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Mention Danish food to any gastronome and Noma will surely find its way into the conversation. Over the last decade, the enormous success of this restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark has put Danish cuisine on the culinary map.

Thanks to the success of Noma and high-profile Danish chefs like René Redzepi, the New Nordic Cuisine movement has become synonymous with Danish food. Beautifully-presented dishes made with the freshest seasonal ingredients is often the first thing people think of when they think of Danish cuisine.

But what about traditional Danish foods? The foundation for this new culinary movement seems to be getting lost in the excitement of reinventing the old!

As appealing as New Nordic Cuisine may be, traditional Danish cooking remains just as interesting, especially for people experiencing it for the first time. To highlight those recipes, we’ve compiled this list of twelve classic Danish dishes to look for on your next trip to Copenhagen.

DANISH FOOD QUICK LINKS

If you’re visiting Denmark and want to learn more about the cuisine, then you may be interested in joining a food tour.

TOURS

• Food Tours: Food and Wine/Drinking Tours in Denmark

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WHAT IS TRADITIONAL DANISH FOOD?

Before the Industrial Revolution, traditional Danish food was heavily reliant on local produce. Families lived on bread, fish, pork, and potatoes and kept a storage of long-lasting food products like rye, barley, dried peas, and salted pork.

With rapid industrialization came an increase in the consumption of fresh meat, vegetables, and milk. The introduction of wood-burning stoves and meat grinders led to the creation of new dishes like Danish meatballs, sausages, and breaded pork patties. Thanks to sausages and rye bread, Danish open-faced sandwiches were invented in the 19th century and became a practical way for factory workers to pack a quick and filling lunch.

By the end of the 20th century, Danes started to travel more widely and became interested in the cuisines of other countries like France and Spain. They adapted these techniques and used local ingredients to transform traditional Danish food into beautifully presented Nordic dishes.

THE BEST TRADITIONAL DANISH DISHES

1. Smørrebrød

There’s no better (or prettier) way to start this Danish food guide than with smørrebrød, Denmark’s artful contribution to the world of sandwiches. A national dish of Denmark, smørre­brød translates to “butter bread” and refers to the endless variety of beautifully crafted Danish open-faced sandwiches.

Open-faced sandwiches have existed in Europe since the Middle Ages but it wasn’t until the onset of industrialization in the 19th century did the smørrebrød tradition take hold in Denmark. Factory workers could no longer return home for lunch so they’d pack open-faced sandwiches made with buttered rye bread topped with smoked fish, cold meats, and the previous night’s leftovers.

The practice caught on and eventually became a part of Danish food culture. Not only did smørrebrød provide a quick and tasty meal, but they were a practical way of recycling leftovers. Over time, smørrebrød became a common sight on holiday tables and could be found on Danish restaurant and pub menus across the country.

Today, Danish smørrebrød can range from the simple to the lavish. It always starts with Danish rye bread (rugbrød) primed with a thin layer of butter or goose fat to keep the bread from getting soggy. A variety of local ingredients are then arranged on top like pickled herring, cold cuts, salmon, shrimp, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, herbs, and microgreens.

Unlike your typical sandwich, smørrebrød is never eaten by hand. They’re eaten with a knife and fork and always in the proper order. When sampling a variety of toppings, herring is always eaten first, followed by other types of seafood, meat, and then cheese.

Photo by VadimVasenin

There are hundreds of varieties and combinations of smørrebrød but stjerneskud is one of the most well-known. A common sight at Danish restaurants and cafes, it’s made with buttered rye bread topped with a fried fish fillet, shrimp, caviar, asparagus, dill, and lemon. Stjerneskud means “shooting star” in Danish.

Photo by aallm

2. Tarteletter

Tarteletter refers to an old and very traditional Danish dish made with pre-made puff pastry shells filled with different ingredients. The tartlets are typically store-bought and can be filled with various meats, seafood, and vegetables, though one of the most popular versions is filled with chicken and asparagus in a creamy white sauce made with flour, butter, and milk.

This Danish appetizer or snack has been around since the 19th century though it has waned in popularity in recent decades. In modern times, tarteletter is viewed largely as old-school Danish food served mostly at restaurant buffets and special-occasion brunches.

