Cuisine

Overview

Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of political, economic, and social changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan (Japanese: washoku) is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, tamagoyaki, and vegetables cooked in broth. Apart from rice, a staple includes noodles, such as soba and udon. Japan also has many simmered dishes, such as fish products in broth called oden, or beef in sukiyaki and nikujaga ^[1].

Where to Find

Suggestions For Savory Food
City	Food	Location
Tokyo	Yakiniku	Chibo
Osaka	Okonomiyaki	Yakiniku Washino
Kyoto	Udon	Kyoto Shijo Kuon
Other Japanese Dishes

Suggestions for Sweet Treats
City	Food	Location
Tokyo	Fluffy Pancakes	Flippers
Osaka	Daifuku	Mochi Shizuku
Kyoto	Matcha	Maccha House
Other Japanese Desserts

Tasty Must Try's

Udon

Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Udon are the thickest of the noodles served in Japanese cuisine. Udon are white, wheat-based noodles, that are 4-6mm in width. These noodles are served chilled with a dipping sauce in the summer months, or in hot dishes and soups when the temperature is cooler. Udon dishes include kitsune udon, Nabeyaki udon, curry udon, and yaki udon. However, sara udon is made using a different kind of noodle which is crispy ^[2].

Okonomiyaki

ume-y, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A Japanese teppanyaki savory pancake dish consisting of wheat flour batter and other ingredients (mixed, or as toppings) cooked on a teppan (flat griddle). Common additions include cabbage, meat, and seafood, and toppings include okonomiyaki sauce (made with Worcestershire sauce), aonori (dried seaweed flakes), katsuobushi (bonito flakes), Japanese mayonnaise, and pickled ginger ^[3].

Yakiniku

Meat and vegetables being grilled — Yakiniku

mypicture, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yakiniku, meaning "grilled meat", is a Japanese term that, in its broadest sense, refers to grilled meat cuisine. Today, "yakiniku" commonly refers to a style of cooking bite-size meat (usually beef and offal) and vegetables on gridirons or griddles over a flame of wood charcoal carbonized by dry distillation or a gas or electric grill. It is one of the most popular dishes in Japan ^[4].

Sweet Treats

Daifuku

Lyzzy assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Daifukumochi, or daifuku (literally "great luck"), is a type of Japanese confection, consisting of a small round mochi stuffed with a sweet filling, most commonly anko, a sweetened red bean paste made from azuki beans. Daifuku is often served with green tea ^[5].

Fluffy Pancakes

Airy, jiggly and light in texture. Super tasty!

Jiggly Pancakes — Japanese Souffle pancakes

Carolina self taken photo, October 2024.

Matcha

WFan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea specially processed from shade-grown tea leaves. Shade growing gives matcha its characteristic bright green color and strong umami flavor. Matcha is typically consumed suspended in hot water but can also be made into various desserts such as frozen yogurt and tiramisu ^[6].