Japanese Cuisine
Japanese food has become one of the most popular types of cuisine in the world, with Sushi and Ramen among the most iconic dishes. These are two of the best known, but there are vast variety of other dishes that are equally delicious and deserve to be tried. Below are some of most popular dishes.
Sushi
Contrary to common belief sushi isn’t actually raw fish on rice. The original definition of sushi is cold boiled rice moistened with rice vinegar (su means vinegar and shi is another word for gohan or rice). The main types of sushi served in Japanese restaurants are:-
Ramen
Ramen is a bowl of noodles served in a meat or fish-base broth with a variety of different toppings.
Ramen was introduced from China and is now considered one of the most popular dishes in Japan.
There are different variants of flavors, the four main ones being:- shoyu (soy), shio (salted), miso (fermented bean paste) and tonkatsu (pig bone).
There are now over 80,000 ramen restaurants throughout Japan and each region has its own particular variation and style of serving this very popular and relatively inexpensive dish.
Yakitori
Yakitori is literally grilled chicken (yaki = grilled, tori = chicken), which is seasoned either in salt or a salty-sweet coating and served on wooden skewers.
Yakitori is very popular in the summer with cold beer and can be eaten at specialist restaurants known as ‘Yakitoriya’, Izakaya restaurants (Japanese style gastro pubs)
and at many outdoor food stands along the roadside.
Tempura
Tempura is one of the most popular and well-known Japanese dishes outside Japan.
The main ingredients are usually king-size prawns served with an assortment of vegetables which are lightly cooked in deep-fried vegetable oil.
Udon
Udon is a popular and relatively inexpensive dish made from thick wheat flour noodle and usually served hot as a noodle soup,
either on its own or with fried prawns and vegetables or cold on a bamboo basket with a small bowl of broth to dip it in.
Miso Soup
Miso soup is a traditional Japanese style soup made from miso paste called "Dashi".
Various kinds of ingredients are added to the soup according to regional and seasonal recipes and tastes.
The most common type of soups are made up of Niboshi (dried baby sardines), Konbu (dried kelp), Katsuboshi (dried smoked bonito slices), Hoshishitake (dried mushrooms).
Miso soup is usually served with the main dish and not as a starter.
It is normal to drink the soup directly from the bowl and use chopsticks to eat the ingredients.
Tonkatsu
Tonkatsu is a very popular ‘western style’ dish made of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet sliced into finger-sized slices
and usually served with shredded cabbage, rice and Japanese pickles.
Tonkatsu comes in two varieties, ‘hire’ひれ (pork fillet) and ‘rosu’ロス (pork chop).
Many restaurants serve Tonkatsu as part of a set menu or ‘Teishoku’ which includes rice and a bowl of miso soup.
Kaiseki ryori
Kaiseki cuisine is a traditional Japanese meal famous for the meticulous preparation involved and the beautiful presentation.
The menu generally comprises of between 10 and 15 relatively small and delicately presented dishes that taste as delicious as they look.
Japanese-style rooms
Japanese-style rooms will have tatami floors and so outdoor shoes may not be worn in them.
Click to go to our 'about Japanese-style rooms' page.
Japanese baths
Click to go to our 'how to use a Japanese bath' page.