Japan, without any doubt, is famous for its unique, delicious, and varied dishes. Japanese food has become popular and highly-prized around the world. The use of fresh and high-quality seasonal ingredients presented aesthetically contributed to the food culture in Japan and other countries.
5 Unique but Popular Japanese Food for Foreigners
When we think of Japanese food, the majority of us think about sushi or maybe ramen. However, dishes in Japan go beyond fish, rice, and noodles. So, if you’re planning your first visit to Japan, you might want to consider these foods that Japanese, even tourists find unique and appetizing.
Karaage
Karaage is a famous deep-fried food among the Japanese. Often, served in chicken but can be meat or fish as well. Some foreigners consider it a Japanese soul food as it is crispy, juicy, and rich in flavor. The seasoning of shoyu soy sauce and garlic makes it taste undeniably savory and unique among any other fried dishes.
Tsukemen
“Tsuke” in Japanese means dipping, and “men” means noodles. Thus, you would soak your noodles into the soup before eating it. Others do it differently, though; they sometimes eat the noodles and soup separately. Tsukemen has become famous for its thick and chewy noodles and unique texture. In some restaurants in Japan, you may have your noodles served as atsumori (warm noodles) or add soup to the tsukejiru (dipping sauce).
Sushi
It’s not surprising how famous sushi is around the world. When you think of Japanese cuisine, sushi automatically pops up in our mind. The word sushi refers to Japanese rice seasoned with vinegar mix, mixed with various ingredients such as fresh fish, vegetables, and nori (seaweed). This iconic Japanese food was one of the first Japanese dishes exported to the US, and now, its popularity has reached all parts of the world.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is a famous street stall snack that originated in Osaka. Known as “octopus balls” or “octopus dumplings,” this is one of Japan’s must-try foods. Takoyaki is a battered ball-shaped dumpling rich in sweet and savory flavor with a mini piece of octopus in the middle.
Many tourists love how mouthwatering this food is; it has a crispy exterior and gooey taste on the inside topped with mayonnaise, seaweed, and fish flakes. So, on your Japan trip, make sure you never miss Takoyaki on your bucket list!
Tempura
Many restaurants in other countries serve Tempura on their menu; however, nothing compares to Japan’s thin and crunchy Tempura. Typically, Japanese cooks Tempura with prawns or vegetables covered delicately with special Tempura batter to guarantee a crispy and savory taste. It is a deep-fried food that can be eaten by itself dipped in tsuyu (Japanese vinegar) or with rice.
Conclusion
These are just five, but Japan has an infinite number of delicious dishes. The unique taste and food culture Japan offers captivated many tourists in different countries. Your Japan trip will never be complete without trying these out!
References:
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001923/
https://www.japancentre.com/ja/pages/156-30-must-try-japanese-foods
https://japanwonderguide.com/favorite-japanese-food/
BY LA