While a bucket list trip to Japan may not be possible any time soon, sample the tastes of Nihon (the Land of the Rising Sun) with these 5 must-try tasty Japanese foods. Search for local Japanese restaurants or go-big and stay home by creating these dishes in your own kitchen.
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5 Must-Try Tasty Japanese Foods
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Confession: I could eat sushi. Every. Day. Yet I haven’t checked off my bucket list a visit to Japan to truly taste “authentic” Japanese food. I am lucky, however, to live in the Denver Metro where we have many local restaurants serving bonafide must-try tasty Japanese foods.
Traveling presents us with an opportunity to live and experience another culture. It can be extraordinary to see the world and learn about how other people live. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in a country than to eat the local cuisine.
Japanese food is unique and incredibly tasty. Discover cuisine there you’ve never seen or heard of before. Experience the country by tasting the best quality food they have to offer. You’ll learn a lot about a place through their food.
So, to get your taste buds tingling, here’s a list of must-try traditional Japanese foods, either in Japan or at one of your local Japanese restaurants.
Wagyu Ribeye Steak
This mouth-watering meat with marbled fat is delicious.
Wagyu whole ribeye is traditionally from Japan, so it is a great food to try when traveling there. Many good quality restaurants serve this meat, so they’ll be lots of opportunities to treat yourself!
Cooked on a grill or in a Japanese BBQ style, Japanese restaurants tend to serve wagyu in thin slices, served with vegetables and sometimes a raw egg. The meat is often .
Sushi
Sushi has become popular around the world, and you can easily buy it in your local supermarket.
However, the best sushi is served in Japan, as they have a tradition of using very fresh fish. Learn how to use chopsticks and dip the sushi into wasabi and soy sauce.
There are many types of sushi such as, sashimi, nigiri and chirashi that all evolve around raw fish.
The fish served in Japan is often focused on being fresh, and it’s not uncommon to have live fish ready to cook in restaurants.
Tempura
A tasty side or starter, tempura is deep-fried fish or vegetables in a light batter. Bite into this snack, not too oily and designed to be eaten whole, served with Tetsuya sauce, bursting with flavor.
Tempura is a versatile dish, which means that every bite will be different. Try them in different regions to see how they vary and find your favorite kind.
Okonomiyaki
This is a savory, tasty Japanese pancake, containing a variety of ingredients. The pancake is wheat-based and is then filled with savory foods that will make your mouth water.
Order okonomiyaki to be paired with squid or pork.
Stay healthy on a road trip while eating the local cuisine with these pancakes. You will discover a large variety of these as you travel about the country.
Soba
Remember to taste the noodles when you travel around Japan. Soba noodles have been a long stable of the Japanese diet, particularly in mountainous regions. The noodles are served in a delicious broth.
The best soba is made in small batches and made from fresh. They have an earthy, nutty flavor that pairs well with other Japanese flavors.
Plus, noodles and vegetables make the noodles healthy and filling!
