Oh god. This is going to be a hard blog post to write.
Why? Because pretty much everything I ate in Japan was standout. There was rarely a meal where I didn’t sit and think to myself ‘WOW that was incredible’.
So how am I supposed to compile a list of the best places I ate, when everything and everywhere felt like the best? I’ve got no system for how or why these specific dishes have made the list (whilst others haven’t) I’ve just gone for a gut feel of the most memorable and most tasty (obvs!).
Because I visited 4 different cities during my trip – I’m going to try and choose only 3 places from each city. So this list doesn’t feel too overwhelming to read (and too overwhelming for me to write – let’s be honest).
So, let’s start with Tokyo.
Temma Curry
I wanted to try something close to a katsu curry whilst in Tokyo – and Temma Curry was a place that kept popping up in my research. The reviews really praised the sauce and depth of the flavours – and that sounded exactly like the kind of thing I wanted.
As I hoped, the curry was beyond excellent. A religious experience almost! The pork cutlet was the most tender and juicy cutlet you can imagine – and the the sauce was (as promised) deep in flavour, rich, spicy and insanely good.
I savoured this bowl of curry down to the last grain of rice, and if I had room for more, I would’ve ordered myself another portion. Priced wise, it was also very reasonable – 1200 yen, which is about £6. For the size of the portion, and the flavours – what a bargain.
Click here for Google Maps location.
Ramen Jiro
This place was recommended to me by Kanji San, our headchef at work. He was so excited for me to try this place and it lived up to all expectations.
As a little bit of context, Ramen Jiro is a chain in Japan (kind of like a fast food chain) and they’re a little contriversial amongst Japanese foodies. Some people love it, others hate it.
The whole idea is BIG portions, messy presentation, and quick no-frills service. The ordering process was a little intinidating for this reason, but WOW the bowl of ramen was epic.
I think this was one of the best ramen broth I ate, across my entire trip. It was rich and fatty, and so so garlicky. I could’ve drunk bowlfuls of the stuff.
Click here for a Google Maps link.
Katsudon
I’d never had a Katsudon at this point in my life (oh! What joy I was missing out on!!) and the first time I tried it, was in Tokyo on the last morning before getting the train to Kyoto.
Finding an early morning eatery in Tokyo (that isn’t just coffee) isn’t actually super easy. But there was this cute little 24-hour place round the corner from my hotel, which seemed nice enough for a quick breakfast.
Their famous dish was a Katsudon, that cost 600 yen (about £3!). It’s a simple dish, katsu chicken on a bed of rice, with fried egg and soy. That’s literally it, but WOW it was so flavourful and tasty, and so nostalic too.
I couldn’t believe how nostalic I felt for this dish, which I had never had before! I felt like a child eating it, and I never wanted the bowl to end! I scooped up every last bit of rice like my life depended on it!
Click here for a Google maps link.
Next up: Kyoto
Mochi at Kazariya
This was a recommendation from my colleague Mimi, but it was also a featured restaurant on one of the Somebody Feed Phil episodes (and I love that show). So you can imagine, I was super excited to try this place.
The only problem was – it’s a very sweet dish (they only serve one specific dish) and I’m not really a sweet tooth kinda gal. But I needn’t have worried. This mochi dish swiftly became one of my favourites.
But I headed there anyway, open to trying something new! And holy cow, this was something seriously special. The sweetest, most nostalgic, most satisfying and beautiful dish. Not too sticky, not too sickly. Just perfection.
I wish so much I could have this at home in London – but I doubt anywhere will come even remotely close to this.
The setting of the dish was also so special, in a secluded little japanese garden, decorated in the traditional way. Because I went early, I had it to myself for much of the trip, and that made it even more memorable and wonderful.
Click here for a Google Maps link.
Matcha Icecream Cake
I’ve just realised whilst typing, that all my standout food ideas from Kyoto, are sweet dishes! After I literally just said I wasn’t a sweet tooth kind of girl! I think the reason I love Japanese desserts is because they’re never too sweet or over powering. They always seem to be beautifully balanced.
Anyway, the next place on my list from Kyoto, is a matcha icecream cake I had there. It was just a quick dish that I bought from one of the many matcha-themed stores along the river, and I bought it to enjoy whilst strolling the river bank (spoiler: I ate it in about 10 seconds flat).
It was this beautiful creamy matcha icecream, in the middle of this sweet rolled matcha sponge. Wowwowowowoowow. A perfect concocktion of ingredients.
Two desserts from Rau
My final pick from Kyoto are two desserts from a place recommended by my firend Geraldine, of The Everywhereist. She whatsapped me a video of this place, called Rau, and I realised it was only a 5 minute walk from my hotel – so had to check it out.
