Hits, Misses, & Must-Tries: Everything We Ate in Japan

“Food is not rational. Food is culture, habit, craving and identity. In some cases, the unfamiliar becomes the unforgettable.”

Of the many reasons for Japan to constantly be able to attract tourist every year, I would argue that food is consistently included on the list. I know because it was in mine and as I prepare this list below of every food we ate (or I took a photo of before devouring), I realized – boy did we eat our way through every city we’ve been.

So, if you’re planning your own foodie itinerary, here’s everything we tried, loved (and queued for 😅) from quiet tea houses in Nara to the neon chaos of Dotonbori and the playful indulgence of Universal Studios Japan. 

🍜 A Quiet Start in Nara: Mizuya Chaya 

Tucked in the serene corners of Nara, Mizuya Chaya feels like stepping into old Japan. Think wooden interiors, nature views, and a kind of calm you don’t get in busy cities. 

What we had: Fried Chicken Udon 
Vibe: Traditional, peaceful, almost meditative
My Rating: 10000/10 
My Thoughts: The udon noodles were thick, chewy, and undeniably freshly made (that or they really did good at keeping it fresh tasting) – each strand had that signature mochi-like bounce. The broth has a delicate base, lightly seasoned. It wasn’t overpowering – instead, it had this clean, umami-rich flavor that slowly builds as you sip. You know lots of people we know that’s been to Japan told us that once we tried an authentic Japanese ramen, ramens here in the Philippines is never gonna taste the same anymore but to me the udon from Mizuya Chaya really takes the cake. It’s a must-try, I swear!
Price: Around ¥800–¥1,200 

This is the kind of place where you slow down and just exist for a bit and maybe reflect a little bit that sometimes things just shine most in simplicity.

🍡 Mochi Magic in Nara 

A trip to Nara isn’t complete without stopping by Nakatanidou – famous for its lightning-fast mochi pounding. 

What we had: Yomogi Mochi
My Rating: 6/10 
My Thoughts: I’m not a big mochi person so this rating may be a little bias but in as far as mochi goes, this one is super soft, chewy and stretchy. It is made with glutinous rice and yomogi (Japanese mugwort), with a natural earthy aroma – almost herbal, but very subtle, with a little bit of nutty flavor maybe due to its kinako (roasted soybean flour) coating, with a sweet and creamy red bean paste filling. 
Price: Around ¥200–¥300 

Honestly? Watching them make it is half the experience. 

🍜 The Ramen Benchmark: Ichiran 

Of course, we had to try Ichiran Ramen – the introvert’s dream ramen spot. 

Vibe: Solo dining booths, no distractions 
My Rating: 5/10 
My Thoughts: Honestly? Kinda overrated. Put it simply, go to Ramen Nagi and it is essentially what Ichiran is about from ordering mechanism to the flavors and taste minus the infamous solo booths. There are other local ramen shops that has a more striking and memorable flavors – just look around the streets and see where the locals queue.
Price: Around ¥980–¥1,200 

Perfect for when you just want to focus on the food (and nothing else). 

🏮 Secrets of Dotonbori: Street Food Heaven 

Ah, Dotonbori – bright lights, giant signboards, and the smell of street food everywhere. This is where we went all out. 

What we had: Shrimp – 6/10; Mozzarella – 10/10
Place: Kushikatsu Daruma – skewered meats, seafood, and vegetables (like pork, shrimp, quail eggs, and eggplant), coated in a light batter and deep-fried until golden.
My Thoughts: The crunch is chef’s kiss – light, airy, not greasy. Dip it in their signature savory-sweet sauce (once only!) and you get a balance of umami, sweetness, and a slight tang though there may be some that are bland (at least for my liking).
Price: ¥150–¥300 per stick 

Place: Bikkuri Takoyaki 
My Rating: 100/10
My Thoughts: As a big Takoyaki girlie, this is a must-try. Mind you, there are bigger and more tourist-famous Takoyaki place around Dotonbori that we tried but this one is just it. Each ball is filled with chunks of octopus, tempura bits, green onions, and pickled ginger, slightly crisp outside while molten and creamy. I can’t quite pin it but there’s something well-balanced in their Takoyaki.
Price: ~¥600–¥800 