Photo by annafrby

3. Pickled Herring

If you’re familiar with Northern European cuisine, then the inclusion of pickled herring in this Danish food guide should come as no surprise. It’s an important part of the cuisines of many countries in the region like Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

Pickled herring refers to herring that’s been preserved through pickling or curing. Fresh herring is first cured with salt to extract water before being brined in a solution containing vinegar, salt, sugar, onions, and spices. Depending on the recipe, it can be flavored with other ingredients as well like sherry, mustard, lemon, and dill.

In Denmark, pickled herring can be enjoyed in many ways though one of the most popular uses is to serve it over dark rye bread in smørrebrød.

Photo by asimojet

4. Rugbrød (Rye Bread)

Rugbrød refers to an everyday type of rye bread in Denmark. Dense, dark, and a bit sour in flavor, it forms an essential part of Danish cuisine and is used as the base for smørrebrød open-faced sandwiches.

Recipes for rugbrød vary but it’s typically made with a sourdough starter, dark rye flour, wheat flour, cracked rye, and other seeds like flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds. Ale or beer is often mixed into the dough which is typically allowed to ferment for 24-48 hours, depending on the desired level or sourness.

Because it contains no added oils or fats and is made with little to no sugar, rugbrød is considered a very healthy type of bread. It’s low in fat and rich in whole grain and dietary fiber.

Photo by spotty

5. Frikadeller

If you like meatballs, then you’re going to love frikadeller. It refers to the Danish version of pan-fried meatballs that’s also popular in the cuisines of Poland and Germany.

Danish meatballs are typically made with minced veal, pork, or beef mixed with onions, eggs, milk, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. The mixture is formed into balls which are slightly flattened and then pan-fried in butter, margarine, or vegetable oil. They’re often served as a main course or side dish, often with boiled white potatoes and cooked red cabbage.

Photo by lenyvavsha

If you don’t eat meat, then perhaps you’d like to try fiskefrikadeller instead. It refers to a type of frikadeller made with fish instead of meat. It’s usually made with cod or salmon and served with remoulade.

Photo by fanfon

6. Pølse

If you think that hot dog stands are ubiquitous only in America, then you’re wrong. The pølse or Danish hot dog is one of the most popular street foods in Denmark. It’s sold and eaten everywhere – on ferries, at gas stations, and from mobile hot dog stands known as pølsevogn (meaning “sausage wagon”).

In the US, the term “hot dog” that can refer to both the sausage and the sandwich (hot dog in bun) but in Denmark, a sausage can only be referred to as “pølse” when it’s served in a bun. Otherwise, it’s just a sausage. Pølser are so popular in Denmark that it’s considered by many to be a Danish national dish.

There are two types of pølse in Denmark – classic Danish røde pølse (red sausage) and the brown grillpølse (grilled sausage). Røde pølser are the more common of the two. They’re typically beechwood-smoked and served with remoulade, ketchup, mustard, fried onions, and gherkins.

According to legend, røde pølser became popular in the 1920s when hot dog vendors would dye day-old sausages red to indicate their lack of freshness. They did so so they could sell them at a lower price.

Today, an estimated 100 million pølser are sold in Denmark each year. That’s a staggering number considering Denmark has a population of just 5.8 million!

Photo by valdaar.mail.ru

7. Medisterpølse

Medisterpølse (or medister, medisterkorv) refers to an aromatic and slightly sweet Danish sausage made with spiced minced pork, suet, chopped onions, and various spices like cloves, allspice, salt, and pepper. It’s typically boiled for a few minutes and then fried in butter before being served with plain boiled or steamed potatoes, pickled beets, and a thick brown gravy.

For the most satisfying experience, try it with a cold bottle of traditional Danish beer like Carlsberg or Tuborg.

Photo by ronyzmbow

8. Flæskesteg

In many countries around the world, the most delicious dishes are often reserved for Christmas dinner and Denmark is no exception. This scrumptious-looking dish with crispy pork skin is called flæskesteg, the Danish version of roast pork.

Flæskesteg is a traditional Danish dish that’s always served on Christmas Eve. Outside of a few minor variations, every Danish family pretty much serves the same dishes to celebrate Christmas – goose, roast duck, and pork roast with crackling skin. It’s been a beloved Danish Christmas tradition for well over a hundred years.

To make flæskesteg, a cut of pork with the rind still attached is sliced through the skin in narrow strips. The skin is then rubbed with salt, pepper, bay leaves, and cloves before being roasted in an oven. When the skin bubbles up and becomes crispy, the pork roast is ready to serve.

