Japanese cuisine is a mosaic of cooking styles. From raw sushi, to deep fried katsu and tempura, delicate soups, robust curries and so many Japanese recipe ideas…
To help you master some of these great dishes, we’ve compiled this list of Japanese Recipes from GypsyPlate and around the internet.
Try making all of these great Japanese dishes. It’s so fun to experiment with new cuisines. We hope you love these Japanese Recipes as much as we do!
The Best Japanese Recipes:
1. Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki is the answer to all your wishes. Everybody loves teriyaki flavor, it’s probably the most beloved Japanese food outside Japan.
Tender juicy chicken, glistening in tasty sauce that’s sweet, savory, umami and so yum!
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken
2. Tonkatsu (Japanese Pork Cutlet)
Tonkatsu is a simple fried pork cutlet, popular in Japanese cuisine. It’s crispy outside, tender inside, and comes with a beautifully flavorful katsu sauce.
It’s so easy to make, with only a few simple ingredients, yet it ends up so delicious. If you have 20 minutes, you can have this crispy treat on your table!
Get the Recipe: Tonkatsu
3. Yakisoba
Here’s my take on a classic Japanese street food favorite: Yakisoba! I’ve always been fascinated by Yakisoba because it’s so quick and easy to make, yet it’s incredibly flavorful.
It starts with stir frying wheat noodles, and I usually add chicken or sometimes pork for the protein. I toss in whatever vegetables I have on hand, like cabbage, carrots, and onions.
Get the Recipe: Yakisoba
4. Katsu Karē
Katsu Karē is another popular use for tonkatsu cutlets.
In this form, it’s served along with rice and Japanese curry, for the ultimate in Japanese comfort food meals.
Get the Recipe: Katsu Curry
5. Karaage Chicken (Japanese Fried Chicken)
Picture this: Crispy, bite-sized golden nuggets of chicken bursting with an umami-rich marinade, delicately flavored with hints of garlic, ginger, and authentic Japanese seasonings. Now imagine that deliciousness encased in a feather-light, ultra-crispy shell.
There my friends is Japan’s beloved fried chicken! Karaage Chicken!! Perfectly balanced, sinfully crispy, and unforgettably delicious. Trust me, once you try it, there’s no going back!
Get the Recipe: Karaage Chicken
6. Hibachi Fried Rice
Fried rice is such a great use for leftover rice, and makes for a delicious side or light main.
This Japanese style fried rice only takes about 15 minutes to make and is just as good as what you will get in any restaurant.
Get the Recipe: Hibachi Fried Rice
7. Japanese Beef Curry
Curry… It’s more “Japanese” than you think. Yes, curry is so popular in Japan, that it’s regarded as one of the top two national dishes, along with ramen. Even ahead of their sushi and miso soup.
It’s a thick, rich, velvety and glossy concoction that’s sweet, savory and umami in nature. One of our favorite Japanese recipes!
Get the Recipe: Japanese Beef Curry
8. Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
These Teriyaki Chicken Skewers are the ultimate Umami BOMB, thanks to the easy homemade marinade, of course. If you’re looking for a super easy, super quick and super economical meal to feed a large crowd and make them happy, these Teriyaki chicken skewers are your answer.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
9. Katsudon
Katsudon is a popular Japanese rice bowl featuring a fried pork cutlet that gets simmered with eggs and onions in a savory sauce.
It’s one of the most common variations of their “donburi”, or rice bowls. One of our favorite Japanese recipes.
Get the Recipe: Katsudon
10. Hibachi Chicken
Save yourself a trip to the restaurant, because you can make your own hibachi style chicken in your own kitchen! This restaurant style Hibachi Chicken dinner includes sautéed veggies and fried rice, along with tangy Yum Yum sauce, for a complete one pan meal.
Get the Recipe: Hibachi Chicken
11. Teriyaki Sauce/ Marinade
Classic teriyaki marinade beautifully blends soy sauce, sesame oil and aromatics. It’s great for just about any type of meat, and is perfect for those times you’re craving Asian flavors.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Sauce
12. Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake)
Okonomiyaki are savory Japanese pancakes made with cabbage, scallions, and various meats or seafood. This homemade recipe is a healthy and tasty spin on the Japanese classic.
You may have never heard of it, but this okonomiyaki may end up being a mainstay on your dinner table.
Get the Recipe @ loveandlemons
13. Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)
Tsukune, Japanese-style chicken meatballs, are absolutely delicious! Soft and juicy meatballs basted in a sweet, salty, and sticky sauce.
The meatballs are incredibly flavorful and I guarantee your guests will have no problem eating one after another! Treat everybody with this new Asian flavor.
14. Nikuman (Steamed Pork Buns)
Nikuman are Japanese steamed buns, usually steamed inside a bamboo steamer. They are filled with delicious pork, shiitake mushrooms, cabbage and scallions.
