Japan is a culinary paradise. From fine dining to quick bites at convenience stores, the country is brimming with some of the world’s most delectable dishes. You can’t be squeamish if you want to experience everything Japan has to offer in the cuisine department, especially when it comes to how your dishes look. Sure, sushi is pretty, but the country is full of wonderful yet unappealing goods – here are a 11 Japanese dishes.
Monjayaki
You might know about okonomiyaki. Some people call it “Japanese pizza” or “Japanese pancake”. It’s like a pancake made of batter, meat, fish, and vegetables, cooked on a hot plate. Now, let’s talk about monjayaki. It’s like okonomiyaki’s less attractive cousin. It’s most loved in the Kanto region of Japan. Monjayaki might not look very nice. It looks a bit like a messy, runny paste. But don’t judge it by its looks!
Next time you’re at a restaurant that serves okonomiyaki, try ordering monjayaki. You might find that you really like it! Remember, sometimes the tastiest foods don’t always look the best.
Natto
Natto is a food that people either really like or really don’t like. It’s a type of food from Japan that’s known for being super healthy. People make natto by fermenting soybeans with a special kind of bacteria. This bacteria is supposed to be really good for your stomach. The soybeans get a slimy coating from the bacteria, and they look a bit like tiny, frothy eggs from an alien bug. Some people find the texture a bit strange. And the smell can be pretty strong too.
Some people say it smells like dirty socks or smelly trash. Despite all this, Japanese people often eat natto for breakfast. They usually serve it over a bowl of hot, fresh rice.
Umibudo
Umibudo is a word that means “sea grapes” in English. But it’s not really grapes, it’s a type of seaweed. This seaweed grows in the tropical area of Okinawa. Eating umibudo is a special experience. When you put it in your mouth, it pops and releases a flavor that tastes like the salty sea. Some people even call umibudo “green caviar” because of this. The best way to enjoy umibudo is to eat it as a salty snack with a glass of beer, just like the local people in Okinawa do.
Shirako
Shirako is a special kind of food from Japan. It’s actually the sperm sacks of a fish. It might not look very nice, and the idea of eating it might seem a bit strange. But many places in Japan, like bars and sushi restaurants, serve shirako. It has a creamy taste, almost like custard. You could think of it as being similar to caviar, but for fish.
So, even though it might seem a bit weird at first, shirako is a delicacy in Japan. If you ever get the chance to try it, you might find that you like it!
Unagi
Have you ever thought about eating a snake? How about trying an eel instead? If you’re in Japan, you should definitely try unagi. Unagi is a grilled eel that’s a bit expensive but very special. It might not look very fancy, but people love to eat it, especially in the summer. Usually, unagi is served plain, with some sauce on top, over white rice.
Unagi is so loved in Japan that there are two special days just for eating it, July 25 and August 6. People say that eating unagi gives you energy and it has a unique taste.
Yuba
You might not think about eating the skin that forms on top of hot milk. But in Japan, there’s a food called yuba that might change your mind. Yuba is a kind of tofu. It looks like light-colored, wrinkly strips of soft skin. You can usually find it in traditional Japanese restaurants. Yuba is made from the skin that forms on top of boiling soy milk. It has a gentle flavor, so it’s often served with a tasty sauce.
Tako senbei
In Japanese, “tako” means octopus and “senbei” means rice cracker. But tako senbei is not just a regular cracker. It’s actually a crispy sheet made from a dried and super flattened octopus. People love to watch how it’s made in places like Kamakura, a beach town not too far from Tokyo.
There, experts squeeze an octopus until it’s as thin as paper. You can even see the outline of the octopus’ tentacles on the sheet! Tako senbei is different from any other rice cracker you’ve ever tried. It has a gentle and slightly sweet taste.
Nankotsu
Nankotsu is a food from Japan that might seem a bit strange at first. It’s made from fried chicken cartilage. They look a bit like chicken nuggets that didn’t turn out right. People usually enjoy nankotsu with a cold beer at a small, local bar called an izakaya. In Japan, when people eat meat, they often eat all parts of the animal.
Many yakiniku restaurants, which are places where you can get cooked meat, have a special section on their menu for unusual foods. Nankotsu is one of the foods you might find there.
Gokujyo Brown Sugar Karinto
There’s a special kind of snack in Japan that might look a bit strange at first. They look like little poops or fat brown worms. But they’re actually crispy chips that taste like doughnuts. They’re made with simple ingredients like flour, yeast, and brown sugar.
These snacks are easy to eat and really tasty. People often buy them as souvenirs, called omiyage, rather than everyday groceries. You can find these snacks at many popular places that tourists like to visit in Japan.
Chirimenjako
Imagine tiny baby sardines. They’re so small and cute, you might feel bad about eating them. And when you put them on top of a hot bowl of rice, it might seem wrong. But once you taste them, you’ll be glad you did. These little fish are salty and crispy. They’re not completely dry, just semi-dried. And the best part is, they’re really good for you. They have lots of calcium, which is important for strong bones. Plus, they have lots of other health benefits too.
Tarako
Tarako might look a bit weird at first. It looks like red, gooey sausages that haven’t been cooked yet. But it’s actually salted roe, which is a fancy way of saying fish eggs. You can find tarako in many Japanese dishes. It’s often served in onigiri, which is a kind of rice ball. You can also find it in pasta, or just by itself. Cod roe is another name for these salty, fishy eggs.
They’re used in lots of different recipes in Japan. You might think that salty fish eggs in creamy pasta sounds a bit strange. But in Japan, it’s a popular and tasty combination.
