Japanese cuisine contains many interesting dishes, with vastly different flavor profiles and textures. It can be a dream to visit the restaurants and have an authentic taste, both as travel enthusiasts and food lovers. However, it’s important to show respect for the dining establishments and culture when eating.
Japanese Food Etiquette
Japan takes its food etiquette quite seriously, though most people may feel too shy to correct newcomers on their first experience. However, here are the basics you need to keep in mind when eating out in Japanese restaurants.
1. Remove Your Shoes
Most Japanese restaurants have an open bar where you can sit in front of the chef as they prepare your meal. However, more traditional spaces will have tatami mats so you can sit directly on the floor. Tatami flooring is susceptible to damage and dirt, so you must remove your shoes. There’s typically an entryway or shoe rack where you can place your footwear.
2. Clean with Hand Towels
“Oshibori” — also known as “hand towels” — are provided at most restaurants to help you clean your hands. They are either soaked in warm water when it’s cold outside or submerged in cool water when it’s hot.
Make sure to only use them for your hands, not your neck or face. You can also wipe your hands between meals if you prefer to eat sushi without utensils.
3. Use Your Words
Japanese restaurants involve a lot more interaction, especially in smaller spaces where you’re face-to-face with the chef. It’s polite to greet them with “Konichiwa” to say “Hello” or “Konbanwa” for “Good Evening.” Diners typically say “Itadakimasu” or “Let us eat” before starting the meal and “Gochisosama” or “Thank you for the meal” afterward.
4. Bring the Bowl Close to Your Mouth
In Japanese food etiquette, picking up smaller dishes and bringing them closer to your mouth is perfectly acceptable. Some do this by drinking miso soup or ramen broth from the bowl. It’s also great for rice, as it means you can hold the bowl closer to your mouth and use the chopsticks to eat more efficiently.
5. Dab Wasabi and Dip in Soy Sauce
Meanwhile, it’s generally discouraged to mix wasabi and soy sauce. Soy sauce is carefully brewed and crafted with koji, soybeans and salt. The koji creates enzymes that break down proteins and starch into amino acids and glucose, which gives it such a distinct taste. Many believe wasabi tends to alter that taste.
If you want to use both condiments for your sushi, dab the green paste onto one side of the fish and dip the other half in the soy sauce. Remember to eat the roll in one piece.
6. Respect the Rice
Rice is a very important part of Japanese cuisine. Many locals understand how difficult it is to farm and produce, so they give it respect. While you already know about picking up the bowl to eat with ease, here are a few rice rules you should follow:
- Ask for small portions: Rice is served with almost every meal in Japan. Ask the chef for smaller portions if you don’t think your stomach can handle eating much. You can also request to omit rice altogether.
- Eat every single grain: Remember to eat every single piece and morsel. Having leftovers — especially when it comes to rice — is highly discouraged.
- Try “Ochazuke”: This satisfying one-bowl dish involves pouring green tea or dashi over cooked rice. It’s also a great way to get every grain from your serving.
7. Use the Chopstick Rest
Chopsticks are used at every step of your meal, so place them on the chopstick rest if you feel like putting them down between bites. Some travelers make the mistake of resting the set on the bowl, which is generally frowned upon. Sticking the chopsticks into the rice should also be avoided, as this is reserved for Japanese funerals.
Must Try Foods in Japan
Japanese cuisine includes staples like sushi, tempura and karaage. Here are several other unique foods to try during your trip.
1. Sashimi
Sashimi refers to thinly-sliced raw food like salmon, tuna and other seafood. It’s quite different from regular sushi, which is usually wrapped in nori seaweed with rice and other components. The meats here are served as they are, often eaten alone or just with soy sauce.
2. Matcha
Matcha is also a must-try. This green tea grinds the whole leaf into a fine powder, as opposed to other options that only soak the leaves in water before discarding them. You get a very earthy and umami flavor, which some restaurants use for mixed drinks and desserts.
3. Ramen
Ramen is viewed as Japan’s heart and soul food. It features shoyu or soy sauce with wheat noodles. The broth and toppings vary, though some of the most classic bowls feature jammy eggs and braised pork belly.
4. Onigiri
Onigi are Japanese rice balls that are compressed into various shapes. They’re usually stuffed with fillings like tuna and mayo or sprinkled with various seasonings before getting wrapped in seaweed. While available in restaurants, you can catch these in convenience stores nationwide.
5. Takoyaki
Takoyaki is a ball-shaped snack made with flour-based batter. It’s cooked in a special pan, in which you can sprinkle in green onions, tempura bits, octopus and other fillings while maintaining the shape. Some restaurants let you make takoyaki yourself, allowing you to customize all the add-ins.
Indulge in Authentic Japanese Cuisine
Japanese food etiquette is intricate, adding a sense of charm to the dining experience at the restaurant. Be mindful as you enter the establishment and indulge in the wonderful dishes the country has to offer.
