There is a wide variety of foods in Japan, from the typical hamburger and sushi to fresh vegetables and seafood. There are many factors that make Japanese food what it is: a combination of tastes and seasonings, cooking styles, presentation form, ingredients used, as well as other cultural influences.
In no particular order, here are the Top Ten Japanese foods that you have to try when visiting the country or if you want a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine from your own home.
Closely tied with instant noodles for the most popular dish among college students in Japan, ramen has been around since 1910 according to some records. The broth usually contains pork bones or chicken bones which give it a taste. The noodles must be chewy and the slices of pork or vegetables add to its flavor. There are countless different kinds of ramen, but if you want a good bowl then check out Tsukumo Ramen in the Aichi prefecture.
A dish full of flavor, sukiyaki is a traditional Japanese dish of thinly sliced beef and other ingredients cooked over a flame in a pot known as a “suki.” The most important part of this dish is the broth, so it makes sense that the best place to have it would be at Niu-ru Steak House which is located near Yamanashi Prefecture.
Another popular dish among college students who need something quick and easy to eat, Japanese curry rice has nothing to do with Indian or Thai curries. Japanese curry is thicker than the ones that are commonly found in other countries and it usually consists of vegetables, white rice, and a thick brown sauce made mostly from carrots and potatoes which gives it its color. It can be differentiated by its color because there are several different kinds including karashi (spicy) and rāmen.
Served raw, basashi is similar to horse sashimi in Europe where you eat the meat of the animal while it’s still alive. But this dish isn’t served like that; instead it is served sliced thin like beef sashimi (perfect for earning your sushi badge), but if you want to try it there are several places to go in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Tasty beef over rice, the name of this dish is pretty simple. “Gyū” means cow or beef and “don” means bowl or rice bowl so you get the picture. It consists of slices of beef cooked with onions in a sweet sauce and put on top of steamed white rice. There are many restaurants to try this at, but for one located near Fukushima prefecture check out Bekkan Steak House .
A traditional Japanese dish that has become popular all over the world, sushi consists of vinegar flavored rice topped with seafood chopped into small pieces which are then wrapped together using dried seaweed sheets called nori. There are many different kinds of sushi and in Japan the most popular types include: tuna, urchin roe, eel, shrimp, and octopus.
Yakitori is grilled chicken on skewers that is dipped into a sauce before being eaten. It can be made with various parts of the chicken to change its taste including the thigh meat or hearts. You can find these at various places around Japan but one place to check out would be Rokumonsen which is located near Chiba prefecture.
Another Japanese food where you eat raw meat without cooking it first, sashimi consists of thinly sliced pieces of raw fish or seafood, which can be eaten with soy sauce, wasabi (Japanese horseradish), and other seasonings. There are many good places to try this in Japan but for one near Okinawa prefecture try out Yoshihachi Sushi .
Deep fried skewers of meat on sticks, kushikatsu consists of different types of meats including chicken, beef, fish, shrimp, vegetables like green pepper and more. It is dipped in a tasty batter before being deep fried which gives it its unique texture and flavor. For the best place to eat kushikatsu located in Osaka Prefecture check out Mr. Don .
A traditional Japanese dish that has been around since 1899 according to some records, tonkatsu consists of a breaded and deep fried pork cutlet which is served with various toppings. These include ground mustard, sliced cabbage, and a type of thick brown sauce made from apples or tomatoes. There are many places to try this in Japan but for one located in Kanagawa Prefecture try out Tonkatsu Irie.
You’ve never had food this good! Kimono Restaurant offers a great place to take your family for entertainment, delicious eats, and fun. We start with the highest quality ingredients before grilling them right in front of you on our hibachi grill–the perfect way to get involved by watching as we prepare it just how YOU want it so there will be no surprises at all when they bite into your meal. This experience also gives us an opportunity to show off some amazing tricks which is where being entertained comes into play; our talented chefs will astound you even further by flipping meats around wildly or doing some other intricate, spectacular feats. If you’re looking for the perfect place to take your family for food, fun and entertainment. Kimono Japanese Restaurant in Benicia and Pleasanton, California, can’t be beaten! Join us today and experience the Kimono difference.
A simple, thoughtfully chosen menu of 11 breakfast favorites.
From April 16th join us from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM and enjoy a relaxed start to your day at Kimono.
Everything you want in a great breakfast, done right.
(Closed Wednesdays)