5 Japanese Street Foods You Need to Try – Savour a Delectable Taste of Japan

To tourists, it’s better known as ‘Japanese roasted sweet potatoes’. The literal meaning of the word, however, is grilled potato. Yaki-imo features delicious sweet potatoes grilled and caramelised to perfection over an open fire or in trucks ubiquitous in Japanese streets. The history of this culinary creation is as delightful as the dish itself. It’s often associated with the joys of autumn, as that’s when sweet potatoes are most in season. If you visit during the autumn months when the streets are adorned with hues of orange and red, you will see Japanese vendors cheerfully calling out to passersby, 'Yaki-imo'. It’s a joyous sight coupled with the delectable aroma of roasted sweet potatoes filling the air.

Originated in the Kansai region of Japan, Okonomiyaki is a savoury pancake that’s now made its way through the entire country. It bears the meaning of ‘grilled as you like it’ or ‘what you like, grilled’. This food item can be made with a variety of ingredients and is customisable to suit individual preferences. To make the delectable batter that ends up being a soft yummy pancake includes ingredients such as flour, yam, eggs, shredded cabbage, dashi, and green onions. To make different variations, additional ingredients like sliced pork, shrimp, squid, octopus, cheese, kimchi, or vegetables can be added to the batter. Once the batter is good and ready, scoopfuls of it are poured onto a hot pan and cooked until golden and crispy on both sides. Speaking of Okonomiyaki, sampling its delights in the streets is one of the most popular things to do in Otaru. You have several hotels here ideally located for such foodie adventures including properties like Grand Park Otaru by Park Hotel Group.

Another popular street food found in streets and markets in Japan is Ikayaki, which translates to grilled squid – yes, it’s as yummy as it sounds! You will have more luck finding this at street food stalls than at high-end restaurants. Ikayaki is also a favourite festival food, especially in coastal regions of Japan where you find squid in great quantities. To make Ikayaki, squid is typically cut into bite-sized pieces, seasoned with salt and pepper, and then grilled over an open flame until it assumes a tender texture. For easy handling, the squid is usually skewered on wooden sticks. Ikayaki is often served with a sweet sauce that complements its flavour.

The hot summer months in Japan are made easier by Kakigori. It’s a dessert item consisting of shaved ice. It’s quite similar to snow cones, but the ice in Kakigori is finer and fluffier, which results in a more delicate texture. To make Kakigori, ice is shaved into fine flakes using a machine. A cup full of this shaved ice is topped with various syrups like strawberry, melon, lemon, and matcha, as well as condensed milk, caramel, coffee, and fruit compotes.

It’s a delicious Japanese pastry that comes with various fillings such as red bean paste, custard and chocolate. Despite its fish-like appearance, it's nothing like a fish. The batter is made from flour, eggs, sugar, and water or milk, which is quite similar to your typical pancake batter. The batter is poured into fish-shaped moulds and filled with the desired sweet filling. The moulds are then closed, and the pastry is cooked until it is golden, crispy, and soft. Red bean paste is the most common filling, but you will find various other fillings. Taiyaki is a popular street food and is often enjoyed at festivals and food stalls.