dish is equally famous of Japanese cuisine is Tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet), made from pork that was born in the late 19th century and is considered as a signature dish of Japanese cuisine. The ingredients for making this dish are quite simple, including only pork tenderloin, flour, eggs, bread crumbs, chopped cabbage and ingredients to cook miso soup. The pork cutlet will be coated in flour, dipped in eggs and cover by bread crumbs, then deep fried in oil. We can also use the breast meat and the back meat; meat will be seasoned salt and pepper.

Kinka pork (sirloin) tonkatsu (JPY2,880)
Tonkatsu served with Miso soup, cabbage salad. Image by: japan must try food blog.
tonkatsu japan
Tonkatsu is an extremely popular deep fried dish in Japan.

When finished, Tonkatsu will have a golden layer of crispy fried dough on the outside, wrapped soft pork and tasty inside. Tonkatsu can be eaten with rice, miso soup and cabbage salad. Some places also serve tonkatsu with sashimi, miso soup and even ice cream.

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The tonkatsu with crispy outer skin and soft sweet meat inside.

Chanko Nabe Hot Pot (Sumo Stew)

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Japanese cuisine possesses many types of hotpot, one of which is Chanko Nabe, the extremely spectacular hotpot you must try when coming to Japan. Chanko Nabe is known as a traditional hotpot of Sumo wrestler with chicken, seafood, potatoes and vegetables.

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Extremely majestic hot pot for the traditional Sumo world in Japan

chanko nabe hot pot japan (4)

chanko nabe hot pot japan (4)

The most popular Nabe is Yosenabe including meat, fish, eggs, tofu, vegetables cooked together in a pot served with miso or soy sauce. Many people are afraid will “gain weight” after enjoying this dish, but you will definitely not be able to resist its delicious taste. Besides, enjoying this hotpot with friends and relatives, “how much fat will be melted” because of the warmth and happiness. Especially, Chanko Nabe is a favorite choice of customers in Japan on cold winter days.

chanko nabe hot pot japan

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Yosenabe Chanko Nabe
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Chanko Nabe is a must eat food in Japan.

chanko nabe hot pot japan (4)

Unagi (Grilled eel)

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If you are a devotee of anime movies, you will definitely heard about unagi – grilled eel. This grilled eel food is not only a must try food when coming to Japan, but even Japanese people believe that it is an antidote and an ideal food in sweltering summer days from May to October; extremely high value in health.

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Extremely famous unagi (grilled eel) of Japanese cuisine.
unagi eel japan how to cook unagi unagi sauce (1)
A dish is very popular in the summer, and is one of the foods that Japanese people like best.
unagi eel japan how to cook unagi unagi sauce (1)
One of best meals in Japan with Unagi

unagi eel japan how to cook unagi unagi sauce (1)

unagi eel japan how to cook unagi unagi sauce (1)
So delicious food Unagi

unagi eel japan how to cook unagi unagi sauce (1)

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