Quick Bites: Delicious Ramen and Sushi Everywhere

Posted on 05/14/2021 Last updated on 07/09/2021

When I think of Japan, one of the first things I think of is the food. I especially think of ramen and sushi, two of the country’s most famous dishes. Japan is arguably the best place where you can pay only a few dollars (or a couple hundred yen) and get a nice, hearty, delicious bowl of ramen or udon.

For almost the same amount, you can snack on a plate of sushi or sashimi if you know where to go. And one of the most amazing things about Japan’s food is it doesn’t hurt your waistline much either, provided you eat the right things in the right amounts.

Finding sushi is quite easy when you live in Japan. Every market and convenience store sells sushi you can buy, but the kind of sushi might depend on the prefecture and season. The most common types are maguro or tuna, and salmon. These two fish you will see all year round being sold in the markets.

Now if you go to a restaurant or izakaya, you will have more choices of sushi types. You can choose from tuna, salmon, mackerel, octopus, squid, egg, shrimp, and etc. Again, it will depend on the time of year and area. The picture here is a plate of sushi I ate on my second night of living in Japan. I was living in Yamaguchi where fugu or blowfish is very famous. I have even gone fishing and caught blowfish myself.

Fugu was on of my bucket list items and I was so happy I was able to complete it. And to describe the taste, fugu is a chewy fish with very little actual taste. So, be sure to pair it with different sauces and wasabi when eating.

Ramen is similar to sushi in that you can find it everywhere. Now, if you have not visited Japan yet, I will warn you not to be alarmed by the “slurp” culture here.

When eating any type of noodles, it is normal and seen as a good thing when you slurp up your noodles. In fact it is essential since ramen is served hot; otherwise it can take you a while to eat. So, don’t hold back while eating a delicious bowl of ramen. For me, the best parts are the meat and the soup broth.

So, if you are thinking about living and working in Japan, I say go for it. It will be a big journey whether you stay here for one year or several years. But one thing is certain I feel: you will enjoy the food here. And even more than that, you’ll enjoy the authentic experience of trying it in Japan; that will always be one of the best parts about the food in Japan, in my humble opinion.

Photo Credits:

Top Photo: takedahrs on Pixabay

Additional photos were provided by Joshua Minor, used with permission.