While Japan is home to a number of historical shrines and landmarks, it is also undeniably known for its culinary delight. Japanese cuisine remains to be one of the most-loved in the world as it is fresh, simple, and delicious. From a filling hot ramen down to a refreshing matcha ice cream, here are the top five food that you must try while you're in Japan:
Sushi
To put simply, sushi is vinegar-seasoned rice with raw fish on top. While there are different types of sushi, the most popular type of sushi is the Nigiri sushi. These are mounds of rice, dabbed with a bit of wasabi with a variety of toppings such as ahi (tuna), ebi (shrimp), sake (salmon), unagi (eel) and toro (fatty tuna).
Ramen
Wheat-noodles served in a selection of rich broths then topped with sliced pork, seaweed, egg, and green onions, it is no wonder why ramen is Japan's undefeated comfort food. Choosing from a variety of flavors such as shoyu (soy sauce), shio (sea salt), miso and tonkotsu, ramen is the perfect food if you are looking for something hearty and filling.
Tempura
Tempura is seafood or vegetable, coated in rich batter, then deep-fried to perfection. The most popular type of tempura is the ebi (shrimp) and it is typically dipped in tempura sauce which is a mix of soy sauce and mirin (japanese sweet wine). One bite and you'll see why tempura is Japan's golden-fried goodness.
Takoyaki
Also known as "Octopus Balls" or "Octopus Dumplings", takoyaki is one of Japan's most popular street food. Round and chewy, it is made of wheat-flour based batter with chunks of octopus and topped with a sweet-salty sauce and bonito flakes. Pair it with an ice-cold beer and enjoy! Cheers!
Matcha Ice Cream
Forget the typical vanilla and chocolate flavor; when in Japan, the flavor to try is matcha. Dark green in color and has a slightly bitter after-taste, matcha is a fine powder derived from green tea and remains to be one of the most popular and traditional flavors in Japan. It is best paired with red bean as the sweetness of the bean perfectly contrasts with the strong matcha taste. So go out of the usual and help yourself to a scoop of matcha ice cream. Did I mention that its healthy too?
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