Japanese cuisine does not abuse too much spices but focuses on highlighting the fresh, pure, natural flavor of the food. The taste of Japanese food is usually elegant, gentle, subtle and suitable to the nature of each season. If you can enjoy all the dishes in this country, you probably can’t miss some of the following foods. These are all popular foods in Japan. Many of them are Japanese street food, but their appeal is undeniable. Now, let’s check it out our list of the budget Japanese food with top 11 popular dishes in Japan that but make the fame for Japanese cuisine including most popular Japanese snacks, most popular food in Japan, budget Japanese dishes, famous and popular Japanese food with Living Nomads below.
- 13 popular Japanese snacks you should try when visit Tokyo
- Where to eat in Hakodate? — 5+ best food & best places to eat in Hakodate city, Hokkaido
- Tokyo street food blog — 17+ best street food in Tokyo & must eat food in Tokyo
- Visiting Nishiki Market Kyoto — Exploring 400 year old traditional kitchen of Kyoto, Japan
- What to eat in Tokyo? — 8+ must try food, best food to eat in Tokyo
![kyoto kaiseki cuisine](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/25/kyoto-kaiseki-cuisine.jpg)
![how to eat sashimi japanese (1) popular japanese food, popular dishes in japan, budget japanese food, budget japanese dishes](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/27/how-to-eat-sashimi-japanese-3.jpg)
![okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/okonomiyaki-japanese-savory-pancake-food-to-eat-in-japan-japan-must-eat-japan-must-try-food-must-eat-food-in-japan-1.jpg)
![Japanese+Knives popular japanese food, popular dishes in japan, budget japanese food, budget japanese dishes](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/19/knife-japan-cuisine-1.jpg)
![J7pDli8P_beef-yakitori-full popular japanese food, popular dishes in japan, budget japanese food, budget japanese dishes](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04/J7pDli8P_beef-yakitori-full.jpg)
![Tempura (including eel spine kara-age) – Kawatatsu, Kyoto](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/10/Tempura-including-eel-spine-kara-age-–-Kawatatsu-Kyoto.jpg)
![Kushikatsu kyoto.3 popular japanese food, popular dishes in japan, budget japanese food, budget japanese dishes](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/29/Kushikatsu-kyoto.3.jpg)
![kyoto cuisine.1 popular japanese food, popular dishes in japan, budget japanese food, budget japanese dishes](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/29/Nama-fu-kyoto.jpg)
![Wagashi popular japanese food, popular dishes in japan, budget japanese food, budget japanese dishes](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/19/Wagashi.jpg)
![osaka cuisine osaka blog osaka travel blog osaka blog 2018 osaka travel guide blog2](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/02/osaka-cuisine-osaka-blog-osaka-travel-blog-osaka-blog-2018-osaka-travel-guide-blog2.jpg)
![osaka cuisine osaka blog osaka travel blog osaka blog 2018 osaka travel guide blog](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/02/osaka-cuisine-osaka-blog-osaka-travel-blog-osaka-blog-2018-osaka-travel-guide-blog1.jpg)
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki, also known as Japanese pancake, is not only a popular street food in Japan but also a favorite dish by many tourists. This dish is also called by many Japanese crepe but the ingredients that make up this dish are salty. The main ingredient of the cake is flour, cabbage combined with other ingredients such as meat, cheese, seafood and wasabi. There are many different versions of Okonomiyaki in Japan in each region.
