25 Must Eat Foods in Japan That AREN'T SUSHI

Japan is one of the best foodie destinations in the world! These are my Top 25 recommendations for Japanese foods that everyone should try when they visit Japan. Besides sushi, people are also often familiar with ramen, but there is so much more to enjoy in Japan! I'll additionally share some of my favorite places in Japan to enjoy these tasty treats.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1- Tempura
2- Yakitori (Perhaps at an Izakaya.. Chicken hearts and Chicken Skin)
3- Gyoza (Utsonimya or Osaka Ohsho)
4- Kaiseki dining
5- Okonomiyaki
6- Takoyaki
7- Ramen [Video 7]
8- Udon
9- Soba
10- Yakisoba
11- Japanese Curry (Curry Udon)
12- Katsu (and Katsudon)
13- Beef Katsu
14- Steak (a5 beef) (and Hamburg)
15- Pepper Lunch
16- Gyutan (in Sendai)
17- Sake
18- Beer
19- Matcha Tea
20- Milk
21- Taiyaki (Custard and Red Bean)
22- Matcha Parfait
23- Japanese French Pastries and Fruit Cakes
24- Fruit (Particularly Strawberries)
25 - Pudding

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Intro Music:
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Outro Music: Great Escape by Jason Tarver

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[NothingMaster]

Thanks Chris, for a fantastic Live. Your knowledge of the Japanese culture and cuisine is truly impressive. Now we know what dishes to look for, when and if we finally make it to Japan. Your Live Chats and unsinkable enthusiasm have been great morale boosters in these pandemic times. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
P.S. The Traveling Princess is absolutely adorable. 🥰 We look forward to seeing more of her in your upcoming videos.

[geraldmcdevitt]

Ramen at the Ramen Museum is awesome 👍

[keihasegawa]

I am glad you shared Japanese foods, thanks.

[colleenh]

Great video ! Brought back fond memories of our trip to Japan, and all the wonderful foods we ate. You could make a separate list just on snacks, sweets & Kit Kats. Thanks Chris

[jameshiga]

Hi Chris. Great video on different foods in Japan. Try to stay at an onsen at least once on my trip because meals are usually included and are really delicious. When I travel I try to eat what the area is known for and usually can't get anywhere else. I enjoy discovering new things. Thanks for sharing.

[johnbailey]

Hey, Chris, great list. Personally, I rarely get past the ramen and sushj places :-) Appreciate the honorable mention of horse sashimi. With Takoyaki, honorable mention goes to Tako Tamago.

[glennpaton]

When I got back from Japan a couple of people asked me if I was sick of sushi, I had to think about it but I didn't remember seeing any sushi. Plenty of other good stuff to eat.

[gumerzambrano]

Guessing now Ramen is in the top 3 🙌🏽 I definitely want to visit Tokyo and other Japanese cities in my lifetime 🙌🏽

[mikepeterson]

Great list! But you missed one of my favorites ... Onigiri!

[MP-xfgq]

Mr. for doing this Video for those of us that really don't like Sushi. Appreciate you being "inclusive". lol :-)

[redfish]

Maybe some people would disagree, but I think soba isn't very good. Usually. And that's the key point. Lots of places sell cheap soba so I'm sure lots of people are okay with it. I understand, because I'm okay with cheap udon and as long as you're up to second from the bottom tier katsu it's already pretty good. But I find soba to usually be not that good even at restaurants. BUT if you're up in Nagano or some place actually famous for it (and I've been taken to a couple great shops in Tokyo too, so they exist)... it's really good. You wouldn't think something so basic could have such a big range of quality, but I think you can taste the difference.
Skip soba unless you're going to do it right.

BTW, yakisoba is not soba. It's a wheat noodle. This is an important distinction on account of allergies.

[johnbarr]

Shoto Cafe in the shibuya area. Best cake and coffee!

[katkat]

Okonomiyaki varies by prefecture. They each have their own style. I prefer Hiroshima's version over the Kansai (Osaka) version. I have not had the Tokyo version.

[Alvaro-qzqk]

5:00 What is the name of those kind of hot spring hotels?

[EkibenExpress]

Im sure you are just as desperate to get back to Japan as I am. I will be visiting Hirosaki, a small town dedicated to apple pie pastries, check it out and see you in Japan.

[luisawang]

Kiseiki sounds good but, How much did you paid?

[robertikeno]

Sorry I missed your live stream, but some info Hawaii has a lot of Japanese influence because many came over to work on the sugar plantations. Curry was introduced to Japan by British sailors from India but its japanized so not the same as Indian curry. Also deep frying was introduced by Portuguese sailors. Bread is called pan an old world Portuguese word for bread.

[Mitz-bt]

There are a lot more amazing Japanese dishes.

[redfish]

Had some more time to watch a little more...

The thing about Japanese food abroad (well, at least here in California which I figure is better than +90% of other places) is the basic Japanese mirin/shoyu/dashi flavor isn't right. Basically every place in Japan does this flavor a certain way- college cafeterias to fast food to restaurants to people cooking at home. There's a little bit of variation for quality, but it's the same basic flavor everywhere that makes the food taste Japanese, which is then altered by other ingredients and sauces, etc.

Almost nowhere abroad can properly replicate it. Maybe just Little Tokyo, Torrance, and a handful of shops run by Japanese in Asian areas. This is why if you're used to real Japanese food you can't really eat it in a lot of places. It's not like it's just lower quality- the whole basic flavor is off.

[luisawang]

Can you tell us your favorite japanese restaurant in USA?