As anyone who drives a Japanese vehicle knows, the Japanese take great pride in their work and make high quality products. This extends beyond their automotive industry, technology and clothing to of course their food. Not only are the ingredients delicious and fresh but the Japanese people take great pride in the making and serving of a meal. In fact, at a restaurant a tip is not expected because it is believed that the customer pays for good food and service. Not only is the restaurant food excellent, but so are the snacks, street food and on the go meals from the convenience stores. Japan is known to have some of the most delicious food in the world and it was one of my favorite countries for food that I’ve been to. With that being said let’s dive into it.
Ramen (and in particular Spicy Ramen)
I like ramen and have it a couple times of year, I also usually try out a good ramen place when travelling within the USA, but I am not super crazy about it. I knew I’d have to try the ramen in Japan, and on our first night in Tokyo the Spicy Ramen I had in Shinjuku at Ramen Ikkakuya was the best I’ve ever had. The ramen in Japan was good, but the spicy was on another level and is something you won’t find outside of Japan. The rest of the trip I was chasing after that flavor, to no avail, and I had ramen in both Kyoto and Osaka. Despite being good, the spicy ramen at Ramen Ikkakuya put the other restaurants to shame. Fresh noodles, fresh broth, crispy seaweed and the most tender pork I’ve had coupled with the spicy broth was a game changer for me.
Wagyu Steak
There isn’t much to say about Wagyu steak, as I’m sure you’ve heard about it and know of the reputation of this cut of steak, other than it’s delicious. Wagyu Steak on a skewer served on the street is addictive and will have you going back for more and more. There were tons of Wagyu Steak street food in Osaka and was amongst the best street food I’ve ever had. We also went to a steak house in Tokyo where we cooked the Wagyu and other cuts at the table. It was a fun and neat experience; plus, the Wagyu was delicious. So tender, so juicy and so much flavour, I’m drooling as I write this.
Kobe Beef
Prior to reading this, I’m sure you’ve heard of Wagyu Steak, but have you heard of Kobe Beef? Wagyu Steak is a bit on the pricier side, and Kobe Beef is even more expensive. But the price is worth it. I only had it on the skewer and in the streets of Osaka, but I couldn’t stop going back for more. The Wagyu skewers were tremendous, but I think the Kobe Beef was even better.
Sashimi
Believe it or not, we never had sushi in Japan, I’m not crazy about sushi and there were so many other good foods to try. And after the spicy ramen and steak, there wasn’t much else we desired to eat. But on our last night we decided to splurge and ate in a restaurant in Shibuya Sky, overlooking Shibuya crossing. We had some Sashimi as an appetizer, and even though the thought of raw fish makes me gag, the salmon was extremely fresh and delicious and made me wish I ordered some more earlier on in the trip.
Kanto-style Sukiyaki
Sukiyaki is Japanese hot pot where thin, tender slices of meat and vegetables are slow cooked in a broth at your table. In Shibuya Sky, where we had the Sashimi, we had regular sukiyaki and Kanto-style where once the meat is cooked you dip it in the raw egg. Again, it doesn’t sound very appetizing but its delicious and an experience you should try in Japan.
Chicken Yakitori
I’m not sure what it is but Japan is full of amazing food on skewers. Chicken Yakitori is Japanese style chicken skewers. The chicken is juicy, tender and extremely flavorful. You can get this on the street and we even had a bunch of sticks in Kabukicho Tower where it was a lively atmosphere where you could eat working class and street food from a number of restaurants. The Yakitori was good and so was the Gyoza.
Tokyo Milk Cheesecake
I’ve always liked cheesecake and usually like caramel, chocolate and a vast array of glutinous flavors. Milk Cheesecake from Tokyo has a reputation of being tremendous. I didn’t care to buy any, but I’m glad my fiancé convinced me. We bought a cheesecake and finished the entire thing off in less than two days. The cheesecake was so creamy and flavorful and melts in your mouth. And it probably isn’t a good thing that it doesn’t make you feel too stuffed and bad after eating it because then you’ll keep going back for more and end up eating the entire thing.
Strawberries
Back home I like Strawberries, but they aren’t my favorite fruit, so when I saw Strawberries in Japan for a very expensive price I was shocked. The fiancé on the other hand saw how big and red they were so decided to splurge. In Japan, strawberries are cherished, and in typical Japanese fashion they are cultivated under strict and stringent conditions. This leads to very large, sweet and red strawberries. The strawberries aren’t sour and are delicious! There are a wide range of types to choose from, we chose a pack of 7 large red strawberries on the upper middle price category, the pack cost us about $15 but it was worth the treat. They were the best strawberries I have had. Also, you can try the sugar-coated strawberry skewers, they are a nice sweet treat.
Stuffed 10 Yen Coins
Street food and snacks are a common trend in this blog post, and the stuffed 10-yen coins are no exception. Think waffles but a lot cooler looking. These are fresh, crispy on the exterior, fluffy on the inside and stuffed with a variety of options. You can get chocolate, cheese and other flavors. The cheese is thick and stringy and the chocolate was delicious too. Before you try this delicious treat, make sure you snap a photo first!
Ekiben
The Japanese are known for eating food on the go; whether that is breakfast from 711 or Ekiben which translates to train box. These are bento boxes which are food on the go, and you can buy them in a number of stores in each train station. The food is hot, delicious and like an American TV dinner on steroids. The boxes are creative, and you can find things like salad, sushi, chicken, sandwiches, etc. all combined in one box. Unlike American TV dinners and lunch boxes, the food feels much healthier and like real food. It isn’t the same as going to an authentic restaurant in Japan, but these Ekiben are tasty and part of the experience when riding on a long train ride.
Bonus
Egg Sando
Like everything made in Japan, the Japanese take pride in whatever they make, even prepacked sandwiches or “sandos” from the convenience store. A popular one that you can eat for breakfast, lunch or just a snack is the egg sando. You will find this in just about every convenience store and train station too. The bread is fluffy and fresh and the egg salad is extremely creamy and tasty.
There are so many delicious foods to talk about, this blog post is just scratching the surface. I didn’t get a chance to try everything I wanted to eat in Japan, and that is one reason why I’ll definitely be back.
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