10 Uncommon and Underrated Japanese Food You Must Try!
Our love for Japanese food goes beyond borders. If you think that Japanese cuisine is just your ramen, sushi, or takoyaki, you sure are missing out! There's a whole world of lesser-known and underrated Japanese foods that deserve to be popularised too!
Next time you're in a Japanese restaurant in Singapore, or if you're lucky enough to make a trip to Japan after this COVID pandemic, step outside your comfort zone and order one of these delicious alternatives. It will take you a step closer to a more complete gastronomical experience of Japanese food!
Read on to find out where you can find these foods in Singapore!
1. Tsukemen
Source: TimeOut
If you want something else other than the conventional ramen, why not give Tsukemen a try?
Tsukemen means “dipping noodles” in Japan. The broth and noodles are served separately, and the highlight of Tsukemen is that you have to dip the noodles into the broth before slurping away! Tsukemen broth is intentionally stronger and saltier than typical ramen broth since it’s intended for dipping rather than sipping. Hence the broth is more savory than typical ramen broth. Also, noodles used in Tsukemen tend to be on the thicker and chewier side, making it a perfect balance with the broth!
Ever since I discovered Benten’s Tsukemen in Tokyo, it is hard for me to turn to any other ramen now!
Kinya Izakaya and Ramen’s (Formerly known as Sapporo Ramen Miharu) tsukemen is a definite must-try! Their Ookara Miso Butter Tsukemen features a juicy pork belly that complements well with the spicy miso broth! Mix the butter into the soup for an extra rich and umami flavor!
However, if you would like to stick to your guns, Kinya Izakaya and Ramen has an extensive authentic menu that is sure to please everyone!
Address: 26 Beach Rd, #B1-22 South Beach Avenue, Singapore 189768
Contact Number: 6733 8464
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 10pm. Friday to Sunday, 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 10:30pm. Closed on Mondays.
Source: Seth Lui
Torasho Ramen & Charcoal Bar serves affordable tsukemen and small bites at Tanjong Pagar, perfect for a cheap and easy fix! At $14 a bowl, their most popular tsukemen “Singapore Best Dipping Ramen” is served on a bed of noodles with smokey charcoal pork, bamboo shoots, and their signature egg-white printed nori!
Address: 32 Tras St, Singapore 078972
Contact Number: 6970 5055
Opening Hours: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10:30pm daily.
2. Ochazuke
Source: Just One Cookbook
Ochazuke is a dish featuring steamed hot rice with an assortment of ingredients. The rice and ingredients are steeped in green tea and meant to be enjoyed while its still warm.
Ocha refers to green tea, and zuke means “submerged”. However, do not associate this with the traditional Hakka thunder tea rice, they are not the same! Ochazuke is meant to be served as a quick meal or a snack, hence the small portion!
The dish is great as a quick pick-me-up, or when you are feeling a little under the weather. The green tea tends to be quite bland, and relies on savory dry ingredients such as different types of salted protein, furikake, nori, pickles, and umbeboshi!
If you are ever feeling like you need a quick snack, or just want to recuperate after a late night out, then look no further than Hanashizuku Japanese Cuisine!
Address: 5 Koek Rd, #02-01 Cuppage Plaza, Singapore 228796
Contact Number: 6733 7498
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:45am - 2:30pm, 5:30pm - 10:30pm. Saturday & Sunday, 5:30pm - 10:30pm.
3. Motsunabe
Source: Savor Japan
We all know about sukiyaki. However, there is more to Japanese hot pot than that.
Motsunabe is a type of Japanese hot pot reigning from Fukuoka, made from beef or pork tripe, other offal, and a huge array of vegetables. The base sauce is usually made with shoyu, garlic, and chili pepper, or with miso!
This underrated hot pot is definitely a rare sight in Singapore, but Torikin has got you covered!
We highly recommend you try the Hakata Motsunabe, one of the most popular menu items at Torikin. The broth is made from wagyu beef tripe reigning from Southern Kyushu, and cooked in their signature chicken collagen broth (Talk about indulgence!). Motsunabe is best eaten with ramen noodles towards the end, so don’t skip out on that!
If you’re looking for authentic Fukuoka motsunabe, it doesn’t get more authentic than this!
Address: 205 River Valley Road #01-75 UE Square, 238274
Contact Number: 6219 0391 or 91868473
Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday, 5pm - 10:30pm, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10:30pm.
4. Misokatsu
Source: Just One Cookbook
Miso katsu is very much like your regular katsudon. However, instead of the common tonkatsu sauce, the fried crispy cutlet is coated in miso sauce!
While the dark-colored sauce may look a little daunting to some, the sauce and dish are extremely popular in Nagoya. The miso is made from Hacho beans that are difficult to find outside of Japan.
For some of you who may be wondering, the cutlet isn’t just coated in miso paste. The special sauce is made from dashi stock, mirin, sake, sugar, and miso all combined together!
Thankfully, you don’t have to travel to Nagoya to give this a try. Ma Maison offers different variations of the Nagoya specialty, and with outlets dotted around Singapore, stepping into Nagoya can be just an MRT ride away!
Check their website to find their outlets and opening hours!
5. Natto
Source: Verywellfit
We love smelly tofu and kimchi, but it’s time to show natto some love!
Natto is a traditional Japanese dish consisting of fermented soybeans and characterized by a slimy, sticky, and stringy texture. Some describe the smell as pungent, with a nutty flavor.
In Japan, it is commonly eaten with rice, topped with soy sauce, mustard, chives, and other seasonings. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, add a raw egg to the mix!
If you’re skeptical or unwilling to commit to a bowl of natto yourself, Keria Japanese Restaurant can help you ease your way into this traditional Japanese dish.