Food: 10 Yen Cheese Coin 
My Rating: 7/10
My Thoughts: The pancake part is good – sweet, soft and crispy, but there are better-tasting mozzarella cheese out there. This one taste so commercial borderline synthetic. Good for a one time try but not something I will crave.
Price: ~¥500 

Food: Matcha Ice Cream and Match Milk Tea (Gong cha)
My Rating: 10/10
My Thoughts: Kansai is known for its good matcha quality so as a matcha girlie, everything matcha in Kansai is a must try for me. But unlike the usual matcha flavors we have available here in the Philippines, this ice cream is a little bit more balanced between grassy bitter, sweet and milky. 
Price: ~¥400–¥700 

Food: Seafood Udon from Dotonbori Imai and Makotoya Ramen 
My Rating: 8/10 | 8.5/10
My Thoughts: The noodle is meh – like it’s literally just noodles but the rich, umami and a slightly sweet broth (the taste you get from fresh seafood) compensates for its blandness. Best if you’re around Dotonbori during cold weather. As for the Makotoya Ramen, As I said earlier, there are a lot of local ramen place around Dotonbori/Shinsaibashi area and Makotoya is one of them. Their signature dish has a chicken-based broth, which is creamy but lighter than pork broth. It has a subtle roasted flavor, paired with springy noodles and well-seasoned toppings. I personally prefer thin noodles however, but flavor wise this is way okay.
Price: ~¥900–¥1,500 

Dotonbori’s Overall vibe: Loud, chaotic, exciting 
Verdict: Come hungry. Leave very full. 

🛍️ Kyoto Food Crawl: Nishiki Market 

Known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” Nishiki Market is a foodie playground. 

Food: Torisei – Roll Chicken 
My Rating: 8.5/10
My Thoughts: Essentially a chicken barbeque but rolled – juicy, slightly smoky and with a savory glaze. 

Food: Crab sticks
My Rating: 100/10 
My Thoughts: Sweet, briny, and super fresh – almost melts in your mouth. This was the food that if I can haul and bring home, I will. Needless to say, I craved it so much I tried (and still trying!) to look for anything similar here in the Philippines. Botejyu came close but it’s just not the same.

Food: Wagyu Beef Kushiyaki 
My Rating: 10/10
My Thoughts: It’s no Kobe (the city) beef but it was so good, nonetheless. The fat renders beautifully, giving you that buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a slightly smoky finish. 
Price: ~¥800–¥1,200 

Food: Soymilk Matcha Soft Serve and Soymilk Doughnuts
Store: Kyo-Tofu Fujino
My Rating: 9/10
My Thoughts: As an accidental necessity buy (my boyfriend was already super tired and needed to sit down to rest his feet and legs and this store has benches excusive only to their customers), this was a very good one. The matcha ice cream was made with soy milk instead of dairy so it has a lighter, slightly nutty, with a clean matcha finish almost no bitter taste at all. The doughnuts are super soft and fluffy, less greasy than regular donuts but also less sweet, safe to say it airs more on the healthy doughnut variant.

Nishiki Market’s Overall Vibe: Bustling but more laid-back than Osaka’s Dotonbori.
Tip: Come early – gets crowded fast especially during peak eating hours.

🎢 USJ Eats: Theme Park Indulgence 

Inside Universal Studios Japan, food is part of the fun. 

