What to Eat in Japan: 18 Delicious Food to Try in Japan!

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If you’re new here, hi I’m Kay. I love Japan. As one of my favorite countries, I can revisit Japan over and over and still find new things to get into. Even if I’m not getting into something new, I can do the same thing and have fun. I can do NOTHING and still have fun. So if you have questions about Japan, I gotchu. One of the most frequently asked questions I get is: what to eat in Japan.

Which is super important because eating is part of our every day life. For a lot of us, food is one of the highlights of traveling. Whether you’re new to Japanese cuisine or a seasoned indulger, I gotta be honest. Japanese food just hits different in Japan. Like…you HAVE to be there. And that’s not me being a “privileged traveler,” it’s verified.

While you could literally just walk down the street and pick a pretty good restaurant at random, I know some folks really want to get a taste of Japan’s most iconic dishes. That’s where I come in! I’ve been to Japan three times (about to be four in two months!) so I’ve been around the block. These are my recommendations on what to eat in Japan – and where to eat them!

Breads

I didn’t eat too much bread-bread while in Japan. Or steamed vegetables, but I don’t eat much of those in my every day life either. But I do notice a lack of bread in my diet whenever I return to Japan. But there are a few bread-adjacent items I think you should put on your “what to eat in Japan” list!

Melon Bread

The only true bread on this list, actually. Japanese melon bread, or melonpan/melon bun, is a soft sweet bread bun that’s fluffy on the inside with a crisp crust on the outside. Deceptively, it isn’t usually melon flavored, and it actually gets its name from the crisscross surface that kinda looks like cantaloupe skin.

It actually reminds me a lot of the Mexican concha! It’s perfect to pair with a cup of coffee or milk tea.

You can find melon bread pretty commonly on food streets or food markets, but for a guarantee, head to Tokyo’s Asakusa area to the bakery Asakusa Kagetsudō! There’s a couple of other great food booths in the area (like pork buns) so you can try a lot of bites on this street between sightseeing and shopping!

Taiyaki

Keeping to the cute baked goods, another item to put on your “what to eat in Japan” list is taiyaki! You’ll see the suffix -yaki quite a bit on this “what to eat in Japan” post; Yaki means “grilled” or “broiled,” referring to the cooking method of cooking over direct heat.

The dish is a common street food cake shaped like a fish (tai – red sea bream in Japanese). It is cooked similar to a waffle (and made from pancake or waffle batter). The fillings are usually red bean paste, chocolate, custard, sweet potato, or even cheese. Again, it’s very common in street food areas, but in Tokyo, my favorite so far was at the place Yanagiya.

Tempura

Last but not least of the bread section of what to eat in Japan, we have Tempura which…okay, isn’t a bread, but it does refer to breaded (or rather battered) vegetables and proteins that are then fried. The batter is made of flour, so the it’s very light and crisp.

My favorite tempura-specific restaurant in Tokyo is called Tendon Itsuki. It’s not the biggest spot and it is pretty popular (because it’s delicious) so I’d recommend getting there at opening or outside of prime eating hours to cut down on wait time. It’s also Halal which is super dope!

Soups

My favoriteeee food group in Japan, if you’re wondering what to eat in Japan, start looking at the broth-based dishes! One thing about Asia – they freakin’ KNOW their noodles, and Japan lives up to the reputation.

Ramen

If there’s ONE iconic meal to eat in Japan, it has to be ramen. HAS TO. Ramen is actually based off a Chinese dish, with its Japanese origins starting in Japan’s Yokohama Chinatown. Generally, ramen has wheat noodles in a variety of broths and topping options.

In Tokyo, I’d recommend you start your ramen journey at Ichiran Ramen. It is a chain, but the customization options allow you to get a feel for the kind a ramen your tastes buds like the most, and will give you a great baseline on the rest of the delicious ramen you will eat on your journey. A great ramen spot I usually stop into in Tokyo is Hakata Ramen Shibaraku, so if you visit let me know what you think!

Or you can take a day trip to Yokohama to learn (and taste!) the origins of ramen at the Ramen Museum. The museum itself is small, but the downstairs section has mini booths with different ramen types from all of Japan. Or you can go the more modern route and visit the Cup of Noodle Museum (also in Yokohama) and create your own personal cup of noodle to take home as a souvenir!

Tsukemen

Yoooo tsukemen literally changed my life. This was a dish that snuck up on my own personal “what to eat in Japan” list and immediately shot up to one of my favorites. It’s essentially “dipping ramen” or “deconstructed ramen.” Instead of having the noodles in the broth like usual ramen, the noodles are served separately and you dip it into the broth bowl.

I had this dish for the first time in Kyoto at Kyo Tsuke-men Tsurukame and it was SO GOOD!!! The shop is extremely small, only about 10 seats, so I’d recommend getting there at opening. It’s definitely worth it!