Flæskesteg is often enjoyed with boiled white potatoes, caramelized potatoes, pickled red cabbage, pickled cucumber, and gravy.

Photo by Johann

9. Stegt Flæsk med Persillesovs

Danes eat a lot of pork. It’s the most popular type of meat in Denmark and used to make many delicious Danish dishes like flæskesteg, pølse, and leverpostej (pork liver pate). If you like bacon, then one of your favorites will surely be stegt flæsk.

Stegt flæsk med persillesovs literally means “fried pork with parsley sauce” and refers to a popular Danish dish made with fried pork belly served with boiled potatoes and parsley sauce. Often fried till crispy, flæsk is very similar to bacon except it’s usually unsalted and never smoked.

Photo by PantherMediaSeller

10. Grydestegt Kylling

Grydestegt kylling refers to a traditional Danish dish made with pot-roasted chicken cooked with butter and parsley. It’s an old-fashioned but comforting dish that’s usually served with boiled potatoes, cucumber salad, rhubarb compote, and gravy.

Photo by lenyvavsha

11. Æblekage

Æblekage literally means “apple cake” though it refers to a traditional Danish dessert that’s closer in appearance to a trifle. Typically served in a glass or transparent bowl, it’s made with layers of apple puree, apple cake crumble, Danish macaroons, and whipped cream.

Photo by ildi_papp

12. Wienerbrød

Like smørrebrød, wienerbrød is one of the most well-known dishes in Danish cuisine. Known simply as “Danish” outside of Denmark, it refers to a family of Danish pastries made with laminated dough and a variety of fillings like cream, jam, nuts, cheese, and fruit preserves.

The term wienerbrød translates to “Viennese bread” and is believed to be in reference to the Austrian bakers who brought the technique of laminating bread to Copenhagen. According to the story, a bakery workers’ strike in mid-19th century Denmark led to the hiring of Austrian bakers who brought with them techniques and recipes that led to the creation of wienerbrød.

Today, they’ve become a major part of Danish gastronomy with the average Dane consuming an estimated 10 kilos (22 lbs) of pastries and cakes each year. If you’re like most people and have a fondness for sweet flaky pastries, then be sure to try some of these delicious examples of wienerbrød on your next trip to Copenhagen:

Spandauer: This is the classic version of the pastry and what inspired the globally recognized “Danish”. Its name is derived from a prison in Berlin’s Spandau district, which according to Danish bakers, resembles the form of the pastry.

Kanelsnegle: The Danish equivalent to a cinnamon bun. Interestingly, there’s a Danish tradition called Onsdagssnegle that calls for people to eat cinnamon buns on Wednesdays.

Frøsnapper: Danish pastry filled with remonce, a thick paste made with butter and sugar. It’s less sweet than other pastries thanks to salt and a liberal dusting of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and linseeds.

Tebirkes: Folded pastry filled with remonce and topped with poppy seeds. It’s similar to frøsnapper except it’s folded instead of stretched and twisted.

Pølsehorn: The Danish rendition of a pig in the blanket.

Photo by elenathewise

Pictured below is kanelsnegle, the Danish equivalent to the popular cinnamon bun. The name kanelsnegle literally means “cinnamon snail”.

Photo by zi3000

DANISH FOOD TOURS

Needless to say, no one knows traditional Danish food better than a local, so what better way to experience the best of Danish cuisine than by going on a food tour? Not only will a local guide take you to the city’s best markets and restaurants, but they can explain all the traditional Danish dishes to you in more detail as well. Check out Get Your Guide for a list of Danish food tours in Copenhagen and other cities throughout Denmark.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON TRADITIONAL DANISH CUISINE

Without question, modern Danish gastronomy is exciting, but there’s also much to love about the traditional food in Denmark. It’s simple and hearty fare that’s meant to comfort and fill you up.

Traveleaters with a taste for haute cuisine will have much to be excited about in Denmark. But be sure to leave room for dishes like pølser and stegt flæsk as well. I’m sure you’ll find them to be just as memorable and satisfying.

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Cover photo by maxsol7. Stock images via Depositphotos.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Argentina?

For many people, it’s football or tango but for Traveleaters, it’s definitely the food. Argentinian food is fantastic, especially if you enjoy eating meat. Argentina is home to world-class beef and some of the tastiest dishes in South America.

