Japanese Food and Cuisine: Guide with Recipes

You can easily prepare your own homemade Japanese food, whether you choose traditional and authentic recipes like Nigiri Sushi  & Vegetarian Temaki Sushi, or prefer to try out some more modern twists inspired by Japanese cuisine, such as Salmon Poke Bowl, Curry Schnitzel Ramen and this fusion-style Teriyaki Chicken Bento Box.

In fact, there are so many wonderful Japanese recipes to explore (see our easy Japanese recipes at the end of this post!), but it can be daunting knowing where to begin. So, to help get you started, here’s our pick of some of the best dishes to come from Japan that are super simple for you to make at home.

What are popular Japanese foods?

Of course, there are many diverse regional Japanese recipes and delicacies, but we’ve selected the top Japanese main dishes and typical snacks that are trending right now. Each is a culinary experience! For the home cooks, we’ve sprinkled in some of the classic Japanese recipes that are easy to prepare. 

Japanese Curry

Japanese curries are a bit different in taste as they’re made with mild ready-prepared curry powder with rich umami flavour and are rather “stew-like”, whereas Indian curries tend to have many different individual spices and are often hotter.

The most famous Japanese curry in the West is Katsu Curry , made with breaded pork (tonkatsu)  or chicken (like a schnitzel) served with a mildly spiced sweet & salty sauce and sticky rice. It’s extremely popular in Japanese restaurants with all ages and a great dish to try at home as it’s not complicated to make. Or try this simple Japanese Chicken Curry recipe for dinner, made with mostly store cupboard ingredients and fruity apples. Delicious and healthy!

Japanese Izakaya food

An izakaya is an informal Japanese bar where you can enjoy some drinks and snacks after work with colleagues or when socialising with a group of friends. Typically, the food comes out as small plates, like tapas, for sharing with the table. It’s a fun way to eat dinner.

Along with edamame, fried seafood, salads, sushi and hot pots, you’ll often find Japanese grilled chicken skewers called Yakitori on the menu. These are always served with salt or a sweet, thickened sauce called tare. This classic, authentic recipe for Negima Yakitori (chicken thigh and spring onion skewers) is hard to beat.

Another well-known Japanese chicken dish served in izakaya is Karaage. Chicken thigh is marinated then coated in cornflour and deep-fried until crisp. Unsurprisingly it goes very well with beer! We’ve given the traditional snack an update in this Karaage Tacos with Citrus Mayo recipe.

Japanese street food

Street food is a big deal in Japanese culture; it’s especially served at festivals and events and in city hotspots like Tokyo and around the country.

One of the most popular Japanese street food dishes is Okonomiyaki – a savoury egg-based snack that’s a cross between a pancake and omelette. Depending on the region, they’re filled with meat, tofu, seafood or vegetables, plus various toppings e.g. mayonnaise, dried seaweed and bonito flakes and a special okonomiyaki sauce. This simple vegetarian okonomiyaki street food recipe is made with cabbage.

Katsu sando is another great Japanese street food often found on menus, perfect for a satisfying lunch. Essentially, it’s a sandwich stuffed with a thick slice of fried breaded meat, raw cabbage, and a Japanese BBQ sauce. This Japanese beef version of Katsu Sando is best made with fillet steak, though you could use pork tenderloin instead.

Japanese street food isn’t limited to savoury dishes of course. Sweet desserts and snacks such as chewy Mochi rice cakes filled with red bean paste or fruit flavours are moreish, as are Mitarashi Dango – rice dumpling skewers with a sweet soy glaze.

List of other Popular Japanese Foods

We’ve chosen our top 10 traditional Japanese foods (washoku) that form the key staples and are best-known. Many you will have already heard of or tried as they are popular in the UK too! These are just a fraction of the diverse Japanese main dishes and snacks out there as there are simply too many to add to the list.

• Sushi – Probably the most famous Japanese speciality. Sushi simply means “vinegared rice” and it comes in all kinds of shapes and with various toppings, often raw fish but also vegetables for vegan sushi and even omelette. Discover our easy sushi recipes and how to make sushi rice
• Sashimi – Another of Japan’s best-known traditional dishes, sashimi is thinly sliced raw fish or seafood. It’s served without rice. Try with our delicate Sushi & Sashimi Soy Sauce and a little daikon radish and wasabi
• Tempura – An equally well-known Japanese dish, tempura are crisp vegetables and seafood such as prawns in a light and lacy batter. Tempura is traditionally served with a dipping sauce called tentsuyu, made with soy sauce, mirin, and dashi. Grated daikon and ginger may also be included
• Gyoza - Authentic Japanese dumplings. Some types of gyoza are steamed, others are deep-fried, and some are a combination of the two. Fillings may be meat, vegetarian, or vegan. Dip in umami-rich Kikkoman soy sauce or our citrussy Ponzu 
• Ramen - Classic Japanese noodle soups with ramen noodles, a rich stock and various toppings such as sliced pork, shiitake mushroom, egg and nori seaweed. They vary regionally, some with light stocks or rich bone broths called tonkotsu. Our convenient Ramen Soup Base makes a delicious ramen in minutes - just add hot water, noodles and your fave toppings 
• Miso soup - ATypically served as a side dish along with rice in Japanese food culture, miso (fermented soybeans) soup is made with dashi stock and usually seaweed or tofu. Try our own vegan Instant Tofu Miso Soup for quick and healthy lunches and snacks
• Bento - A lidded Japanese lunch box to eat at work or school, either packed at home or shop-bought as a takeaway. The bento box usually has dividers inside to keep foods separate. You may find rice or noodles, meat or fish cakes, plus vegetables and pickles inside
• Onigiri - A popular Japanese street food snack, these seasoned steamed rice balls or triangles often come with various fillings and are wrapped in nori seaweed
• Teriyaki - Translated from the Japanese, it means glaze (teri) and grill (yaki). This traditional cooking method is used on meat, fish, prawn, and vegetable skewers that are cooked over charcoal, the rich teriyaki sauce brushed over while cooking to build a shine. Our classic Teriyaki sauce is made from soy sauce, wine or sake, garlic and spices and is perfect for this Japanese Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
• Shabu shabu - A Japanese hot pot which is shared at the table. Thinly sliced meat and vegetables are cooked one at a time by diners who dip them into hot stock with a skewer. A bit like an Asian fondue

Lastly, not forgetting Rice and Noodles of course – daily staples of Japanese cuisine. Soba, udon and ramen noodles are famous Japanese favourites. Yakisoba is a flavoursome Japanese stir fry of soba noodles.

Visit our must-try Japanese Recipe Collection and try some of these traditional and fusion dishes yourself, they are surprisingly easy to make. With the right Japanese ingredients to hand, you can enjoy a taste of Asia at home. We hope you will enjoy trying them.

Importance of Umami

One flavour profile which is common throughout Japanese cuisine is the Umami. Also known as the fifth “savoury” taste sensation, umami is so important in traditional Japanese food culture. It is present in key ingredients such as mushrooms, meat, dashi, miso, seaweed, green tea and naturally brewed Kikkoman Soy Sauce. Always use Japanese Kikkoman for a true authentic taste.