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japanese food » best of japanese food » japanese food list
106 Kinds of Japanese Food
posted by John Spacey, July 08, 2015
What is Japan's favorite food?
Japan has been cooking for thousands of years. As an island nation it tends to go its own way. As a result, Japanese food evolved into a unique culinary tradition. Beyond tradition, Japanese food is a living part of the culture. It's always growing and as a result there are countless Japanese dishes.
The following are a few foods that all Japanese know well.
1. Makizushi
Makizushi is sushi that's rolled into long cylinders. It may be cut into shorter pieces before being served. The word makizushi can be translated "sushi roll." It's often simply called maki. It usually has nori on the outside but can also be wrapped with leaves such as shiso. Maki is filled with sushi rice and ingredients such as raw fish, cooked fish and vegetables.
2. Miso Soup
In Japan, miso soup is as important to breakfast as coffee. It's a hearty soup of dashi, miso and tofu. It often includes a variety of vegetables, seafood and meat. A good miso soup balances ingredients that float with ingredients that sink.
3. Yakitori
Yakitori can be literally translated "grilled chicken." It's a category of Japanese cuisine that includes dozens of items that are grilled on thin bamboo skewers including every imaginable part of the chicken as well as other meats, tofu and vegetables. Yakitori restaurants are typically lively drinking spots.
4. Tempura
Tempura is deep fried fish and vegetables in a light batter. Care is taken to cook tempura at a low temperature for a short time to preserve the taste of ingredients. It's served with a light tentsuyu dip.
5. Edamame
Young soybeans cooked in their pod in salty water. Most restaurants serve frozen edamame. They taste infinitely better fresh from the farm. Some fine izakaya will only serve edamame in season.
6. Ramen
Hot Chinese-style wheat noodles in a meat, fish, miso or soy sauce broth. It's an inexpensive, filling, easy to find snack. Despite the fact that ramen is cheap, there's a big difference in quality from one shop to the next. A shop that earns a reputation amongst ramen aficionados will regularly have long lines while a shop just next door may be empty. It's the type of dish that isn't easy to perfect.
7. Mochi
A sticky variety of Japanese rice known as mochigome that has been pounded into a paste. Toasted and eaten directly. Also used in a variety of Japanese dishes and desserts.
8. Okonomiyaki
A type of savory Japanese pancake that was traditionally prepared to use up leftovers. Okonomiyaki restaurants let you customize your order. In many cases, you can cook your own at a grill in your table. There's an intense okonomiyaki rivalry between Osaka, Tokyo and Hiroshima. Each town has its own version of the dish.
9. Sashimi
Raw sliced fish or meat. Freshness
11. Soba
Thin Japanese buckwheat noodles served chilled with a dipping sauce or in a hot broth. Whichever you choose, it's perfectly polite to loudly slurp your noodles.