For those visiting Tokyo! “Flour dishes” are a representative of Japanese food culture. This time, we will introduce flour dishes that you can enjoy in Tokyo. It’s fun to make them yourself, but this time we focused on flour dishes that you can easily enjoy at restaurants and supermarkets.
First of all, why did the culture of flour dishes take root in Japan?
The background to the establishment of flour dishes in Japan is largely influenced by historical and cultural factors. Flour dishes are a general term for dishes made mainly from wheat flour or rice flour, and typical examples include okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and yakisoba. After the war, Japan suffered from serious food shortages, and during this period, large amounts of wheat flour were imported as food aid from the United States. As a result, dishes using wheat flour began to spread into ordinary households, and with the spread of bread, new dishes were invented one after another, and they began to liven up the dining tables of ordinary people. Okonomiyaki and takoyaki, which developed mainly in Osaka, spread along with the food stall culture, and became popular among ordinary people because they were easy to eat at festivals and events. Okonomiyaki in particular has become established as a home-cooked dish because it can be easily made at home. The Kansai region, especially Osaka, is known as the birthplace of flour-based culture, and okonomiyaki and takoyaki are considered Kansai soul foods. In Kansai, they are called “konamon” and are often made at home, but in Kanto, monjayaki is famous, and each region has its own unique arrangement. There are many variations of flour-based dishes that make use of the characteristics of each region. For example, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is a hearty dish that uses plenty of cabbage and soba. Different ingredients and cooking methods are added to each region, so you can enjoy a wide variety of flavors even with the same flour-based dish. In recent years, due to the increasing health consciousness, healthy flour-based dishes that incorporate a lot of gluten-free flour and vegetables have been attracting attention. New styles of flour-based dishes have appeared one after another, and they continue to evolve as part of the food culture while coexisting with traditional styles.
The charm of flour-based dishes to taste in Tokyo
Tokyo is a food city where you can enjoy a wide variety of flour-based dishes. There is a wide variety, from traditional ones to those arranged in a modern style. This time, we will introduce dishes that are especially popular with foreign tourists.
First, let’s talk about Monjayaki.
Monjayaki is one of Japan’s traditional flour dishes, and is especially popular in Tokyo. This dish has a unique style of mixing various ingredients such as cabbage, squid, mentaiko, and cheese into a thin dough made from wheat flour and water, and then grilling it on a hot plate. This dish originates from “Monjayaki Senbei,” a popular snack for children in the Edo period. Its appearance is a little unique, and those who see it for the first time may wonder, “How on earth do you eat this?” However, once you try it, you will be fascinated by the deep flavor.
The greatest appeal of Monjayaki is its customizability and interactive way to eat it. Basically, ingredients such as cabbage, squid, mentaiko, and cheese are mixed into a dough made from wheat flour and water, and then grilled on a hot plate. The dough is very thin, and you can enjoy the process of it sizzling on the hot plate, and the sound and aroma will whet your appetite.
Monjayaki is generally cooked by cooking it yourself on the hot plate in front of you, which is one of the reasons why it is popular with foreign tourists. First, the ingredients are fried on the hot plate and then the batter is poured in. When the whole thing starts to solidify a little, you use a small spatula to cut it into bite-sized pieces and eat it directly from the hot plate while it is still hot. This process itself is fun, and it is sure to be a great experience if you visit with family or friends.
Next, about okonomiyaki.
We would like foreign tourists visiting Tokyo to experience okonomiyaki, a representative of Japanese food culture. There are two styles of this dish, Kansai style and Hiroshima style, each with its own unique charm.
Okonomiyaki is one of Japan’s traditional flour dishes, and is a dish that enjoys cabbage and flour batter mixed with your favorite ingredients cooked on a hot plate. It looks similar to pizza and pancakes, but the taste and texture are completely different. It is popular as a home dish in Japan, but you can enjoy its unique taste at a specialty restaurant.
Kansai-style okonomiyaki is characterized by cooking the batter mixed with the ingredients on the hot plate all at once. Cabbage, pork, and seafood are often used, and the okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and green laver on top enhance the flavor. It is also easy to make at home, and the ingredients can be freely arranged, so it is fun to judge the timing of flipping and the doneness when cooking.
On the other hand, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is characterized by layering the ingredients. A generous amount of cabbage, bean sprouts, and pork are placed on top of the batter, and then grilled soba noodles or udon noodles are layered on top. Finally, an egg is cracked and cooked, resulting in a hearty dish. With this style, you can enjoy different textures for each layer, and the combination of the sweetness of the cabbage and the texture of the soba is particularly exquisite and satisfying.
