Japanese Comfort FOOD

Good Old-fashioned Home Cooking

A guide to Japanese Comfort Food

Have you ever wondered what Japanese people eat when they're sick rather than chicken noodle soup? Well look no further for the answer to this question! Today let’s talk about the 10 most popular (and tastiest) Japanese Comfort Foods!

Oyakodon

Oyakodon is a rice bowl that is topped with chicken, eggs, and onions that have been cooked together in a mixture of dashi, mirin, soy sauce, and cooking sake. When visiting Japan, you can find fast food restaurants and local mom-and-pop shops alike selling this tasty dish. Oyakodon is one of the most quintessential Japanese comfort foods because it brings together a medley of some of the most Japanese flavors while still maintaining some of that greasy goodness that is an essential part of any comfort dish.

Omurice

Omurice might be one of the dishes with, if not the dish with the MOST screen time of any Japanese comfort food. Appearing frequently in anime, dramas, films, etc. Omurice is a dish consisting of a delicately cooked omelet that has been placed on top of rice that has been fried with a mixture of ketchup, mirin, soy sauce, butter, and oftentimes corn, chicken, sausage, peas, or beef. Then it is usually topped with either more ketchup,or a brown meat sauce.

Curry

You likely already know what curry is, as it comes in many different forms from many different places such as Indian curry and Thai curry. However, despite why you may already know about these types of curry, Japanese curry brings something a little bit different to the table. Whereas Indian curry is known for its spice, and Thai curry is known for its sweetness; Japanese curry brings together the best of both worlds by combining a sweet and spicy flavor while also bringing in comforting meaty undertones. It is often paired alongside white rice and topped with deep fried pork or other toppings. Japanese curry, however, comes in many different varieties and flavors, just like other curries from around the world ! So if you’re trying out Japanese curry don’t stop at just one!

Udon

Those who enjoy their angel hair pasta cooked aldenté should perhaps avoid this comfort food. Udon is a noodle based soup that consists of thick egg noodles that have been cooked to a soft, tender, deliciousness. Usually served in a dashi (fish based), or curry broth; udon can be served hot or cold so it is a perfectly comforting dish no matter the season!

Tamago kake gohan

So simple, and yet so delicious and comforting. Tamago kake gohan is a rice dish that is topped with a raw egg yolk, soy sauce, and sometimes salt. That’s all it takes to make this incredibly popular breakfast comfort food. Keep in mind, Japan has a different way of processing their eggs for consumer use that makes them safe to eat partially cooked or even raw. So if you live in another part of the world with different consumer standards, I wouldn’t recommend trying this one out.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki has often been described as a “Japanese Pancake” or “Japanese Pizza.” And while it is true that Okonomiyaki is flat like a pancake and may have just as many ingredients as a pizza; the flavor and consistency is nothing like either of those! Okonomiyaki is a crisp, flour and egg based, pan fried medley of cabbage, bacon, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and a sweet and sour “okonomiyaki” sauce. This Osaka specialty can be enjoyed all around Japan, but is most popular in the Kansai region where it originated. Now, many families in Kansai make a version of this dish at home as well as it is a popular comfort food!

Miso soup

Miso soup is a very commonly known staple of Japanese cuisine, but it is also an incredibly popular comfort food. However, despite its popularity, homemade miso soup is not an easy dish to master. From choosing the right miso paste to getting the perfect balance of dashi, tofu, and seaweed; miso also varies based on individual tastes. The most common type of miso soup, however, consists of a “red” miso paste, “wakame” seaweed, “dashi” soup stock, and firm tofu cut into cubes. The best way to enjoy miso soup, in my opinion, is to purchase instant miso packs from the store and just add hot water! Boom! Perfect miso every time.

Oden

Oden is such a popular comfort food, you can even make your own “to go'' soup right at the counter at most convenience stores during the winter months! Oden is a one pot soup consisting of fish balls, fish cakes, deep-fried tofu, hard-boiled eggs, konnyaku, and some vegetables simmered in soy sauce-based dashi broth.This is a soup that seafood lovers will definitely enjoy since it is very “fish forward.” While you can have your own individual portion of Oden when you order it from the convenience store or at a restaurant (or even when ordered out of a vending machine), traditionally, Oden is cooked in one large pot and shared communally among family members. So not only is this dish warm and comforting in and of itself, but it also brings together the warm comfort of a family meal.

Tonkatsu

There are few foods as comforting as deep fried meat. For a lot of western countries that meat is chicken; however, when in Japan the deep fried meat of choice is a thick slice of pork. Of course, don't get me wrong, Japan has its own version of fried chicken (called karaage) as well but when it comes to one of the most popular fried foods, Tonkatsu is the way to go. There are many popular Tonkatsu specialty shops that can be found all over Japan. The fried pork cutlet is served with a side of shredded cabbage and topped with a special “tonkatsu sauce,” the flavor of which can be described as a sweet, sour, and salty glaze. It is also commonly served with “goma” or sesame seeds that can be ground with a mortar and pestle right at your table, to be mixed with a tonkatsu sauce for a different, nuttier flavor. Tonkatsu can be enjoyed by itself, or used as a topping for a variety of different dishes, such as “tonkatsu curry,” or “katsudon” (the tonkatsu version of oyakodon).

Nikujaga

Nikujaga literally means “meat and potatoes,” which is exactly what this comfort food “boils” down to (haha). The meat in Nikujaga is most commonly beef, however pork is also occasionally used. Alongside the pork are potatoes, carrots, onions, snap peas, and konjac noodles; all stewed together in a soy sauce, sugar, sake, mirin, and dashi soup. This dish truly has the most Japanese flavor of all of the comfort foods listed here so far. So if you're looking for a true taste of Japanese home cooking, get nikujaga a try!