What to eat anywhere in Japan

Noodles

Ramen

ラーメン らーめん rāmen

Wheat noodles in hot broth, each shop with its own style.

Typically ¥900 to ¥1,400 a bowl

Noodles

Tempura soba

天ぷらそば てんぷらそば tenpura soba

Buckwheat noodles in hot broth, topped with fried shrimp or vegetables.

Typically ¥550 to ¥650 a bowl

Noodles

Cold soba

ざるそば ざるそば zaru soba

Chilled buckwheat noodles on a bamboo tray, with a cold dipping sauce.

Typically ¥400 to ¥500 a tray

Rice

Beef bowl

牛丼 ぎゅうどん gyūdon

Thin slices of beef and onion simmered sweet, over a bowl of rice.

Typically ¥460 to ¥940 a bowl

Rice

Japanese curry

カレーライス かれーらいす karē raisu

A thick, mild brown curry with rice, often topped with a pork cutlet.

Typically ¥650 to ¥1,250 a plate

Rice

Omurice

オムライス おむらいす omuraisu

Ketchup fried rice wrapped in a thin omelette, finished with sauce.

Typically ¥990 to ¥1,800 a plate

Rice

Grilled eel on rice

うな重 うなじゅう unajū

Eel glazed with sweet soy and grilled over charcoal, served in a lacquer box.

Sushi

Sushi

寿司 すし sushi

Vinegared rice topped with fish. At conveyor shops, plate colour sets the price.

Typically ¥1,200 to ¥2,800 about 10 plates

Sushi

Seafood rice bowl

海鮮丼 かいせんどん kaisendon

Slices of raw fish and roe laid over warm vinegared or plain rice.

Typically ¥1,000 to ¥3,000 a bowl

Sushi

Inari sushi

いなり寿司 いなりずし inarizushi

Sweet fried tofu pouches stuffed with rice, the tofu often cooked in fish stock.

Typically ¥160 to ¥400 a pack of 2 or 3

Grilled and fried

Yakitori

焼き鳥 やきとり yakitori

Chicken pieces on skewers, grilled with salt or a sweet soy glaze.

Grilled and fried

Karaage

唐揚げ からあげ karaage

Bite-size chicken marinated in soy and ginger, then deep fried.

Typically ¥800 to ¥1,050 a set meal

Grilled and fried

Gyoza

餃子 ぎょうざ gyōza

Pan-fried dumplings filled with pork, cabbage and garlic chives.

Typically ¥340 to ¥600 6 pieces

Grilled and fried

Sukiyaki

すき焼き すきやき sukiyaki

Beef, tofu and vegetables simmered at the table, dipped in raw egg.

Typically ¥2,500 to ¥6,000 lunch

Street food

Yakisoba

焼きそば やきそば yakisoba

Wheat noodles stir-fried with pork and cabbage in a tangy sauce.

Konbini

Onigiri

おにぎり おにぎり onigiri

A rice ball wrapped in seaweed, with a filling like salmon or pickled plum.

Typically ¥150 to ¥350 1 piece

Konbini

Egg sandwich

たまごサンド たまごさんど tamago sando

Soft white bread filled with creamy egg salad, a konbini standby.

Typically ¥250 to ¥400 a pack

Konbini

Oden

おでん おでん oden

Radish, eggs, tofu and fish cakes simmering in broth by the register.

Typically ¥110 to ¥200 1 piece

Konbini

Pork bun

肉まん にくまん nikuman

A steamed bun with a pork filling. In Osaka it is called butaman.

Typically ¥170 to ¥260 1 bun

Konbini

Melon bread

メロンパン めろんぱん meronpan

A sweet bun under a crisp cookie crust. Usually no melon in it at all.

Typically ¥150 to ¥300 1 bun

Konbini

Station bento

駅弁 えきべん ekiben

A boxed meal sold at stations, made to eat on the train.

Typically ¥1,000 to ¥2,000 a box

Sweets

Soft serve

ソフトクリーム そふとくりーむ sofuto kurīmu

Each town has a flavour of its own, from matcha in Kyoto to sweet potato.