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Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/12 21:12
Hi there ^^

We are going to visit Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, Miyajima and Tokyo.

We have been looking for some food and some restaurants at that places, but we don't want to miss the most authentic food of each region.

For example, in Spain, the paella is from Levante (South-West), but you can find paellas in all Spain. For example, at North-West they are not the same (some people can find that paellas even better, but they aren't the same, nor in ingredients, nor in the way of cook, nor in taste...).

So maybe you are in Santander (North of Spain), and you find a place that serves paella, crowded with tourists. Santander is not famous for their paellas (this doesn't mean that you can't find a good one here), so you decide to order a paella... instead of a regional dish, the Cabrito (Iberian goat, roasted, grilled or even fried) or the Cocido Montañes. For the dessert you order a flan (pudding) which is served in all Spain... or you could order a Quesada (cake made with milk, flavoured with lemon and cinnamon) which is a regional dessert and difficult to find in the South (but not impossible). So, yes, you ordered Spanish meals, traditional meals (we won't talk about how authentic were the ingredients and how the chef respected the original recipe)... but if you were seeking authentic regional dishes, you missed the opportunity.

There are plenty of blogs and websites talking about food in Japan, and we took many ideas, but, as you can find many blogs talking about the paella with plenty of inaccurate information (and you can see on many of them that the writer has no idea or he even tried to document himself/herself a little), I'm afraid that this situation could happen to this Japanese-food-blogs... and here I am, trying to make a small but accurate compilation of authentic and traditional dishes of these cities with your help ^^

Thank you in advance for any suggestion!
by Murmullos  

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/13 11:31
trying to make a small but accurate compilation of authentic and traditional dishes of these cities with your help

I highly approve of this quest!

Kyoto is of course famous for kaiseki cuisine, but also for tofu and tofu products like yuba, Kyoto heirloom vegetables (Kyo-yasai), and a cuisine called banzai-ryori, made up of various small, home-style dishes. Here's a summary of some of these: http://bento.com/fexp-kyotocuisine.html

Osaka is known for kushiage (deep-fried meat and vegetables on skewers), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), and okonomiyaki (savory seafood pancakes). Here are some local restaurants that specialize in these: http://bento.com/kansai/kc-regional.html

Kobe has their own version of takoyaki, called akashiyaki, which are made with eggs and dipped into a light broth. You can also find good beef in Kobe, as you may have heard.

Nara is known for chagayu - rice flavored with green tea and seasonal vegetables - and narazuke (Nara-style pickles).

Hiroshima is known for a different version of okonomiyaki, made in different layers rather than all mixed together, and oyster dishes. Nearby Miyajima is apparently known for anago-meishi (freshwater eel over rice) as well as Hiroshima dishes.

Local dishes from Tokyo include nigiri-zushi (the most famous style of sushi), grilled unagi (eel), monjayaki (a lighter, runnier variation of okonomiyaki pancakes), and chanko-nabe (a hotpot stew popular with sumo wrestlers).
by Umami Dearest rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/13 15:41
Osaka

Osaka is famous for "Konamon" which means wheat flour. Konamon includes Takoyaki (Octopus ball) and Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake with cabbege). But honestly, these are not considered as "best" in Osaka. I admit they are nice, but the taste is too heavily seasoned as Japanese standards. You may try, but do not too much.

I think the food representing Osaka is Udonsuki and Shabushabu. These can not be said "traditional", but quite Osaka-ish. The originators are Mimiu and Suehiro respectively, but you can try them at many other restaurants as well. Well, I would choose Udonsuki in Mimiu. Udonsuki can be considered as Konamon.

Nara

Well, I can't imagine of foods besides Chagayu or Narazuke as Umami Dearest wrote, and honestly they are not my taste. Maybe Nara is not so gourmandism.

