Joanna James
Tokyo is a city defined by its hustle and bustle - the people within are constantly on the go, living high-energy lives with tight schedules. With such career men and women, Tokyo naturally developed the need to get a bite to eat with convenience and taste rolled into one, but not just - it's got a food that suits any palate, any season, so let's dive right into the urban cuisine of the Land of the Rising Sun.
Tamagoyaki is a rolled omelette dish that gained popularity in the 1950s and remains just as popular as it was back then. Seasoned with a choice of soy sauce, sugar, mirin, or dashi, the fluffy yet sweet taste of the omelette is a great snack to dig into as you explore the ins and outs of the city.
A dumpling made of several kinds of rice flour, the dango is a traditional Japanese confection, usually consumed with an invigorating cup of green tea. Most variants of this food are sweet - but can be made savoury, although it's considered a rarity. The dango also comes with toppings, of sweet red bean or walnut sauce, as well as salty soy and roasted sesame.
Although the skewer is a famous dish that can be found in many of the best restaurants in Shibuya, this dish finds a special place amongst the alleyways of Tokyo as an urban food. An appealing dish of fileted eel that comes marinated in a sweet and savoury sauce, part of the Unagi charm is that it's grilled right in front of you, and the eel itself is known to have health benefits.
A dish with over 100 years of history, the "menchi katsu" is a breaded meat mince that is deep-fried to golden perfection. Although usually stuffed with beef or pork, the katsu of today can also come with cheese, chicken, or even miso - making it a versatile yet beloved dish of the Japanese people. Along with a few other staples, you can find many businessmen and women eating.
A popular mochi (rice cake) dessert, this strawberry-flavoured delight is stuffed with red bean paste and topped off with the aforementioned fruit itself. The daifuku comes with its own variety, such as matcha, custard, or sweet potato flavour - try out this delectable sweet for yourself, either on the streets or an establishment like the Cerulean Tower Tokyo Hotel.
Originating in the city of Osaka (conveniently, the food capital of Japan), the popularity of this dish ensured its spread all over the country. This omelette/pancake style dish is packed to the brim with fresh cabbage, and a protein of your choosing, and is versatile enough with its toppings and can be partnered with kewpie mayonnaise, bonito flakes, dried seaweed, and even pickled ginger. It's a great midday snack to keep your brain and body satisfied in between adventures through the city.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
