When you think of Japanese food, sushi and ramen probably pop up first—but there’s so much more to discover!
Japan’s culinary world is vast, with comforting rice bowls, crispy fried delights, and hearty home-style favourites that rarely make it onto many tourist menus.
If you’re ready to explore the flavours that Japanese people love, here are the 8 must-try Japanese dishes that go beyond sushi and ramen!
1. Gyudon (牛丼): The Classic Beef Rice Bowl
Let’s kick things off with gyudon, a true comfort classic among Japanese food!
Gyudon (literally “beef bowl”) is a steaming bowl of rice generously topped with thinly sliced beef and tender onions simmered in a sweet and savoury sauce.
Usually garnished with beni shoga (red pickled ginger), it’s a super quick, affordable, and utterly satisfying meal that’s a go-to for many in Japan!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Gyudon (Beef Rice Bowl): Served at some Japanese Restaurants such as Machiya Restaurant & Bar
2. Hiyayakko (冷奴): Japan’s Chilled Tofu Delight
Discover hiyayakko, proof that the best Japanese food can be the simplest!
Hiyayakko is a chilled block of silken tofu offering delicate flavours.
It’s a light and refreshing dish typically topped with green onions, grated ginger, katsuobushi dried bonito flakes and eaten by pouring a little soy sauce over.
Wonderfully versatile with different toppings and sauces, it’s perfect for a healthy side or an elegant appetizer!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Hiyayakko (Yakko tofu/ Hiyashi tofu): Served at some Japanese Restaurants such as Cocoro Restaurant *Click here on our review of their hiyayakko and other dishes we ordered
3. Kakiage (かき揚げ): Crispy Mixed Vegetable Tempura
A fantastic twist on traditional tempura, kakiage is a delightful Japanese food!
Kakiage is a delicious fritter of mixed julienned vegetables such as carrots, onions and spring onions deep-fried until golden and crispy. Mitsuba Japanese parsley and shrimp can be added to the batter.
Paired with tempura dipping sauce (tentsuyu) and often grated ginger and/or daikon Japanese radish, it’s an amazing and flavourful accompaniment to rice and noodles!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Kakiage or Kakiage Donburi Rice Bowl: Served at some Japanese restaurants such as Koya *Click here for Our Restaurant Review of Koya City
4. Karaage (唐揚げ): Japan’s Irresistible Fried Chicken
Ready for a fried chicken revelation?
Let us introduce you to karaage, Japan’s incredibly delicious and famously addictive version! Karaage usually means Chicken Karaage (Tori no Karaage).
Imagine tender, bite-sized pieces of chicken (usually thigh) marinated in a flavour-packed blend of soy sauce, sake, ginger, and garlic, then coated in potato starch and deep-fried to perfection.
With its mouthwatering contrast: unbelievably juicy on the inside and a satisfyingly light crunch on the outside, karaage is a crowd-pleasing favourite and must-try Japanese food sensation!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Karaage: Served at most Japanese Restaurants such as Hachi *Click here for Our Restaurant Review of Hachi
5. Omurice (オムライス): The Comforting Omelette Rice Fusion
A Japanese take on Western-style comfort food, omurice (short for “omelette rice”) is ketchup-flavoured fried rice with chicken or sausage, wrapped in a thin, fluffy omelet!
It’s often topped with a drizzle of ketchup or a rich demi-glace sauce poured around it.
Loved by both kids and adults with its savoury and slightly sweet notes, Omurice is a satisfying meal making it a truly unique and comforting Japanese food experience!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Omurice: Served at Shibuya Soho
6. Teriyaki Chicken (鶏の照り焼き): Sweet-Savoury Glazed Goodness
Teriyaki Chicken is an extremely popular Japanese food dish where chicken is pan-fried, and then glazed with a signature sweet and savoury teriyaki sauce!
The sauce is made from soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, which caramelises during cooking, giving chicken its rich flavour and characteristic shine.
As it has a tender and mildly sweet taste, teriyaki chicken is a year-round favourite to eat at home or in a restaurant including on a special occasion!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Teriyaki Chicken or Teriyaki Chicken Bento: Served at some Japanese Restaurants and Cafés such as Tombo Café *Click here for Our Tombo Café Review
7. Tonkatsu (豚カツ): Crispy Pork Cutlet Perfection
Tonkatsu, a beloved Japanese food, is pure, crispy‑fried bliss!
A thick, juicy pork cutlet is coated in flour, egg, and panko breadcrumbs, then deep-fried to a perfect golden brown.
Sliced into strips, it usually comes with shredded cabbage, a drizzle of tangy tonkatsu sauce over it, and a side of rice and miso soup.
Tonkatsu is hearty, crunchy, and irresistibly good!
<Where to Eat in London>
Tonkatsu: Served at some Japanese Restaurants such as Tanakatsu. *Click here for Our Restaurant Review of Tanakatsu
8. Unagi no Kabayaki (うなぎの蒲焼): Smoky-Sweet Grilled Eel
For a truly special and luxurious Japanese food experience, unagi no kabayaki is a must-try!
Unagi no Kabayaki is charcoal-grilled freshwater eel glazed in a sweet soy-based sauce. It’s typically served over rice and often citrusy sansho pepper sprinkled over.
This delicacy is smoky, incredibly tender, and packed with umami flavour—considered a luxurious treat!
<Where to Eat in London>
- Unagi no Kabayaki or Unadon/Unagi Donburi (Grilled Eel Rice Bowl): Served at some Japanese Restaurants such as eat Tokyo *Click here for Our Restaurant Review of eat Tokyo
Bringing It All Together
Download Japanese Food Reference Table with Photos (PDF)
| Dish Name (Romaji) | Japanese Name (Kanji/Kana) | Description |
| 1. Gyudon | 牛丼 | Rice bowl topped with thinly sliced beef and onions simmered in a sweet-savoury sauce. |
| 2. Hiyayakko | 冷奴 | Chilled silken tofu topped with green onions, ginger, and dried bonito flakes. |
| 3. Kakiage | かき揚げ | Mixed vegetable (and sometimes shrimp) tempura fritter, deep-fried until crispy. |
| 4. Karaage | 唐揚げ | Japanese-style fried chicken, marinated in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. |
| 5. Omurice | オムライス | Omelette-wrapped ketchup fried rice. Japanese Rice Omelette. |
| 6. Teriyaki Chicken | 鶏の照り焼き | Chicken glazed with sweet-savory teriyaki sauce. |
| 7. Tonkatsu | 豚カツ | Breaded deep-fried pork cutlet with tangy tonkatsu sauce. |
| 8. Unagi no Kabayaki | うなぎの蒲焼 | Grilled eel glazed with sweet soy-based sauce. |
So now you know Japanese cuisine has so much more to offer than sushi and ramen!
Next time you’re planning Japanese food for dinner—or simply ordering takeout—definitely venture beyond the familiar and dive into these incredibly diverse and delicious dishes.
Whether you’re savouring a bowl of hearty gyudon, biting into crispy yet juicy karaage or treating yourself to the buttery richness of unagi, you might just discover your new favourite!
If you’re seeking for more information on Japanese Foods and Supermarkets, check out our Best Japanese Supermarket in London.
For those who are interested in Japanese Culture, do explore our Culture section.
Or you can head to our Instagram account for the posts of fantastic festivals, events, and restaurants we went.