Kyoto

As Umami Dearest wrote, Kyoto is the capital of Kaiseki cuisine. One might think since Kyoto is very touristic, so the Kaiseki might be tourism oriented or too expensive, but this is not true. Kaiseki in Kyoto is basically for locals, and Kyoto people are said to be thrifty, so the Kaiseki in Kyoto is good value for money. One example is Manshige at Nishijin. You can enjoy lighter version of Kaiseki at Manshige at Porta (Kyoto station) from around 1500 yen.

Kobe

From the viewpoint of Japanese, Kobe is one of the most "westernized" city. Many foreigners lived in Kobe and founded restaurants, bakeries and patisseries there. They continued their business though the owners might be Japanese at present. Freundlieb cafe, Bigot (actually in Ashiya), Morozoff are very popular among Japanese. Further there is a Chinatown which is also worth visiting.

Hiroshima and Miyajima

Okonomiyaki, Oyster and Anago-meshi as Umami dearest noted.

Tokyo
Sushi, Unagi, Tempura are basically from Tokyo. In the past only Tokyo has restaurants for ordinary people. Although Kaiseki is originated in Kansai, big restaurants moved to Tokyo and are doing their business there. One example is Nadaman. Nadaman sells their Bento from around 1500 yen.
by frog1954 rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/14 02:21
Thank you for yours answers ^^

I have read that in Osaka there is a lot of great sushi. Despite I love sushi, I prefer to try these dishes.

If I find something that is not in these lists, I'll come back to check it, if you don't mind.
For me all this food is perfect, I have tried many of these dishes before and I know that I will like them, and I can't wait to try new dishes. But my girlfriend... well, she is not a big fan of spiced food and or food with sauces, so it's going to be a bit complicated for her, and I think that she will prefer the already-known-dishes (sushi, ramen, rice...).

I can't wait to March to land in Osaka :(

Thanks again!
by Murmullos rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/14 15:32
You write about Nara.
I would love to leaf sushi of persimmonikakinoha zushi).
http://www.hiraso.jp/lang/english.html
I never ate in Nara, but Somen also famous.
http://japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/foods/noodles/36/
by haro1210 rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/16 06:56
Thanks Haro1210 for the links, they look amazing :O


We are also big fans of the mochi. Is there any place on these cities where we could buy it, but homemade? We usually buy it in Spain and UK, but they are industrial, and is not the same.
In Spain, Madrid, there is a Japanese association which celebrate the Mochitsuki, it would be great to experiment again the real taste of the mochi.
by Murmullos rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/16 11:42
In Kyoto Nishiki market, may Mochitsuki is seen.
Nishiki mochitsuki-ya
http://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/stores/mochitsukiya/index.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsbmas2MVrg
Fast Mochitsuki of Nara NakataniDo is amazing!
http://www.nakatanidou.jp/
http://tabelog.com/en/nara/A2901/A290101/29000222/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkxLUrkbJBY
Speaking of which, Nara here shaved ice is also famous.
http://tabelog.com/en/nara/A2901/A290101/29009247/
Rice cake might be famous Niigata best.
Since rice production area.
This is not eaten, but Shinko zaiku made with flour of rice.
It is sold only four times in January in Tokamachi in Niigata. (In Chinkoro market)
http://honyaku.j-server.com/LUCTKMC/ns/tl.cgi/http://www.city.tokamach... 0 & XJSID = 0
Shop to eat the rice cake is a lot, but these are well-known.
http://www.amasake-chaya.jp/oshinagaki.html#amaswake
http://tabelog.com/en/kanagawa/A1404/A140402/14007758/
by haro1210 rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/16 11:54
Sorry.
Shinko zaiku is also possible to eat if the day.
But, because I want to decorate, I thought I do not eat.
by haro1210 rate this post as useful

Re: Traditional dishes on these cities? 2016/8/17 00:30
Thank you Haro!
The video is awesome :O

We will visit that mochi store at Kyoto for sure.
by Murmullos rate this post as useful

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