Food is my favorite way to delve into a country’s culture, and street food, in particular, captures its essence best. Today, I will walk you through the best Japanese street foods. From savory snacks to sweet treats, from sizzling yakitori to crispy takoyaki, these dishes will give you a delicious glimpse into Japanese culture.
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Takoyaki
The first one on our list is the Takoyaki – one of the most famous Japanese street foods. These treats are small, round balls made from a wheat flour-based batter and filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onions. They are topped with takoyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce), Japanese mayonnaise, and bonito flakes.
You can find this street food everywhere in Japan, often from street stalls or festival food stands. The balls are cooked in a special molded pan and turned frequently to achieve their distinctive round shape. However, you can still make them at home with the oven. Here is how to make the Takoyaki in the oven.
Candied fruit
Candied fruit, known as “kanroni” or “tsukemono” is a traditional sweet treat in Japan. As the name suggests, the fruit is typically simmered in sugar syrup, sometimes with additional flavorings like soy sauce or mirin. The result is a fruit that’s sweet, slightly chewy, and often translucent. The common fruits used in this treat are yuzu, strawberry, cherry, chestnut, and citrus peels.
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a type of savory pancake that consists of a wheat flour batter and various ingredients. The basic ingredients of this dish are chopped cabbage, egg, and flour, with common additions including meat, vegetables, and cheese. This Japanese savory pancake is cooked on a flat griddle and usually topped with a sweet and tangy sauce, mayonnaise, dried seaweed, and bonito flakes. Okonomiyaki is a very popular street food and casual dining dish throughout Japan, and has also spread to other Asian countries.
Yakisoba
If you love noodles, you cannot miss the Yakisoba when visting Japan. It’s one of the most popular Japanese street foods you have to try. It consists of stir-fried noodles, pork or chicken, and a variety of vegetables such as cabbage, onions, carrots, and bean sprouts. You can try my Seafood Yakisoba recipe – It’s simple and easy to make.
There are many regional variations of yakisoba, each with its unique flavor and ingredients. For example, Muraoka Mayo Yakisoba uses mayonnaise and chili oil, while Ishinomaki Yakisoba uses distinctive brown noodles. Other variations include Ankake Yakisoba, which is covered in a sauce with cooked meat, shrimp, and other ingredients; and Seto Shoyu Yakisoba from Aichi Prefecture, which uses soy-based broth and pickled red ginger.
Ikayaki
Ikayaki is a popular Japanese street food and fast food dish that originated in Osaka. The dish is grilled squid but you may find it varied from different areas. In the traditional Ikayaki style, the whole squid is skewered, seasoned, and cooked over charcoal or on a flat grill.
The Osaka-style Ikayaki is a little bit different. It’s prepared like folded crêpes. The squid is finely chopped and mixed with a special batter. The mixture is then cooked on a flat iron grill, resulting in a savory pancake-like delicacy It’s often seasoned with soy sauce and mayonnaise, and sometimes includes additional ingredients like green onions or pickled ginger.
Yakitori
Yakitori is skewered chicken. In Japan, they use almost every part of the chicken to make Yakitori, including the thighs, breasts, skin, liver, and other offal. The preparation of yakitori is quite simple – the meat is seasoned with either a salty or sweet-salty sauce called tare before and/or after grilling. Charcoal grilling is the traditional and preferred cooking method, as it imparts a unique smoky flavor and crispy texture. This dish is a popular and affordable street food and izakaya (Japanese pub) dish in Japan. If you’re interested, here is the Yakitori recipe.
Choco banana
Among many Japanese street foods, choco banana impress me the most, not only because of the preparation but also its taste. This snack is made by dipping bananas in melted chocolate and allowing the chocolate to harden, creating a crisp shell around the frozen banana. They are often served on a popsicle stick for easy eating and sold by street vendors at festivals and events in Japan.
Dango
Dango is a traditional Japanese sweet treat consisting of small, round dumplings made from rice flour or another starchy ingredient like mochiko. These dumplings are typically skewered on a bamboo stick and served in groups of three to five.
Dango comes in various flavors and colors, often reflecting seasonal ingredients or festivals. Some popular types include mitarashi dango (covered in a sweet soy sauce glaze), hanami dango (pink, white, and green colors associated with cherry blossom viewing), and anko dango (filled with sweet red bean paste).
Taiyaki
Taiyaki is a popular Japanese street food and sweet treat. It’s a fish-shaped cake made from waffle or pancake batter, typically filled with sweet red bean paste (azuki). Its crispy exterior and soft, flavorful interior make it a beloved treat across Japan and increasingly popular in other parts of the world.
Taiyaki is often sold by street vendors and is enjoyed as a warm, comforting snack, especially during colder months. In hot months, this treat is remade to become taiyaki ice cream. It typically features a fish-shaped waffle cone, inspired by the classic taiyaki shape, filled with soft-serve ice cream. The cone is usually made with a similar batter to traditional taiyaki, but adapted to be crispier to hold the ice cream.