It’s pretty hidden away, but worth it once you’ve located it! My advice for this place, is to visit earlier in the day, as a lot of their items do sell out come the afternoon.
Their whole ‘thing’ is elevated desserts using speclist Japanese ingredients (like matcha, yuzu, etc). It’s like a miniutre michalin meal, all in a few bites. Each dish has it’s own story, and information card, it’s it’s truly something special to experience.
If you visit with friend, order a few, and try as many as possible! For such an elevated experience, this felt really affordable too – which I appreciated.
Click here for a Google Maps link.
My next foodie stop? Osaka
Okonomiyaki Mizuno
Another recommendation from Kanji San, this place supassed all my expectations. Wow X10000. I was lucky to visit Okonomiyaki Mizuno without queuing (which I’ve since found out is a small miracle), so I got to enjoy a pretty laid back experience, and chat to the chefs, etc.
My food was cooked right in front of my eyes to order, and it was just pure foodie magic to see the dish forming right before my eyes. I also hadn’t ever tried this dish before (Okomiyaki) so this was a totally fresh experience, and I loved that.
From photos I had seen of the dish, I was expecting it to be really filling and stodgy – but the dish was actually so light, and almost refreshing. I ate TWO of them – and didn’t feel stuffed.
Overall, just amazing. And I can’t wait to one day (hopefully soon) go back!
Souffle pancakes at CAFE ANNON Namba
Another sweet suggestion from me! Souffle pancakes from CAFE ANNON Namba. Those jiggly, fluffy, perfect, sweet pancakes.
Again, this was something I knew I wanted to try – but I was holding my breath a little bit because I genuinely thought the dish would be a little too sweet for me. I imagined I’d eat a few bites and then be satisfyied.
But nope! These were so perfectly balanced (sweet, but not too sweet) that I wofed down the whole lot. It wouldn’t be an exagerration to say I thought about these pankcakes DAILY ever since I tried them!
Click here for a Google Maps link.
Shortrib ramen
If I was to describe a lip-smacking ramen dish – this would be it. Kind of gready, and fatty (in the best way) full of that beefy flavour that you can literally only get with slowcooking something for hours on end. That’s what this dish was.
Just off the famous Donburi strip of restaurants, and in this kind of small but charming ramen bar. It was a gem of a find, and I’m so glad I went in!
And finally, let’s visit Fukuoka
Katsudon (again) at Yagura
Another katsudon makes the list, this time at a little place called Yagura. Obviously the first one made such an impression on me – that I couldn’t resist trying another! My boss Hannah recommended this place, and it was suchhhh a great shout.
The location was a little odd, found in the basement of an office block, properly tucked out of the way. It opened at 11.30am, and by 11.15am, there was already a queue of locals waiting to be let in.
I happily joined the line, knowing that something special was clearly waiting for me! And I was right. This katsudon was INCREDIBLE, topped with this most orange raw egg yolk. Perfection. Still thinking about it.
Click here for a google maps link.
Gyoza at 博多鉄なべ 無限餃子 中洲川端
Fukuoka have this special way of cooking gyoza (that we replicate at Shoryu Ramen – where I work), so I was keen to try out the original and real thing! The traditional Fukuoka Gyoza at 博多鉄なべ 無限餃子 中洲川端 is served in a cast iron skillet, and they come sizzling and delicious.
I tried lots of gyoza on my trip to Japan (constantly in search of the best possible ones!) but this specific gyoza dish in Fukuoka was head and shoulders above the rest. They were SO crispy, and SO delicious, and I basically polished off the entire bowl full.
Click here for a google maps link.
Kakigori
I had this in our Fukuoka Shoryu Ramen – and wow it was amazing! It kind of looks like it’d be overly sweet, or a lot to get through (and understandable assumption – given it’s size!) but actually this was SO easy to eat, and I think I polished off the whole thing in about 10 minutes.
It’s essentially just frozen ice, drizzled with sweet sauce and flavourings (in my case, strawberry). Sweet, creamy, frozen, tasty. Just everything you hope for in a dessert. I would eat this every day if I could!
Click here for Google Maps link.
Genovese ramen from Ramen Unari Nakasu
Sounds bonkers – I know. But this dish was a tiny ramen bar called Ramen Unari Nakasu, recommended by our head chef Kanji San, at Shoryu Ramen. He maintains this is one of his top ramens in Japan, so obviously I needed to give it a try.
It was this teeny tiny ramen bar, filled with the smells of italy – not quite what you’re expecting in the heart of Fukuoka! The ramen (their signature bowl) was this delicious mix of italian flavours and Japanese tradition.
Click here for a google maps link.
