Japanese dishes you must try
This page provides an overview of various types of Japanese cuisine, along with recommendations for restaurants in Tokyo for each dish. For those restaurants where I haven't been able to verify the quality due to living abroad for some time, I've provided recommendations only in the comments. I'm only featuring restaurants under "My favorite restaurant" that I've personally confirmed the quality of within the past few years.
Onigiri
Onigiri is a Japanese rice ball made by shaping cooked rice into a triangular or cylindrical shape, often wrapped in seaweed. It's a popular light meal in Japan, enjoyed for its simplicity and portability. Onigiri can be filled with various ingredients such as salted salmon, pickled plum , grilled tuna, or seasoned seaweed. It's a convenient and versatile food, commonly found in convenience stores. Onigiri is not only delicious and convenient but also budget-friendly.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
7 Eleven Japan
Location: in Japan
Specialty: Convenience store
Comment: First and foremost, I recommend the onigiri from 7-Eleven to foreigners. Traditional fillings for onigiri generally include ume (pickled plum), konbu (kelp), okaka (bonito flakes), and salmon. Nowadays, modern favorites like tuna mayo, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and ikura (salmon roe) are also popular. Personally, I especially recommend the konbu and ikura onigiri.
Sushi
Sushi is a traditional Japanese dish that typically consists of vinegared rice combined with various toppings, such as raw or cooked seafood. These toppings are often served atop bite-sized portions of rice, called nigiri sushi, or rolled up with rice and seaweed into cylindrical shapes, known as maki sushi.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Daiwa Sushi
Location: Toyosu
Specialty: Traditional Sushi
Comment: For me, this is the best sushi restaurant in Tokyo. You can enjoy top-class sushi at a reasonable price. It was the most popular sushi restaurant in Tokyo's seafood market Tsukiji. When the seafood market moved from Tsukiji to Toyosu in 2018, this restaurant relocated to Toyosu as well. Back in the Tsukiji days, lines would form as early as 5 AM, but since moving to Toyosu, it's become easier to get in.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Sushi Zanmai
Location: Tsukiji, Shibuya, Shiunjuku, etc.
Specialty: Traditional Sushi
Comment: Sushizanmai is a popular sushi restaurant chain in Japan, renowned for offering high-quality sushi at reasonable prices. Founded by Kiyoshi Kimura, who is often referred to as the "Tuna King" due to his record-breaking tuna purchases at the famous Tsukiji Fish Market auctions. Sushizanmai locations typically have a vibrant and lively atmosphere, with many branches open 24 hours, making it a convenient choice for any time of day.
There is a restaurant chain with the same name in Malaysia, but the two restaurant chains are not related.
For more affordable sushi options, conveyor belt sushi (kaitenzushi) is very popular in Japan. Personally, I especially like Kura Sushi, but Sushiro, Kappa Sushi, and Hama Sushi are also equally popular and highly recommended.
Ramen
Ramen is a popular Japanese noodle soup dish consisting of wheat noodles served in a savory broth, typically flavored with soy sauce, miso, or salt. It often includes toppings such as sliced pork, green onions, seaweed, and boiled eggs. Ramen is known for its rich flavors and variety of regional styles across Japan.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Mujyaki
Location: Jiyugaoka
Specialty: Shoyu Tonkotsu
Comment: My personal favorite ramen shop, which holds a special place in my heart, is Mujaki in Jiyugaoka. While it doesn't attract long lines, it serves the best ramen.
Since it's not the most accessible location, here are some other highly popular ramen shops in Tokyo:
Ichiran: This super famous ramen chain always has long lines. Known for its top-notch flavor, Ichiran also features a unique interior designed to help you focus solely on enjoying your ramen.
Tenkaippin: This place serves incredibly unique ramen. It's definitely worth a try.
Yoshimura-ya: The originator of the Iekei ramen style. The strict owner is famous for having trained many apprentices.
Ramen Jiro: The original “gut-busting” ramen. Created for those who want to eat until they’re full, this ramen is not only delicious but also known for its huge portions. Even the small size surpasses the large size at most other shops.
IPPUDO: Ippudo is another hugely popular ramen restaurant in Tokyo. With its international expansion, it's also well-known overseas. Personally, I find that the quality of their overseas outlets is quite high, so while I'd recommend trying ramen that's unique to Japan, if you're a fan of Ippudo, I highly suggest experiencing the taste of the original Ippudo here in Japan.
Sukiyaki / Shabu Shabu
Sukiyaki features thinly sliced beef, tofu, mushrooms, cabbage, and vegetables simmered in a sweet soy sauce broth, often enjoyed by dipping cooked ingredients in raw egg. Shabu-shabu, on the other hand, involves thinly sliced pork or beef and vegetables cooked in a clear broth, with ingredients dipped in sauces like ponzu or sesame, offering a different flavor profile from sukiyaki's sweeter sauce.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Imahan
Location: Ningyocho
Specialty: Sukiyaki, Shabu Shabu
Comment: Onyasai is a reasonable option for Syabu Syabu.
Yakiniku
Yakiniku is a Japanese dish where meat, typically beef, pork, or chicken, is grilled at the table on a barbecue or a hot plate. It's often seasoned with various sauces and spices while cooking. The grilled meat is commonly enjoyed with rice and vegetables.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Jyojyoen
Location: Roppongi, Shibuya, Shinjuku, etc.
