Typical dishes of Japan like the sushi and ramen are known worldwide. However, it’s just two plates of one extensive Japanese gastronomic culture full of flavors and culinary techniques that have fallen in love with locals and foreigners around the globe.
It is very common to find one (or several) good Japanese restaurants in every city in Europe, so you no longer have to travel to the land of the rising sun to taste authentic local cuisine.
Travel with us on a varied route to discover what are the most traditional and typical dishes of Japan, so you can dare to ask them when you visit a Japanese restaurant and leave the comfort zone offered by the sushi and all its variants (nigiri, hosomaki, uramaki, temaki, futomaki, etc.).
Sushi
The typical Japanese dish most recognized in the world is the sushi, So much so that it is possible to find adaptations of this dish typical of some countries.
It is prepared with rice cooked with rice wine, salt, rice vinegar and sugar. Nori algae is also used as a fundamental element to hold the rice.
When you ask you will find various types of sushi different both in preparation and ingredients.
One of the types of sushi most famous are the maki, these pieces that are rolled with nori seaweed inside or outside.
This type of sushi is subdivided into categories such as temaki (cone-shaped sushi), futomaki (thicker than normal sushi) and uramaki (rolls with rice on the outside, instead of nori seaweed).
There is also the oshi, which is being prepared placing the rice and the sushi filling inside a wooden press. In this way, each piece reminiscent of a cake is given an attractive square shape sushi.
Finally, there is the nigiri. It is prepared by forming a long piece of rice with a shape similar to that of an oval. On top of the rice a piece of seasoning is added, which can be fish or seafood, mainly. If it’s too heavy, it adds a Nori seaweed tape that supports the structure of the nigiri.
Onigiri
The onigiri It is another of the typical Japanese dishes that you surely know. They are rice balls that they are filled with vegetables, pickled plum, fish or meat.
The onigiri is covered with a piece of nori seaweed to provide flavor and a better grip on the product.
You can find them in any Japanese restaurant and they are affordable.
Tamagoyaki
Another of the typical dishes of Japan is the tamagoyaki, a food that never missing during breakfast or eating certain rolls of sushi.
It is a thick omelette that is prepared with eggs, dashi broth and sugar.
When cooked it coils up to a roll, whose function is to provide consistency to the omelette.
Another of its characteristics is that it has a rectangular shape and is soft in texture.
Okonomiyaki
Okinomiyaki is among the most traditional and typical dishes in Japan. This species of omelette is made with few ingredients: sweet potato, wheat flour and eggs. A hot iron plate is used for quick cooking, so in the places where they have their teppanyaki In sight, you can probably see how they prepare this complete dish.
You can order it accompanied by the combination of ingredients you prefer. Some of them may be vegetables, meat, seafood, chives, prawns, and cheese.
Further, season with the sauces you prefer, just like mayonnaise and okonmiyaki sauce. It ends with katsuobushi, which crackles and moves with the heat of the elaboration.
Sashimi
The sashimi It is another of the classics of Japanese gastronomy.
Consists of raw fish and shellfish sliced into thin pieces. It is prepared with salmon, white fish, bluefin tuna and other species. Its perfect cut is only within reach of large itamaes, or chefs of sushi.
It is accompanied with soy sauce and wasabi to highlight its flavor.
Also served with ginger to clean the palate after tasting each piece and better perceiving the flavor of the next one.
It is a simple dish where the most important thing is a good cut, the quality of the fish and its freshness.
Yakitori
Yakitori is a popular dish in Japanese cuisine consisting of grilled skewers.
You can find them in restaurants or street food stalls.
Its classic version is prepared with chicken meat. However, over the years new versions made with fish, beef and vegetables have been welcomed.
To add more flavor to the yakitori, it is recommended to accompany them with the delicious teriyaki sauce.
Miso soup
Miso soup, or miso soup, is one of the most typical dishes in Japan. This food is serves as a starter during service or at any meal of the day, including breakfast.
It consists of a broth of dashi (of algae) to which tofu cubes, shiitake mushrooms, miso paste, wakame algae and radishes are added. It is also possible to add potatoes, meat or fish.