![Fluffy Kansai-style Okonomiyaki](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/Fluffy-Kansai-style-Okonomiyaki.jpg)
![okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/okonomiyaki-japanese-savory-pancake-food-to-eat-in-japan-japan-must-eat-japan-must-try-food-must-eat-food-in-japan-4.jpg)
![Hiroshima Okonomiyaki](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/Hiroshima-Okonomiyaki.jpg)
![okonomiyaki japanese savory pancake food to eat in japan, japan must eat, japan must try food, must eat food in japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/okonomiyaki-japanese-savory-pancake-food-to-eat-in-japan-japan-must-eat-japan-must-try-food-must-eat-food-in-japan-2.jpg)
![okonomiyaki osaka](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/02/Okonomiyaki-Osaka2.jpg)
![japanese-snacks-hajime-nagahata Okonomiyaki](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/japanese-snacks-hajime-nagahata-Okonomiyaki.jpg)
Takoyaki
![famous_takoyaki_shops_in_osaka_1](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/05/famous_takoyaki_shops_in_osaka_1.jpg)
This is a popular street food in Osaka, then spread out and enjoyed in many places throughout Japan. The round Takoyaki cake is made of octopus, vegetables, served with Takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise and Katsuobushi (dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna).
![japanese-snacks-david-shackleford Takoyaki](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/japanese-snacks-david-shackleford-Takoyaki.jpg)
Shabu Shabu
![Shabu Shabu](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04/Japanese-Beef-Hot-Pot-Shabu-Shabu.jpg)
Shabu Shabu can be understood as a kind of Japanese hotpot with the main ingredient is thinly sliced beef and dipped in a hotpot and then dip in sauce. This dish has a simple way of cooking, in which the delicious taste depends very much on beef. Traditional Shabu shabu must be eaten with beef but recently people can also eat chicken and pork meat.
![shabu shabu hot pot japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04/shabu-shabu-hot-pot-japan-5.jpg)
![shabu shabu hot pot japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04/shabu-shabu-hot-pot-japan-3.jpg)
Onigiri
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/Umeboshi-Onigiri-pickled-plum-rice-balls-The-Artful-Appetite-7.jpg)
Onigiri rice balls are very popular street food in Japan. This rice ball has a variety of different kernels and wrap a bit of seaweed outside. Onigiri is a popular dish, sold at many convenience stores. With Japanese people as well as tourists traveling to Japan, this is a fast-food option, the price is quite cheap for busy time or want to save trip budget.
![onigiri japanese food](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/onigirijapanesericeballs_1.jpg)
![onigiri japanese food](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/onigiri-japanese-food.jpg)
![Onigiri is sold a lot in supermarkets and convenience stores](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/onigiri-7.jpg)
Dango
Dango can be understood as a sweet Japanese rice dumplings with ingredients mainly of rice flour, making round balls but usually skewers 3, 4 balls in a stick and then pourn with sauce. In Japan, dango is eaten all year round, however there are many types of dango to suit each season and time.
![Hana Yori Dango](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/Hana-Yori-Dango.jpg)
![Hanami Dango](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/Hanami-Dango.jpg)
![mitarashi-dango](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/mitarashi-dango-20160928_1.jpg)
![Shiratama Dango](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/Shiratama-Dango.jpg)
Udon Noodles
![Sanuki Udon japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04/Sanuki-Udon-japan-7.jpg)
Japan has many famous noodles, one of which is Udon. Udon is a type of noodles made from wheat flour, big and thick fiber, served with broth and many other side dishes such as tofu, eggs, tempura. Udon has both hot and cold versions.
![Sanuki Udon japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/04/Sanuki-Udon-japan-3.jpg)
![Omen restaurant Photo: popular dishes in japan blog.](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/17/Udon-Noodles-at-Omen-kyoto.jpg)
![One fiber noodle of Udon](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Kyoto-travel-guide-Tawaraya-udon-4.jpg)
Yakitori
Yakitori is a Japanese type of skewered chicken on charcoal. Although ingredients, the ways of cook are not picky but this is quite a popular snack. Yakitori can be processed from many different parts of the chicken such as breast, heart, intestine, organs..
![yakitori, japan Chicken Yakitori, one of most delicious foods in Japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/08/saucehi.jpg)
![yakitori, japan Picture: budget japanese food blog.](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/08/00011_002.jpg)
![yakitori, japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/08/sauce.jpg)
Read more: Chicken Yakitori — How to make, enjoy Chicken Yakitori in Japan.
