How to order if you don’t speak Japanese
- Many restaurants provide plastic replicas of the dishes. Simply point to the dish you want.
- Menus are often also translated into English, or come with colorful photos of the dishes.
- It is also completely acceptable to point at a delicious-looking dish on the neighboring table.
Vegetarian and non dairy food?
Finding vegetarian and non-dairy food may not be easy. There are options available, however: shojin ryori, created for Buddhist monks, is extremely tasty, and bansai restaurants offer vegetarian food.
Rice = meal
Rice is an essential part of a Japanese meal, unless noodles are served. In Japanese, the words gohan and meshi refer to both rice and a meal.
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The Finnair flight to Nagoya is the fastest connection from Europe
Food
Nagoyan cuisine is all about noodles and fried delicacies as well as long tradition. The city is known for its soy bean paste – miso – and the noodle-based kishimen and misonikomi-udon. There are restaurants for every taste and budget.
What to eat
Fish and shellfish play an important role in the Japanese kitchen. In addition, almost all meals are served with rice or noodles. Nagoya offers local treats as well as food more familiar to Westerners.
Nagoya offers local specialties...
Kashiwa, a chicken stew that you prepare yourself at the table, is a Nagoyan specialty. Another local treat is the dark noodle soup flavored with miso and served in a clay bowl with a mixture of vegetables and meat.
...and internationally-known burgers
If the kids find the local food too exotic, Nagoya also offers Famiresus – family restaurants with a strong Western influence – as well as the familiar McDonald’s, called Makudonarudo.
Fugu may kill you, but it tastes great all the same
Fugu, or puffer fish, is a popular delicacy in Japan, despite the fact that if prepared with inexpert hands, the dish is lethal. There are several fugu restaurants in Nagoya, and at the cheapest, the dish costs approximately 20 euros. Those looking for more exotic delicacies in Nagoya may enjoy suppon, or soft-shell turtle.
Where to eat
The Japanese kitchen has been influenced by the rest of the world, incorporating the best ideas. It’s no wonder that eating is one of the most popular ways to socialize in Japan. And great treats don’t have to cost a fortune.
Choices to suit every budget
There are restaurants for every taste and budget. Stand-up snack bars sell delicious noodle meals for only a couple of euros. Alternatively, you can choose a place where dining costs hundreds of euros.
Izakayas are for eating, drinking and having a good time
An izakaya is a Japanese version of a tapas bar, where several small servings are brought to the table. Eating in an izakaya is a great way to sample several different Japanese dishes. Izakayas are popular spots to spend the night, not least for the beer and sake!