Food of Japan
71 traditional dishes · Asia
Cities & regions of Japan
Tokyo guide 
Sushi
Vinegared rice paired with raw fish and seafood - nigiri, maki and more.
Ramen
Japanese wheat-noodle soup in a rich broth with pork, egg and toppings.
Karaage
Juicy bite-size fried chicken marinated in soy and ginger.
Sashimi
Pristine slices of raw fish, served without rice.
Kingyoku
Kingyoku is a translucent Japanese jelly confection set with agar and sugar - a jewel-like wagashi that captures the season.
Chankonabe
Chankonabe is one of the classic dishes in the stew tradition of Japan.
Katsu Curry
Crisp pork cutlet over rice with thick Japanese curry.
Shoyu Ramen
Shoyu ramen is Japan's classic soy-based ramen with a clear amber chicken-pork broth, thin alkaline noodles and chāshū, ajitama and scallion.
Torisashi
Thinly sliced raw chicken sashimi from Kagoshima and Miyazaki on Kyushu, dressed with sesame-miso or soy and wasabi and eaten at specialist poultry restaurants.
Kamaboko
Kamaboko is the classic Japanese steamed fish cake made from seasoned surimi, painted pink, and served at New Year, in bento, and in noodle broth.
Okonomiyaki
Savoury cabbage pancake griddled and slathered with sauce.
Panko
Coarse Japanese breadcrumbs from crustless bread, fried light and crunchy for tonkatsu, korokke, and ebi fry.
Tempura
Seafood and vegetables in a feather-light, lacy batter.
Tonkatsu
Panko-crusted pork cutlet, shatteringly crisp outside and juicy within.
Udon
Thick, chewy wheat noodles in a savoury dashi broth.
Basashi
Basashi is thinly sliced raw horse meat served as sashimi, a mountain-region delicacy tied to Kumamoto, Tottori and other parts of Japan.
Takoyaki
Molten battered balls filled with octopus, off a special griddle.
Tempura Soba
A Japanese noodle dish of soba in dashi broth, topped with a piece of crisp shrimp or kakiage tempura - a Tokyo staple since the Edo period, often eaten standing at a counter.
Gunkanmaki
Gunkanmaki is a "battleship" sushi from Japan, with vinegared rice wrapped in nori and topped with salmon roe or sea urchin. An Edo-mae sushi classic.
Mentaiko
Spicy marinated pollock roe, eaten with rice or pasta.
Mochi
Chewy pounded-rice cakes, sweet or savoury, soft and stretchy.
Tanuki Soba
Tanuki Soba is a Japanese noodle dish with chilled soba and crispy tempura bits, dipped in a sweetened soy sauce and eaten at train station counters across Japan.
Buri Daikon
Buri Daikon is a Japanese winter braise of yellowtail belly and daikon radish in sweet soy - a homestyle comfort dish served from a donabe to the family table.
Kamikaze
A bracing equal-parts cocktail of vodka, triple sec, and lime juice - a sour-family drink with Pacific War origins, served straight up in a chilled glass with a sugared rim.