Hello there! We all know for a fact, that Japan definitely has one of the richest cultures in the world. In the food industry, they have mastered and specialized in all sorts of the art just to create food that would look and taste like a masterpiece. It would usually take at least 4-7 years of preparation to be called as a chef. This goes to show why a lot of people have been buzzing about how excellent Japanese food is.
Now, let us take you to another level of Japanese food goodness as we introduce you to some of Japan's mouthwatering street foods. Let's see how much you can take, hmmm..
1. TAKOYAKI
Takoyaki are golden balls of fried batter filled with little pieces of octopus, tenkasu (tempura scraps), benishoga (pickled ginger) and spring onion. Originally from Osaka, the dough balls are fried in special cast-iron pans, and you can watch on as takoyaki vendors skillfully flip the balls at a rapid pace using chopsticks. The cooked takoyaki are eaten piping hot, slightly crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside, and slathered in Japanese mayonnaise, a savory brown sauce similar to Worcestershire, aonori (dried seaweed) and katsuobushi (dried bonito fish flakes). Takoyaki are incredibly tasty and addictive.
2. YAKISOBA
No Japanese festival would be complete without the familiar sizzling of yakisoba. Wheat noodles, pork, cabbage and onions are fried on a griddle, then topped with benishoga, katsuobushi, aonori, a squeeze of Worcestershire sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and occasionally, a fried egg. The deeply savory flavors of this dish give it wide appeal.
3. IMAGAWAYAKI
Imagawayaki is a sweet street food treat is a made from a batter of eggs, flour, sugar and water that is ‘baked’ in disk-shaped molds. The end product is a golden, bite-sized sponge filled with either red bean paste, chocolate or custard. Named after an Edo-era bridge in Tokyo where they were first sold, imagawayaki is known as taiko-manju in the Kansai region.
4. YAKI IMO
For a taste of old-world Japan, try yakiimo. Satsuma-imo (a type of Japanese sweet potato) are baked over a wood fire and served in brown paper packets. Bite through the pleasantly chewy skin of yakiimo to the soft, fluffy flesh, which has a caramel-like flavor. Though more of a warming autumn or winter snack, yakiimo can also sometimes be found in other seasons. To locate a yakiimo vendor, follow the sweet aroma of potatoes wafting down the street, or keep your ears pricked for the signature song played vendors to lure in passers-by.
5. YAKITORI
A classic finger food, yakitori are chicken skewers grilled over charcoal. Yakitori is ubiquitous across Japan, and features all parts of the chicken, such as chicken tail meat, neck and liver, each with their own unique flavor. Seasonings include wasabi, umeboshi (sour pickled plum paste), karashi (mustard), tare (soy grilling sauce) and salt. There are also variations such as negima yakitori - pieces of juicy chicken thigh and green onion, and tsukune, chicken mince mixed with other flavorings. Although chicken is the most common variety of skewered meat, pork and beef may also be available.
6. KAKIGORI
There’s no shortage creative iced concoctions in Japan, and the popular street food kakigori is a perfect example of this - shaved ice in flavors such as matcha green tea and lemon, topped with anything from sweet red beans to mochi (sweet rice cakes), jelly and whipped cream. Kakigori eaten in a yukata under a sky of fireworks at a matsuri (festival) is a classic image of summer in Japan.
7. WATAAME
Like sweet, edible fluffy clouds, wataame (also called watagashi), is Japanese cotton candy. Wataame can be found at street food stalls and festivals all over Japan, where you can watch the cotton candy being spun around a stick, or buy ready-made cotton candy in packets that are often decorated with manga characters. This novel treat is popular with children.
8. YAKI TOMOROKOSHI
Yaki tomorokoshi are chargrilled whole cobs of corn brushed with a glaze of soy sauce, mirin and butter, which give the corn a sweet, savory and creamy depth. Corn is at its peak during summer, and during this season yaki tomorokoshi can be found commonly at yatai in Japanese streets and at festivals. Grilled corn can offer a lighter, healthier street food option from the other fried and sugary snacks.
Did we make you hungry?
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