Hi Chako, An interesting subject, drawing many comments about their own likes and dislikes. As a Japanese living in US for over forty years, what I look forward to most when I visit Japan are not necessarily any specific dishes but rather the fundamental elements and ingredients of Japanese cuisine. More specifically, steamed white rice with just the right level of stickiness and sweet aroma, freshest seafoods, fermented foods such as pickled vegetables or tsukemono, natto, shôyu and miso, a variety of Japanese sauces, etc. As long as the dish is made with high quality ingredients and with care, I love them all and I really can’t rank them. You guys in Japan are so spoiled with the availability of great, healthy foods at reasonable prices. I am so jealous. Shin from Colorado
Interesting list!! My favorite food here in Okinawa is 1. steak/yakiniku. We have many places here. 2. chicken kariage. 3. ramen. We also have Okinawa soba, which is similiar to udon. 4. Sushi. 5. MOS burger. Take care and keep making awesome videos!
Hi, I live in Okinawa too. Concerning Karaage, I strongly recommend you to try "Karaageya Kariju"(からあげやカリッジュ)located between Naha Shintoshin Park and Naha Kokusai High school. It's a small container house facing a pet shop, and my favorite is "Honenasi Karaage" (boneless karaage with plain flavor). Bento combination will be sold out around noon, but you can still buy Karaage as long as it opens.
If I thought about the cuisines from Japan, both sushi and ramen would pop into the line. Besides that, yakiniku/barbecue meat, oyakodon/chicken and egg rice, katsudon/pork cutlet with egg rice, okonomiyaki, takoyaki, taiyaki, etc. i can continue list them, as Japanese cuisine is my favorite, besides Western/American.
I had thought that your list of favorite foods includes Kushikatsu because you live in Kansai area. It is a kind of Tempura, but sauce is quite different.
How about yakitori? Isn't good chicken available in Nara? I think it would be a good idea to develop Chako-chan style sauce and make it a family standard dish. For that matter, I recommend buying a mochi making machine. In addition to the usual mochi, you can also make Kusamochi with mugwort.