We were lucky enough to cross Japan off our travel bucket list this past spring and while we didn’t fully know what to expect when we arrived – we did know we were in for some amazing food and drinks!
We were so excited to try authentic Japanese food and eat our way through Tokyo and Kyoto. Plus, with dining out being so cheap, we knew we’d be able to try so many things and come home probably 10 pounds heavier but we knew it would be worth it.
These were some of our favorite foods and drinks that we had in Japan and what we recommend making sure you try if you visit!
Our favorite food and drinks in Japan
Ramen
We’re gonna kick it off with a dish I loved so much, we got it twice during our time in Japan: Ramen! This noodle-based dish often contains bamboo shoots, green onions, eggs, and a meat like pork belly.
Interestingly, it is seen as a compliment and polite to slurp your ramen!
Miso soup
Another soup dish that’s very common in Japan is miso soup. Now, this is often served as a side dish with meals. It felt like every dinner we sat down for started with a bowl of miso soup. This dish is made with miso paste, which is fermented soybeans, and dashi, which is fish stock.
Miso soup also features tofu, onion, seaweed, and sometimes vegetables like carrots. If you’re allergic to soy, this is a dish you should avoid.
Gyoza
We always order gyoza or potstickers when we order from our favorite sushi restaurant here at home, and so we were excited to try some while in Japan. We got to order these dumplings at the ramen restaurant we went to in Tokyo. Gyoza is made with thin wrappers, so they can be more crispy compared to Chinese-style potstickers.
Onigiri
I grew up obsessed with Sailor Moon and in this anime, they were always snacking on onigiri, a rice ball that can be filled with meat or vegetables and wrapped with seaweed.
This isn’t something you’ll often be chowing down on in restaurants but it’s more of a snack that you take to go or get from a konbini or convenience store.
Sushi and sashimi
You knew it was going to be on the list but it feels impossible to go all the way to Japan and not gorge on sushi and sashimi. And oh man, was the sashimi tender and fresh. Even the sushi we got at the convenience stores was fantastic and flavorful – and so inexpensive.
Karaage
The second time I got ramen Rick wanted to try something else so he ordered karaage and fried rice. Karaage is Japanese fried chicken and it was so tender and juicy and definitely earns a spot on the list of the best foods to eat in Japan.
Takoyaki
Hands down this was my favorite dish in Japan! Takoyaki are basically fried snacks filled with octopus. The batter includes tempura, green onion, and ginger, and is often drizzled in a sauce, and is so tasty. Fair warning though, these are served boiling hot so give them some time to cool down before stuffing them in your face!
Okonomiyaki
Another fried dish that is savory and features a variety of ingredients. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake that basically translates to “how you like” and “grilled.” The batter includes flour, yams, dashi, eggs, cabbage, and a meat or meats of some sort, like pork belly, octopus, and shrimp.
Yakitori
This is a Japanese dish that’s popular and well-recognized as yakitori or chicken kabobs. Yakitori often has a savory, caramelized glaze on top. The dish can also include grilled vegetables between the bites of meat.
Soba noodles
We were fortunate and got to sample 100% buckwheat soba noodles while exploring the Mt. Fuji region. Not only was the dish good, but it was perfect as it cold and rainy in the Mt. Fuji region while we were there and this dish was warming and had a savory broth. The noodles were tasty, thick, and chewy. I got mine with shrimp tempura and Rick got his with crispy juvenile prawns.
Tempura
Speaking of tempura, it’s a dish you have to try while in Japan. We dined a lot on shrimp tempura as it was served in many of our included meals. We also found meals at the convenience stores that featured tempura-fried fish and vegetables.
Gyudon
This was a dish that we found in many restaurants and konbini, and we actually got to try our hand at making it! During our cooking class in Tokyo our main dish was gyudon, which is actually a pretty simple dish comprised of rice, beef, and onions. The gyudon we ordered at a major gas station on the way to Kyoto also came with a soft egg and did add some fun variety to the dish.
Shabu Shabu
Shabu shabu or hot pot was a dish we got to enjoy on our last night in Kyoto. This meal started with a salad, then the servers turned on our hot pot broth where we could drop in cuts of meat to quickly cook and then scoop out some vegetables and meat, and after our broth-cooked meat we were served noodles that cooked in the hot pot that we then transferred to our little bowl filled with noodle sauce. It was fun and interactive, much like dining at Melting Pot or a similar restaurant.
Wagyu beef
While in Kyoto our tour director made us a reservation to enjoy some wagyu beef which cooked right on the hot plate it was served on. Oh my god, was this cut so tender and delicious. I didn’t even mind cooking my own dinner as it was good. Our dinner did include a miso soup, an appetizer of ham and onion, and then a dessert of green tea ice cream and sweet black beans.
Green tea ice cream
I’m not the biggest green tea fan but I did enjoy some green tea or matcha desserts. Twice we got green tea ice cream and it was delicious both times! We did get green tea in two forms, one was a big old scoop and one was matcha soft serve. The soft serve’s flavor was lighter but still really good.
Mochi
We knew to expect fantastic main dishes while in Japan but didn’t know what the dessert culture would be like and were surprised that desserts aren’t super sweet and often feature vegetables like beans. It was actually nice to not have overly-sugary sweets.
We got our chance to make our own Japanese desserts at a mochi making class just outside of Kyoto. It was crazy to find out that it can take 10 years to become a mochi master! I mean mine turned out terribly, but Rick’s came out like he was already making mochi for a few years. Guess we know which one of us has more artistic talent!
What to drink in Japan
Japanese beer
We were quite ready to sip on some Sapporo, Asahi, and Kirin! Asahi was easier to find on menus while out and about but you could find a great variety of beers in the 7-11s.
Plum wine
I’m a big wine drinker and we could find wine in Japan, but we did also want to sample a local drink by trying some plum wine. It definitely has some fruity tones but can also be a bit sour.
Sake
A favorite drink I kept ordering in Japan was sake, both hot and cold! Both were amazing, but I loved getting the hot version as I’m not going to make it that way at home.
Hear of any dishes that we need to try next time we go to Japan? Leave your recommendations in the comments!