Specialty: Yakiniku
Comment: This restaurant is a famous yakiniku place frequented by celebrities. With multiple locations across Tokyo, some of which are open until late at night, it is very convenient. Among Jojoen's various branches, Yūgen-tei is particularly luxurious.
Yaki Gyoza
Yaki gyoza is a popular Japanese dish consisting of pan-fried dumplings filled with a savory mixture of ground meat (often pork or chicken), vegetables, and seasonings. The dumpling wrappers are typically made from wheat flour and water, enclosing the flavorful filling.
To prepare yaki gyoza, the dumplings are first pan-fried on one side until golden brown and crispy. Then, water is added to the pan, which is covered to steam the dumplings and cook the filling thoroughly. This dual cooking method creates a delightful contrast of crispy and tender textures in each bite.
Yaki gyoza is commonly served with a dipping sauce made from soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili oil or sesame oil. It's a popular appetizer or side dish in Japanese cuisine, enjoyed for its delicious flavor and satisfying texture.Osho
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Gyoza Ohsho
Location: Many
Specialty: Yaki Gyoza
Comment:
Tempura
Tempura is a Japanese dish made by frying seafood, vegetables, or other ingredients in a light batter until crispy. It's often served with a dipping sauce and appreciated for its delicate texture and savory taste.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Tsunahachi
Location: Shinjuku
Specialty: Tempura
Comment: Shinjuku Tsunahachi is a famous tempura restaurant in Tokyo's Shinjuku area. Open since 1923, it is well-known for its high-quality tempura, made with fresh seasonal ingredients. The tempura is light and crispy, highlighting the natural flavors of the seafood and vegetables.
Funabashiya
Location: Shinjuku
Specialty: Tempura
Comment: A tempura restaurant located very close to the Tsunahachi flagship store. This is also a popular spot that I can recommend.
Soba
Soba is a type of Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour, wheat flour, or a combination of both. It's a staple dish in Japanese cuisine and is enjoyed in various forms, hot or cold.
Zaru soba, specifically, refers to chilled soba noodles that are typically served on a bamboo sieve or "zaru" with a dipping sauce called "tsuyu." The noodles are boiled until they are firm and then cooled under running water to maintain their texture. Once chilled, they're served on the zaru alongside a dipping sauce made from soy sauce, mirin, and dashi broth.
Zaru soba is often garnished with toppings such as thinly sliced green onions, grated daikon radish, or shredded nori seaweed. It's a refreshing and light dish, especially popular during the hot summer months in Japan. It is often served alongside tempura as well.
Comment: I have visited several high-end soba restaurants, but I have yet to encounter any high-end soba in Tokyo that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Therefore, recommending high-end soba is difficult for me. However, I can highly recommend Fuji Soba, which offers soba at a reasonable price. It is the one of most famous soba restaurant chain in Japan.
Donburi
Donburi, a staple of Japanese cuisine, consists of a bowl of steamed rice topped with various ingredients. Among the most popular variations are Gyudon (beef bowl), Oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl), Katsudon (breaded pork cutlet bowl), Kaisendon (raw seafood bowl), and Unadon (grilled eel bowl). The suffix "don" indicates that the dish is served in a bowl (donburi), making it a convenient and satisfying meal option.
Unadon is often served in a box, which is called "unajyu." Unajyu contains more eel than unadon and is considered a higher-grade version of unadon.
My favorite restaurant in Tokyo
Yoshinoya
Location: Many
Specialty: Gyudon (beef bowl)
Comment: In Japan, expensive food is not necessarily tastier than cheaper food. You can enjoy delicious meals even at low prices. A prime example of this is the beef bowl chains like Yoshinoya. They serve tasty meals quickly and affordably. You don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy delicious food in Japan. Sukiya and Matsuya are famous rival chains. The taste varies from one chain to another, so it might be interesting to compare them.
Kanda Kikukawa
Location: Kanda, etc.
Specialty: Unajyu (grilled eel box)
Comment: The Unajyu (eel box) here is absolutely delicious. I believe unajyu here is one of the best in Tokyo.
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savory pancake made with a batter of flour, cabbage, eggs, and dashi. It's cooked on a hot griddle and topped with various ingredients like pork, seafood, or vegetables. After cooking, it's garnished with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed flakes, and bonito fish flakes. It's loved for its crispy texture and customizable toppings.
Comment: The best place for okonomiyaki is Osaka. Therefore, I would highly recommend Tsuruha Fuugetsu, which is highly regarded by locals. At this restaurant, the staff prepares the okonomiyaki for you from start to finish, ensuring you get the best possible okonomiyaki experience.
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is a popular Japanese snack made from batter filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion, cooked in a special molded pan to create small, round balls. They are typically topped with takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and seaweed flakes. Takoyaki is loved for its crispy exterior and soft, savory interior, making it a favorite street food in Japan.
Comment: While takoyaki is famously associated with the Kansai region, there are also renowned takoyaki shops originating from Tokyo. A prime example is the globally famous Gindaco. Takoyaki enthusiasts might want to visit their first store in Tsukiji. Additionally, the famous Kansai-based shop Kukuru has multiple locations in Tokyo, so it could be interesting to compare the two.