There are plenty of reasons to visit this vast country on the southern tip of South America, but if you’re the type of traveler lured by the promise of good food, then you may want to check out these 25 traditional dishes on your next trip to Buenos Aires and Argentina.

ARGENTINIAN FOOD QUICK LINKS

If you’re planning a trip to Argentina and want to learn more about the cuisine, then you may be interested in going on a food tour.

TOURS

• Food Tours: Food and Wine/Drinking Tours in Argentina

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WHAT IS TRADITIONAL ARGENTINIAN FOOD?

The food in Argentina has been heavily influenced by Spanish and Italian cuisines. This can be attributed to its colonial past and history of immigration. Argentina was a colony of Spain for 300 years and it welcomed 6.6 million immigrants between 1853 and 1955, mostly from Italy and Spain. In fact, Argentina has the second largest number of immigrants in the world, behind only the US.

Dishes like empanadas and puchero are vestiges of Spanish influence while pizza, milanesa, and various pasta dishes were introduced to the Argentine diet by Italian immigrants. So deeply-rooted is the Italian influence on local food and culture that many Argentinians identify themselves as being more European than Latin American, a point of view that doesn’t always sit well with their neighbors in South America.

People familiar with traditional Argentine foods know about the country’s legendary love for meat, especially beef. Argentina is consistently one of the largest consumers of beef in the world, with the average Argentinian putting away an estimated 129 pounds every year. That sounds like an impossibly high number until you experience an asado.

The Argentinian love for steak can again be traced back to its time as a former Spanish colony. Cattle was first introduced to Argentina by Spanish settlers in 1536. Thanks to the geography of the Pampas lowlands, they multiplied rapidly and became a top food source in Argentina. Today, Argentina is one of just five countries that has more cattle than people.

If you enjoy wine, then you’ll be pleased to know that Argentina is the world’s fifth largest producer of wine. They’re especially known for their Malbec wines, which like their beef, is hardly exported and consumed mostly within the country.

THE BEST IN ARGENTINE CUISINE

This article on the best-tasting Argentine foods has been organized by category to make it easier to digest. Click on a link to jump to any section of the guide.

National Dishes Starters / Soups / Sides Breads Meats / Mains Desserts / Drinks Argentine Food Tours

NATIONAL DISHES

1. Empanada

There’s no better way to start this Argentinan food guide than with the humble empanada, a fried or baked pocket of dough stuffed with a savory filling. It comes in dozens of varieties and is popular in the cuisines of many former Spanish colonies like Chile, Belize, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Peru, and the Philippines.

The name empanada stems from the Spanish word empanar, which means “to bread” or “to wrap something in bread”. It’s a derivative of the Indian samosa and first appeared in the Iberian peninsula sometime during the medieval period. The earliest recipes for empanada date back to the start of the 16th century.

How the empanada came to Argentina isn’t entirely clear, but it’s believed to have been introduced to the country by immigrants from northern Spain. The early version of Argentine empanada was a large, double-crusted pie that was cut into slices. Over time, it evolved into the single pockets of filled pastry crust that we know and love today.

These days, there are about as many versions of empanada as there are Argentinian cooks but some of the most common varieties are filled with ground beef, chicken, ham and cheese, spinach, and humita. They can be baked (Salta-style) or fried (Tucuman-style) with every region in Argentina having its own distinct style. Here are some of the most delicious empanadas you can try in Argentina.

Empanada Tucumana: Filled with either chicken, mondongo (tripe), or beef along with other ingredients like spring onions, pimento, and vinegar. Tucumán province takes such pride in their empanadas that they play host to the National Empanada Festival in September every year.

Empanada Salteña: Smaller than empanada tucumana and made without any fat or oil. Potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, green onions, red peppers, and ground chili are common fillings.

Empanada Jujeña: Filled with beef, chicken, goat, and llama meat. Peas, onions, garlic, and chili are also common ingredients.

Empanada Cordobesa: A sweeter type of empanada made with white sugar and filled with beef, raisins, potatoes, and olives.

Empanada Entrerriana: Empanada filled with milk-soaked rice.

Photo by maxsol7

2. Locro

Locro refers to a traditional meat-and corn-based Argentinian stew that’s associated with the native Andean people of South America. It’s popular in Argentina and in other countries like Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Paraguay.

Like empanada, there are many recipes for locro in Argentina but it’s typically made with a variety of vegetables and meat like white hominy, squash, white beans, potatoes, carrots, pork, beef, pancetta, and sausage. The ingredients are simmered in a pot for several hours until a rich, thick consistency is achieved.

