You may have gotten inside a Japanese restaurant where you live and probably think of Sushi when you do. But when you go to Japan, there are different kinds of restaurants that exclusively specialized in a particular type of Japanese cuisine. Here are to name a few.
- Ramen restaurants - Ramen sure is popular when Japan is mentioned but when you get to taste ramen in Japan from popular restaurants where locals patiently wait in a line just to get a taste, you will find it different from what you have tasted before. Ramen is a Chinese style noodles made of wheat that is served with either fish or meat broth. Usually you are given a choice either miso flavored or soy sauce soup. Often it is topped with thinly sliced pork or chashu coupled with nori (dried seaweed) and negi (Japanese for scallions or spring onions). Every region in Japan has their own unique version of ramen.
- Yakitori is skewered grilled chicken which is a popular food for drinking. Served by Yakitori restaurants.
- Soba restaurants serve soba noodles, which is noodle made from buckwheat which is served either cold or hot with a variety of toppings.
- Izakaya is a form of Japanese pubs. You will find popular food here that are partnered for drinking such as sashimi, yakitori, edamame and Japanese style fried chicken.
- Tonkatsu restaurants served deep fried pork that are breaded serve with Japanese style pickles, miso soup, rice and shredded cabbage. It is always served with a thick sweet sauce which is similar to the Worcestershire sauce called Tonkatsu sauce.
- Sushi restaurants in Japan have different varieties compared to how the West presents them. When you visit Japan and have extra money over 30,000 yen (roughly $300), try out the famous 3 Michelin star Sukiyabashi Jiro which you can find in the Ginza district. Very pricey but all customers find it worthy.
- Tempura restaurants offer a variety of tempura which range from those served at street vendors to the five star graded restaurants.
- Shabu-shabu restaurants serve hotpot dishes in which all the fresh ingredients are placed in a hotpot by their patrons.
- Takoyaki restaurants serve a ball shaped pancake that usually has octopus inside. After it is cooked, it is topped with pickled ginger, mayonnaise, sweet sauce and sprinkled with aonori (green laver).
You will never run out of food and go hungry in Japan, unless you have spent them all singing in a karaoke bar.