[Japan] Famous street food and good restaurants in Japan

Local food that you need to taste

Enjoy Japan's various street food culture at a reasonable price

Japanese cuisine culture is full of street food and sweet snacks that can be enjoyed abundantly within budget. The endless variety of dishes, including ramen, takoyaki, daiyaki, okonomiyaki, yakitori, pork cutlet, croquette, kyoza, and udon, satisfies all tastes and cultural curiosity. There are also many people who stop by the roadside snack bar and enjoy simple street snacks.

market

The majority of street food can be found in local markets in Japan. Nishiki Market and Kuromon Market are good examples. As the saying goes, food is a part of us, street food reflects both local cuisine and taste. At the market, you can enjoy Japanese croquette or yakitori skewers while walking down the street, and see lively and mouthwatering shops. The main market sells a variety of fresh seafood or charcoal-grilled seafood. Walk through the streets, or sit in a chair in front of the store for a while and enjoy delicious food. However, you should always be careful to prevent infectious diseases.

*Some markets prohibit eating while walking. Please enjoy eating and drinking according to local rules.

Ramen, Takoyaki, etc

Japan is a country that has excellent ability to accommodate and adapt to foreign cultures. Although it originated in China and India, both ramen and curry developed their own Japanese taste and style. Now, people from all over the world, including India, come to eat curry developed in Japan and buy "Lu" products as gifts to take home. Ramen continues to evolve, reflecting the unique flavor and style of the region.

In Japan, takoyaki has become a popular street food nationwide since it was made in Osaka. Thanks to this, you can find it in almost every shopping street and festival now.  On the move, there are soba or udon restaurants that stand around the station or inside, so you can easily eat. Please note that there are some places where you need to buy food tickets first from vending machines in the store.

a sweet snack 

Street food cannot be left out when discussing sweet snacks and snacks. There are both hot and cold types. There are various types, including Daiyaki, sweet rice cake, Imagawa-yaki, crepe, syrup, sweeteners, and shaved ice flavored with condensed milk. Anyone who likes sweet taste can taste snacks within budget. It's good to enjoy lightly on the way back to the accommodation or between other snacks

an izakaya

Izakaya refers to a store similar to a local tavern or snack bar. Izakaya sells a variety of dishes, including yakitori, edamame, gyoza, karaage, fried tofu or raw tofu. Izakaya's cuisine, which is usually similar to tapas, is a good place to enjoy the local atmosphere and taste various local agricultural products. It's perfect with a little drink.

It's easy to choose because there are often pictures of dishes on the menu as explanations. Recently, more and more places have a touch-type panel ordering system, making it easier.

Depachika & Convenience Store

Depachika refers to a grocery store located mainly in the basement of a department store. Just walking through endless grocery stores stimulates both sight and taste. It is an experience worth challenging culturally. It is convenient to buy something because you can point your hand to the products and dishes on display. 

Convenience stores throughout Japan are now accepted as a cultural element, and can be easily found anywhere in the alley in large cities. You can find karaage, onigiri, lunch boxes, trendy snacks, snacks, and drinks in the shelves full of products and in the hot storage at the counter. Most of them are open 24 hours a day.

Outdoor stalls and street food carts

Outdoor stalls (Yatai) sell freshly made takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and other canned foods to eat on the go. It is also a common sight in Japanese festivals. Some yatai stalls, including the famous Hakata yatai in Kyushu, temporarily set up counters so that you can drink with food. Other places specialize in ramen only. If you explore cities and villages, you are likely to meet local street food carts that sell crepes and various foods.