“The food I was most impressed by after coming to Japan was the sushi. I’ve had sushi in China before, but I will never forget the taste of the first authentic sushi I ate in Tokyo. It was fresh and plump in a way that could only be possible in Japan. The tuna was especially delicious.”

It seems that the sushi of Japan, beloved by the whole world, was much more delicious than she had expected. While China is also famous for seafood dishes and should also be able to enjoy equally fresh meals, there is just something special about the delicious, fresh ingredients of Japanese sushi.

It wasn’t just the sushi, but also the Western food in Japan that went beyond expectations.

“I ordered a steak at a restaurant in Tokyo, and with just one bite, I was shocked! The meat was very soft and delicious. Though the rare-cooked meat was red, it didn’t smell at all. I don’t really eat rare steak in China, so I was very surprised.”

Foreigners seem to be quite satisfied with their fresh meats, strict safety standards, and skilled craftsmanship. There are many well-established steakhouses in Japan, so by all means give them a try along with Japanese foods.

It is a snack that can be easily bought at a convenience store, and one that Ms. G indulges in frequently. A snack that was much more delicious than she could have imagined.

“I love sweet potato chips! I often ate sweet potatoes in China, but the fluffy, freshly baked kind. So when I first saw them, I wondered if sweet potato chips were just as good? Even though they are thin, they really do taste like sweet potato. Even now I often buy them as souvenirs from Japan.”

Ms. G agrees that she probably boasts the highest consumption of sweet potato chips in the world. And in the coming season, convenience stores will be rolling out even more of these chips. Ms. G would be thrilled to try all these new and different types!

Ms. G does enjoy alcohol. Before she came to Japan, she was really looking forwards to trying Japanese sake. But she didn’t expect to find out that shochu was delicious as well.

“When it comes to alcohol in Japan, everyone knows about sake. But coming to Japan, I discovered shochu for the first time. It is more refreshing and easier to drink than sake, and also tastes good watered or as a sour. I didn’t know that you could drink Japanese liquor like that.”

Sake may be well-known overseas, but shochu is close behind! Not as strong and delicious even when watered down, shochu may be an easier alcohol to try than sake, as well.

There is no need to even mention ramen in its homeland of China. However, even Ms. G was delighted at the deliciousness of Japanese ramen.

“Japanese ramen is so delicious. What surprised me the most was how rich the flavor of the soup broth was! There are also much more ingredients than Chinese ramen, so it makes a really great meal.”

Soy sauce, miso, salt, pork bone, and fish. These are just some of the many varieties of Japanese ramen. It makes me happy to see popular ramen shops with long lines of not just tourists from overseas, but locals who also come to appreciate the deliciousness of the ramen.

While Ms. G was indeed impressed by the ramen, it seems there was still something that bothered her.

“While the ramen was really good, I wasn’t too thrilled with the noodles... No matter where you go for ramen, the noodles were all the same. In China, there is much variety in the noodles depending on the shop you go to, including their size, length, firmness, and taste.”

When it comes to ramen, she offers a perspective unique to China. Coming from a place with a long culture of noodles, such as toshomen and tantanmen, and having tried so many varieties since childhood, it is understandable that the Japanese noodles may have left something to be desired.

Along with the ramen, there were a few other foods she felt were lacking.

“Japanese pork is too tough and thin. The pork we use in China is more plump and flavorful. I was a bit surprised by how thin the pork slices topping my ramen were, especially compared to how delicious the Japanese steak I ate was!”

Certainly being able to indulge in Chinese cuisine from actual Chinese restaurants would offer a much better taste and reaction. Perhaps the impression of the steak from earlier left Ms. G with higher expectations of the pork. However it seems the pork slices entangled in the delicious soup of the ramen just couldn’t live up to them...

As someone who has always had a special place in her heart for Japan, Ms. G offers a different perspective than first-time visitors. And though she may have been just a bit disappointed in some of the foods from her home country, in general, she was overall very satisfied with Japanese food. However, it seems there is no love for ramen greater than that of the people of its homeland, China!