What we ate in Japan 2

Japanese cuisine is so versatile, I needed a second post.

Tempura: this fried food tastes great, but only when hot. Don't repeat our mistake to take a cold box for lunch.

Okonomiyaki: a noodle or cabbage based dish that looks like a BIG pancake, has different toppings (usually egg, meat, seafood or fish) and is bathed in a thick sauce similar to teriyaki and mayonnaise. Its name actually means "cook as you like" so the possibilities are endless. While I found it too heavy most of the time, it's a tasty and filling dish (and one of friend's favourite- cheers Tibo!).

Tako-yaki: this was our first lunch in Tokyo. We simply saw small balls being deep fried and served with different toppings. I was hoping for vegetables but it turns out we tried octopus dumplings. Quite interesting, especially the dried fish flakes and powdered seaweed on top. We also had it super fresh in Yanaka on our last day. Crispy on the outside, squishy on the inside.

Izakaya, meaning a place to drink sake. These Japanese pubs are a great place to go for dinner. The meals are usually small dishes that are shared and ordered consecutively along with your drinks. Not the cheapest, but very intriguing!

The food hall in department stores: if you don't know what you feel like for lunch and you're in a bigger city, go to the food hall in a department store. All the meals are on display so it's easy to choose. Bring your own cutlery to be able to refuse the disposables and take your food to a park nearby. In Tokyo, we were even able to eat in the rooftop garden.

Conclusion: Japanese cuisine is super tasty! If you're not vegan or vegetarian, go for it and simply try the local food. Choose places that are crowded and if nothing else helps, point to dishes that are served to neighbouring tables. We've never been disappointed. If you are vegan or vegetarian, you will still find options, you just need to look a bit harder. "Happycow" (online listing website) is a great help. AND: take your own cutlery and chopsticks! It felt like everything in Japan comes wrapped in plastic, it would be great if more people tried to cut it down.Read more