Types of Japanese Food

While many travel shows have focused on some of the bizarre food found in Japan, there are many types of Japanese food that are lost behind the popularity of dishes from the country like sushi. There are three main types of Japanese food that can be found in the country.

Washoku is the everyday common house food. These are simple dishes that are made from staple ingredients like miso, rice, and fish. They can also include noodle dishes centered around ramen, udon, soba, or somen variety of noodles; these are usually submerged in a steaming broth of daishi, a seafood stock made from kelp and dried fish, with a hint of miso paste.

Kaiseki is the complete opposite of washoku, but still based on similar flavors. Known as the haute cuisine of Japan, kaiseki is very expensive and features rare ingredients that are highly seasonal and cooked to perfection moments before they are served to the customer, usually in a private dining space. These meals can last for a long time and are often composed of more than a dozen courses.

Izakaya is known as the pub food of Japan. Simple and fun, these dishes are often skewered meats grilled off to order, or quick cuts of sashimi served with a flavorful sauce. Yakitori are institutions that specialize in skewered and grilled chicken, usually featuring almost every part of it. These plates are tiny and are meant to make you thirsty for plenty of beer and sake.

The types of Japanese food, the ingredients and the style of service, depend a lot of context of the meal – whether it’s a meal at home with family, an austere reflection on culinary greatness, or a wild time with friends – and whatever it is, the Japanese are very good at make it delicious.

Related Information

Japanese Cooking
You can learn about Japanese cooking to make some of your own meals.

Japanese Food in America
Japanese food in America contains certain alterations but remains true to its roots.