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Foreigners in Japan Share Favorite Winter Foods (You'll Never Guess What Americans Liked Best!)

Last updated: 8 February 2021

In Japan, there are many foods that can be eaten only in winter, such as mizutaki, crab, and yellowtail shabu-shabu. What are Japan's most popular winter foods that warm the body and soul? In this article, we asked foreigners living in Japan from five different countries about their favorite winter dishes!

Interview supported by: Akamonkai Japanese Language School

Sukiyaki, also known as the title of a song by Kyu Sakamoto, is loved by people all over the world. Among the Chinese people we interviewed, almost all of them answered that they like sukiyaki very much.

So why is sukiyaki so loved by Chinese people?

"Sukiyaki is similar to Chinese hot pot, so I eat it a lot. In Japan, I eat it with wagyu beef." (China/male/20s)

"I think sukiyaki is the best! In China, there is a hot pot that is like a spicy version of sukiyaki, and it reminds me of it when I eat sukiyaki." (China/male/teens)

Hot pot is a typical Chinese hot pot. It is said to be similar to Japanese sukiyaki in the ingredients it contains, such as beef and tofu. Therefore, many people seek out sukiyaki when they want to eat Chinese hot pot. The overall taste may be different, but when the ingredients used are similar to the cuisine of one's home country, some people may find it easier to eat.

Sukiyaki, by the way, was also popular among non-Chinese.

"My favorite is sukiyaki. I really like the seasoning." (Vietnam/female/20s)

Sukiyaki is seasoned with traditional Japanese seasonings such as soy sauce and mirin (sweet sake), called warishita. The flavor is exquisite, loved not only by the Japanese but also by people all over the world.

Shabu-shabu boasts a stable popularity. Although it was also popular among people from all over the world, it was especially popular among people from Europe and the United States.

"I love shabu-shabu! It's delicious and it's fun to eat together around a pot." (United States/male/30s)

"Shabu-shabu is easy to make and delicious. That's why I love it" (Slovakia/Female/20s)

You get the impression that Westerners love home parties! Shabu-shabu, which allows everyone to enjoy eating together around a pot, is perfect for such people. It's easy to eat, just by quickly running the meat through hot water, and if you eat it during the cold season, your body and soul will be warm and fluffy. It is truly the perfect winter gourmet food!

Ramen is popular among people from overseas regardless of the season, and has also been ranked as one of the most popular winter gourmet foods.

"I love Japanese ramen. I often eat ramen like Hidakaya's chukasoba. Ramen is especially special in winter." (China/male/30s)

"In winter, I want to eat tsukemen (noodles with dipping sauce). It has a stronger flavor than regular ramen, so I feel like it gives me more strength." (Vietnam/male/20s)

"Spicy miso ramen is the best in winter. It warms you up, and the restaurant I usually go to offers free refillable bowls, so you can fill up. You have to save up for winter!" (China/male/20s)

If you eat ramen on a cold day, the bowl warms your hands first, and then your body warms up when you taste the soup. By the time you finish eating it, your body will be warm and fluffy, making it a good winter gourmet dish!

Many people said that it is good as a winter gourmet dish. The fact that it seems to give you stamina also seems to be a reason why people want to eat it in winter.

And the dish that received the most votes this time was oden! Why is it so popular among foreigners as a winter food?

"Oden is full of ingredients. It is filling and tasty. I like hanpen the best." (Vietnam/male/20s)

"I like fish paste. Chikuwa, hanpen, burdock tempura, etc. are delicious. I was surprised when I ate them for the first time at a friend's house. It's also good that I can buy it right away at a convenience store." (China/male/20s)

"I love oden! It's wonderful that it's warm and easy to eat." (Slovakia/female/20s)

Oden is available at convenience stores and other places close by. Its convenience and familiarity have made it popular among many foreigners. It seems that many people enjoy eating it with friends. Many of the respondents who supported oden also said they liked fish paste, but on the other hand, there were also those who disliked it.

"I like all winter foods in Japan, but I dislike only oden. The texture of the fish paste is too soft for me." (Netherlands/male/40s)

"Oden is a convenience store food. I don't really want to go out of my way to eat it." (China/male/20s)

It seems that the texture of fish paste is not to everyone's liking. There are also those who say they do not like oden due to it being convenience store food.

However, the key to oden is the gentle flavor of the broth that brings out the flavor of the ingredients. Although it lacks the punch of flavor compared to sukiyaki or ramen, it was surprising that more foreigners liked oden than expected.

Here are some other Japanese winter dishes that unfortunately did not make the list.

"In winter, nikuman (meat buns) are the best. They're delicious and warm up your hands after a long day out. Also, I can't miss yellowtail radish. The flavor soaked into the daikon is delicious and makes me feel relaxed." (Slovakia/female/20s)

"I like Japanese toshikoshi (New Year's Eve) soba. It may be just soba, but eating it on New Year's Eve makes it feel a little special." (China/male/teens)

What a surprise that there are foreigners who know about yellowtail daikon!

It's nice to know that the Japanese taste of home is loved beyond national borders. It is no wonder that nikuman, which are a popular winter delicacy at convenience stores, are just as popular as oden.

Other winter gourmet favorites included herring roe, and ozoni, which is a dish often eaten during the year-end and New Year holidays.

We also asked about Japanese winter delicacies that they have never tried but would like to try at least once. The most popular was "fugu nabe" (pufferfish hot pot)!

"I've heard a lot about pufferfish hot pot, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet because of its high price. I would like to try it just once." (China/male/20s)

"I've tried many Japanese nabe dishes, but I've never had globefish nabe, so I'm curious about it."(Slovakia/female/20s)

"I would like to try crab nabe!　I've had crab itself, but never in a nabe. In winter, when I see an ad for crab casserole on the train, I can't help but look at it." (Malaysia / Female / 30s)

It seems that these high-class winter delicacies have become a coveted menu item for foreigners due to the high hurdles involved. However, puffer fish and crab are both in season during the winter. They are most delicious in winter, so I hope you give them a try!

We also asked them what winter delicacies they recommend in their home countries.

"It's called Shao Kao BBQ, and the ingredients are bigger than yakitori and the sticks are longer than yakitori." (China/male/teens)

"There is no such thing as winter food in Vietnam, but a Thai hot pot called Lau is very popular." (Vietnam/male/20s)

"In the U.S., we eat a lot of stew in the winter. Also, in Arizona, where I lived, there was a winter food called tamal. It's made of mashed corn, and it's delicious, so you should try it!" (USA/Male/30s)

"Speaking of winter food, in Slovakia it is Christmas food. Deep-fried carp, Christmas cookies, and hot wine. It makes me feel like winter has come." (Slovakia/female/20s)

There are many winter foods across the world. If you travel during the cold season, you should definitely try them!

Winter gourmet foods in Japan are so popular that some people say they travel only to eat winter gourmet foods. We hope that foreign visitors to Japan will try not only the menus introduced here, but also various other winter gourmet foods.

This article is a re-edited version of an article that was written and published in February 2019.
Images are for illustration purposes only.

Written by:

Fujico

Born in Tokyo. Independent writer from 2015. He has studied and worked in North America, and also translates and interprets English and Japanese. He loves the islands of Tokyo and the Izu Islands, and once a month heads to a new island!