In Argentina, locro is a national dish that’s near and dear to the hearts of many people. It can be consumed at any time of the year but it becomes especially significant on May 25th when it’s made to celebrate the anniversary of the May Revolution.

The May Revolution was a critical turning point in the bid for South American independence. It led to the removal of Spanish rule and the establishment of a local government – the Primera Junta – that would eventually become Argentina.

Photo by Wirestock

3. Choripán

If you’re a fan of sandwiches, then you’re probably going to enjoy choripán, Argentina’s answer to the hot dog. Popular in many countries throughout South America like Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, and El Salvador, it consists of a grilled chorizo sausage served in a crusty bread bun.

Choripán comes in many forms but in Argentina, it’s made with a beef or pork sausage sliced down the middle and served in a roll with chimichurri or salsa criolla (onion relish). It’s a popular street food dish in Argentina, especially outside football stadiums, and is typically eaten as an appetizer during the preparation of asado.

If you visit the Rio de la Plata region of Argentina, then be sure to try morcipán, a variant of choripán made with morcilla or blood sausage.

Photo by zkruger

4. Milanesa

The milanesa is one of the most delicious examples of the Italian influence on Argentine cuisine. Popular throughout the Americas, it’s the South American version of the Italian cotoletta. Its name is derived from Milan’s cotoletta alla milanese, a dish brought to South America by Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Milanesas are made with prime slices of beef that are pounded, breaded, and fried. It’s similar to the Austrian/German wiener schnitzel, American chicken fried steak, or Japanese tonkatsu. In Argentina, it’s typically made with a lean cut of beef but it can be made with pork, veal, or chicken as well.

Milanesas in Argentina are often served with french fries or mashed potatoes. They can be served as is or topped with tomato sauce and cheese in a variation called milanesa a la napolitana (pictured below). So ingrained are milanesas in Argentinian cuisine and culture that the dish is celebrated every May 3rd during el Día de la Milanesa.

Photo by asimojet

When served with a fried egg on top, the dish is known as milanesa a caballo or “milanesa riding horseback”. This is one of the most popular versions of milanesa in Argentina.

Photo by fanfon

5. Asado

Scroll through this Argentine food guide and it becomes clear that Argentinians are no strangers to delicious food. But for many locals, one gastronomic experience stands above the rest – asado. It refers to an Argentinian barbecue that’s much more than just your typical barbecue.

Asado means “roasted” in Spanish and refers to an Argentinian meal and style of cooking that features a wide array of grilled meat. Different meats like lamb, pork, and mutton are roasted though beef is preferred. The meats are cooked on a cast iron grill called a parrilla using either a charcoal (parrilla al carbón) or wood (parrilla a leña) burning fire. Smaller pieces of meat are cooked horizontally while larger cuts are roasted vertically or diagonally (pictured below).

The asado tradition in Argentina dates back to the time of the gauchos. These skilled horsemen lived entirely off the land so they survived on the wild cattle that roamed the plains of La Pampa in central Argentina. They ate so much beef that they became masters at slow-roasting meat so it stayed juicy, tender, and very flavorful.

Today, asado in Argentina means so much more than just the meal itself. Similar to South African braai, meats are roasted for hours giving friends and family the opportunity to socialize and enjoy each other’s company. Diners typically snack on smaller dishes like empanadas, provoleta with chimichurri, and choripán while waiting for the meats to cook. To Argentinians, asado is a social event and an important symbol of their culture and heritage.

Photo by ermess

Asado is bound by tradition in Argentina so even the order in which the meat is cooked needs to be respected. Less “noble” parts of the animal like the offal are grilled first while the best parts are saved for last.

Chorizo sausages, morcillas (blood sausage), and achuras (offal) are typically grilled first at an asado along with thin cuts of meat like matambre (flank steak) and entraña (skirt steak).

These are then followed by the choicest cuts like bife de chorizo (sirloin), bife ancho (ribeye), bife de costilla (porterhouse), and lomo (tenderloin). They’re slow-cooked to perfection and eaten with chimichurri and salsa criolla along with a variety of salads and side dishes.

If you eat like a bird, then an asado probably isn’t for you. Several kilograms of meat are roasted at a typical asado with about 800 grams being apportioned to every man and 600 grams to every woman. ¡Buen provecho!

