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Food is one of the best part when you travel to Japan. Start with my list of food you must try, if you have no idea what to eat right now or if you want to plan ahead before you visit Japan.

I list them in the order I like the most. This list is making me hungry…. 😛

1. Ramen (my favorite is curry-men)

There are too many kinds of ramen and flavors vary a lot. So it’s hard to tell you which one would be the best for you.

So, instead I will tell you what my favorite is. 🙂

My favorite ramen is this exotic curry ramen. Yes, curry + ramen!

Japanese people like curry a lot so there are various food that combines with curry. Udon, bread, etc. But this tops my list.

Especially with this additional “Negi-Baka” topping – meaning you will get extra large portion of green scallion – it’s no time you become addicted to this food.

You can select the level of spiciness. I normally go for very spicy level because Japanese food tend not to be that spicy. But for this ramen, I’d go for just regular “spicy”.

You can choose “very spicy”, but after the first bite, you won’t taste the food anymore, so I don’t recommend. You can even go with “regular” if you are too fan of spicy food.

They only have 2 restaurants in Tokyo. One in Aoyama and the other is in Roppongi. Here is the link for the one in Roppongi.

Minowa

https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13036017/

2. Okonomiyaki/Monja

If you are visiting Osaka, you won’t miss Okonomiyaki. But even if you come to other cities, try this out. It’s Japanese version of pancake with meat, seafood, vegetables, cheese, etc. in it. Sauce is sweet and you put a lot of mayo on top of it. 

Depending on restaurant, you can cook it yourself. But just to be on the safe side, I would ask them to do it for you. You don’t want your “pancake” all over your table. 😉

And if you feel challenging, try “Monja”. It’s supposedly Tokyo food. Usually restaurant where they have Okonomiyaki also have Monja too. 

You cook it on hot plate in front of you so it’s pretty much the same way as Okonomiyaki. 

But it looks very different. If you have a bad hangover and feel like throwing up, I wouldn’t recommend you to eat Monja. Because it kind of looks similar… 

But it tastes really good! I tend to like Monja better than Okonomiyaki, but once in a while, I really miss thick sweet sauce of Okonomiyaki too.

3. Beer & other alcohol beverages

Japanese beer is good! And depending on the season, you get limited can design. This one is for Cheery Blossom season. 🙂

Kirin Ichiban-shibori (picture) is my favorite. What’s your favorite?

If you are not too fan of beer, try sweet alcohol with less alcohol %.

Try “Horoyoi(ほろよい)”. It has many different fruit flavors and just like any other things in Japan, you get limited flavor depending on the season. The one in the picture is limited peach flavor.

They basically all taste like juice… So it’s popular among ladies than guys. If you are looking to get drunk, I would stay away from it. 😉

4. Bakery

5. Pancake

Why pancake?? Since certain time, pancake is really popular in Japan. So there are many pancake shops you can find including the ones from overseas – Egg’n Things, etc.

It’s been a while Egg’n Things came to Japan, but Japanese people still line up to eat there. 

I’ve been to Egg’n Things in Guam once. They are the same restaurant, but the quality of food served is quite different. Even at Egg’n Things, you get a limited season menu. The one in the picture is strawberry pancake with strawberry whip cream. Yum~

Not just Egg’n Things, there are many other brands including Japanese ones where you can eat pancake. 

This one is J.S. Pancake Cafe. Again, pink pancake. 🙂

6. Potato Chips

If you go to any supermarket, you will see almost the entire isle with different kinds of potato chips. If you travel other regions, you will also find potato chips that are limited for that region. Great gift to bring to your friends!

7. Instant Cup Noodles

Not just potato chips, you will find tons of kinds for cup noodles as well. Japanese instant cup noodles are actually great quality. Sometimes Ramen brands see their ramen as instant version and it’s hard to believe they are instant noodles.

8. Convenience Store Food

Hungry at late night? Go to convenience store near you and you will find (almost) everything you dream of. I bet convenience store in Japan is the best quality in the world in terms of food and services. Try some onigiri, bento.

9. Pizza

Are you surprise I listed pizza? Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza tastes different in Japan. I personally like them better than the original ones in the US. But one thing to watch out is that they are extremely expensive!!! 🙁

I won’t list sushi because it will be probably on your list of food to eat already and sushi is not my favorite food.

If you like my food list, 

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Feel free to leave me a comment about which Japanese food is your favorite! 🙂

If you remind me, I might add more to this list!