Like most Asian countries, Japan is a treasure trove for street eats and hole-in-the-wall food joints. If you ever visit Japan, I would recommend that you keep an eye out for festivals, anything that’s happening nearby – from school festivals and local celebrations to the larger affairs like the Sapporo Snow Festival or the Tenjin festival – because that’s where you’ll find Japanese street food in all its glory. But even if you don’t go looking for festivals or matsuri as they are called in Japanese, cheap street food are everywhere in Japan, from food trucks to small carts that vendors push to corner street stalls.
The best thing about street food anywhere in the world is that they usually offer the genuine article. They’re not prepared with foreigners in mind. These are the food that people eat after a long day at work and they can’t bear the thought of having to cook. It’s the food that college students with a dwindling meal allowance would turn to to satisfy appetites and fill empty bellies. When it comes to defining a culture and a cuisine, it’s the street food offerings that usually get the job done.
Whether you’re navigating the streets of Japan or if you’re trying out Japanese food joints in other countries, there are some street food that you have to try – if not for the history behind them, then for the cheap, delicious goodness.
Much like in Italy, a lot of traditional Japanese dishes are prepared differently from region to region and the okonomiyaki is no exception. Often described as Japanese savory pancakes, the okonomiyaki is slightly more complex and a lot more fun to prepare.
Made with a batter of tempura flour, egg, and water, an okonomiyaki also usually has shredded cabbage, pickles, tempura bits, bonito flakes, shrimp, and even bacon but you can throw whatever you want in there.
A lot of okonomiyaki made in Japanese homes are filled with leftover food (okonomi means as you like and yaki means fry).
Okonomiyaki is usually prepared by mixing everything together with the batter and frying everything on a griddle, similar to how Western pancakes are cooked. Hiroshima okonomiyaki however is made by first pouring the batter on the griddle then adding other ingredients on top. More batter is poured on top of the ingredients and the ‘pancake’ is then flipped and covered with a metal bowl to allow steam to cook the okonomiyaki through and through.
However way it is prepared, the okonomiyaki is finished by cutting it into pizza-like slices and by garnishing it with tonkatsu sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and bonito flakes. Enjoy!
2. Yakitori
A yakitori is a grilled chicken on a stick, basted with a sauce commonly known in the west as a teriyaki sauce (thick, sweetish, and soy-based). You can see the appeal of the yakitori immediately. Hot meat on a stick makes for easy and fast eating while walking around a festival with friends.
3. Takoyaki
Takoyaki or octopus balls is a personal favourite and is a much-loved street food from Japan. The batter of the takoyaki is very close to the okonomiyaki batter which makes for
a piping hot, almost gelatinous ball of shredded cabbage, green onions, pickled ginger, and octopus bits with a crispy crust. It is also topped with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, bonito flakes and sometimes seaweed strips.
Be careful when eating these gooey, crispy, and delicious balls. They can stay very hot on the inside; scalding your tongue is a real danger but it’s all worth it.
4. Shioyaki
Shioyaki is another kind of a meat on a stick or in this case, grilled fish on a stick, usually mackerel. The thing you need to know about Shioyaki is that it can be salty; it can be very, very salty. That’s why it’s best eaten with a bit of grated radish marinated in vinegar or a cold, sweet drink.
5. Gyoza
Gyoza, or pot stickers, are a staple in Asian cuisine and originates from China. The main difference between Japanese gyoza and its Chinese counterpart, giaozi, is that the gyoza wrappers are much thinner and has a stronger garlic flavor. Gyoza is usually filled with ground pork and green onions. They are then steamed before their bottoms are fried until crispy before being served.
6. Yaki Imo
If you ever find yourself walking the streets of Japan, you may run into small, wheeled carts with small, makeshift ovens on them, or the makeshift ovens can be behind a bike. What’s hidden inside those small ovens are piping hot sweet potatoes called yaki imo. Not much is done to complicate this street food; it’s delicious as it is. It is usually paired with a tall, glass of milk so don’t forget yours!
7. Dango
There are a lot of savory selections when it comes to Japanese street food but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any dessert-type treats to be had. One of the things you absolutely, must try is mochi or mochiko. They’re everywhere these days, even in the US, usually sold with ice cream as a filling. These sweet, gelatinous, and chewy balls are a great Japanese dessert and come in different flavors, from strawberry to green tea.
Dango are mochiko on a stick for easier eating while walking streets with friends. Dango sticks usually offer plain-flavored mochi and is typically dipped in a brown, sugary sauce before being served.
8. Senbei
Senbei are Japanese rice crackers that come in a wide range of flavors, from sweet to savory. The appeal of senbei is the texture. It is a very crunchy snack and you can actually hear the snap and crunch of the round saucer-like crackers as you bite into them. They’re also great as a midnight snack.
9. Kare Pan
Kare pan is a curry bun or a curry-filled bread that makes for a fast and easy but delicious meal. Described as a bun or bread, the kare pan is actually much closer to a donut. The curry filling is wrapped in dough which is then coated in bread crumbs and deep fried. If you love deep fried food and the idea of savory donuts, you’ll love the kare pan for sure.
10. Taiyaki
Taiyaki is another very popular street food from Japan that has become very common all over the world. It is a fish shaped cake made with a pancake or waffle batter that is most commonly filled with red bean paste made from sweetened azuki beans. But like waffles, taiyaki can be filled with just about anything the cook wants, from chocolate to custard to something savory like sausage.
Like most Japanese food, the taiyaki is both appetizing and visually appealing. While it can actually be made in different shapes, the name taiyaki translates to baked sea bream and is still most often shaped into a fish.
One of the best things about the uncomplicated goodness of street food is that you don’t have to struggle with any kind of utensils if you don’t want to. You can just eat it straight from the paper it’s wrapped in or just pick it up with your fingers or take a bite from the stick it came with. No dining etiquette, no proper handling of chopsticks, and no protocol whatsoever except to enjoy the freshly prepared delicacies. Take your pick!
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