best japanese food to try

Japan is a giant of intercultural cuisine. The dishes inspired by chefs and cooks have crossed the ocean to make a splash on a global scale. There is a good chance that you have already experienced a taste of food inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun. If you are a fan of Japanese culture or just looking for a new thing to try, check out the following list of classic cultural cuisine.

Ramen

The first dish to top our list is Ramen. This noodle dish is very popular not only in Japan but across the globe. Many are familiar with the instant variety that comes in a styrofoam cup or plastic package, but the original dish is far different than what many are used to.

The beauty of ramen is that it is the perfect canvas for culinary creativity. You can mix and match the toppings added to the soup itself, like beef or seafood, boiled eggs, seaweed, fish cakes, and more.

But the really amazing thing about these noodles is the genius, creative things people have been able to turn them into. Ramen pizza crusts, hamburger buns, and even dessert versions of the dish have exploded onto the scene. These noodles are the perfect example of how a piece of Japanese culture can be used to spark a creative movement in food.

Dessert, Candy and Snacks

The next thing from Japan that has become very popular globally is a wide variety of snacks and desserts. You may be familiar with a little red box of snacks called Pocky on the shelves of the grocery store. Or perhaps you’ve seen little gooey bundles in the frozen food section called mochi. While Japan may not be known for these things as much as other items on this list, it is undeniable that snacks and junk food have made their way into the global market.

Many grocery stores have some versions of eastern sweets, but you might have to look harder to find more authentic flavors. If you have trouble finding them, you can always get a box subscription that will send you Japanese candy and other snacks that you will enjoy. They are delivered right to your door and allow you to try some treats you might not normally find in your local store.

Seafood

Because Japan is an Island nation, fish and seafood have been the backbone of its cuisine for generations. The first thing that comes to mind is sushi. Sushi is raw seafood, usually fish, arranged with rice and seaweed. Sushi is commonly available in most places around the world but really good, authentic sushi is found in Japanese restaurants.

Sushi is not the only seafood dish, of course, and fish is not the only thing that you will find on the menu. There are many different kinds of Japanese seafood, including eel, sea urchin, shrimp, and octopus. Even if you aren’t a fan of seafood, many of these dishes are prepared in such a way that they don’t have a “fishy” taste to them. Next time you want to try something new, give some Japanese seafood a try.

Beverages

The final entry on our list is beverages. Japan has a wide variety of drinks that many would recognize in their culture. A drink that has some ceremonial use in Japan is tea. Usually, green tea, this drink is a huge part of Eastern culture and hospitality. If you are a tea drinker, you may want to check out some online tea shops for some options you can’t find in stores.

Another thing Japan is known for is sake, a rice-based alcoholic drink.  A fun addition you may have seen is Ramune. This is a carbonated soft drink that comes in all kinds of crazy flavors, you’ll recognize this by its unique bottle that has a marble inside once you open the lid.

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