Tempura

Tempura consists of vegetables or seafood that are covered in a light batter and then deep fried. Tempura was originally brought to Japan by the people of Portugal. Now, tempura is one of the most popular foods in Japan and also one its best-known exports. Tempura-ya (tempura restaurants) can be anything from low-priced chain fast food joints to classy fine dining establishments. Tempura is usually part of a bento (lunch box) or set meal. It is especially popular in convenience or take-out bentos. There is a huge variety in the ways that tempura is served and cooked and even in what ingredients are used, although it is widely-accepted that dishes should utilize seasonal ingredients that are as fresh as possible. A high-quality tempura should need little else other than a sprinkle of salt.

Tako-yaki

Tako-yaki (grilled or fried octopus) is a ball-shaped dumpling made from diced or baby octopus, batter, tenkasu (tempura scraps), green onion, and pickled ginger. It is topped with ponzu, mayonnaise, okonomiyaki sauce, katsuobushi (fish shavings), and aonori (green laver). This dish became popular in Osaka and was first sold in 1935 by Endo Tomekichi, the street vendor who invented it. Takoyaki is sold in shops called issen-yoshoku (one-penny western food).

Sushi and Sashimi

Sushi is a dish of rice cooked with vinegar topped with seafood (often uncooked) or made into rolls. When raw fish is sliced and served alone, it is known as sashimi. When sushi is rolled around or inside of nori (seaweed), it is called makizushi. Inarizushi is when the seafood is packed into a fried tofu pouch. And, chirashi-zushi is sushi rice served in a bowl with scattered seafood on top.