How Much Do You Really Know About Japanese Food?

Japanese food has grown immensely in popularity over the last few decades, and for good reason. Japanese cuisine is not only delicious but also healthy and varied – presenting a huge range of options to choose from.

When you think about Japanese food, what comes to mind? 

For most people, the first thing that comes up is sushi: rice and raw fish. While this may be one of the most popular options, there is so much more to Japanese cuisine than just sushi! This article presents some lesser known facts about many traditional Japanese dishes as well as some suggestions on where you can try authentic Japanese cooking for yourself.

One major factor which helps make Japan such a unique country with regard to its food culture is that they eat everything within their own country and do not import or export any of their foods. This is definitely a major factor in the quality we see today, since no outside food is imported.

Many people also believe that most traditional Japanese food contains raw fish, such as sashimi and sushi. This belief has made many foreigners hesitant to try real Japanese dishes when they come to Japan or eat at a restaurant with authentic cuisine; however this is very far from the truth! There are many quite popular traditional dishes which do not involve raw fish, such as ramen noodles and teriyaki chicken skewers, among others. Raw fish in Japan is only seasonal and during specific times of the year it may be difficult to find in supermarkets and restaurants due to its high price.

One of the most popular traditional Japanese dishes is called ‘ramen’. The literal translation of this dish means “pulled noodles”, and it consists of wheat flour noodles which are pulled by hand (hence the name), cooked in a soy sauce based soup, and topped with various vegetables such as cabbage and leeks. It seems simple but can be very tasty!

Another traditional food option is the ‘gyoza’, more commonly known as dumplings. These are filled with beef or pork, among other things depending on preference, then wrapped up in dough before being fried to make them crispy on the outside while staying warm on the inside. If you’re not too hungry they can even make for a quick snack or appetizer, and they’re great to share with friends since many Japanese restaurants serve large plates of them which can be shared between two people.

Another food dish that has become quite popular in the West is called ‘teriyaki chicken’. It consists of bite-sized pieces of chicken that are grilled then covered in a sweet teriyaki glaze, often including other ingredients such as soy sauce, vegetables or garlic.

One traditional food which you may not have even heard of before is the ‘sakura denbu’, also known as pink sushi! This sushi dish consists of rice balls wrapped around pickled daikon radish which are dipped in fish flakes to give it its pink coloring. Sakura denbu! sounds far stranger than it tastes, so if you ever come across this dish while traveling in Japan or at a restaurant try it out!

Finally, there are many other traditional dishes which are not only delicious but healthy as well. One example of this is ‘oden’, consisting of various ingredients such as eggs, konnyaku potatoes and fish cakes all stewed in a soy sauce based broth. This is usually considered to be winter food since the hot soup will keep you warm!

Now that you know about some  Japanese dishes it’s time to take your taste buds on an adventure and try them for yourself! If you’re interested in trying real Japanese cuisine while traveling in Japan or at home check out your local Japanese restaurant or supermarket to give some authentic dishes a try!