Sashimi (�h�g) is thinly sliced, raw food. It is one of the most famous dishes in the Japanese cuisine. Seafood is most commonly eaten as sashimi, but other meats (such as beef, horse and deer) and foods (such as yuba tofu skin and konnyaku) can also be served as sashimi. Some people confuse sashimi with sushi. Unlike sashimi, sushi includes vinegared rice.Sashimi dishes are available at many types of restaurants and at most izakaya. They are also popularly used in teishoku set meals and a

Yakitori (����) are grilled chicken skewers made from bite sized pieces of meat from all different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, skin, liver and other innards. Usually made to order and cooked over charcoal, yakitori is a popular, inexpensive dish commonly enjoyed together with a glass of beer. The best yakitori is served at specialty restaurants, known as yakitori-ya, but it can also be found at many other types of restaurants across Japan, such as izakaya, and at fe

Ramen (���[����) is a noodle soup dish that was originally imported from China and has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan in recent decades. Ramen are inexpensive and widely available, two factors that also make them an ideal option for budget travelers. Ramen restaurants, or ramen-ya, can be found in virtually every corner of the country and produce countless regional variations of this common noodle dish.Popular ramen typesRamen are typically categorized according to their so

Soba (����) noodles are noodles made of buckwheat flour, roughly as thick as spaghetti, and prepared in various hot and cold dishes. Soba dishes are very popular and easily available nationwide. As 100% buckwheat soba noodles tend to be brittle, many restaurants add some wheat flour when preparing their noodles. Depending on the shop, the percentage of buckwheat flour in soba noodles typically ranges between 40% and 100%. Note also that there are a few noodle dishes named soba (e.g.

Udon (���ǂ�) are thick Japanese noodles made of wheat flour. They are thicker than soba noodles, white and chewier. Udon is widely available at restaurants across Japan and prepared in various hot and cold dishes.Popular Udon DishesBelow is a list of udon dishes that tourists will commonly find at restaurants across Japan. Note that there are some regional differences in terms of naming and seasoning.

Tofu is made of curdled soy milk, pressed into blocks in a process similar to making cheese. It is a good source of protein and a staple of Japanese cuisine. Tofu is an especially important ingredient in vegetarian Buddhist temple cuisine (shojin ryori). On its own, fresh tofu has a delicate taste. It is a versatile food that can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Some of the most popular tofu products and dishes are as follows:Tofu products

Tempura (�V�Ղ�) are pieces of lightly battered, deep fried seafood and vegetables. Introduced to Japan during the 16th century by the Portuguese in Nagasaki, tempura has developed over the centuries into a popular Japanese dish both inside and outside of Japan. Tempura can be found in many types of restaurants across the country, where it is commonly served as a main dish, side dish or as a topping for tendon rice bowls, or udon and soba noodle dishes. The following are some of the most po

Sushi (���i or �) is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of the most popular dishes among the Japanese. In Japan, sushi is usually enjoyed on special occasions, such as a celebration.In past centuries, sushi referred to pickled fish preserved in vinegar. Nowadays sushi can be defined as a dish containing rice that has been prepared with sushi vinegar. There are many different types of sushi. Some popular ones are:

Rice (��, kome) is Japans most important crop, and has been cultivated across the country for over 2000 years. It is the primary staple food of the Japanese diet and of such fundamental importance to the Japanese culture that it was once used as currency, and the word for cooked rice (gohan) has become synonymous with the general meaning of meal.A bowl of cooked rice is a central part of traditional Japanese meals, but the grain is also processed into several different types of products in

Tables and seatingSome restaurants in Japan have low tables and cushions on tatami floor instead of (or in addition to) Western-style chairs and tables. Shoes and slippers have to be removed before stepping on tatami. Also, avoid stepping onto cushions other than your own. See our sitting page for more details about sitting techniques and rules. EatingWet towels (oshibori) are provided at most restaurant to clean your hands before eating. After ordering, it is common to wait for eve