In Keria Japanese Restaurant, Natto is wrapped in seaweed and coated in tempura batter before deep-fried to perfection. This crispy and gooey dish is a sure-fire way to get you hooked onto natto, and it is a rare sight to see natto being prepared in this manner. In no time, you’ll be wolfing bowls of natto like a pro!
Fun fact: Natto is part of the “Neba Neba” foods in Japan. Neba Neba is used in Japan to describe foods with a slimy, or sticky texture.
Address: No 5 Koek Road #B 01-28, Cuppage Rd, 228796
Contact Number: 6733 0654
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6pm - 1am. Sunday. 6pm - 10:30pm.
6. Kani Miso
Source: ShuKuu Japanese Izakaya & Sake Bar 酒空居酒屋
Kani miso, or “crab brains”, is considered the tastiest part of the crab, despite its looks. One could even compare it to crab eggs that we Singaporeans love and enjoy.
The greenish-greyish paste can be consumed raw and complements well with Sushi or cooked crab meat. Another use of kani miso, is in soups, as it adds a rich umami seafood flavor. Alternatively, you can enjoy kani miso with a bowl of plain crackers and a bottle of sake!
Fun fact: The ‘miso‘ in kani miso is actually a reference to the brain of the crab, rather than miso paste/soup.
If you are looking to try kani miso, ShuKuu Japanese Izakaya & Sake Bar 酒空居酒屋 is the place to go. They offer different variations of their kani, so if crab brains aren’t something you are into, try their other variations for yourself!
ShuKuu Japanese Izakaya & Sake Bar 酒空居酒屋
Address: 8 Stanley St, Singapore 068727
Contact Number: 6327 9240
Opening Hours: 5pm - 10:30pm daily.
7. Umi Budo
Source: EurekAlert
If you are a fan of ASMR mukbang, these green caviar-like balls are not that uncommon. Best known as sea grapes, they are often the featured star of many ASMR videos. However, did you know that sea grapes or umi budo are actually an Okinawa specialty?
Umi budo is a type of seaweed found in the south of Japan. They resemble tiny grapes and contain a savory juice that bursts in your mouth. It is best eaten raw and dipped in soy sauce, and you would find this as a side dish in many Okinawan restaurants and izakayas.
If you ever want to give your shot at becoming an ASMR star, Okinawan Diner Nirai-Kanai serves authentic Okinawan cuisine that will not disappoint your tastebuds (and ears!).
Fun fact: Umi budo is rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, zinc, and iron. There is a rumor that umi budo is one of the many reasons why Okinawans live so long!
Address: 1 Kim Seng Promenade, # 01-107/108 Great World City, S 237994
Contact Number: 6339 4811
Opening Hours: 11am - 8pm daily.
8. Horumonyaki
Source: Stock Food
Horumonyaki is a Japanese dish made from beef or pork offal. Originally derived from yakiniku, this dish isn’t that far off from your typical Korean barbecue we see in Singapore.
Be warned! This dish isn’t for the faint-hearted, horumonyaki typically includes the heart, diaphragm, pancreas, intestines, liver, and even the uterus! While the choice of meat may be less than ideal, they are commonly eaten and paired with beer and spirits in Japan!
While you can’t find hearts or a uterus at Yakiniku Jan-Jan, they offer tripe, large and small intestines on their menu with different variations and marinades. Hopefully, this small taste of the Kansai delicacy can tide you over till you get to travel to Japan for the full experience!
Address: 43 Cuppage Rd, Singapore 229463
Contact Number: 6908 9968
Opening Hours: 5pm - 11pm daily.
9. Monjayaki
Source: Zojirushi
No, we didn’t spell okonomiyaki wrong.
While its name may be similar to the fan-favorite okonomiyaki, the preparation and eating methods are distinctly different!
In a monjayaki restaurant, dry ingredients are finely chopped and sautéed on a hot teppan grill before being pushed to form a donut shape. A mixture of flour, dashi stock, and cabbaged are poured into the center. As the mixture boils and thickens, the ingredients are folded and mixed in. The bottom crisps up, and while the center remains warm and bubbly.
While it may not be the most appetizing looking dish, the gooey center and crispy bottom is the perfect accompaniment to an ice-cold beer!
If you are looking for something other than truffle fries during your drinking nights, Nanjya Monjya makes a mean monjayaki! Choose between different ingredients to make it truly your own!
Address: 390 Havelock Rd, #01-03/05 Waterfront Plaza, 169664, Singapore 169664
Contact Number: 6738 7177
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 5:30pm - 12am.
10. Chicken Nanban
Source: YAYOI
Japan isn’t kidding when it comes to fried chicken.
Chicken Nanban is one of the most popular ways to enjoy fried chicken in Japan, but less common in Singapore. The dish was created in the Miyazaki Prefecture of Kyushu, inspired by European influence! The fried chicken dish is topped with tartar and nanban sauce.
Nanban is made with a special Japanese dry chilli, called “Takanotsume” and sliced onions. The sauce is sweet and sour, with a slightly spicy finish!
If you are looking to try chicken nanban for yourself, you don’t have to look further. With over 9 outlets in Singapore, YAYOI’s chicken nanban is a delicious and affordable way to enjoy fried chicken. Succulent and crispy chicken thigh topped with a serving of rich Japanese tartar sauce, on a bed of sweet and sour vinaigrette, it is best eaten with a bowl of hot rice!
Address: Check their website to find the nearest outlet to you!
Opening Hours: 9am - 8pm daily.
Disclaimer: Most of the foods featured here are best eaten on the spot, and are not recommended for takeaway or delivery orders. We recommend calling the restaurants ahead and checking for the availability of the dish to avoid any disappointment!
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