The Final Nagoya Meals Information: 10 Should-Attempt Dishes

Uncover the scrumptious and distinctive Nagoya meals with our final information. From hitsumabushi to miso katsu, these 10 dishes are a must-try for any meals lover!

Whereas Nagoya is probably not well-known for its meals in comparison with different cities in Japan, there may be nonetheless a world stuffed with scrumptious and distinctive dishes that may tantalize your style buds. Native Nagoya delicacies, also referred to as Nagoya meshi, is full of deep-fried dishes, noodles, sweets, and extra!

Sandwiched between Osaka and Tokyo, Nagoya is a handy metropolis to get round Japan utilizing the Shinkansen or flying via Chubu Airport. So why not cease by and feast on these 10 must-try dishes?

Miso Katsu (味噌カツ）

Nagoya is famed for its purple miso, which is extra pungent, stronger, and darker than white and yellow miso. There are numerous forms of purple miso, however essentially the most well-known is Hatcho Miso.

It’s utilized in numerous dishes in Nagoya, however most notably in Miso Katsu. Tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) is coated with a deep, umami-packed, barely candy purple miso sauce to develop into irresistibly scrumptious. As a substitute of the normal brown tonkatsu sauce, the purple miso provides a stronger punch and depth of taste, pairing completely with the pork.

Whereas Hatcho Miso is usually used, Misokatsu Yabaton makes use of an authentic recipe from naturally brewed soybean miso aged for a yr and a half. Upon ordering, the miso katsu will likely be dropped at you in a scorching forged iron skillet, on high of some thinly sliced cabbage, rice, and purple miso soup on the facet. This miso katsu is without doubt one of the most well-known Nagoya meals.

The employees will douse their particular miso sauce (a mixture of authentic miso and pork inventory) on high of the pork cutlet so it coats every chunk.

Whereas purple miso is kind of robust in taste, the sauce has a unbelievable stability of sweetness and sharpness to chop via the heaviness of the pork cutlet, making you need proceed consuming chunk after chunk. Together with a bowl of rice, it’s an unbeatable mixture. Should you love conventional tonkatsu, then Miso Katsu needs to be on the high of your listing.

To make Miso Katsu at house, try our recipe right here!

Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし)

Hitsumabushi is one among Nagoya’s most well-known delicacies, consisting of grilled eel on high of a bowl of rice. The dish gained its identify from the phrases Ohitsu (a picket container used to serve rice) and mabushi, which describes inserting the eel on high of the rice.

This isn’t to be confused with Unadon, which may be very related. The eel is grilled kabayaki fashion, so the pores and skin turns into crisp, and the flesh is succulent and tender and slathered with a candy soy sauce-based sauce. It’s then chopped into smaller items and laid on high of the rice.

There are numerous origin tales, with one saying that poor high quality eel was chopped up for simpler consumption, and one other saying the offcuts had been chopped up and used to not waste any of the eels. Whereas we don’t know which origin is 100% appropriate, what we do know is that it’s scrumptious.

Subsequent to Atsuka Jingu, Atsuta Horaiken has been serving Hitsumabushi since 1873 and has even trademarked the identify! The eel is grilled whereas being doused with the store’s authentic sauce, which has been handed down since its opening, and positioned on high of a beneficiant portion of rice. It’s accompanied by some negi, wasabi, nori, pickles, dashi, and soup. 

How you can Eat Hitsumabushi

These condiments are used so you’ll be able to benefit from the dish in 4 other ways:

1. Utilizing the picket spoon, portion the Hitsumabushi into quarters and scoop into the small rice bowl. Eat the primary portion as is, and benefit from the taste of the eel as is. 