Photo by [email protected]

6. Alfajor

If you have a sweet tooth, then you’re going to love alfajores, a must-try Argentinian cookie sandwich popular throughout Latin America, Spain, and the Philippines. It’s especially popular in Uruguay, Peru, and Argentina where it’s considered a national dish.

Alfajores come in many shapes and sizes but it typically consists of two round shortbread cookies filled with dulce de leche. They’re traditionally dusted with powdered sugar but they can be glazed or covered in grated coconut or chocolate as well. Alfajores are so popular in Argentina that the country is estimated to consume over a billion of these delicious cookie sandwiches a year!

Argentina may be the world’s largest consumer of alfajores but the title for the world’s biggest alfajor goes to Uruguay. According to Guinness World Records, the record-setting cookie measured almost 2 meters in diameter (6.6 ft), 80 centimeters in height (31.5 in), and weighed in at a whopping 464 kilograms (1,023 lbs).

Photo by lenyvavsha

STARTERS / SOUPS / SIDES

7. Humita

Humitas are an ancient Andean food that pre-dates the Hispanic period. They’re consumed in many countries throughout South America like Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. In Argentina, they’re common in the Salta and Jujuy regions of northwest Argentina.

Recipes for humitas vary from country to country but in Argentina, they’re typically made from a dough consisting of fresh corn, sautéed onions, and spices. Depending on the region, they can be made with other ingredients as well like red peppers, pumpkin, tomatoes, milk, cheese, and spring onions. Like tamales, the dough is wrapped in corn husks and then boiled or steamed.

Photo by Blinovita

8. Tamales Salteños

Tamales are a traditional Mesoamerican dish that’s popular in the cuisines of many countries throughout Latin America. In Argentina, a version known as tamales salteños is popular in the northwest region of the country, mainly in Salta, Jujuy, and Tucumán.

Tamales salteños are made with fresh corn husks filled with a mixture of corn flour, minced meat, and other ingredients like squash, onions, peppers, garlic, pimentón, and hard-boiled eggs. The corn husks are tied on both ends and then cooked in boiling water.

Photo by Gonzalo Rivero, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

9. Provoleta

It’s pretty clear that Argentinians love grilled meat. As it turns out, they enjoy grilled cheese as well. Provoleta refers to the Argentinian version of provolone cheese. It’s a staple side dish at asados and is always eaten grilled, usually with crushed red chili and oregano sprinkled on top.

Provoleta was invented out of a desire to fuse Argentinian and Italian cuisines. It was invented by Don Natalio Alba, a native Calabrian who settled in Argentina and worked in the dairy industry. Because Argentina has a large population of Italian descent, he wanted to introduce a typically Italian dish into the asado, and so was born the Italian version of provolone cheese known as provoleta.

Small discs of provoleta are seasoned with chili and oregano before being placed on the grill. As it cooks, the cheese melts inside but holds its shape. When ready, the provoleta is eaten communally with chimichurri and bread at the start of an asado.

Photo by info.galofernandez.com

10. Chimichurri

When you think of Argentinian condiments, chimichurri is the first that comes to mind. It refers to an uncooked green sauce (chimichurri verde) made with finely chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. It’s typically used as a table condiment with grilled meats or as an ingredient that’s basted onto meat as it cooks.

Photo by mejikyc

This classic Argentinian condiment comes in two versions – chimichurri verde (green) and chimichurri rojo (red). In addition to the standard ingredients like chopped parsley, garlic, and olive oil, chimichurri rojo is made with paprika and sometimes ripe tomatoes and red bell peppers. They impart a savory and spicy kick and give the sauce its characteristic red color.

Like chimichurri verde, chimichurri rojo is often paired with grilled meat and other Argentine dishes like seafood, roasted vegetables, and empanadas.

Photo by fanfon

BREADS

11. Chipa

Chipa refers to a small cheese-flavored roll popular in the cuisines of Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. A traditional bread of the indigenous Guaraní people, it’s typically eaten for breakfast or as a snack and commonly sold as street food in Argentina.

Traditionally, chipas were made with just cassava flour but the arrival of livestock with the Spanish colonists introduced other ingredients to the recipe like cheese and eggs. Today, you’ll find Argentinian chipas made with different types of cheese and fillings like ham, vegetables, or ground meat.

If you ride the bus often in Argentina, then you may find vendors selling warm chipa in large baskets. If you’re really hungry, then I suggest buying twelve, because they’re chipa by the dozen. Sorry.

