Japanese dishes you have to try at least once
The top 3 according to 6 votes from people: Sushi · Unaju · Okonomiyaki. (Updated Feb 22, 2025.)
The Japanese dishes that top surveys of foreign visitors and 'favourite washoku' rankings, from home cooking to specialist restaurants.
Automatically translated (original in 日本語). See the original
Top 15
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1
Sushi
Vinegared rice topped with fresh seafood, the symbol of Japanese food; number one as 'the tastiest' in visitor surveys.
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2
Unaju
Grilled kabayaki eel over rice in a lacquered box, the classic for the summer Day of the Ox.
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3
Okonomiyaki
Savoury pancake of flour batter, cabbage and pork; comes in Osaka and Hiroshima styles.
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4
Soba
Buckwheat noodles served cold (zaru soba) or hot (kake soba), a specialty of Nagano and old Edo.
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5
Japanese curry rice
Thick Japanese-style curry, a staple of school lunches and home cooking.
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6
Ramen
With clear broth styles (shoyu, miso, shio, tonkotsu), Japan's national comfort food is also a hit with foreigners.
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7
Tempura
Seafood and vegetables in a light batter, deep fried; spread from Edo-era street stalls.
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8
Sukiyaki
Beef simmered in a sweet soy broth and dipped in raw egg; made differently in Kanto and Kansai.
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9
Yakiniku
Beef and other meats seasoned with sauce or salt and grilled at the table; popular with visitors thanks to wagyu.
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10
Udon
Thick wheat noodles; Kagawa's Sanuki udon is the most famous.
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11
Shabu-shabu
Thinly sliced meat swished in kombu broth and dipped in ponzu or sesame sauce.
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12
Tonkatsu
Breaded deep-fried pork cutlet with shredded cabbage and sauce.
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13
Takoyaki
Round batter balls with octopus inside; Osaka's soul food.
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14
Yakitori
Chicken skewers grilled over charcoal with salt or tare sauce; an izakaya staple.
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15
Onigiri
Rice balls with a filling, wrapped in nori; hugely popular at convenience stores.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 15… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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16
Sashimi
Sliced raw fish eaten with soy sauce and wasabi, all about the ingredient.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (6)
秋は新そばの季節！そばをもっと上にしてほしい。
おにぎりが入ってるのいいですね。シンプルだけど日本の味。
焼き鳥は居酒屋で食べるのが一番。
Tried okonomiyaki in Hiroshima with noodles inside, the Osaka one is different but both are amazing.
うな重がもう少し上でもいいと思う。浜松のうなぎ最高です。
寿司1位は納得。でも個人的にはラーメンが1位！