2. For the second portion, add a bit of the negi, wasabi, and seaweed.

3. For the third portion, add the negi, wasabi, nori, and pour within the dashi broth to take pleasure in as ochazuke.

4. Lastly, benefit from the final quarter together with your most well-liked methodology. 

Whereas the portion is beneficiant, it’s surprisingly gentle and simple to eat. The eel pores and skin’s crispiness, the flesh’s tenderness, and the salty and barely candy sauce are an unbeatable mixture. All for 4900 yen (value in 2024)!

Tebasaki (手羽先)

Tebasaki, or rooster wings, turned standard after a buyer requested fried rooster with sauce at a small restaurant referred to as Furaibo. It proved to be successful, so the proprietor, Mr. Otsubo, researched to seek out the right sauce and rooster mixture. Now, Furaibo might be discovered throughout Nagoya, and Tebasaki has grown to develop into one among Nagoya’s native dishes.

Whereas Furaibo is an apparent alternative, we headed to a smaller store referred to as Tebasaki Musume in Osu. In the course of the “Tebasaki Summit 2022,” Tebasaki Musume offered 11,000 wings in three days, and it was subsequently awarded the gold prize! Whereas most Tebasaki is served within the conventional wing form, they prep them right here so you’ll be able to eat them in a single chunk and with no fuss!

Contained in the store, you’ll be able to see their 2022 prize and a number of autographs from standard Japanese personalities who’ve visited the store.

The menu has numerous wings with numerous sauces from their authentic to Yuzukosho and Teri Mayo Garlic. Each ranges from round 165 yen to 220 yen, with mixture platters obtainable to share. Alternatively, you’ll be able to decide and select whichever taste fits you. 

The Tebasaki are slowly deep-fried until barely crisp on the surface and juicy on the within. We couldn’t get sufficient of those and needed to order extra earlier than leaving! The restaurant is small, sitting round 10-15 folks, creating a comfortable but vigorous ambiance. We positively need to return right here for some extra wings and drinks!

One other standard Nagoya rooster wings chain you’ll see in lots of elements of Japan is Sekai no Yamachan. Should you don’t have an opportunity to go to Nagoya, we advocate making an attempt it in different cities.

Miso Oden (味噌おでん)

Oden is a traditional winter dish that gives all of the vitamins and nutritional vitamins you want in the course of the chilly months. Oh, it’s additionally scrumptious! It’s merely made by simmering numerous greens and meats, corresponding to daikon radish, hard-boiled egg, and beef tendons, in a dashi broth. Add some purple miso paste, and you should have a Nagoya traditional!

In some eating places, the dashi simmered components are topped with purple miso. In distinction, somewhere else, the components are simmered in a purple miso broth. This fashion permits the deep flavors of the miso to soak into every ingredient, pairing completely with some rice and a beer, so it’s no marvel you will discover it in lots of izakayas across the metropolis!

Kishimen Udon (きしめんうどん)

Kishimen Udon is a variation of conventional udon noodles made with wheat flour and barely extra concentrated salt water. Its most distinctive facet is its flat and skinny form, versus the spherical/sq. form of standard udon.

This form makes it simpler for the noodles to take in all of the scrumptious broth, which is nice for individuals who love bolder flavors. The noodles even have a barely softer texture than common udon, making it simpler to eat.

Should you’re heading to Atsuta Jingu, head to Miyakishimen Jingu-ten (宮きしめん神宮店), positioned as an alternative of the shrine’s grounds. They’ve numerous forms of Kishimen Udon obtainable, however the retailer’s traditional, Miya Kishimen, comes with some aburaage, pork, spinach, and shiitake mushrooms and is topped with katsuboshi.

Calm down within the shrine’s grounds with some unbelievable meals and unimaginable surroundings!

Miso Nikomi Udon (味噌煮込みうどん)

Persevering with on from Udon, one other native Nagoya meals is Miso Nikomi Udon. Thick udon noodles are served in a purple miso broth and historically topped with negi, kamaboko, and a uncooked egg. It’s served in a donabe (earthenware pot) and comes out effervescent and steaming scorching. The udon noodles are additionally boiled barely much less, in order that they have a firmer texture, which lets you benefit from the deep-flavored broth.

