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Thali

🇯🇵 The food of Japan

142 dishes from Japan, best known first, across 49 cities and regions.

Japanese cooking centers on rice, seasonal produce, and seafood, with a focus on subtle flavors and careful presentation. Meals are built from small, separate dishes, often including pickles, soup, and sides. Over centuries, influences from China and the West have shaped the cuisine, but it remains distinct in its restraint and respect for ingredients.

  • Rice, fish, and seasonal vegetables are core to every meal.
  • Sushi began as a way to preserve fish by fermenting it in rice.
  • Japanese etiquette includes saying 'itadakimasu' before eating.
  • Each dish is served separately to keep flavors distinct.
  • Meat became common only after the 19th century.

The cooking of Japan

Japanese food is shaped by the country's geography and history. Rice is the foundation, often served with miso soup and a variety of small side dishes. Fish, both cooked and raw, is central, reflecting Japan's island setting. Techniques like grilling, simmering, and deep-frying (as in tempura) are common, but oil and strong spices are used sparingly. Meals highlight the seasons, with ingredients chosen for freshness. Over time, dishes from China and the West, such as ramen and curry, have been adapted to local tastes. Presentation matters: each dish is served separately, often in its own bowl or plate.

Staple foods in Japan

Steamed white rice is the mainstay, eaten at nearly every meal. Noodles like soba (buckwheat) and udon (wheat) are also popular. Fish and seafood, grilled or raw, are common sources of protein. Soybeans, in forms like tofu and miso, are widely used. Pickled vegetables and seasonal greens round out meals. Meat became more common after the 19th century, with dishes like tonkatsu (breaded pork) and sukiyaki (beef hotpot).

From region to region in Japan

Regional cooking in Japan reflects local climate and history. In Kagoshima, pork is traditional, while beef is found in Oumi. Some areas, like Suwa, have customs involving deer. Sushi styles also vary by region, with some places favoring fermented versions and others preferring fresh. The use of certain ingredients, such as specific fish or vegetables, can differ widely from north to south.

At the table in Japan

Meals are served with rice on the left and soup on the right, with side dishes behind. Each food is placed in its own dish to keep flavors distinct. Chopsticks are used, and it's customary to say 'itadakimasu' before eating and 'go-chisō-sama deshita' after. On tatami floors, shoes are removed, and diners may sit kneeling or cross-legged, depending on formality and gender.

Festival and religious food in Japan

During New Year's, special feasts may include foods reflecting both Japanese and Western traditions. Some regions have rituals involving animal sacrifice for Shinto ceremonies. Historically, Buddhist influence meant that meat was avoided during certain periods, shaping festival foods to focus on fish and vegetables.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Japanese cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of Japan

Tokyo 11Osaka 6Hokkaido 4Nagasaki 4Nagoya 4Fukuoka 2Ginza 2Kansai 2Kyushu 2Ōita Prefecture 2Wakayama 2Yokohama 2Akashi 1Akita 1Amagasaki 1Asakusa 1Chiba 1Fukui 1Hamamatsu 1Hiroshima 1Ise 1Izumo 1Izushi 1Kagawa Prefecture 1Kagoshima Prefecture 1Kantō 1Kitakata 1Kitakyushu 1Kobe 1Minabe 1Miwa 1Morioka 1Nagano Prefecture 1Nakatsu 1Nara 1Narita 1Okinawa 1Ryōgoku 1Saitama City (Urawa) 1Sakurai 1Shiga Prefecture 1Shimane 1Tōhoku 1Tottori 1Tsuchiura 1Ueno 1Usa 1Yanagawa 1Yokosuka 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
RamenMeatラーメン 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreJapanese noodle soup with Chinese-style wheat noodles in hot broth Soup, Lunch, Dinner Beef StroganoffMeatбефстроганов 🇷🇺 Russia and 6 moreSautéed beef in a creamy mustard and sour cream sauce, often with mushrooms or onions Main dish, Lunch, Dinner TakoyakiMeatたこ焼き 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreRound Japanese snack balls with octopus, cooked in a special molded pan Street food, Snacks YakitoriMeat焼き鳥 🇯🇵 JapanChicken skewers grilled over charcoal and seasoned with salt or tare sauce Street food, Dinner, Snacks TonkatsuMeat豚カツ 🇯🇵 JapanDeep-fried pork cutlet coated in crisp panko breadcrumbs Main dish, Lunch, Dinner SchnitzelMeat 🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreThin slices of meat, pounded, breaded and fried until crisp Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Japanese curryMeatカレー 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreA thick, mildly spiced curry sauce served with rice, noodles or bread Main dish, Lunch, Dinner YakisobaMeat焼きそば 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese stir-fried noodles with pork, vegetables, and savory sauce Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner KatsudonMeatカツ丼 🇯🇵 JapanDeep-fried pork cutlet and egg served over a bowl of rice Main dish, Lunch, Dinner GalbiMeat갈비 🇰🇷 South Korea and 2 moreKorean grilled beef or pork ribs, often marinated and cooked at the table Main dish, Lunch, Dinner OyakodonMeat親子丼 🇯🇵 JapanChicken, egg, and scallion simmered in broth and served over rice Main dish YakinikuMeat焼肉 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreJapanese grilled meat cooked at the table and dipped in savoury sauces Main dish, Dinner, Lunch Char siuMeat叉燒 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCantonese-style pork, marinated and roasted until glazed and red Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Hayashi riceMeatハヤシライス 🇯🇵 JapanBeef, onion and mushroom in demi-glace sauce over rice, a Japanese Western-style dish Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Buddha Jumps Over the WallMeat佛跳牆 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA lavish Fujian soup with seafood, meat and rare delicacies Soup, Dinner Dandan noodlesMeat担担面 / 擔擔麵 🇨🇳 China and 2 moreSichuan wheat noodles with spicy sauce, pickled vegetables, and minced pork Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner ChamponMeatちゃんぽん 🇯🇵 JapanNagasaki noodle soup with pork, seafood and vegetables in a rich broth Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner NaporitanMeatナポリタン 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese spaghetti with ketchup, sausage, peppers and mushrooms Main dish, Lunch, Dinner gua baoMeat割包 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSteamed folded bun filled with braised pork belly and condiments Street food, Snacks, Lunch Sweet and sour porkMeat 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCrispy pork pieces tossed in a tangy, colorful sweet and sour sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner MotsunabeMeatもつ鍋 🇯🇵 JapanJapanese hot pot with beef or pork offal, cabbage, and noodles Soup, Dinner

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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