Japanese Culinary Delights: Must-Try Food & Restaurant🥢

Japanese cuisine is much more than sushi. 

Fish, meat, rice, noodles, dessert, a lot of eggs, and anything else you can think of will be there somehow and I encourage you to explore new flavours with an open mind. ✨

In this guide, I've put together the blog posts I've read to understand which food to try and then, restaurants, cafes, bars, food markets, all the locations that you must try if you have the occasion to. 🥢

Japanese cities are full of restaurants and you might end up trying something around you, but it is definitely better to have some places saved so you will not look around while you are starving. 😁

🍱Dishes and street food 

Here below some blog posts with pictures and descriptions of typical Japanese food. 🥢

Japanese Food: 45 Must-Try Dishes in Japan

www.willflyforfood.net

Japanese Desserts: 20 Sweets to Try in Japan

www.willflyforfood.net

🥢Food places

Sometimes is nice to have it all booked and know what you going to have or check the menu before you are even there, and sometimes is nice to just go there and discover a new place just because you feel a good vibe from it or you noticed the good dishes from other people. 

I also loved and strongly recommend 7/11 and FamilyMart bentos, fried chicken, sausages, sandwiches, drinks and really anything. They were delicious and very cheap, which could be a very good option for someone who has to be on a budget. 

Food chains all around Japan

Food chains in Japan are top. With around £6 each, we had a full hot delicious meal which was filling, and I can say my partner is the type of person who eats quite a lot. 

Hanamaru Udon

@yourfriend_chichi

My boyfriend basically forced me to eat in many restaurants from this food chain as he fell in love with their udon. The quality is pretty good and the price is very cheap! We paid around £12 together and we both came out very full - he eats double portions compared to me so imagine that! You must choose one of their set menus - you can personalise them a bit - and you can also pair them with fried chicken or veg. We always saw many Japanese and never tourists which means it's perfect if you want to have a local experience.

Add to

Details

Nakau - Ikebukuro 2-chome

@yourfriend_chichi

I loved this place and tried both in Osaka and Tokyo! I can't remember the name of the dish, but it was rice with eggs and meat and it was so good! Very cheap and good quality, the staff never spoke English but they tried their best to help us. You will have to order from a machine - which will have the English option luckily - and then you will need to give the ticket to the server which will then bring you the food when it is ready. Never saw any tourists over there, but always full of Japanese and open 24/7 which was incredible!

Add to

Details

Yoshinoya

@yourfriend_chichi

We tried this at the airport and it was good! Honestly can't believe the quality of Japanese food chains, all of them are incredible! Similar to others, you will have to choose from a set menu and collect it yourself from the counter when it is ready. The portions were quite big and filling, and it is definitely known among tourists, as many blogs mentioned it.

Add to

Details

Mos Burger - Asakusa

@yourfriend_chichi

As I haven't tried it, I can't provide my personal feedback, but this is what I've found on the internet. MOS Burger is a renowned Japanese fast-food chain known for its innovative approach to burgers and commitment to quality ingredients. Established in 1972, MOS Burger has gained a loyal following for its unique menu offerings, including rice burgers, teriyaki burgers, and a variety of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The brand prides itself on a fusion of Japanese flavours with classic burger concepts, creating a distinct and delicious dining experience for customers in Japan and beyond.

Add to

Details

Kyoto

Restaurants & Street Food

Nishiki Market

@yourfriend_chichi

What do you fancy? It doesn't matter, you will find it here for sure! There are all sorts of food, from raw ingredients to cook at home to street food and some restaurants too, it's incredible and a must-visit!

Add to

Details

Pontocho Park

@yourfriend_chichi

This is the perfect street to get dinner. During the day is pretty empty and most of the restaurants will not be open, but during the night it is very popular and crowdy. You can find all sorts of restaurants there, from budget-friendly to the very expensive ones.

Add to

Details

Kichi Kichi Omurice

@yourfriend_chichi

This place became famous thanks to social media and it's very difficult to book it. It is open for dinner and they do lunch only at the weekend. The website always showed fully booked and it was impossible for me to reserve, We went there to check if we could book for the same day and they told us people start to line up around 1h before they open the reservations, so at the end we didn't go as we didn't want to waste 1h waiting.

Add to

Details

Gion Shirakawa Ramen

@yourfriend_chichi

This was a lovely surprise! It was just in the same street as our accommodation and the only one open around when we were looking for dinner. The staff didn't speak English, but nothing you can't adjust with Google Translate nowadays, It is a cash-only place and you will need to order from a machine, but the staff will help you. My boyfriend doesn't like vegetables and I don't like ginger - can you believe we loved our ramen which contained both? It was so authentic, tasty and cheap, and as only Japanese were there around, it made me feel like I was experiencing a local meal. 100% recommended.

Add to

Details

Cafes & Desserts

Kumonocha Cafe - Shijo Kawaramachi

@yourfriend_chichi

This is one of those places featured in trendy videos which ended up being full of people and with queues. If I had more time in Kyoto I would definitely take my time and try it out, but unfortunately, I couldn't.