Many different types of restaurants are found in Japan. Below we introduce some of the most popular restaurant types and their typical price ranges (per person):Specialized Japanese restaurants Many restaurants in Japan specialize in just one type of food:Sushi-ya (1,000 to 20,000 yen)Sushi-ya are restaurants which specialize in sushi. In most sushi-ya, customers can sit either at a normal table or at a counter (sushi bar), behind which the sushi chef is working.Kaitenzushi (700 to 2,000 y

Japan has a large selection of restaurants of an almost endless variety. While every place is different, the following points will help make dining out in Japan a smooth and enjoyable experience.Entering the restaurantMany restaurants in Japan display plastic or wax replicas of their dishes in a window near their entrance. These replicas serve both to entice and inform patrons of the restaurants menu and tend to offer an accurate, visual description of the style and price of meals found in

There are very few places that we can find a vegan quick service meal that also offers a vegan dessert. Luckily for us there is one spot at EPCOT that offers two vegan options and a dessert as well. This can be found at Sunshine Seasons, which is located inside The Land Pavilion (aka next to Soarin’). One of the vegan options available can be found in the grab and go section of this quick service. During my last visit I opted to not get this. From others I have heard from over

I may have found another new favorite vegan quick service option at Walt Disney World. Over at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort lies two hidden gem vegan options, one for breakfast and one for lunch and dinner. If you’ve read for a while you probably saw my rave review of the Harvest Breakfast Sandwich, which is a top tier breakfast option in my opinion. But the lunch/dinner option here does not disappoint either. Advertisements

Back in January Earl of Sandwich at Disney Springs debuted a fully vegan option for the first time, the Vegan Cannonballs! Sandwich. We were fortunate enough to enjoy the meal on Earl of Sandwich for that one. But this month they added a new special with a full vegan sandwich again! The current special is the Spicy BBQ Vegan Chicken Sandwich. This option is vegan as is and is only offered for a limited time. The sandwich features vegan chicken (seems to also be Gardein like the me

Winter sunshine in Greece is the perfect opportunity for an escape to winter resorts, or other dreamy places dotting the mainland. Outdoor activities, the invigorating fresh air, romantic strolling in towns and villages will definitely whet your appetite for a finely cooked local dish wherever you choose to travel. So, pick your table in the local taverna and get ready to enjoy traditional goodies and local specialities by the crackling fireplace! Your first stop is Thrace. Let’s start our trip

Greek cuisine holds a special place in the global gastronomic map thanks to its large variety of quality products, healthy food combinations, and centuries-old accumulated knowledge. The islands and the mainland of Greece yield quality and flavourful produce to cook with; isn’t it delightful to have fresh aromatic herbs at hand for your daily meal preparations? Oregano, thyme, bay leaves, rosemary, lemons and olive oil are only a few of these tasty foods and they are common in Greek recipes. Me

Soups are always favoured in the heart of winter, they are served as starters or as a meal, always deliciously hot and healthy, they heat us up in the cold days filling us up with energy. There are various combinations of soup flavours and they are fairly easy to make which will provide your body with a number of vitamins shielding it from the seasonal flu. Recipes vary from simple soups with vegetables, meat, chicken, fish and pulses that are considered beneficiary for your healthy diet! Green.

Α Culinary voyage to Limnos Island Limnos is the most beloved of all lands’: according to Homer, these are the words of god Hephaistos who found shelter on the island when he got kicked out of Mt. Olympus, the abode of the gods. Locals welcomed him with warmth and hospitality, so he expressed his gratitude and satisfaction for his newly found homeland with the above words. It is a land of immense natural beauty and a centuries-old gastronomy that will definitely impr

The well-known age-old Cretan cuisine includes a large variety of delicious dishes and tidbits traditionally prepared for big celebrations such as the Easter festival. On Maundy Thursday household ovens get busy baking tasty kalitsounia, anevata and lychnarakia (local savoury and sweet cheese pies). Tarteles are scrumptious traditional tarts filled with sweet myzithra cheese, and flavoured with cinnamon, mastic or finely chopped peppermint; this is a standard Easter Sunday treat, also served on