Place: Azzurra di Capri (Lunch Spot) 🍝
Vibe: Italian seaside-inspired, relaxing break from the rides 
What we ordered: 

• Chicken & Potato Tartare Ratatouille Smoked Salmon Trout (7/10) - a mix of diced chicken and potatoes with a tomato-based ratatouille - slightly tangy, herby, and comforting 
• Carbonara with Mushroom and Spinach (5/10) – slightly charred, smoky flavor – rich, and savory, but we can get better ones here in the Philippines. 
• Margherita Pizza (10/10) – classic combo of tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. Dare I say one of the best margherita pizza I’ve tried.  
• Zuppa Inglese with Fruit (9/10) – Italian-style dessert with sponge cake soaked in syrup, layered with custard and fruits making it light and refreshing. To describe it simply, this is the love child of vanilla cake and four seasons drink. 😂
• Tiramisu (9/10) – Espresso-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream—rich, creamy, with a slight bitterness from coffee 

Price: ~¥1,500–¥2,500 per dish 

🍗 USJ Snacks 

Food: Smoked Turkey Leg – Brined and smoked turkey leg, very juicy but kulang sa asin. 😂 
My Rating: 7/10
Price: ¥1,000–¥1,300 

Food: Chocolate Churro – crispy outside, soft and gooey inside and it’s not oily. 
My Rating: 7/10
Price: ~¥500–¥700 

🦀 Fresh Seafood in Hokkaido 

Place: Otaru Sankaku Market
What we had: 

• Zuwaigani (Snow Crab) (8/10) – sweet, delicate meat with a clean ocean flavor, super fresh with minimal seasoning 
• Fried Mackerel (10/10) – crispy skin with rich, oily, flavorful and milky meat inside. 
• Grilled Salmon (10/10) – perfectly grilled with crispy edges and a buttery, flaky interior. Super good!

Price: ¥1,500–¥3,000 

⚠️ Tip: Arrive before 10:00 AM unless you’re ready to wait 1–2 hours! 

🍞 Tokyo Comfort Food: The French Toast Factory 

With all the seafood and ramen in the past days, we were craving for some normalcy at this point, so we decided to have western brunch, and it did not disappoint.

Vibe: Cozy café, perfect for slow mornings 
What we tried: 

• Lemon Cream Pasta (7/10) – creamy but brightened with citrus – light, tangy, and refreshing though again, there are better options in the Philippines.
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken (10/10) – crispy coating with juicy, flavorful meat inside. One thing I admire about Japan, they really do know how to make perfect fried chickens.
• Whipped Butter Pancake and Chocolate Noir Pancake (100/10) – ultra-fluffy, airy pancakes topped with whipped butter and deep cocoa flavor – melts instantly in your mouth. By far the best pancake we tried. If pancake house is the best, this is the bestest.

Price: ~¥1,200–¥1,800 

✨ Final Thoughts: A Japan Food Trip Worth Repeating

Looking back, this trip wasn’t just measured by the cities we visited or the attractions we ticked off – it was defined by what we ate and how each meal made us feel. Japan has a way of turning food into an experience: quiet and grounding in places like Nara, loud and indulgent in Osaka, playful in theme parks, and deeply comforting even when you’re thousands of miles from home.

What stood out most to me wasn’t just the quality of the food (which, honestly, rarely missed), but the range. In a single trip, we went from meditative bowls of handmade udon to chaotic street food crawls, from ultra-fresh Hokkaido seafood to fluffy pancakes that made us question every pancake we’ve had before. Every city had its own rhythm, and the food followed suit – never trying to outshine the place, just complementing it.

If there’s one thing this Japan food trip reinforced, it’s this: the best meals aren’t always the most hyped ones. Some were planned and queued for, yes – but some of the most memorable bites came from random stalls, local shops, and places we chose simply because the smell was irresistible or the locals were lining up. Ratings aside, food in Japan excels in intention– whether its simplicity done exceptionally well or indulgence fully embraced.

So if you’re planning your own foodie adventure, here’s my biggest takeaway: Don’t over-curate your meals. Leave space to wander, to try, to be surprised. Eat when you’re hungry, follow the crowds (and your nose), and don’t stress about chasing every viral spot. In Japan, even an “okay” meal can still be a really good one – and sometimes, the unfamiliar ends up being the most unforgettable.

Would I come back just for the food? Without a doubt. 🍜🇯🇵