It is served in a bowl for rice, so that it is ability to serve the broth and its other ingredients in each serving.
Udon
A type of noodle widely used in Japanese gastronomy is udon. It is prepared with wheat flour and is characterized by its thickness: they have a diameter of six or eight millimeters.
They can be eaten cold (zaru udon) or in hot preparations (kake udon). In fact, during the summer it is better to eat them cold and in the winter, hot.
Usually, they are served in miso soup. Also in the well-known Yaki Udon dish, a stir fry with onion, carrot, cabbage, soy and dashi, with various sauces such as soy and mirin (two basic ingredients of teriyaki).
You can order them accompanied by fish, meat, chives, eggs, vegetables, seafood, tempura and mushrooms.
Monjayaki
The monjayaki is the Tokyo version of the okinomiyaki. It is a kind of omelette prepared with wheat flour, sweet potato and egg.
Its mass is liquid and with a texture similar to that of melted cheese.
However, its flavor is exquisite and It is worth asking for one at any Japanese restaurant you visit that includes it in your menu.
Kare Raisu
The kare raisu. or curry rice, is a delicious and nutritious dish perfect to eat any day.
It is prepared with rice, meat, vegetables and curry sauce. Depending on the ingredients used, it is usually more delicious.
Veal, duck or chicken meat is usually used. As for vegetables, pieces of potatoes, carrots and onions are used.
Another curiosity of this dish is that it is prepared in its normal version, mild spicy or mega spicy.
Soba
On the other hand, soba is another classic of Japanese cuisine.
They are noodles that are prepared with buckwheat flour and they have a spaghetti-like shape.
Unlike other popular noodles like udon, these are thinner.
You can order them cold or clients, alone or accompanied with ingredients like delicious mentsuyu sauce.
Ramen
Ramen is one of the typical dishes of Japan recognized worldwide for its excellent flavor.
It is prepared using Chinese noodles, prepared with wheat and egg flour to provide the yellow color they have.
You can order the ramen with soy sauce broth (shoyu ramen), pork (tonkotsu ramen), miso (miso ramen).
Also, there are a variety of ingredients that can accompany ramen. Some of the most popular are the algae, radishes, chives, bean sprouts, naruto, egg and bacon.
Edamame
The edamame is a popular snack among typical Japanese dishes.
It consists of boiled soy pods and seasoned with salt to reinforce its flavor.
This dish is usually served with the full pod, but we recommend you not eat it. It is fibrous and difficult to chew. It is best to squeeze so that the beans are expelled from the side of the pod directly into your mouth.
You can also bite it and open the pod so that you can eat the beans inside it.
Bentō
More than a typical dish, bentō is a great way to serve any meal of the day.
A wooden or plastic box with various compartments.
In it, the components of a dish are organized, such as vegetables, proteins, fruits and pickles with a fantastic presentation and in portions.
Shabu Shabu
Shabu shabu is a curious way to prepare ingredients.
It is said to be the oriental version of the fondue. In this case, when ordering this dish, the waiter will bring to your table a pot with boiling dashi and a tray of raw ingredients such as meat, fish, algae, mushrooms or vegetables.
You must take the product you want and put it in the hot pot until it cooks to your liking.
Yakiniku
The yakiniku is a popular cooking style in Japan that gives a special flavor to food during cooking.
Small pieces of meat are taken and cooked on grills that restaurants have.
A curiosity of the yakiniku is that you cook the meat. In this way, you choose the exact cooking of your meat and you always eat it freshly made.
You don’t just cook meat. You can also include vegetables and sauces to add more flavor.
Tonkatsu
Another contemporary classic of Japanese cuisine is tonkatsu.
It’s about a pork chop that marries with pepper, flour, salt and Tonkatsu sauce obtained from soy, which gives it its name.
The chop is covered with panko to be crisp when frying.
You can order it alone or accompanied with rice or other products.
Fugu
Fugu, better known as puffer fish, is a product gourmet famous among the most traditional and typical dishes of Japan.