Head to Teuchimempomaruichi (手打麺舗丸一) to select up some Miso Nikomi Udon and a few crisp tempura! Throughout Sakura season, they’d some particular Sakura ebi tempura on provide! You may as well change your noodles to Kishimen Udon for an additional charge of fifty yen.

What we liked about this restaurant was that it was full of locals. Whereas strolling round Nagoya, you’ll find many eating places providing mixture plates of native specialties. This may be a good way to take pleasure in a spread of meals, however these native eating places are the place you discover the true deal. 

Taiwan Ramen (台湾ラーメン)

You is likely to be considering, “Taiwan Ramen in Nagoya?” The Taiwanese proprietor of Misen restaurant was serving a Taiwanese noodle dish referred to as Danzai Noodles (very completely different from ones in Taiwan). He determined to create an excellent spicier model and referred to as it Taiwan Ramen. And it isn’t for the faint-hearted.

The noodles lie in a rooster bone broth with minced meat, chives, and an indescribable quantity of purple chili that provides you with the sweats. However this scorching and spicy growth took over Nagoya, and now you will discover Taiwan Ramen and Misen branches throughout town. We solely advocate making an attempt Taiwan Ramen for those who like spice!

Enjoyable reality: in Taiwan, this ramen is named Nagoya Ramen!

Ebi Fry (エビフライ)

Ebi Fry is deep-fried shrimp which are golden brown on the surface and puri puri (Japanese onomatopoeia for plump/tender) on the within. Though obtainable nationwide, Ebi Fry is claimed to be a specialty in Nagoya. Town has a historical past of having fun with shrimp, as Mikawa Bay is claimed to be among the finest shrimp fishing spots in Japan.

You will discover Ebi Fry in izakayas, seafood eating places, or devoted retailers. Maruha Shokudo is a well-liked seafood restaurant providing Ebi Fry Teishoku, permitting you to decide on what number of items of shrimp you need. The shrimp are enormous, every round 15cm lengthy, crunchy on the surface, meaty, and puri puri on the within. It comes with some authentic tartar sauce, rice, miso soup, and pickles. Should you love shrimp, that is the place to go.

Tenmusu (天むす)

Talking of shrimp, one other native specialty is Tenmusu – a rice ball with shrimp tempura. It was based at Ganso Tenmusu Senju restaurant, which accurately interprets to “the birthplace of tenmusu.” The unique recipe was made within the Fifties by a housewife looking for a meal for her busy husband. She tried shrimp tempura and the common-or-garden onigiri, thus creating Tenmusu!

The unique restaurant is positioned in Tsu Metropolis, the capital of Mie Prefecture. On account of their recognition, they’ve opened a number of different branches within the Nagoya area.

Nagoya Morning (名古屋モーニング)

Nagoya can also be well-known for its morning menus, with its birthplace stated to be Ichinomiya Metropolis in north Nagoya. In Japan, morning meals at eating places are usually not extremely popular, however they’re a staple in Nagoya’s meals scene.

All through town, you’ll find numerous small kissatens (espresso retailers) open within the early morning, serving freshly brewed espresso, toast, and a hard-boiled egg. There are different variations, corresponding to anko (candy purple bean paste) and butter, referred to as Ogura Toast. The mixture of anko and butter is a traditional in Japanese delicacies, and together with a cup of espresso, you’ll be prepared to start out your day!

Kissatens will usually be full of locals, which could be a little intimidating to enter. If you’re frightened, head to Komeda Espresso, a kissaten chain, to select up your Nagoya Morning set!

In order that’s it for our must-try dishes in Nagoya! Whenever you consider Japanese meals, Nagoya doesn’t instantly spring to thoughts, however we hope that with this information, you’ll go go to and revel in a few of the unbelievable meals on provide! Tell us the place you desire to us to cowl subsequent down beneath!