Pinay Travel Buddies: Belly-Satisfying Food Trip of Japanese Traditional Dishes

Here are some of the best belly-satisfying, rich, and tempting traditional dishes that you will be crazy to miss when in Japan.

Japanese Soba (Hot). Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

Soba is Japanese noodle soup with thinly cut pork slices and shallots. You can either have this as hot or cold. This particular restaurant is in the Kamata area – click here for more on Kamata Japan.

Takoyaki. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

Takoyaki is a ball-shaped snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special takoyaki pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion plus lots of sauce (or gravy!)

Dorayaki

Pancake-like cake with anka (red bean or white bean paste) filling - the cake is named after the cartoon character Doraemon as this is his favourite. Found this particular one at a department store in Yokohama. Slightly priced higher than “non-designed” dorayaki but tastes the same as well!

Ramen. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

This particular ramen consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat-based broth, flavoured with miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork, dried seaweed, steamed veggies and green onions (and obviously very spicy – look at the red sauce!). Try having ramen at Tokyo Base restaurant!

Japanese Sake. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

Never miss trying out Japanese Sake, an alcoholic beverage that is made from fermented rice.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked."We tried grilling and we couldn’t stop!

Sushi and Shashimi platter. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

Sushi consists of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients, seafood, vegetables and sometimes tropical fruits and sashimi consists of very fresh raw meat or fish sliced into thin pieces

Shabu-shabu thinly-sliced beef. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

These are cooked while you are eating – you can do it yourself or a Japanese server will gladly do it for you

Shabu-shabu dipping sauce. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

You can either choose to have the peanut sauce or Japanese vinegar as dipping sauce for your shabu-shabu

Japanese Tempura. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

One of my favourites! Selection of shrimp, fish or vegetables deep-fried and dipped into special tempura sauce.

We had this tempura set at the Shinagawa Prince hotel

Japanese Mochi. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

The perfect, delicate Japanese dessert to end your meal. Mochi is pounded sticky rice with an ice cream filling. Had this at the Moritaya shabu-shabu restaurant in Shinagawa area.

Limited edition Starbucks Frappe for Sakura Festival

Limited edition Starbucks Frappe for Sakura festival – this one has some strawberry-flavored white chocolate on top….very much strawberry yum.

Chocornet in Japan

Tried the chocolate wrapped in bread – pure chocolate goodness. This shop, resto can be found just after you exit Tokyo Sky Tree.

Refreshing drink called Umeshu or plum cider. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

Umeshu is a Japanese liqueur made from ume (plum) and sugar. You can either take it pure hence as an alcohol drink or with soda water to make it a lighter refreshing drink.

Japanese crab salad

Fresh crab salad with some fish roe – good as starter

Hello Kitty Blendy stick. Photo courtesy of Hnoii C Ruangraksa

Hello Kitty blendy stick drink for a cool, warm sleepy night after.

Chawanmushi (rightmost image).

A platter of fresh greens with sesame oil and dressing and chawanmushi which literally means "tea cup steam"- an egg custard dish that uses the seeds of gingko. Available in most restaurants.

Japanese rice at different serving sizes.

Hmmm. Want less carbs? I had an option to choose in an office canteen. Hopefully you can find them somewhere else.

Delicate cheesecake with orange peel from Patisserie Mother Leaf

What's next is a ten-course Teppanyaki meal from a restaurant called Teppan-Yaki Matenro at the top of the shopping district beside the Tokyo Sky Tree.

Apart from the sumptuous meal, the view from the top will give you a very nice look at the city at night.