My 11 favourite dishes from Japan!

As I come to the end of my tour of Japan, I need to write a post about some of the food that I ate while I was there. When the average outsider thinks of Japan, they think of sushi and tea, and maybe Japanese beer or teppanyaki. However there is so much more to Japanese cuisine than just these stereotypes, and some of the dishes are simply to die for. So here, in no particular order, are my 11 favourite dishes from Japan!

Miso Soup

This is one dish that I’m almost always ready for. The salty yet savoury flavour of a delicate miso simply can’t be beaten as a way to start a meal, or to sip during the meal. It’s refreshing, warming, soothing and hearty all in one – simply bliss.

Katsu Kare

The story goes that this curry (kare) developed as a way to disguise the smell of beef meat. But despite bearing the name “curry”, it isn’t a direct import from India or Pakistan – in fact the idea of cooking meat in a spiced gravy was brought to Japan by the British in the 19th century, when that empire was ruling the subcontinent. What results is a British take on an Indian dish, tailored to Japanese preferences – and it’s simply delicious.

Okonomiyaki

Savoury pancakes! Yams, eggs, cabbage and green onions are all minced together to make this lip-smacking dish. Native to the Kansai (Osaka and Kyoto) and Hiroshima regions, it’s topped with Okonomiyaki sauce (a bit like Worcestershire sauce) and creamy Japanese mayonnaise.

Ramen

It’s hard to find a ramen that is not made with pork, but if you do, it’s worth all the effort. This hearty dish is simply noodles meat and vegetables in a slightly oily meat broth – although sometimes vegetarian broths like miso are available. It’s a great meal to have if you’ve worked late and missed dinner at home, or if you’ve been out all night and need to fill up and warm up all at once.

Sakura Ice Cream

Sakura is the Japanese name for Cherry Blossom, and it’s the national flower. In spring time, when it’s in blossom, dessert parlours whip up sakura-infused ice cream and gelato – the taste reminds me a bit of rosewater, a bit of a flowery vanilla flavour, but much more delicate than either.

Chicken Karaage

(Image: Opponent)

Who doesn’t love fried chicken? The Japanese take on fried chicken is served with a mild spiced batter, and a cheap (but unhealthy… but delicious…) meal can be made out of these balls of salty, savoury goodness, dipping them in Japanese mayo or other sauces.

Fish for breakfast

I love fish, and anywhere that serves fish at breakfast is a winner in my books. Sure, it might take a bit of getting used to, but believe me, it’s light yet filling; delicately steamed and served with boiled rice and miso soup… it’s not that hard to get used to it!

Sushi Train

Did someone say fish? I didn’t want to write about sushi here (especially seeing as I’ve listed that in the introduction as an oh-so-stereoytpical Japanese dish), but sushi trains are pretty awesome. Freshly prepared morsels of succulent fish delivered straight to your table by way of conveyor belt… what more could you want? Of course, there are many, more traditional sushi experiences to be had in Japan – but more on that next time.

Dainty cakes and sweet treats

In Japan, presentation is a big deal, so it makes sense that small, cute cakes and refreshing novelty drinks would be a big deal too. Almost every large restaurant and department store offers a sweet dessert, from chocolate mud cake to profiteroles, but all are simply so cute to look at it seems a shame to dig in. The portion size aspect is also a plus – no overindulging here, it’s about quality, not quantity, and about the moment spent enjoying, rather than rabidly shoving food in one’s mouth.

Bento Boxes

The Japanese tiffin! Speaking of cute, Bento boxes are sweet lunch boxes with compartments filled with different dishes, so you get a taste of everything! Often (but not always) served cold, they can be a bit disconcerting at first, but isn’t travel all about new experiences? I also love that they usually have a refreshing piece of seasonal fruit as dessert, rather than a sugary sweet (I’ll save that for later :p )

Matcha Ice Cream

(Image: Fancycrave)

The colour of this ice cream can be a bit of a turn off, and the flavour can be an acquired taste, but once you’re hooked there’s no turning back. Matcha is a Japanese variety of powdered green tea, and if the idea of green tea flavoured ice cream freaks you out a bit, you’re not the only one. These are served up all across Japan in soft serve and scoop varieties, and are a welcome respite from the summer humidity. They’re sweet but also slightly tart, with a classic “dry mouth feel” associated with tea.

Of course there are so many more dishes in Japan which I haven’t included on here, but I’ll be leaving them until the next adventure! Now, I’m off to eat…

What is your favourite Japanese dish? Comment below!