STREET FOOD REVIEW | JAPAN

Japan is a country filled with delicious eats and Japanese street food is especially appetizing - especially in summer!

Yattai are small food stalls that can be found along Japanese streets and at festivals and you don’t want to miss out on the food they offer! These vendors offer an accessible and tasty selection of on-the-go dishes that are cheap, yet high-quality and delicious.

Just be careful not to get carried away by the incredible variety. Here are 12 Japanese street foods you'll want to try when visiting Japan!

Takoyaki
Takoyaki are golden balls of fried batter filled with little pieces of octopus, tenkasu (tempura scraps), benishoga (pickled ginger) and spring onion. Originally from Osaka, the dough balls are fried in special cast-iron pans, and you can watch on as takoyaki vendors skillfully flip the balls at a rapid pace using chopsticks. The cooked takoyaki are eaten piping hot, slightly crisp on the outside, gooey on the inside, and slathered in Japanese mayonnaise, a savory brown sauce similar to Worcestershire, aonori (dried seaweed) and katsuobushi (dried bonito fish flakes). Although originating in Osaka, takoyaki are now widely enjoyed in Tokyo and across the rest of Japan.Takoyaki are incredibly tasty and addictive - just be careful not burn your tongue!
Yakisoba
No Japanese festival would be complete without the familiar sizzling of yakisoba. Relatively easy to make, this is a standard food item at any place where yatai are gathered. Wheat noodles, pork, cabbage, and onions are fried on a griddle, then topped with benishoga, katsuobushi, aonori, a squeeze of Worcestershire sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and occasionally, a fried egg. The deeply savory flavors of this dish give it wide appeal.
Yakitori
A truly classic Japanese treat, yakitori are chicken skewers that are grilled over charcoal and can be found all over Japan. Yakitori is made from all parts of the chicken, such as the thigh meat, tail meat, and even the skin, each with their own unique flavor. The most common seasonings are tare (soy grilling sauce) and shio (salt), but wasabi, umeboshi (sour pickled plum paste), and karashi (Japanese mustard) can also be found at yakitori stands. There are also variations such as negima yakitori - pieces of juicy chicken thigh and green onion, and tsukune (chicken mince) mixed with other flavorings. Although chicken is the most common variety of skewered meat, pork and beef may also be available.
Imagawayaki
Imagawayaki is a sweet Japanese street food treat that is made from a batter of eggs, flour, sugar, and water that is ‘baked’ in disk-shaped molds. The end-product is a golden, bite-sized sponge filled with either anko (red bean paste), chocolate, or custard. Named after an Edo-era bridge in Tokyo where they were first sold, imagawayaki is known as taiko-manju in the Kansai region.
Ikayaki
Though whole-grilled squid on a stick may not sound like the most glamorous or appealing snack to some, Japanese street food chefs have mastered bringing out the best in a simple concept. Fresh, tender squid is grilled over charcoal, given a generous coating of shoyu (soy sauce) and served with a slice of lemon or lime. The chewy texture unique to squid meat is a must-try for those who haven’t. Ikayaki is a meaty and flavorful meal-on-the-go that is ready to order almost instantly.