We at JTFA have made this Japanese food guide to make life in Japan easier for you, the JTFA website has restaurants verified as an English speaking restaurant and foreign friendly restaurant where you can find these foods with a wealth of information about the restaurant itself.
So, many restaurants in Japan specialize in just one type of food, for example Sushi or Ramen to name but two, with other restaurants-Izakayas-offering a whole range of different foods.
So, let’s start:
Specialist Restaurants
- Sushi-ya (1,000 to 20,000 yen)
These are restaurants which specialize in sushi. In most sushi-ya, customers sit either at a table or at the bar, behind which the sushi chef is working.
- Kaitenzushi (500 to 2,000 yen)
These are less expensive sushi restaurants, where the sushi is presented to the customers on a conveyor belt. Customers are free to pick the dishes that they like as they pass by, or order dishes not available on the belt. The total price of your meal is calculated by the number of dishes you have used.
- Soba-ya and Udon-ya (500 to 1,500 yen)
These specialize in Soba (Buckwheat noodles) and Udon (wheat-based). You can probably find both in either type of restaurant. Most noodle dishes are served in a hot broth or cooled with a dipping sauce on the side.
- Ramen-ya (500 to 1,500 yen)
These, as the name implies, serve ramen, Chinese-style noodles served in a soup with various toppings. Every ramen-ya has developed its own soup, which is the essence to its success. Several other dishes of Chinese origin, such as gyoza (dried dumplings) and fried rice are also usually available.
- Kare-ya (500 to 1,500 yen)
These specialize in Japanese-style curry and rice dishes. You will often order these from a meal ticket vending machine, and hand the ticket over to the staff.
- Gyudon-ya (800 to 2,000 yen)
These specialize in gyudon (beef bowls). Gyudon-ya are among the cheapest and most popular fast food restaurants (especially at lunchtime) and can be found all over Japan.
- Yakitori-ya (800 to 2,000 yen)
These, as the name suggests specialize in yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, which are normally grilled to order over a charcoal fire. They are particularly popular among salarymen after work, and, together with ramen-ya, a popular place to go for a late night snack after drinking.
- Okonomiyaki-ya (700 to 2,000 yen)
These specialize in okonomiyaki, a kind of savory thick pancake, made of thinly chopped cabbage mixed with flour and eggs. You can then top it with any number of toppings, meat or seafood. At many stores, you prepare it yourself on a hot plate built into the table, it’s great fun !
- Tonkatsu-ya (1,000 to 3,000 yen)
These serve tonkatsu, deep fried breaded pork cutlets. You usually get unlimited amounts of cabbage and rice to go with your pork cutlet.
- Tempura-ya (700 to 3,000 yen)
These specialize in tempura, lightly battered then deep-fried seafood, and vegetables.
- Shabu Shabu-ya and Sukiyaki-ya (2,500 tp 10,000 yen)
These types of restaurants are often found in the larger, Western-style hotels and tend to be rather pricey.
- Teppanyaki-ya (5,000 to 20,000 yen)
Here, the highly-skilled chef prepares meat, seafood and vegetables on a large griddle (teppan) in the presence of the customers who are seated around the griddle. Again, these are commonly found at the nicer hotels and are expensive. They are a popular place to enjoy premium Japanese beef (wagyu) such as Kobe / Omi Beef.
General Restaurants
The following are some restaurants which offer a wider range of dishes.
- Family restaurants (500 to 3,000 yen)
Places like Gusto, Cocos, Royal Host and Saizeria, are casual dining restaurants that typically belong to nationwide chains and offer a variety of Western, Chinese and Japanese dishes. As the name suggests, they are popular among families.
- Izakaya (1,000 to 5,000 yen)
Izakaya are a bit like pubs , casual drinking establishments which serve a variety of small dishes, such as yakitori, other grilled food, salads, and other finger foods. They are among the most popular restaurant types in Japan. Dining in one tends to be informal, with the dishes shared amongst the table rather than eaten individually.
- Shokudo (500 ro 1,500 yen)
These are casual restaurants, similar to family restaurants, but tend to be small, independently owned and feature mostly Japanese-style food such as soba, curry rice, donburi, and udon. Shokudo are oten found around tourist sites.
- Taishoku-ya (500 to 2,000 yen)
These are restaurants that serve set menus (teishoku). Teishoku typically consists of a main dish such as meat or fish, a bowl of rice, pickles and miso soup. These places are numerous in business areas and popular at lunch time.
- Yatai (300 to 2,000 yen)
These are movable food stalls that occasionally include seating space inside an awning.
Their popularity has been decreasing in recent years. Fukuoka in Kyushu is famous for its yatai, which commonly sell dishes such as oden, ramen, and yakitori.
- Kaiseki ryori and Ryotei (3,000 to 20,000 yen)
At the other end of the scale is “Japanese haute cuisine”. It is a refined multi-course cooking style which emphasizes seasonality, simplicity and elegance. It can be enjoyed at special kaiseki restaurants or at ryotei, expensive and exclusive Japanese restaurants. Many of the better ryokan also serve kaiseki ryori.
- Kissaten and Coffee shops (500 to 2,000 yen)
Kissaten are retro (old style) coffee shops that typically serve strong coffee, some sweets and sandwiches, and often still allow smoking. Chain coffee shops such as Starbucks, Komeda and Dotour are also very popular and numerous.
Foreign Cuisine
Many restaurants in Japan specialize in foreign food such as Korean, Chinese and Italian. American-style fast food also enjoy great popularity. Many of the English style pub chains-few and far between-but they are especially English speaking and foreign friendly.
- Yakiniku-ya (1,500 to 7,500 yen)
These specialize in Korean-style barbecue, where small pieces of meat are grilled at the table. Other popular Korean food such as Bibimbap and Chige are also available at yakiniku restaurants.
- Yoshoku-ya (800 to 3,000 yen)
These serve Western dishes that were introduced to Japan during the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912) and have subsequently been Japanized. Common dishes served include omrice, hamburg steak and Hayashi rice.
- Chinese Restaurants (700 to 5,000 yen)
There are many Chinese restaurants all over Japan. Many of them serve Japanized Chinese dishes (eg Gyoza no Osho), while others offer more authentic Chinese food.
- Italian Restaurants (1,000 to 3,000 yen)
Italian food is very popular, and pasta restaurants are numerous all over the country. Take-out pizza is fast becoming popular too.
- Indian Restaurants (700 to 2,000 yen)
These serve Indian-style curry dishes as opposed to Japanese-style curry.
Most have vegetarian dishes on their menus. They are however based on Japanese tastes, and so differ from a UK Indian restaurant.
- French Restaurants (1,500 to 20,000 yen)
French restaurants are popular across Japan. They tend to be trendy and expensive, and can often be found in good hotels.
- Ethnic Cuisine (700 to 2,000 yen)
In Japan, “ethnic cuisine” refers to to South East Asian food, such as Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese food. These restaurants are not as common as the other types listed above, but with a bit of hunting or just searching the JTFA website you will find them.
- British Food
Not surprisingly, you will not find many, if any typical British food restaurants in Japan. You will find plenty of British-style pubs across the land, which have “English pub food” on their menus, but it isn’t very authentic.