Photo by hdcaputo

12. Medialunas

Who doesn’t love croissants? These light and flaky French pastries are a favorite breakfast item on many tables around the world, including Argentina. Meaning “half moon” in Spanish, medialunas are the Argentinian version of croissants, a soft crescent roll that’s slightly smaller and a bit sweeter than the French original.

Medialunas in Argentina come in two traditional varieties – larger versions made with butter and smaller rolls made with lard. Both can be served plain or with a rum and sugar glaze on top.

Medialunas are typically eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with yerba mate. They can be eaten as is or paired with sweet condiments like dulce de leche, jam, or chocolate spread.

Photo by Wirestock

MEATS / MAINS

13. Cordero Patagónico al Asador

Traveleaters with a taste for lamb will want to spend time in the provinces of Santa Cruz and Chubut in southern Argentina. Thanks to its favorable climate and abundance of natural grazing pastures, it’s home to a thriving sheep population, and subsequently, the best lamb dishes.

Cordero patagónico al asador is a Patagonian specialty of lamb roasted over an open fire. A whole lamb is butterflied and attached to a cross-shaped iron support where it’s slow-roasted next to a fire. Known as “a la cruz”, it’s a cooking method that was devised by gauchos to roast entire carcasses of meat. They’d cook the animal with its skin on (asado con cuero) to keep the meat as juicy as possible.

As the meat cooks, it’s basted with a mixture of garlic, salt, water, and various herbs and spices like rosemary, oregano, and bay leaves. The slow-roasting process results in lamb meat that’s crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. It’s delicious and an absolute must-try in Argentina.

Photo by erlantzperezr.gmail.com

14. Puchero

Puchero is a Spanish stew that’s become popular in the cuisines of many countries like Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Peru. It’s essentially the Latin American equivalent to Spanish or Portuguese cozido, but made without colorants like paprika and using whatever local ingredients were available.

In Argentina, puchero is typically made with beef and other ingredients like potatoes, corn, carrots, onions, squash, cabbage, chorizo, pork belly, and bacon. It’s a hearty and comforting stew that’s usually reserved for the colder months.

Photo by lenyvavsha

15. Fugazza

Fugazza is another Argentinian dish influenced by Italian cuisine. Similar in texture to Genovese focaccia, you can think of it as a type of Argentinian pizza made with a thick sourdough crust and without tomato sauce. It’s topped with a copious amount of caramelized onions and oregano and other ingredients like olives, artichokes, and grated parmesan cheese.

Fugazza is said to have been invented by a Genovese-Argentinian pizzaiolo named Juan Banchero sometime in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He sold it from a pizza shop in Buenos Aires bearing his name – Banchero. It’s still open to this day.

Be sure to try fugazzetta as well, a variation of fugazza made with mozzarella sandwiched between two layers of dough.

Photo by Neo139, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

16. Ravioles

From the name alone, it’s obvious what this next dish is. Ravioles is the Argentinian version of Italian ravioli, a hugely popular pasta dish made with stuffed parcels of thin pasta dough. Like milanesa, it’s a type of quickly prepared meal in Argentina that became known collectively as minutas or “short-order dishes”.

Pictured below is a plate of ravioles smothered in chimichurri and olive oil.

Photo by ezumeimages

17. Canelones

Like ravioles, it isn’t hard to guess what inspired this next dish. Canelones are the Argentinian equivalent of the Italian cannelloni, a cylindrical type of baked pasta dish filled with various ingredients like ricotta, spinach, and minced beef. It’s very similar to the Italian original except its made with crepes instead of pasta sheets.

Photo by tastyfood

DESSERTS / DRINKS

18. Dulce de Leche

If you have a fondness for sweets, then you’re probably familiar with dulce de leche, the famous Argentinian confection made with caramelized milk. Popular throughout the country and in many parts of Latin America, it’s typically used as a filling or spread for pastries like alfajores and torta rogel.

Dulce de leche is made by slowly simmering sugar and milk for several hours until it thickens and turns a rich golden brown color. Milk and sugar are the basic components but other ingredients like vanilla may be added as well.

Dulce de leche is easy on the taste buds and hard not to like. Aside from being used as a filling for alfajores in Argentina, it’s also paired with many other pastries and desserts like cakes, churros, flan mixto, waffles, ice cream, and medialunas.

