Japanese Cuisine – More Than Just Sushi

(Of course, there’s plenty of sushi too)

Japan’s culinary landscape is nothing short of incredible. While most in America are aware of the major dishes – sushi and ramen – an exploration of the country will uncover new things to try on a daily basis.

For example: everybody knows “ramen” as an individual thing, but did you know there are actually dozens and dozens of different ramen varieties throughout the country? You can try different broths, noodle types, filling ingredients – most areas also have their own regional specialty as well!

Safe to say we had our fair share of Japanese ramen:

Another big discovery was Japanese curry. This dish has probably made it to America, but not to our mid-sized city in the US, so it was an amazing find for us. This is typically served with a katsu fried cutlet of pork or chicken, along with rice. We had it more times than I’d like to admit.

We also made time to visit some classic Japanese Izakaya bars serving Yakitori – essentially, snack-sized dishes cooked on a flame grill. You can try everything from seafood to vegetables to chicken wings, all cooked right in front of you – the chef/server/cashier are generally all the same person, grilling behind the bar.

Along with all the other food variety, Japan does not disappoint in the sushi department. You can find sushi pretty much everywhere in the country, from the convenience store to fine-dining establishments.

One unique way we enjoyed was via the “sushi train” a restaurant where sushi is constantly served along a conveyor belt. Just take what you want as you eat, and the bill will be tallied up (by counting your empty plates) at the end of the meal. Definitely an experience we recommend!

The above were some specific highlights, but this is barely scratching the surface of Japanese cuisine. You can find nearly anything you want in the country (especially in Tokyo), from octopus balls to tacos to Thai food to kebabs – even American-style hot dogs!

The sweets and deserts department is also worth a mention – matcha ice cream, dango, fresh strawberries, and so much more:

Finally – during our visit Japan took the crown for Best Hamburger either of us ever tried. We visited a place in Kyoto (though there are others doing this in the country) serving up premium Wagyu beef burgers. We spent about $22 on a Matsusaka Beef burger (actually our 3rd burger of the visit) – while it may seem like a lot, it was 100% worth every penny.