Add to

Details

Maccha House

@yourfriend_chichi

This cafe is very famous on IG, especially for its matcha tiramisu, but unfortunately, I didn't have the time to try it out. A lot of reviews say positive things about it, but they also mention the long queue - unless you go there as soon as they open in the early morning.

Add to

Details

Osaka 

Restaurants & Street Food

Iroriya Nankaidori

@yourfriend_chichi

I love meat and loved this place. The prices were affordable and there were a lot of locals, which felt more authentic. You order from a tablet, with English options, so it is also very easy and you cook your own meat as you like.

Add to

Details

Kuromon Ichiba Market

@yourfriend_chichi

Spacious market with vendors selling street food, fresh produce & shellfish, plus souvenirs. From Wikipedia

Add to

Details

Cafes & Desserts

Rikuro’s Namba Main Branch

@yourfriend_chichi

I found this place from TikTok videos and had high expectations, which were met! There was a bit of queue, however, it was definitely worth it. We bought one cake and had it for breakfast for a few days. It was delicious!

Add to

Details

Tokyo

Fine dining 

YAKINIKU FUTAGO 17th St.

@yourfriend_chichi

OMG! I can't describe this place and this experience! So worth it and I think you should go if you can afford it! Booking was not easy, there were many Japanese websites but none accepted my name or needed a Japanese telephone number, so I contacted them on IG and booked with them. We spent £150 each, but the quality of food and service, I swear, in London would be worth £500+ We booked the 9-course one, where you will need to choose the main one you prefer. We had a separate room just for us, where we could call the waiter by a button and the chef came and cooked all the meat in front of us, explaining what cut it was and which sauces should we go for. Every dish was delicious, the wine was incredible, the service was top, I can't express how happy I am that I spend this money. If you can afford it, I truly recommend it as it was one of the best dinners I ever had! Google might indicate the back of the building, if you are in a small alley, just go around and find the front of it. They accept card and they speak English as well.

Add to

Details

Ninja Tokyo

@yourfriend_chichi

This restaurant was sold out even a month before my trip which was shocking! It's on the expensive side and from the video I watched the dishes are gourmet and you get the nice Ninja experience. So check it out as soon as you book your flight tickets!

Add to

Details

Yakiniku Dining Gyūrakutei

@yourfriend_chichi

There are so many restaurants in Japan that you will not be able to try the ones you saved, most of the time at least! This unfortunately was on my list but never got the chance to try it out. As you can tell, it is a typical Yakiniku, where you grill your own meat and they provide good quality Wagyu.

Add to

Details

Budget & mid-level 

Gyūkatsu Motomura

@yourfriend_chichi

This is a food chain and their main dish is beef Katsu with some sides. The fact that you will need to finish it off on a mini grill is the best feature as it gives you the chance to taste it as you prefer and have it hot even if you are a slow eater like me.

Add to

Details

Sushi no Midori Ginza

@yourfriend_chichi

This restaurant is famous for its quality sushi, as they make it fresh, order by order. Watched some videos where some people even waited 2.5 hours to get seated, which is kind of crazy for me as I'd like to spend that time exploring more the city, but if you have time or are a sushi lover, then it must be worth it. The price is around £40pp which is still very cheap to be fresh and quality fish.

Add to

Details

Ramen Nagi - Shinjuku Golden-gai Honkan

@yourfriend_chichi

This Ramen restaurant is famous for their Ramen being under 1000 yen while being very tasty and of good quality,

Add to

Details

Nappa Gochiso Meguro

@yourfriend_chichi

This is a modern izakaya, where to enter you need to go through a book shelve, which I find so creative.

Add to

Details

Yakiniku Miyabi

@yourfriend_chichi

Do you fancy some Kobe meat? Come to this restaurant and try their set menu selection when you can taste the different cuts. It has amazing reviews and it is very foreign-friendly. As it is Kobe beef, don't expect it to be cheap, but you are definitely paying for high quality meat.

Add to

Details

Ginza Steak Shibuya

@yourfriend_chichi

Another Steakhouse where you can find A5 Wagyu! You can choose between different sets but expect to be on the pricy level. It is a foreign-friendly restaurant as the staff speaks English and it has amazing reviews.

Add to

Details

Cafes & Desserts

Pokémon Café

@yourfriend_chichi

This place is so famous that you must book in advance! It is rare that they accept walks-in and we all understand why.

Add to

Details

Maidreamin Akihabara Honten

@yourfriend_chichi

Going to a Maid cafe is a very popular thing in Tokyo and I've found this one which is very popular for their show. Definitely worth a visit. They will draw some cute things on top of your food which will make you feel like you are in an anime.

Add to

Details

If you believe there's anything else worth mentioning, don't hesitate to reach out via DM or email at yourfriendchichi@gmail.com! Your feedback is valuable in enhancing this guide.🙌