By Ted Grinewich-Yonashiro
The Japanese have a word for regional specialities – Meibutu, of which food is among the most popular forms and finds its way into advertisements, souvenirs, and even tour highlights. So, on your next jaunt across the Japanese islands, keep these five Meibutsu in mind.
Ika-meshi in Hokkaido
They cook Ikameshi by stuffing a whole squid with steamed rice and cooking it in a dashi broth. They mix carrots, bamboo shoots, and chopped-up squid tentacles with rice stuffing.
When in Hokkaido, check to see if you can find a local restaurant that serves Ika-mesh. Local restaurants will give you that homemade taste. It is only possible in Hokkaido.
Local dishes in Japan & famous spots: Hokkaido’s “Morimachi Ika-Meshi” is a famous brand of Ika-Meshi bento (lunch boxes). Most shops and train stations sell these. This is a great bento to eat while riding on the bullet train. The Morimachi packaging has cobalt-blue writing and squid printed on the package.
Monjayaki in Tokyo
Monjayaki is a teppan-yaki (pan-fried) batter dish. It contains cabbage and a protein such as pork or shrimp. Monjayaki uses a runny batter that makes the dish free-formed and closer to a stir-fry.
Monja-Yaki usually comes in multiple flavours with different toppings. Go to a restaurant with friends, order several different kinds of monjayaki, and have everyone share. Make sure you go to a restaurant with griddles at the table to get the full experience.
Local dishes in Japan & famous spots: Home to numerous Monjayaki shops, Nishinaka-dori in Tokyo’s Tsukushima is well known. Take exit seven from Tsukishima-Staion on Tokyo’s Toei-Oedo Line for easy access to the famous Monja-yaki restaurants in Tokyo.
Sakura Mochi in Kyoto
This is a sweet dumpling made with pounded glutenous rice (mochi rice) and stuffed with sweet red bean paste. The rice sometimes has a light pink hue. Resembling the petals of the cherry blossom trees. A pickled cherry blossom leaf wraps it.
Many restaurants serve Sakuramochi but try to visit a shop that makes their mochi on-site. Many mochi shops will have a cafe attached where you can order a cup of tea and an order of the Sakura mochi they make. Some shops will even let you sample some of the mochi before you visit the cafe.
Local dishes in Japan & famous spots: Arashiyama in Kyoto has many tea shops that will give you the beautiful scenery of mountains or a bamboo forest to enjoy with your eyes while sampling this sweet Japanese treat!
Takoyaki in Osaka
Japan’s other delicacy, Takoyaki is a ball-shaped batter-based dumpling with a hard crust and a soft doughy centre. They stuff chunks of octopus and sometimes other ingredients such as chopped green onions or cubes of konyaku-jelly inside this famous dumpling. People often top Takoyaki with a savoury brown sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, green seaweed flakes, and bonito flakes.
Check out what is cooking on the Takoyaki-griddle before buying your Takoyaki. Takoyaki shops that have a line will offer you better tasting Takoyaki that has been recently made–hot off the griddle. Shops with no line will often sell you a product that has been sitting out for a while. It is recommended to have Takoyaki right after it is made, as it does not keep well.
Famous Spots: Yama-Chan is outside the Hoop Shopping Mall near Tennoji station in Osaka City. They are well known for serving hot takoyaki that is full of flavour! People often eat directly in front of the shop or take a walk around the nearby shopping mall.
Goya Chanpuru in Okinawa
The Okinawan stir-fry dish, which consists of bitter melon, chunks of spam, scrambled eggs, and tofu, is called Goya chanpuru. They add carrots, bean sprouts, onions, and other vegetables to the stir-fry. Chapuru, which is Okinawan for ‘mixed’. It describes the culture of Okinawa. A mixture of native Okinawans, Chinese, Japanese, and North American Influences.
They make Goya Chanpuru orders. Vegetarians can ask if the chef can make the dish without meat (or even without eggs if you are vegan). Try Fu-Chanpuru. Made using a reconstituted block of dried wheat gluten.If you are not a fan of this bitter melon.
Famous Spots: In Okinawa, look for places that serve ‘Okinawa Katei Ryori’. This means home-style Okinawan food. Usually, home-style restaurants in Okinawa will offer delicious meals at reasonable prices. You won’t miss out on the local flair and your trip will be all the more special.
