Although it may seem that Japan street food consists of fish, there is really a vast array of street foods that spans over tastes, textures and meats! You won't have to sacrifice flavour for affordability with all the famous Japanese street food! In no time at all, you will be slurping yakisoba noodles or devouring a plate of piping hot takoyaki.
We've put up a list of Japanese street food to grab when you're out and about in Japan, since there's an unlimited variety of popular street food in Japan that you must eat. Just a heads up, Japanese street food may be rather addicting! Grab a companion and split the assortment of street snacks if at all possible. In the end, sharing a meal makes the flavour pop even more!
Okonomiyaki
A delicious part of Japanese food tradition- this is a must have! The renowned Japanese food okonomiyaki, also called "Japanese pizza," is a pancake dish that is usually topped with sauce and condiments and contains cabbage, pork, and eggs. Okonomikaki may be prepared in two different ways: the Hiroshima style and the Osaka style. Layers of crepe-like batter, cabbage, beef, eggs, and other ingredients are placed one on top of another in the layered variant of okonomiyaki, which is called Hiroshima-style. A combination of vegetables, pork, seafood, eggs, and tempura leftovers make up the batter of the Osaka-style okonomiyaki. This is one of the most popular street foods in Japan!
Kakigori
A sweeter part of Japan street food, this is one of the best street food in Japan! One way Japan can take an existing idea and make it 10 times better is with kakigori. With the addition of sugar, flavoured syrup, and condensed milk, this summer delight surpasses snow cones in every way. The add-ons may be small, but they have a huge impact on the game's outcome. A fluffy, heavenly cloud of sugary holiness is formed from the ordinary shaved ice. Thanks to its airy texture, kakigori makes you feel good even if it tastes as creamy and sweet as ice cream.
Bento
Part of a daily Japanese food tradition, the only way to lunch in Japan the proper way is to fix yourself a bento! The bento booths in Japan's commercial areas are a popular destination for lunch, and they often sell out in under an hour. Featuring a variety of meats, rice, and veggies, these colourful boxes provide a convenient and tasty way to have numerous meals in one little package. There are bentos with chicken teriyaki, grilled salmon, sirloin steak, eggs, and tempura, among other ingredients! It is an essential part of Japan food culture!
Dango
This is one of the most unique and the best street food in Japan! The rice dumpling known as dango is thick and sticky. Rolling out the dough into little balls, it consists of rice flour and water. You have two options for cooking dango: either in boiling water or over an open fire. Different varieties of flavoured Dango are available in different places and throughout different seasons. The most famous kind, the Mitarashi Dango, is coated with sweet soy sauce and is from Kyoto. Hanami Dango is a springtime favourite that has dumplings in green, pink, and white beside cherry blossom bushes. As a must-eat street dish in Japan and a cultural icon, dango has been around since the 12th century. Japanese tea rituals would not be complete without these rice dumplings. This is a famous Japanese street food that you must try!
Yakitori
This is a Japanese street food that should not be missed! A famous Japanese street snack, yakitori is grilled chicken served on a stick for easy transportation. Try skewers of chicken thigh, tebasaki, and other portions of the bird. Two other popular chicken yakitori skewers are negima, which consists of chicken breast or thigh pieces alternated with slices of negi, and tsukune, which are chicken meatballs. Chicken gizzards (sunagimo), cartilage (nankotsu), and liver (reba) are some of the more daring options. You can get these delicious chicken skewers in izakaya and street food stands all across the country. This is one of the most popular street foods in Japan to have with a drink!
Takoyaki
Part of the Japanese food culture, this is one of the best Japanese street food! Takoyaki is a delicious snack prepared with wheat flour, green onions, and octopus. They're about the size of golf balls and are crispy and delicious. Takoyaki, which means "octopus fry" in Japanese, is traditionally cooked on a little grill pan that has circular indentations. To make the takoyaki balls round, the street seller utilises a special Japanese method that you can see in action as you watch. Japanese mayonnaise, katsuobushi fish shavings, and special sauce (like Worcestershire sauce) are common toppings with takoyaki. It pairs well with a drink or as a snack in the afternoon due to its crispy outside and very soft and gooey inside.
Kobe Beef
You have to go to Kobe if you want to eat the greatest Kobe Beef in Japan. However, many tourists on their first or second trip to Japan put off visiting Kobe. Fortunately, you can easily get Kobe Beef elsewhere. Keep in mind that Kobe Beef is among the most costly street snacks in Japan. For less money, you may get grilled meat from vendors outside of restaurants. On the other hand, meat eaters visiting the nation must have a Kobe Beef steak.