Eating in Japan is on another level. Sure, vacation eating is already special, but ingredients in Japan seem to be of higher quality. This made so many of our meals delightful!
Read this post for all my favorite things we ate – dishes you’ll find in Japan – and some restaurant recommendations.
When I plan a trip, I like to bookmark restaurants that seem to have good reviews and are near a certain sight we’re planning to visit. We made it to about 3 of the 10 I had bookmarked and that was because we had reservations! I tell you this so you know getting to a specific place in Japan was much harder than I thought it would be. Sometimes things that were “close” ended up being a 20-minute train. Sometimes we had to satisfy hangry humans ASAP.
I also tell you this because while we didn’t visit the places I had bookmarked, we still had incredible food resulting from quick Google searches, and the “we walked by and it looked good.” Yes, have a few places (the fewer the better) you absolutely must visit, but also leave room to be spontaneous because you’re likely to still enjoy great eats in Japan!
And now, these are the eats and drinks that I will dream about until I return.
Beef / Gyukatsu
While fish is the common choice in Japan, I enjoyed the beef immensely! We had melt-in-your-mouth beef skewers at the fish market (you can’t miss it, there are huge signs for this place) and a fun beef tasting at a restaurant in Osaka. And while tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet) is popular, gyukatsu (the beef version) is a must-try as well!
Where we ate:
- Gyukatsu Motomura – gyukatsu, multiple locations in Japan
- Tsuguyru in Osaka – beef tasting
- Tsukiji Ihachi at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo
Eel / Unagi
Eel was already one of my favorite seafood but eating it freshly grilled at the fish market was incredibly satisfying! You can find it at street food stalls.
Daifuku / Mochi / Warabi
I had mochi on a few occasions but the most delicious was a street stand on a quieter street at Tsukiji Fish Market. They had a few flavors but the strawberry was so good! You may also see savory mochi wrapped in seaweed.
It’s called daifuku when the mochi is wrapped around something like a strawberry or red bean. It’s called warabi or warabimochi when the mochi is dipped or topped with sauce and powder.
Ramen
I had ramen three times, and they were all delicious! Fish ramen is a growing trend, and it’s a lighter broth option. We also went to the classic chain – Ichiran – but be prepared for a wait in prime time. The last place was a spur-of-the-moment pick when we needed to find food near Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, and it was so good!
Most ramen places have ordering machines so the staff doesn’t need to handle payment. You’ll get a small receipt which you’ll give to a server.
Where we ate:
- Ichiran – Chain restaurant with many locations
- One Dragon Tan Tan Noodles in Tokyo – Beef broth ramen
- Maru de Sankaku in Osaka – Fish ramen
Matcha
We tried to enjoy matcha everywhere! We enjoyed it fresh in a tea ceremony and at the end of a nice meal, but we also had it in ice cream and other treats.
Where we ate:
- Kaminari Issa – matcha ice cream and drinks near Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo
- Bongen Coffee in Tokyo – pretty good coffee too but has a very long wait
Okonomiyaki
I had never had okonmiyaki before, so it was a magical experience. This savory Japanese pancake is made with flour, cabbage, and a choice of additions like pork or shrimp. There are two styles. Osaka style is a big mix of ingredients while Hiroshima style is layered ingredients, sometimes including noodles.
Where we ate:
- Torame Yokocho in Osaka – it’s a food hall so look for the specific stall in the back left
Cheese Tart
Follow your nose to the cheese tart! We went to two different places, and my favorite was Grand Riviere in Hakone, which drew us in with the fragrance of fresh-baked tarts. The crust is almost like a buttery shortbread cookie. We also went to Pablo in Osaka, which you’ll know is popular from the long line! They sell a few flavors, including strawberry, chocolate, and matcha.
Where we ate:
- Grand Riviere in Hakone
- Pablo in Osaka
Taiyaki
These filled pastries are made fresh, typically at a food stall. We happened upon one after dinner one night. We got one with red bean and one with custard. Yum!
Japanese pancakes
The special thing about Japanese pancakes is that they’re extra fluffy, like a souffle!
Where we ate:
- Northshore in Osaka
Yuzu sorbet
One of my favorite desserts I had was a yuzu sorbet. Yuzu looks like a lemon but tastes like a combination of lemon and grapefruit.
Sushi
Of course sushi! We ate sushi most days. It can come as a side dish, like a few pieces in a bento box or kaiseki dinner. We also had a multi-course sushi omakase, which was a great way to end the trip.
Where we ate:
- Shimokita Rokkaku in Tokyo
- Sushi Punch in Tokyo
Yakitori
These Japanese skewers are typically grilled over a charcoal fire and are easily found in izakayas (low-key Japanese bars) or street markets.
Where we ate:
- Omoide Yokocho – food stall alley in Tokyo
- Kuroman Ichiba Market – food stall market in Osaka
- Nishiki Market – food stall market in Kyoto
Tempura
One of my favorite parts of our multi-course dinners at a traditional Japanese hotel we stayed at was the tempura. It was light and crispy yet the vegetable shined through.
Fishcake
One thing you can find in fish markets and street stalls is fish cake. These are typically ground fish made into balls or patties and served on a skewer or in oden, which is a soup.
Egg Salad Sandwich
People raved about the egg salad sandwiches in Japan, so it was a must-try. The best one I had was from 7-Eleven, as many have suggested.
Uni
A sushi meal delicacy is uni and at Japanese street markets, you can enjoy extra fresh. You’ll see them laid out and they may include an uni variety. The best was at Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo.
Fruit
I thoroughly enjoyed all the fresh fruit in Japan. Many desserts include fruit for a light and fresh ending to a meal. At markets, you’ll see big, beautiful fruit. I especially liked the persimmons and muscat grapes.
Natto Beans / Japanese Breakfast
When in Japan, you eat fish and natto beans for breakfast! The traditional Japanese breakfast usually includes grilled fish, rice, miso soup, pickled things, and natto. Natto, which is fermented soybeans, is also lovingly called “stinky beans.” I didn’t find them too stinky, and they are good when mixed with rice, especially since they can be a bit sticky.
Takoyaki
These balls have a flour batter with pieces of octopus. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy it, look for a big red octopus face on the outside and you’ll find the Tako Tako King chain.
Sake / Shochu / Beer
There are plenty of alcoholic beverage choices in Japan.
- Sake – If you’re looking for something unique to Japan, it would be this rice wine, their national beverage. There’s a growing movement that seeks to make sake cool, so look out for sake bars.
- Shochu – This is a distilled liquor that is weaker than liquors like whiskey or vodka but stronger than wine or sake. My go-to way to drink it is a chuhai or shochu highball, which is mixed with soda water and lemon.
- Beer – When in Japan, the typical beer brands are Asahi and Sapporo, but you can find Hitachino as a craft option. Also, keep an eye out for local craft beers in specialty shops, and don’t expect to find IPAs in abundance.
It was fun to look back at all the delicious things we ate! I hope this gives you an idea of what to look out for on your trip or makes you want to book a trip to Japan.
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