Kakigori Shaved ice
It would be remiss not to mention Kakigori. It’s a popular Japanese shaved ice dessert, perfect for hot summer days. This refreshing treat consists of finely shaved ice topped with sweet syrups and various garnishes. Common flavors include strawberry, melon, and matcha green tea, but creative variations are endless. The ice is often shaved to a snow-like consistency, making it light and fluffy. Some versions include additional toppings like condensed milk, mochi, or fresh fruit. You can find this delightful dessert not only in Japan but also in many other countries where Japanese culinary influence has spread.
Curry Bread
Curry bread, known as karē pan, is a popular Japanese savory pastry. It consists of a filling of Japanese curry encased in a dough that is typically coated in panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried. However, you can still make this bread by baking it. This is how to bake curry bread in the oven. You can find this dish in almost every Japanese bakery and convenience store.
Senbei
Senbei are traditional Japanese rice crackers that come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors, typically categorized as either savory or sweet. The crackers are often enjoyed as a casual snack, commonly paired with green tea.
Senbei can be broadly classified into two categories: baked and fried. Within these categories, there are numerous varieties, including:
- Age senbei: Fried senbei.
- Atsuyaki senbei: Thick senbei.
- Nori senbei: Wrapped in seaweed.
- Nure senbei: Wet senbei.
- Zarame senbei: Coated with granulated sugar.
- Hone senbei: Made from deep-fried fish bones, offering a unique crunchy snack
The flavors of senbei can range widely, from traditional soy sauce and salt to more inventive options like kimchi, wasabi, and even chocolate.
Korokke
The Korokke Japanese street food is inspired by the French croquette. It is typically made by mixing cooked ingredients such as meat, seafood, or vegetables with mashed potatoes or a white sauce, shaped into flat patties, and then deep-fried until golden brown. The dish is characterized by its crispy exterior. You can eat Korokke alone as a snack or pair it with sandwiches (korokke pan).
Korokke comes in various forms, such as:
- Potato Korokke: Made primarily with mashed potatoes.
- Meat Korokke: Typically includes ground meat mixed with potatoes.
- Tuna Korokke: Features tuna as the main ingredient.
- Vegetable Korokke: Incorporates a mix of vegetables.
- Curry Korokke: Flavored with curry spices.
- Kabocha Korokke: Made with kabocha squash.
Tomorokoshi
If you want something simple, Tomorokoshi is a perfect choice for you. Yaki-Tomorokoshi, also known as roasted corn, is a popular Japanese street food made from fresh, sweet summer corn. It is grilled or roasted and then coated with a glaze made from soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and other seasonings. This dish is not only delicious but also nutritious, with approximately 203 calories per serving
Imagawayaki
Imagawayaki, a.k.a “obanyaki” or “oyaki,” is a popular Japanese snack food, enjoyed by people of all ages. You can find this cake at festivals and street stalls. It consists of a small, round pancake-like outer shell which is then filled with sweet red bean paste. While the traditional filling is sweet red bean paste, modern variations may include custard, cheese, or chocolate.
Crêpe
Japanese crêpes are a unique adaptation of the traditional French crêpe, popularized as a street food in Japan, particularly in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. They differ significantly from their French counterparts in both presentation and filling options.
Japanese crêpes are typically thinner than French crêpes and are made using wheat flour. They are often wrapped in a cone shape and served in paper. These crêpes feature a wide array of both sweet and savory fillings, such as:
- Sweet Fillings: Whipped cream, fresh fruits (like strawberries and bananas), chocolate, and ice cream.
- Savory Fillings: Tuna, ham, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and various vegetables like lettuce and spinach.
The sauces used in Japanese crêpes also set them apart, with options like Japanese mayonnaise, salsa, and pizza sauce
Amezaiku
Amezaiku is one of the most unique Japanese street foods. It’s a traditional Japanese art of candy sculpture that involves shaping candy into intricate shapes, often resembling animals or other objects, using only hands, tweezers, and scissors.
Amezaiku is made from mizuame, a sweet syrup derived from rice or potato starch. The process begins with heating this syrup to a high temperature, after which artisans must work quickly to shape the candy before it cools and hardens.
Yaki Imo
Yaki Imo, or baked Japanese sweet potatoes, is a traditional snack in Japan, particularly popular during the autumn and winter months. This dish is known for its sweet, creamy texture and is often enjoyed as a warm, healthy treat. In addition to being baked, Japanese sweet potatoes are also used to make a sweet dessert – Daigaku Imo. You can learn more about this dish on our web.
Nikuman
The last popular Japanese street food on our list is Nikuman – a steamed bun filled primarily with meat, typically ground pork. Its origins trace back to China, where it is known as baozi. The Japanese version has evolved to incorporate local tastes and ingredients, making it a beloved snack in Japan.
While the classic nikuman is filled with pork, there are several other varieties:
- Butaman: A term used in Osaka, specifically referring to pork buns.
- An-man: Filled with sweet red bean paste.
- Pizza-man: Contains a mixture of meat and vegetables seasoned with tomato sauce.
- Curry-man: Filled with a curry-flavored meat and vegetable mixture.
- Each convenience store may also introduce unique seasonal flavors, such as cheese or hamburg steak.
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