Bento boxes are also popular, often with four compartments each containing a different type of food. These boxes can be made at home or purchased from shops all over Japan.
Ramen
Ramen is a hearty bowl of wheat noodles in a hot savoury broth, served with a variety of toppings. The dish is a staple of Japanese cuisine and has become one of the nation's signature fast foods.
While there are many variations on the recipe, ramen is made up of five basic components: a broth, a tare (sauce), noodles, and toppings. A good ramen can be just as satisfying as a bowl of pizza or spaghetti, and the heart-warming aroma of a delicious soup will keep you coming back for more.
Those eggy yellow noodles are made from wheat flour, salt and water, which are then boiled in a type of alkaline mineral water called kansui. They can be thick, wavy, straight or curly.
Soba
Soba, a Japanese noodle, is made with buckwheat flour and water. It has a smooth, wholesome texture and is excellent in noodle salads or hot noodle soups.
There are several types of soba noodles. One, called funori soba, uses seaweed (funori) as a binder. It is made in the Uonuma region, Niigata prefecture.
While it is known for its delicate taste, it can also be a bit rough and grainy. For this reason, a small amount of wheat flour is usually mixed in with the buckwheat flour to help it form into a noodle and keep its shape.
It can be served as a side dish or paired with hot soup, men-tsuyu and other dishes. It is an important part of Japanese cuisine and can be found in many restaurants across Japan.
Udon
Udon is a type of thick, chewy Japanese noodle made from wheat flour. It is often served in soups or a simple broth, and can be eaten hot or cold.
There are a variety of hot and cold udon dishes available in restaurants across Japan, each containing different ingredients. Some regional differences in terms of naming and seasoning exist, but the basic recipe is the same.
Some udon dishes are accompanied by various toppings. Popular udon ingredients include thinly-sliced green onions, shichimi togarashi, sesame oil, and bonito flakes. Others include tempura shrimp, fried tofu, and soft-boiled eggs.
Teishoku
Teishoku (pronounced tee-sh-koh) is a set meal consisting of soup, rice or noodles and various side dishes. Generally, it is served in restaurants and is very convenient for busy people who do not have much time to prepare their meals.
Aside from being a tasty and filling food, teishoku is also healthy as it contains the ideal ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates in a single meal. This is because a typical teishoku tray includes soup, a main dish, rice and pickles.
Common teishoku mains include tonkatsu (pork cutlet), yakizakana (grilled fish) and tempura (deep-fried battered fish and vegetables). Some teishoku also feature noodle dishes like oyako-don (chicken and egg stewed in soy sauce and dashi broth over rice) or gyu-don (thinly sliced beef simmered in a soy sauce and dashi broth).
Bento
Bento is a type of packed lunch that has been used for hundreds of years in Japan. Often seen as an art form, bento has a simple but important function; to provide a healthy, convenient, and visually appealing meal that can be easily packed for transport.
The ideal bento should contain rice, a main protein dish, and a variety of side dishes. Proteins should be a good source of carbohydrates, and vegetables should be fresh.
Japanese people take pride in their meals, and usually spend a long time planning what to put in the bento. They also place great emphasis on presentation, with bento boxes being arranged in aesthetically pleasing ways.