The savory buns are at their best when you enjoy them fresh, hot and fluffy… and you just can’t stop at one.
Get the Recipe @ justonecookbook
15. Chicken Ramen Stir Fry
Ramen is one of the most popular Japanese foods, and we love how versatile it is!
This stir fry can be made in less than twenty minutes, and this recipe shows how to adapt it to your liking.
16. Crispy Shrimp Tempura
Crispy Shrimp Tempura is one of the most popular and well known Japanese dishes. The light panko coating results in fried shrimp that are crispy, but not too heavy.
Get the Recipe @ simplyhomecooked
17. Mochi (Japanese Rice Cake)
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from a special glutinous rice. It’s popular year round, especially New Years.
It can also be stuffed with a variety of things, making it a fun and versatile treat.
Get the Recipe @ chopstickchronicles
18. Chicken Katsu
Chicken Katsu is a delightful Japanese chicken cutlet, panko breaded and fried to crispy perfection.
Making this is a breeze, requiring just a handful of basic ingredients, yet the result is incredibly tasty. With just about 25 minutes of your time, you can serve up this crispy delight!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Katsu
19. Chicken Yaki Udon
Another surprisingly quick to make recipe is this chicken yaki udon. It only takes twenty minutes, and it tastes great.
The noodles are tossed with simple vegetables and chicken, which get covered in a savory sauce that you will love.
20. Chirashizushi (Scattered Sushi)
Chirashizushi, or scattered sushi, is your favorite sushi ingredients scattered over a bed of rice. It’s a quick and satisfying meal, similar to the popular poke bowls.
This is one of the fun Japanese recipes to enjoy with a crowd.
Get the Recipe @ recipetineats
21. Gyoza (Japanese Fried Dumplings)
For a fun and delicious Japanese appetizer, you have to try these crispy pan fried gyoza dumplings.
They are filled with ground pork, veggies, and plenty of flavor.
22. Mushroom Ramen
This mushroom ramen recipe is restaurant quality, made right at home! The marvelous mushroom broth is perfectly seasoned, and a soft boiled egg tops the broth.
The mushroom and egg combination bring the dish together, and it makes a great appetizer or light meal!
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
23. Seaweed Salad
Seaweed salad is a common Japanese side dish, and is really easy to make. All you have to do is rehydrate some dried seaweed and mix with a simple sauce.
24. Chicken Udon Soup with Bok Choy
Chicken Udon Soup with Bok Choy is a simple and quick Japanese take on classic chicken noodle soup.
You will have this flavorful dinner ready in 40 minutes, start to finish.
25. Temari Sushi
Temari sushi is fun little hand rolled balls of sushi ingredients wrapped around rice. They take a little work, but they’re a fun dish you can really get creative with.
Just imagine serving a platter of these cute balls at your next get together!
26. Agedashi Tofu
Agedashi Tofu recipe is a popular appetizer from Japanese restaurants. Crispy fried outside and soft inside, it’s served with a flavorful sweet and savory sauce.
27. Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Bowl)
Oyakodon is a popular Japanese rice bowl featuring a chicken that gets simmered with eggs and onions in a savory sauce.
It’s one of the most common variations of their “donburi”, or rice bowls.
Get the Recipe @ justonecookbook
28. Miso Soup
Miso is perhaps the most popular of Japanese soups. This recipe shows you just how easy it is to make in your own kitchen… about 25 minutes easy!
Get the Recipe @ loveandlemons
29. Temaki
These hand rolled temaki feature your favorite sushi ingredients all wrapped in nori leaves.
They make a fun party food, just arrange your ingredients on a platter and everyone can make their own perfect roll.
Get the Recipe @ justonecookbook
30. Mochi Ice Cream
We’re wrapping up our list with a sweet treat. Mochi ice cream is a fairly new invention, but it has taken the dessert world by storm.
Japanese rice cakes, mochi, are wrapped around an orb of ice cream. They sound difficult, but you’ll be amazed how easy they are!
Get the Recipe @ tastesbetterfromscratch
So many great Japanese recipes to cook. No wonder it’s one of the most famous cuisines in the world!
Check out these other recipe collections!
Asian Recipes
Thai Recipes
Filipino Recipes
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The 30 BEST Japanese Recipes
This collection of Japanese Recipes includes classics like sushi, tempura, donburi, curry and more. For a good start, try this easy teriyaki sauce:
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp rice vinegar or white vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp garlic, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp ginger, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a sauce pan. Cook over medium heat and bring it to simmer, stirring continuously. Once its starts boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Mix the cornstarch and water and slowly add this slurry to the sauce, stirring constantly, to thicken it. Remove from heat and let it cool.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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I love Japanese food! This list is great!