Japan is home to one of the harshest winters in the world, but pressure makes diamonds, and thus these 5 piping-hot Japanese dishes were born!
1. Sukiyaki
Kicking off the list with my personal favorite of the bunch – sukiyaki takes the top spot for its ecstatic flavors, hot bubbly broth, and tender juicy meat and vegetables. I absolutely love the combination of ingredients and flavors of this iconic Japanese dish, particularly the broth which is made with a mixture of dashi, soy sauce, and sugar for a sweet yet savory taste. Talk about food for the soul!
2. Yakiniku
It’s not hard to tell my favorite foods are anything involving juicy beef, hence my second spot goes to yakiniku or “Japanese barbecue” for my next choice of winter-warming Japanese dishes. Delicious fatty Wagyu beef is cooked on the spot in a “do-it-yourself” manner at these yakiniku restaurants where you can enjoy wide variety of beef cuts among other meats. I personally recommend Zerohachi Yakiniku in Osaka for a high-quality but affordable dining experience!
3. Curry Nabe
Japanese curry may not be as strong or potent as Indian or Thai curry, but that doesn’t mean it can’t keep you nice and warm during the brutal winter months. In fact, Japanese curry comes in many forms, one of which is a soup-based dish called curry nabe. Similar to sukiyaki in terms of ingredients, it differs only in the curry soup broth and the tender chicken that’s used instead of beef. A savory broth with a slight spice, curry nabe is available during the winter at your local Sukiya or other select restaurants across Japan.
4. Udon
Udon is a staple Japanese dish that you just can’t go wrong with. Featuring a lightly flavored soup base with thick wheat noodles and topped with spring onions, soft-boiled egg, and tempura shrimp, udon is a nutritious and delicious dish that keeps you energized and warm on a cold day. I particularly like the udon at Miyako for its enormous tempura shrimp and addition of abura-age or deep-fried tofu.
5. Takoyaki
If you’re more of a street food person, then this is the dish for you! Takoyaki is sold everywhere in Japan where street food stalls are up, and you can even find this dish at restaurants, cafes, and your local convenience stores! Made with flour, egg, and grilled octopus, they come out piping hot so be careful with that first bite! The sauces used include a special “takoyaki sauce” which is essentially a tangy barbecue sauce and is combined with creamy Kewpie mayonnaise (which uses egg yolks only instead of whole eggs, resulting in a richer taste) and bonito fish flakes.
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