Popular Japanese food: Taiyaki
![Taiyaki tokyo japanese snack](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Taiyaki-tokyo-japanese-snack.jpg)
The fish-shaped taiyaki cakes, filled with red bean paste, are popular Japanese food. Taiyaki is especially delicious when just baked, fragrant, crispy and soft crust. Today, Taiyaki has many other kinds of kernels such as custard, chocolate or even salty.
![taiyaki fish cake japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/taiyaki-fish-cake-japan-2.jpg)
![taiyaki fish cake japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/taiyaki-fish-cake-japan-4.jpg)
![taiyaki fish cake japan (1)](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/09/taiyaki-fish-cake-japan-5.jpg)
Budget Japanese food: Ramen
![Ramen, one of popular japanese food you have to eat](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/21ramen-must-eat-in-japan-must-try-japanese-food-must-try-japanese-food-in-tokyo-2.jpg)
This is the most famous noodle food of Japan and has great influence in many countries around the world. Ramen has many types, the most popular ones are shoyu, shio, miso and tonkotsu. Ramen noodles are characterized by small fibers, served with a variety of foods such as eggs, meat, seaweed, onions, bean sprouts.
![Tonkotsu ramen, one of the most famous foods in Fukuoka, Japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/31/Tonkotsu-ramen-one-of-the-most-famous-foods-in-Fukuoka-Japan.jpg)
![Ramen Asahikawa village hokkaido2](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/28/Ramen-Asahikawa-village-hokkaido2-1.jpg)
![gogyo-ramen-nishi-azabu-ramen-shops-delicous-best-things-to-eat-in-tokyo23](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/12/Gogyo-Ramen-–-Nishi-Azabu-ramen-shops-delicous-best-things-to-eat-in-tokyo23.jpg)
Most popular food in Japan: Tempura
![Tempura are Japanese deep-fried foods of seafood and vegetables.](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/tempura-japan.jpg)
Tempura is a dish usually consists of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried, tempura really diverse when it can be applied from seafood such as shrimp, squid to vegetables, mushrooms, eggplant and more. Because Tempura is coated by a thin layer of batter so it is very crispy. This dish is often served as a Japanese appetizer and snack dish.
![tempura japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/03/shrimp-tempura.jpeg)
![Tempura kyoto](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/10/Tempura-kyoto.jpg)
![fukuoka tempura Image by: most popular food in japan blog.](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/31/fukuoka-tempura.jpg)
![shrimp tempura](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/31/shrimp-tempura.jpg)
![Tempura, kyoto, japan](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Tempura-kyoto-japan.jpg)
![vegtables tempura](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/31/vegtables-tempura.jpg)
Most popular food in Japan: Mochi
![mochi-900x506](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/28/mochi-900x506.jpg)
For many years now, this traditional Japanese cake has been enjoyed by food lovers all over the world. Traditional mochi cake is made from glutinous rice flour with red bean paste, but today, the cake has a lot of different flavors and kernels such as ice cream and strawberry … making people more and more interested and favored.
![mochi](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/19/mochi.jpg)
![Warabi Mochi – Japanese Rice Cak](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/18/4.-Warabi-Mochi-–-Japanese-Rice-Cake.jpg)
![Warabi Mochi – Japanese Rice Cak](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/18/4.-Warabi-Mochi-–-Japanese-Rice-Cake-7.jpg)
![Warabi Mochi – Japanese Rice Cak](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/18/4.-Warabi-Mochi-–-Japanese-Rice-Cake-3.jpg)
![mochi cake nikko](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18/mochi-cake-nikko.jpg)
![Picture: budget japanese food blog.](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/13/taiwanese-mochi.jpg)
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to
- Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
- Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
- Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
- Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
- Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
- Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
- Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
- Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
- Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
- Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
- Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
- Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
- 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
- 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
- JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
![](https://livingnomads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/30/sushi-tokyo.jpeg)
Are you finding more top things to do in Japan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.