There are many okonomiyaki restaurants in Tokyo where you can enjoy both Kansai-style and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Some restaurants offer original toppings and sauces, so you can find your own unique taste. It is also a good idea to spend a fun time with the locals around the hot plate.
Okonomiyaki is not just a meal, but an experience that includes the cooking process. Come experience Japan’s flour culture in Tokyo and make unforgettable memories.
Next, we will explain takoyaki.
Takoyaki is a representative Japanese street food, small and round in shape. It originated in Osaka, but is now widely loved throughout the country, including Tokyo. It has a crispy texture on the outside and a soft texture on the inside, and is easy to eat in bite-sized pieces. The main ingredients of takoyaki are flour, water, eggs, dashi, chopped octopus, green onions, pickled ginger, etc., which are mixed together and cooked in a special takoyaki maker. The takoyaki maker has a hemispherical hole, and the dough is rolled and cooked inside the hole. The cooked takoyaki is usually topped with special sauce or mayonnaise, and topped with green laver and bonito flakes, which gives it a fragrant flavor and rich taste.
There are many places in Tokyo where you can easily enjoy takoyaki. Many shops sell takeaway takoyaki, especially around train stations and shopping streets, so you can stop by and enjoy them between sightseeing. In addition, takoyaki is generally eaten with plenty of sauce and mayonnaise, as well as green onions and bonito flakes, which enhance the flavor.
There are many shops that specialize in takoyaki in tourist areas such as Asakusa and Shinjuku, and they are popular with tourists. In addition, takoyaki is a standard dish at festivals and event stalls, where you can enjoy freshly baked takoyaki on the spot.
To fully enjoy takoyaki, it is important to visit specialty shops and try a variety of toppings. At stalls, you can enjoy piping hot takoyaki on the spot, so be sure to check it out. In addition, frozen takoyaki is sold at supermarkets, so it is also a convenient way to enjoy it at a hotel.
Takoyaki is not just a meal, but a dish that can be enjoyed including the cooking process and the experience of eating it while it is hot. When you visit Tokyo, be sure to experience the charm of takoyaki and make wonderful memories.
Finally, let’s talk about yakisoba.
Yakisoba originated from Chinese fried noodles and evolved into a style unique to Japan. Tokyo-style yakisoba is characterized by using thick noodles and seasoning with a special sauce. This sauce has an exquisite balance of sweetness and sourness, and it clings to the noodles well, stimulating the appetite.
Yakisoba is a dish that can be easily enjoyed at food stalls and events, and it is not uncommon to see lines of people waiting for yakisoba at festivals and events in Tokyo. The moment you bite into a hot bowl of yakisoba with the fragrant aroma of freshly baked noodles is truly a blissful moment. It is also sometimes served as a side dish at ramen shops, so you can easily order and enjoy it. Yakisoba not only fills your stomach, but is also perfect for replenishing your energy between sightseeing.
In Tokyo, a variety of toppings expand the enjoyment of yakisoba. It is common to add toppings such as green laver, pickled ginger, and fried eggs, which enhance the taste of yakisoba and allow you to enjoy a rich flavor. Some regions offer original toppings, so you can have fun finding your own yakisoba.
If you want to taste yakisoba in Tokyo, be sure to visit a specialty store. Each store has its own unique yakisoba, and you can also buy frozen yakisoba at the supermarket and enjoy it at your hotel. Yakisoba is not just a meal, but a valuable experience that allows you to feel the food culture. Be sure to experience Japanese food culture while tasting yakisoba in Tokyo and make wonderful memories.
Tips for enjoying flour dishes in Tokyo
There are several points to keep in mind when enjoying flour dishes in Tokyo. First, it is important to visit specialty stores for each dish. At specialty stores, you can enjoy the authentic taste of dishes such as okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and monjayaki, and you can enjoy the unique recipes and cooking methods of each store.
Second, the appeal of flour dishes lies in the variety of toppings. You can enjoy it even more by trying different types of sauce and toppings such as cheese, mentaiko, and green onions to find your own original taste.
We also recommend food stalls at festivals and events. You can easily enjoy flour-based dishes at food stalls, and you can taste the fragrant taste of freshly baked food on the spot. Eating flour-based dishes in a lively event atmosphere is a special experience.
You can also buy frozen takoyaki and okonomiyaki at the supermarket and enjoy them at your hotel. It is a very convenient option for those who want to enjoy at their own pace.
Please use these points as a reference and enjoy flour-based dishes in Tokyo to your heart’s content. It will be a wonderful journey to find your favorite taste.