Due to the poisonousness of this fish, there are few restaurants with permission to prepare it and take out its delicious steaks.
Fugu can be eaten alone or accompanied with ingredients such as chives.
Make sure that the place you visit has this certification and avoids health problems.
Gyoza
Another of the most typical dishes in Japan are the gyozas.
These dumplings are prepared with a simple dough of wheat flour, water and salt, and are filled with stews prepared with pork, chicken or beef and vegetables.
In addition to its exquisite flavor, They stand out for the design similar to a lotus flower that is obtained when closed.
You should expect a delicious crisp finish at its base, characteristic of this Japanese steam recipe.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki are octopus balls popular with more traditional and typical Japanese dishes.
They prepare with octopus, chives and corn flour. Also, the mixture includes different condiments to add more flavor to the recipe, such as pickled ginger or katsuobushi.
They have a perfect round shape thanks to the slit plates in which they are prepared and the speed of the person preparing it.
When ordered, they are usually served with takoyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.
Matcha tea
We found that a characteristic of Japanese gastronomy is the importance of tea (ocha).
One of the most consumed infusions is matcha tea, obtained from the grinding of green tea leaves.
It has a smooth and delicate flavor that combines perfectly with other ingredients such as milk.
The best thing about this drink is its production process, which requires following an interesting and subtle process (his own ceremony).
Umeshu
Like sake, the umeshu is a traditional drink of Japanese gastronomy.
It is a liquor that is prepared using Japanese apricot or plums. It has a smooth, sweet to bitter taste.
This makes it the favorite of those looking for a liquor not as strong as sake.
Dango
Dango is a dessert that you should try if you see it on the menu of a Japanese restaurant you visit.
They are flavored rice flour balls, crossed in skewers. Its name varies according to the flavor with which they are prepared.
Traditional dango is named bocchan dango. It is a skewer with a little ball of green tea, another of red beans and the last one is of egg.
Dorayaki
Another iconic dessert of Japanese gastronomy is dorayaki.
Try to two layers of sponge cake, similar to fluffy pancakes, joined by a sweet filling center.
The traditional flavor of the filling used is red bean paste (azuki). However, the range of flavors has been extended to pastry cream, chocolate or strawberry, not so traditional but more related to western palates.
Mochi
A delicious dessert that is part of the typical dishes of Japan is mochi. This is a chocolate-like dessert, which is prepared with a mixture of glutinous rice.
The mochi is molded until obtaining a round, almost oval shape. It is filled using its popular pasta of sweet beans or fruits.
It is usually eaten at any time of the year; especially during the new year. You will likely find it on the letters of Japanese restaurants stuffed with ice cream.
Momiji Manju
Momiji manju is another popular dessert in Japanese gastronomy.
It is prepared with a dough made with rice and buckwheat.
The dough is spread out in a machine similar to a waffle iron, where its filling is placed and covered by another layer of dough.
Unlike a waffle, mumiji manju is shaped like a Japanese maple leaf.
This dessert is filled with chocolate or sweet bean paste (azuki).
Meronpan or Melon bread
Meronpan, or melon bread, is a popular dessert that cannot be missing from the list of typical Japanese dishes.
It has a design similar to loaf bread and has a crisp texture like that of a cookie. As for its flavor, you can compare it with the buns of milk.
Although its name includes the word melon, this fruit is not used in the recipe. He bears that name for his similar to the exterior of this fruit.
They have versions filled with caramel, chocolate and strawberry; but they are not among the traditional options.
Kakigori
To close the list of typical Japanese dishes, we present the kakigori.
This is an ideal dessert to deal with the intense summer heat, since is a recipe similar to slushies.
They are made by crushing ice with flavor syrups. It is decorated with condensed milk and a little of the syrup used to prepare it.
Crushed ice has a fine texture that allows you to eat it with a spoon.
And so far the review of most typical dishes of Japan that you can find in the restaurants of your city and that will allow you expand your horizons beyond sushi, the sashimi and the tempura. ¡Itadakimasu!