Japanese cooking is built on precision and restraint. A handful of ingredients, treated carefully, add up to something deeply satisfying. Here are 20 of my favorite Japanese recipes, from noodles and rice bowls to pickles and sweets.
A few to start with if you’re not sure where to begin: Beef Yakisoba, stir-fried noodles that come together fast on a weeknight; Japanese Pickled Daikon, a crunchy, tangy side that goes with almost anything; and Onigiri, easy rice balls that are perfect for snacking or bento boxes. From there, the rest are organized by category below.
BEEF YAKISOBA
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Beef Yakisoba is a quick stir fry of soba noodles, thinly sliced beef, and veggies in a savory Yakisoba Sauce. Yakisoba is a classic Japanese street food recipe.
Get the Recipe: Beef Yakisoba
DAIKON RADISH PICKLED JAPANESE STYLE
Daikon Radish Pickled Japanese Style (called Takuan in Japanese) is a must-have side dish for Karaage Chicken, Miso Glazed Salmon, or for our homemade sushi nights. It’s delicious on its own or as part of a larger dish.
Get the Recipe: Daikon Radish Pickled Japanese Style
EASY ONIGIRI RECIPE: DELICIOUS JAPANESE RICE BALLS
Onigiri, Japanese rice triangles or Japanese rice balls with savory fillings, are great to eat on the go. This onigiri recipe provides an easy step-by-step guide for how to make onigiri rice balls at home.
Get the Recipe: Easy Onigiri Recipe: Delicious Japanese Rice Balls
STIR-FRIED JAPANESE LOTUS ROOT
This simple stir-fried lotus root only takes a handful of ingredients, but the crunchy texture and savory-sweet glaze make it impossible to stop eating.
Get the Recipe: Stir-Fried Japanese Lotus Root Recipe
CHICKEN KARAAGE OR JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN
Chicken Karaage or Japanese fried chicken is one of my favorite ways to cook chicken. The chicken pieces are double fried so they turn out extra crispy, golden brown, tender and juicy inside, and full of flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Karaage or Japanese Fried Chicken
SPICY MISO RAMEN WITH CHICKEN KARAAGE
Spicy Miso Ramen is rich and full of flavor. Top it with crunchy Chicken Karaage or Japanese Fried Chicken, sautéed kale, and a perfectly cooked soft-boiled ramen egg.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Miso Ramen with Chicken Karaage
SPICY MISO TARE FOR RAMEN
Ramen tare is the “secret sauce” that ramen cooks put at the bottom of your bowl before adding noodles, broth, and toppings. It is the magic that gives a bowl of ramen such deep, complex flavor.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Miso Tare for Ramen
MAGICAL CHAWANMUSHI (JAPANESE SAVORY EGG CUSTARD)
Chawanmushi is a magical Japanese egg custard and soup hybrid — silky, savory, and delicately flavored with dashi and a few simple mix-ins.
Get the Recipe: Magical Chawanmushi (Japanese Savory Egg Custard)
MOCHIKO CHICKEN
Chicken Mochiko is delicious bite-size pieces of tender chicken thighs dredged in mochiko flour (sweet rice flour) and deep fried. It’s one of many Hawaiian dishes brought to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants.
Get the Recipe: Mochiko Chicken
CRISPY RAMEN FRIED CHICKEN
Crispy Ramen Fried Chicken is fried to crispy, crunchy perfection and served with a spicy and tangy dipping sauce. It’s a delicious, filling meal or snack that the entire family will clamor for.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Ramen Fried Chicken
SHRIMP YAKISOBA
Shrimp Yakisoba is a favorite Japanese dish of stir fried noodles with plump shrimp and tender vegetables in a savory-sweet sauce. It’s an easy and delicious weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Yakisoba
5-INGREDIENT MISO GLAZED SALMON
Miso Glazed Salmon for Two is one of my favorite easy recipes to cook on busy weeknights. It has only a few ingredients but is big on taste.
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Miso Glazed Salmon
CHICKEN TEMPURA POKE BOWL
This Chicken Tempura Poke Bowl is a fun twist on the classic raw fish based version. As with any good poke bowl, this one perfectly balances flavors and textures—crispy and tender, sweet and savory, fresh and rich—and it delivers on all fronts.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tempura Poke Bowl
YAKI ONIGIRI
Yaki Onigiri are a favorite Japanese snack. These Japanese grilled rice balls are brushed with a swipe of sweet-savory sauce and grilled or pan seared.
Get the Recipe: Yaki Onigiri
INSTANT POT RAMEN NOODLE STIR FRY
Instant Pot Ramen Noodle Stir Fry is the ultimate comfort food. This easy and delicious recipe is the perfect combination of savory and spicy, making a delicious warm up on a cold winter day.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
JAPANESE CUCUMBER SALAD OR SUNOMONO
Japanese cucumber salad, called sunomono in Japanese, is a refreshing side dish that goes especially well with grilled fish and meat or spicy dishes. It is easy to make, light, and uses just a few ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Japanese Cucumber Salad or Sunomono
SHICHIMI TOGARASHI
Shichimi Togarashi is a magical Japanese condiment. Sprinkle this mixture over rice bowls and other dishes to add flavor and crunch.
Get the Recipe: Shichimi Togarashi
MOCHI DONUTS WITH BROWN BUTTER & SEA SALT
Mochi donuts are chewy on the inside with a light, crisp shell and a layer of sweet icing in a variety of flavors. This recipe includes a rich and perfectly sweetened brown butter glaze.
Get the Recipe: Mochi Donuts with Brown Butter & Sea Salt
