From the Grill

Succulent and Flavoursome Beef Yakitori Skewers

Vegans and vegetarians, look away now! The only thing that we find as satisfying as a yakitori skewer itself, is the smoky smell that penetrates the atmosphere as the meat sizzles on the grill over an open flame. The tender strips (or cubes) of beef are usually seasoned with garlic and ginger, and marinated in a soy sauce flavour similar to Teriyaki. Our favourite place to tear apart beef yakitori skewers in Tokyo is perched on a stool outside one of the many eateries along the narrow alleyway, Omoide Yokocho (also known as Memory Lane) in Shinjuku.

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From the Sea

Fresh Sashimi & Shishamo Prepared by a Master Chef

One of Japan’s most famous food exports is sushi, so visiting one of Tokyo’s 4,000+ sushi restaurants should occupy a prime position on your list of things to experience when you visit Tokyo. Dining at a great sushi restaurant and savouring the highest quality sashimi (thin slices of raw fish) doesn’t come cheap. Like our favourite sushi restaurant, Kyubey, the cost of your dinner may amount to 20,000 Yen ($185 USD or £150) per person - so be prepared. Shishamo (also known as Smelt or Willow Leaf Fish) is a small saltwater fish that you should also try with your meal, and it is either served grilled or deep-fried. This tasty fish - native to Hokkaido, Japan - is meant to be eaten from head to tail.

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Hot Snacks

Korean Corn Dogs with Tomato Ketchup & Mustard

It may not be Japanese food, but this tasty snack imported from neighbouring South Korea has become increasingly popular in Tokyo - especially in Koreatown (Shin-Okubo). The most famous Korean Corn Dogs in Tokyo are served at the Arirang Hot Dog shops in Shin-Okubo (near Shinjuku) and Harajuku (in Shibuya). For the less-adventurous folk, you could start off with the standard corn dog (pictured 350 metres above Tokyo), which is comprised of a hot dog sausage wrapped in batter and garnished with tomato ketchup and mustard. If you live on the wild side, you’ll sink your teeth into a Potatorella, which has potato chips embedded in its batter and is oozing with mozarella cheese!

Noodles

Ramen Noodles: Hunch Over Your Bowl and Slurp!

A typical ramen (Japanese noodle soup) consists of Chinese wheat noodles in a rich, meat-based broth - flavoured with soy sauce and garnished with sliced pork, crispy seaweed, sesame seeds and green spring onions. Grab your chopsticks and brace yourself for an explosion of flavours. To truly express genuine appreciation for your ramen, your shoulders should be completely hunched over your bowl and your face only 2 inches away from it - almost like a romantic clinch. It’s also claimed that the louder you slurp your noodles, the more you appear to be enjoying it. In Japan, it is rude NOT to slurp! Slurping allows you to taste the noodles and the hot, flavoursome broth at the same time.

Hot Snacks

FamilyMart Fried Chicken. A Quick & Easy Treat

Before we arrived in Tokyo, we were constantly told that we couldn’t come to Japan without trying FamilyMart fried chicken or a 7-Eleven bento box. So now we’re just passing on that message to you! FamilyMart fried chicken is definitely worth trying out when you’re on the go, especially if you’ve had a busy day exploring the city and lost track of time - resulting in you skipping a meal. It’s a bit like Marmite... Mase will happily sink his teeth into a chicken thigh while stomping around Shinjuku, but Nat is not so keen as she finds it a little too oily.

Sweet Snacks

Marion Crepes - Feeding Tokyo Since 1976

In addition to the savoury foods already mentioned, Japan is also a haven for sweet treats such as matcha ice cream, fluffy pancakes, bubble tea, 300+ flavours of Kit Kat and delicious crepes! With more than 40 different crepes on their menu and 80 shops nationwide, Marion Crepes has been satisfying many a sweet tooth in Japan since 1976. Pictured is the Strawberry Sundae flavour, which Nat happily devoured all by herself whilst out and about in the city. For even more of a wacky variety, head to Takeshita Street in Harajuku where the street is lined with crepe stalls (including Marion Crepes), serving some of the most creative, colourful and imaginative crepes in Tokyo.

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Assorted Foods

Karaage, Okonomiyaki, Tonkatsu & More Japanese Foods To Try!

It’s no secret that Japan is world-famous for its abundant variety of unique food, snacks and sweets. To add to your mouth-watering list of foods to try in Tokyo, Karaage Fried Chicken (pictured) is crispy, yet super-tasty on a bed of steamed rice, and drizzled with sweet teriyaki sauce! Hailing from Osaka, Okonomiyaki is another savoury favourite. It’s a pancake that packs a real punch, consisting of a seasoned flour pancake base, shredded cabbage, tempura scraps, meats, vegetables and anything else you like (!!) - all fried together then garnished with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, dried bonito flakes, dried green seaweed and guess what? Anything else you like! Pork Tonkatsu with curry sauce is another popular dish that you should try.

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