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'People Take It For Granted...' 5 Japanese Dishes That Shocked Canadians

Last updated: 5 September 2022

You can find Japanese food pretty much all over the world, from sushi to ramen. But some things are just different when you get to taste them in their country of origin.

So here we'll look at 5 Japanese dishes that surprised our Canadian interviewees.
(The comments below are a reflection of the opinions of the respondents only)

“Sushi is very popular in Canada. There are restaurants in Canada but there are only a few types of authentic nigiri sushi. There is a wide variety of sushi rolls, like California rolls, salmon, steamed shrimp, with a lot of onion slices and dressing.
When I went to a 'real' sushi restaurant in Japan, I was totally surprised there were so many kinds of fish. The tuna and sushi with salmon roe on seaweed shari (sushi rice) were particularly delicious!
The fish was fresh and delicious, and the rice was soft and mildly sweet, different from the sushi I had in Canada. Japanese people take delicious sushi for granted.”

Sushi is one of the most famous Japanese foods. It’s a popular dish because of its taste and health-conscious preparation. Overseas, restaurants that prepare sushi have tailored it to the palate of the locals.

If you've tried sushi abroad, you might be surprised to find that your usual favorites taste quite different in Japan - or you might even find a new favorite you can't get back home!

“My friend told me I should try it in Japan, so when I went to Asakusa, I went to a sukiyaki restaurant. I liked that the staff would make it on the spot. In Canada, sliced beef is unusual, but now I've learned how sukiyaki is supposed to be prepared, I'm really impressed!
The beef with the sweet soy sauce taste was delicate and delicious, and it was great with raw eggs, which the owner recommended! After that I had ‘fu’ and ‘konnyaku’ for the first time. I thought it was a strange kind of food, but it tasted like sweet soup and it was really good. Japanese beef is wonderful, and I want to eat it again. I definitely recommend sukiyaki if you have friends going to Japan.”

In Japan, it’s common to eat sukiyaki with raw eggs. However, eating raw eggs abroad is rare, for hygiene reasons. This is because Japanese eggs are different from the ones used overseas, and they are handled differently, with a different inspection process so that they can be eaten raw.

Sukiyaki and raw egg are a perfect match. If you have the chance, try it! You won’t have many chances outside of Japan.

“I have been to many ramen shops in Canada over the past few years, so I had ramen many times. But the ramen I had in Japan was way better than the ones I had in Canada. How is it so different?!
Soy ramen with Char-Sui is the best! The soup is rich and the noodles and meat are great and incredibly tasty. I was really impressed! I understand why even Japanese people line up to eat it.
There are many types of ramen shops in Japan, and I always have a hard time deciding which ramen to eat. It’s fun deciding which new ramen to try out with friends, and to see them trying to eat the soup as soon as possible, even when it's still so hot. I definitely want to go back!”

Ramen was originally a Chinese dish. It then evolved into something uniquely Japanese, and is now one of the country's main dishes. Ramen is loved by tourists and locals alike because it’s cheaper than sushi or tempura. Just like sushi, ramen abroad is often quite different from the 'true' Japanese versions. You'll get hooked once you taste the real thing!

“I had okonomiyaki and yakisoba at a Japanese-style izakaya in Canada, so I decided to try okonomiyaki in Japan. I was surprised because I never thought that I would cook okonomiyaki myself. The staff explained to me how to prepare it, and it was fun to actually do it with my friends. I grilled different combinations and learned how to make them.
Of course, it was delicious, especially the one with pork and cheese. The finishing toppings made it even better. When I added the bonito it moved! It tasted good and it was fun to make it myself, and it will be a nice memory to have. I hope a store like this will open in Canada.”

When traveling to Japan, many tourists want to experience Japanese culture. Okonomiyaki helps you in achieving that, as well as in filling you up. The experience of preparing okonomiyaki by oneself seems to be quite surprising to visitors. Okonomiyaki may not be as well-known as sushi or sukiyaki, but I hope you'll try it on your visit!

“I ate ‘tendon’ (tempura over rice) for the first time in Japan. I was impressed to see a very serious old man fry the tempura in clean oil. When I ate it with sweet sauce it was delicious. The big shrimp and pumpkin tempura were especially good. I want to have it again!
The person at the next table was eating ice cream tempura, and I was curious, so I asked the waiter if the ice cream wouldn't melt, and he told me that the tempura was prepared especially so that the ice cream wouldn’t melt. I thought ‘Japanese people think of everything!’”

Tempura over rice is a dish to enjoy both in seafood and vegetable form. To make tempura well, you need to use the perfect amount of oil to fry it. Tempura over rice made with such craftsmanship will be a treat for your eyes, as well as for your mouth.

Tempura is also easy to eat since, when prepared properly, it's not dripping with oil, and it’s a perfect dish for visitors who aren’t familiar with Japanese food. Some visitors know about tempura and udon soup, but make sure you also try the tempura over rice with its crispy and fluffy shrimp.

“When I tried vegetables in Japan, I thought they were delicious. I thought the tomatoes were as sweet as fruit, and the cucumber and leafy vegetables also tasted good. Japanese food is fresh and delicious. I sometimes envy Japanese people who can always eat such food.”

A Japanese seed company, Takii Seedling, conducted a survey targeting foreigners living in Japan. According to the survey, many foreigners think that Japanese vegetables are delicious! In addition, people love tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin. Burdock is the plant that surprised foreigners the most: “I’ve never seen a vegetable like this before!”

As the popularity of Japanese food has increased, so has the number of Japanese restaurants. According to a communication by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, from 2015 to 2017, the number increased from around 89,000 stores to approximately 118,000 stores. Nevertheless, I would like for foreigners to experience authentic Japanese dishes at least once.

Written by:

Yuu Sato, Dali Corporation

A writer who focuses on intricate genres including human resources, legal affairs, and careers. He mainly writes column articles.