Before visiting Tokyo last November, I had only eaten Japanese food a handful of times. Not because I don’t like Japanese food, in fact I’m not even sure why, I guess I just tend to stick to my favourite cuisines (Italian, Turkish, Greek, Lebanese) when eating out. So I couldn’t wait to get to Tokyo and sample the real thing. Four days was no where near enough time to have tried all the different foods which appealed to me so there will definitely be a return trip to Japan.
My first meal was a very simple noodle soup with a pretty pile of deep fried vegetables. So simple yet so delicious.
In fact, I enjoyed noodles on multiple occasions and why not, they’re very cheap and very satisfying.
I usually stuck to vegetarian meals but did have one chicken and egg dish with steamed rice. Not quite what I expected but not bad.
F was much more adventurous than me and usually picked a fish or seafood dish. I can’t believe he managed to eat this huge piece of deep fried eel with chopsticks.
Some other weird fish dish which of course came with rice, seaweed, pickled ginger (maybe?), soup, and green tea.
Fried fish and noodles:
We didn’t have many sweets while in Japan and I didn’t really like what I did try, including this chocolate waffle thing I got from a Tokyo food hall.
A 10 euro cup of Japanese tea from a French cafe. I love the little timer they give you with your tea so it doesn’t steep too long.
Of course you can’t mention the food and drinks in Japan without mentioning the vending machines. Yes, they really are everywhere!
This trip was without a doubt one of the best trips, food wise, of any city I’ve ever been to. I can’t wait to return.
About Andrea
Hey, I just stumbled on your blog (from the 1000/1000 challenge forum).
It’s the first time I read the word “adventurous” associated with Japanese food.
Picture number two is Sanuki Udon, one of my favorite dish in the world!!!
If you want names for the other dishes:
-Picture number one looks like another kind of Udon with Tenpura.
-Chicken and egg is Oyakodon (although it’s usually served on the rice) “Oyako” means “parent and child” (chicken and egg, yeah the Japanese are funny like that).
-Deep fried eel is Anago No Tenpura (which literally means “deep fried freshwater eel”)
-I can’t tell what fish is on the next picture. Pickled veggies are a very common thing, although I doubt this is pickled ginger.
I love the French café (and the fact that some Japanese think that France still lives in the rococo period)
(Last comment: I’m very surprised surprised to see spoons in pics one and two. Did you ak for them? Because usually Udon is not eaten with a spoon)
Thank you so much for filling me in on the names of everything. I’m such a Japanese food newb
No I didn’t ask for a spoon for the Udon dishes, they came with it. How are you supposed to eat the soup part without a spoon? Do you just drink it from the bowl??
Oh and I think eating eel and other unknown fish/meats is adventurous!
You’re very welcome.
Yes, you’re supposed to eat Udon soup (or pretty much any soup in Japan for that matter – except for Ramen soup for some reason) from the bowl.
But yeah, it’s true that at times, Japanese waiters/tresses will think “oh, here is a Westerner, I’ve heard they need a spoon to eat their soup, so I’ll be nice and give them one.”
Keep in mind that some Japanese people find it amazing when they see a Westerner that can use chopsticks, so they may think that we don’t know how to drink soup from a bowl
Haha, thanks for the tip, I will keep that in mind for next time.
Thanks for sharing Andrea and what great tips from David. Noodles .. and veg , so far so good ..I would try the fish too, but no I would not try the sweet things , far too different and so sweet. I am a Japanese newbie too.
I wanted to try a few sweets just out of curiosity but they’re definitely not to my taste. They look cute though