Even the street food scene in japan is a sensory delight. Yatai, which are tiny food stands that can be found at festivals and along Japanese street food, are a terrific place to start your country’s culinary trip.
These merchants provide a wonderful range of affordable, high-quality, and delicious on-the-go meals. The only drawback might be recognizing when to stop!
The best street food in Japanese yatai
Takoyaki
Takoyaki are golden fried balls of batter stuffed with octopus leftovers, tempura crumbs, pickled ginger, and spring onions.
The dough balls, which are originally from Osaka, are fried in unique cast-iron pans as you watch takoyaki merchants swiftly flip the balls with chopsticks.
As soon as they are finished cooking, the takoyaki are smeared in Japanese mayonnaise, a savory brown sauce resembling Worcestershire, aonori (dried seaweed), and katsuobushi before being consumed hot, somewhat crunchy on the outside, and gooey inside (dried bonito fish flakes).
Be careful not to burn your tongue because takoyaki are really good and addictive.
Yakisoba
Without the well-known sizzle of yakisoba, no Japanese event would be complete. On a griddle, wheat noodles, pork, cabbage, and onions are fried.
Benishoga, katsuobushi, aonori, a squeeze of Worcestershire sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and occasionally a fried egg are then added. This meal is very popular due to its intensely flavorful flavors.
Yakitori
Yakitori is a traditional finger meal consisting of grilled chicken skewers over charcoal.
All parts of the chicken, including the tail meat, neck, and liver, are used in yakitori, which is a common dish in japan. Each part of the chicken has a distinct flavor. Wasabi, umeboshi (a sour pickled plum paste), karashi (mustard), tare (a soy grilling sauce), and salt are among the seasonings.
Different varieties include tsukune, which is chicken mince blended with other flavors, and negima yakitori, which is made with juicy chicken thighs and green onions.
Although chicken is the most popular type of skewered meat, options may also include pork and beef.
Imagawayaki is a sweet street food delight that is “baked” in disk-shaped molds using a batter comprised of eggs, flour, sugar, and water.
The final product is a golden, bite-sized sponge that is either filled with custard, chocolate, or red bean paste.
Imagawayaki, also known as taiko-manju in the kansai region, is a type of food that originated in Tokyo and was named for an edo-period bridge.
Ikayaki
Some people may not find whole grilled squid on a stick to be the most enticing or elegant snack, but Japan street food cooks have perfected bringing out the best in an uncomplicated idea.
Fresh, soft squid is quickly transformed into a filling and savory meal-on-the-go by being cooked over charcoal, generously doused in soy sauce, and topped with a slice of lemon or lime.
Yakiimo
Try yakiimo for a taste of traditional japan. Japanese sweet potatoes known as satsuma-imo are roasted over a wood fire and served in tin foil pouches.
Bite through the yakiimo’s delightfully chewy skin to reveal the soft, fluffy flesh that has a taste similar to caramel.
Yakiimo can occasionally be found in other seasons, despite being more of a comforting fall or winter snack.
Follow the sweet aroma of potatoes wafting down the street to find a yakiimo vendor, or keep an ear out for the distinctive song played by vendors to entice passersby.
Tomorokoshi yaki
Yaki tomorokoshi are full cobs of chargrilled corn that have been glazed with a soy sauce, mirin, and butter glaze to give them a sweet, salty, and creamy richness.
Summer is when corn is at its best, and during this time, yaki tomorokoshi is frequently sold at yatai on Japanese streets and at festivals.
In contrast to other fried and sugary treats, grilled corn might provide a lighter, healthier option for Street food Japan.
Crepes
Crepes, originally a French delicacy, have been completely incorporated into Japanese cuisine and tailored to Japanese preferences. In japan, crepes are also a common street food snack because to Tokyo’s vibrant harajuku district.
For convenience when eating on the go, crepes are formed with a batter that is baked on a griddle, then filled with sweet ingredients like whipped cream, chocolate, and fruit, folded into a cone shape, and wrapped in paper.
Wataame
Japanese cotton candy known as wataame (also known as watagashi) is sweet and ethereal like fluffy clouds.
In japan, you can buy ready-made cotton candy in packages that are frequently printed with manga characters, or you can witness the cotton candy being spun around a stick at street food stalls and festivals throughout the country. Children love this creative treat.
Sweet fruit
Candied fruit is a ubiquitous street staple that may be found in japan in a variety of forms. You won’t want to miss delicious fruits covered in syrup, such as anzu ame (candied apricots) and ringo ame (candied apples).
For a genuine Japanese delight, try ichigo ame (candied strawberries) during the height of strawberry season or the rarer mikan ame, a Japanese-native mandarin.
Sweet banana
The name of this fun street food—a banana covered in chocolate—should give you no surprises. The chocolate, which can be milk, dark, or white, is frequently covered in decorative sprinkles.
Kakigori
In japan, there is no shortage of inventive iced concoctions, and the well-known street food kakigori is a perfect example of this.
It is made of shaved ice in flavors like matcha green tea and lemon, and it is often topped with jelly, whipped cream, sweet red beans, mochi (sweet rice cakes), and berries.
A traditional image of summer in japan is eating kakigori while wearing a yukata during a matsuri (festival) under a sky filled with fireworks.
