ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Japan
Five dishes to try in Japan, the most typical first.
Five dishes to try in Japan
Sushi 寿司
Vinegared rice with raw fish or other toppings, hand-pressed or rolled.
How to have it: Try conveyor-belt kaitenzushi for value or an omakase counter for a chef's selection.
Ramen ラーメン
Wheat noodles in a rich broth with chashu pork, egg and spring onion.
How to have it: Order from the ticket machine at the door; slurping is normal and regional styles vary.
Tempura 天ぷら
Seafood and vegetables in a light, crisp batter, fried to order.
How to have it: At tempura counters pieces arrive one at a time; dip in tentsuyu sauce with grated daikon.
Okonomiyaki お好み焼き
Savoury cabbage pancake grilled on a hotplate, topped with sauce and mayonnaise.
How to have it: Osaka mixes everything in the batter; Hiroshima layers it with noodles; many shops let you cook it.
Takoyaki たこ焼き
Batter balls with octopus pieces, topped with sauce, mayo and bonito flakes.
How to have it: Osaka's street snack, sold hot from stalls in Dōtonbori; let them cool before biting.
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Questions
What food is Japan famous for?
Sushi (vinegared rice with raw fish or other toppings, hand-pressed or rolled) comes first on our list, followed by Ramen, Tempura, Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki.
What is the national dish of Japan?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Japan is Sushi: vinegared rice with raw fish or other toppings, hand-pressed or rolled. Try conveyor-belt kaitenzushi for value or an omakase counter for a chef's selection.
Which dishes in Japan are vegetarian?
None of the five dishes on this page is vegetarian as usually made. Ask locally: many places have meat-free versions.
What street food should I try in Japan?
Okonomiyaki (savoury cabbage pancake grilled on a hotplate, topped with sauce and mayonnaise) and Takoyaki (batter balls with octopus pieces, topped with sauce, mayo and bonito flakes).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Japan
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, keep the dishes you have tried, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.