Udon

I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t think I liked udon before I tried it in Japan. The wheat flour noodles were just a bit too thick and chewy for me (personally), but I concede, eating it in Japan changed my mind.

In Tokyo, a great place to get udon is at Taniya, though they also serve other iconic Japanese dishes. But outside of Tokyo, one place you NEED to eat udon is in the Mt. Fuji area where the broth is made from the crystal clear waters of the mountain. Miyaki is actually the highest rated restaurant in the area and its udon is legendary, but I have never been able to make it there!

Instead, on my day trip to Mt Fuji from Tokyo, I had udon at Hoto Amano, and yanno what? It was DELICIOUS.

Shabu Shabu

If you’re wondering what to eat in Japan that is the country’s version of hot pot, then you gotta get some shabu shabu. It is…well, Japanese hot pot. One of the defining features though is found from its onomatopoeia namesake shabu shabu, which means “swish swish,” referring to the sound of moving the thinly sliced meat back and forth in the simmering broth so it cooks to the perfect degree.

My go-to shabu shabu spot in Tokyo is Nabezo. There are a few locations, so make a reservation at whichever is most convenient for you!

Soba

Last but not least of what to eat in Japan when it comes to soup-based dishes, you gotta try soba! Soba noodles are about the size of spaghetti noodles and are made of buckwheat which….aren’t usually my favorite, but again like udon, I changed my mind while in Japan! Unlike the other soup dishes, soba can be served hot or chilled.

If you make it out to Kyoto, I’d recommend having soba in the Arashiyama neighborhood. If you are lucky enough to get a table at Arashiyama Yoshimura, then you’re in for a real treat!

…I ASSUME, because I’ve never been that lucky. But an equally delicious spot, also in Arashiyama, is Iwawo, and unassuming spot down the street!

Seafood

Japan is pretty much known worldwide for its seafood, so if you’re wondering what to eat in Japan, look to the sea! Let’s just jump right in!

Sushi & Sashimi

Before my more recent trip to Japan, I was SOLD on the idea that I didn’t like raw fish. I wasn’t adventurous in my sushi orders and honestly I was even a little hesitant on smoked fish. If you’re like me, then I implore you to keep an open mind because the sushi and by extension the shashimi (raw fish) is NOTHING like what’s sold outside of Japan.

Assuming you’re visiting Tokyo, I’d recommend starting off at a conveyor belt sushi spot like Nemuro Hanamaru Ginza in Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood. That way it’s low pressure and you can see the options as they pass you. Plus, since the plates are small, you can try something new very easily with very low commitment!

Then once you get into it and feel more comfortable with sushi, check out Katsumidori Seibu Shibuya and Kanazawa Maimon Sushi. Then, you should be ready to take on any sushi restaurant in Japan!

Kaisendon

For context, “donburi” in Japan refers to rice-bowl-based dishes. Kasiendon is a donburi dish that is topped with shashimi (raw seafood). If you’re a little more skeptical of raw seafood, I’d recommend getting more comfortable with shashimi via sushi before you dive into a whole rice bowl of it, but once you do, you’re SET.

For some great kasiendon, make reservations (emphasis on make reservations) at Tsujihan in Tokyo. It’s absolutely incredible!

Unagi/Eel

Andddd rounding out the list of what to eat in Japan for seafood, you gotta try unagi, or eel. It’s not a specialty that is very popular in other parts of the world, so you’ll definitely want to take advantage while you’re in Japan! Two spots I recommend are Ajisai no Toyo in Kyoto or Unagiku in Nara (which can be visited as a day trip to Nara from Kyoto)!

Land Protein

Awww yeahhhh, now we’re getting into the meat of what to eat in Japan. Pun intended. Y’all know I’m a meat eater, and while I’ve eaten my way through this list and more, there is one item that maybe should be on your “what to eat in Japan” list that I haven’t gotten to yet – basashi.

Aka, horse shashimi.

It is a specialty of Kumamoto, so maybe if I make it there on my upcoming trip, I can finally tell you about it. If you’ve had it though, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Yakiniku

The most simplest of meat-protein meals, Yakiniku literally means “grilled meat” and is just…well, meat grilled over a griddle. Very similar to Korean BBQ if you’ve ever had that. You can order a variety of meats, vegetables, starches, and all the plum wine your liver can handle.

I loved my experience at Rokkasen in Tokyo, an all-you-can-eat (and drink!) waygu restaurant. Highly recommend doing it before a night of karaoke hahah.

Yakitori

On a similar note, yakitori is a type of skewered chicken that is cooked on a grill, usually with a caramelized savory glaze. It’s such a great snack or late-night bite. While it’s usually offered at bars and lounges, I actually do have a favorite yakitori restaurant in Tokyo.

Head to Ginza Yakitori Take-chan in the Ginza neighborhood of Tokyo because yes, they have incredible yakitori, but they also have THE BEST little chocolate covered nuts, sourced from the chocolate specialty store next door. Which you should also go to and grab a few boxes to take home!

Okonomiyaki

Out of all the items on this “what to eat in Japan” list, I’d say okonomiyaki is one of the only ones that I’ve had equivalently delicious dishes outside of Japan…though it was in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and that’s about as far as I’d take it with the comparison haha. Anyways, okonomiyaki is a savory pancake made of wheat flour batter and cabbage…and then a BUNCH of toppings.

There are two main cities in Japan I’d recommend eating okonomiyaki for an incredible experience, and that’s because they created the two most popular styles of okonomiyaki. The first would be to go to Osaka and eat at either Ajinoya Honten or Okonomiyaki Mizuno. The second destination is Hiroshima, but I haven’t been there yet so I don’t have specific recommendations.

But I’m heading there in two months so stay tuned!

Japanese curry

Japanese curry actually used to be my favorite curry, though as I have eaten my way across the world, that title has been given to another variety. Still, if you’re looking for what to eat in Japan that is both iconic and “picky eater” friendly, definitely go for Japanese curry. It has a calm and hearty flavor, isn’t spicy, and served with rice.

What’s not to love?

Since I’ve eaten a LOT of Japanese curry in my days, and it’s not too unfamiliar from other curries you may have tried, I don’t often prioritize ordering curry while in Japan. However if you want a great restaurant for it, check out Arashiyama Curry in Kyoto!

Tonkatsu

Not to be confused with tonkotsu ramen, tonkatsu is a Japanese dish of deep-fried pork cutlets that are coated with panko bread crumbs. It seems simple, but it kinda brings me back to my childhood of breaded pork chops. Maybe that’s why I love it so much.

If you haven’t picked up by now, Ginza is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Tokyo (shopaholic alert), but they also have great tonkatsu! I recommend Tonkatsu Aoki Ginza for something more casual or Tonkatsu Hasegawa for something a little fancier. Both are delicious!

Gyukatsu

Now for all you beef lovers, we have gyukatsu, which is deep-fried beef cutlets coated with bread crumbs hahah. It’s one of my favorite iconic Japanese dishes, and it’s so simple yet so delicious. For this one, I’m actually going to recommend a chain.

I KNOW I KNOW, but it’s so good I keep going backkkkkk!!!

Swing by Gyukatsu Motomura to get some delicious bites, but whatever you do, DON’T go to the Harajuku location. Yes, it’s still super tasty, but it’s in such a congested part of Tokyo that even if you line up early, the wait can be up to two-three hours!! The other locations are much chiller though so go anywhere else unless you like your feet hurting.

Kobe Beef

Alriiiiiight and last but not least of what to eat in Japan, if you have the opportunity, you gotta try Kobe beef. For context, all Japanese beef in Japan is wagyu, due to the pedigree of beef in Japan overall. But KOBE beef specifically is from cows born, bred, and raised in Kobe, Japan, and are genetically distinct from other cows in Japan. And yes, the taste is distinct as well!!

It’s a shame cows are so cute.

If you have the opportunity to visit (maybe as a day trip to Kobe), there are tons of places to try Kobe beef. My personal recommendation is Kobe Steak Ishida, where you can make reservations so you don’t have to wait around and you can watch them cook in front of you. Insider tip: opt for the garlic rice. Trust me.

Conclusion: What to Eat in Japan

Woohoo!! We made it thru y’all!! Hopefully this list has helped answer what to eat in Japan, and even more helpful, where to eat it! Do any of these dishes catch your eye? As I continue to visit more spots in Japan, I’m sure I’ll be adding more to this list in time, but for now, I think I’ve got most of the basics! If you want to expand your “what to eat in Japan”, try foods from Japan’s immigrant communities and check out these Black owned restaurants in Tokyo!

And of course you could always go on a Tokyo food tour that will allow you to taste a good amount of this list all at once, and you get a tour guide and insight on Japanese cuisine and culture too! Two birds one stone and all of that, yanno. Another city I’d highly recommend a food tour is Osaka. And if you’re in Kyoto, it’s a great city for a kaiseki meal, or a traditional Japanese tasting menu.

Basically, you can find great food ALL over Japan!

A few miscellaneous items that aren’t really “dishes” or meals that you should still try out are ekibens (or boxed meals sold at train stations) and of course onigiri (rice balls) from 7/11 and other convenience stores!

If you’ve been to Japan, what other foods would you suggest for what to eat in Japan? Let me know in the comments below!

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