Photo by MKPK

According to legend, this delicious Argentine spread was invented by accident. In 1829, opposing civil war leaders Juan Manuel de Rosas and Juan Lavalle decided to call a truce. Rosas invited Lavalle to his ranch to discuss the terms of the pact. Tired from the journey, Lavalle laid down to rest on a cot where Rosas normally slept.

Meanwhile, one of Rosas’ servants was busy preparing lechada, a drink of hot milk and sugar that was usually taken with yerba mate. When the servant went to Rosas’ tent to serve the mate, she was startled to find Lavalle sleeping on the cot.

Unaware of the planned meeting between the two leaders, she panicked and alerted the troops to the presence of Lavalle, leaving the lechada unattended on the stove. When she came back, she found the thick and gooey spread we now know today as dulce de leche.

Photo by magone

19. Rogel

If you like alfajores, then you’re going to love rogel. Also known as torta rogel or alfajor rogel due to its similarity to the beloved cookies, it refers to a traditional Argentinian dessert made with thin layers of crunchy cookie biscuits held together with dulce de leche.

Similar to a mille-feuille, rogel is traditionally made with eight layers of biscuits topped with Italian meringue. What makes this dessert unique is that the cookie dough is made with egg yolks which impart a characteristic crunchiness to the biscuits.

The exact origins of the dish are unclear but one story claims that it was invented by a married couple from Buenos Aires in the 1960s. The woman’s name was Rogelia which is where the dessert got its name. Regardless of where it’s from, it’s a beloved pastry and a common sight at many Argentinian gatherings.

Photo by scottiebumich

20. Pastelitos Criollos

Pastelitos criollos are deep-fried Argentinian snacks made with puff pastry and a filling of quince (dulce de membrillo) or sweet potato paste (dulce de batata). When submerged in hot oil, the puff pastry separates into many layers which is what gives the snack its characteristic floral appearance. The pastries are fried till crispy and then brushed with a sugar glaze.

Pastelitos criollos are enjoyed year-round but like locro, they gain special significance during the May 25th anniversary of the Argentine Revolution. On May 25, 1810, women selling baskets of pastelitos circulated around the government house in Buenos Aires while people waited for an important announcement to be made. Later that day, a new local government was established, setting Argentina on the path towards independence from Spain.

From that day, pastelitos have become inextricably linked to the anniversary celebrations of the May Revolution.

Photo by gabrielabertolini

21. Pionono

A pionono is a type of rolled cake originally from the town of Santa Fe, just west of Granada. It’s a thin, soft, and airy sponge cake made with flour, eggs, and sugar. The cake can be filled with any number of ingredients – both sweet and savory – and then rolled up into cylindrical form.

The Spanish version of pionono is a small pastry that doesn’t contain any fillings. It’s rolled up into a bite-sized cylinder before being drenched with syrup and topped with toasted cream. In Latin American countries however, piononos are larger and filled with a variety of different ingredients.

Dulce de leche, chantilly cream, and sliced fruits are common fillings for Argentine sweet piononos while savory versions are typically filled with tuna, smoked salmon, ham, turkey, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and olives. The roll is still sweet so savory piononos have an interesting sweet/savory flavor profile Argentinians like to call agri-dulce.

Photo by jantroyka

Pictured below is a type of savory pionono filled with a variety of different ingredients. Known locally as arrollado primavera, it’s a common sight on holiday tables in Argentina.

Photo by erlantzperezr.gmail.com

22. Panqueque de Dulce de Leche

This simple but comforting dessert is yet another testament to the Argentinians’ love for dulce de leche. As its name suggests, panqueue de dulce de leche is a rolled crepe pancake filled with a generous amount of that beloved caramel spread.

Photo by Damianchiappe

23. Flan Mixto

Flan mixto is the Argentinian version of creme caramel or custard flan. It’s a popular dessert often made at home or served at Argentinian restaurants, usually with a dollop of whipped cream and dulce de leche.

The flan is delicious enough on its own, but pairing it with dulce de leche and whipped cream is like a sweet and creamy explosion on your taste buds.

Photo by tomycoudures

24. Postre Vigilante

Postre vigilante is an easy-to-make Argentinian dessert consisting of a thick slice of cheese topped with a jelly-like fruit paste (dulce). Like pastelitos, dulce made from quince or sweet potatoes are commonly used though it can be made with other ingredients as well like elderberry, raspberry, pumpkin, and cactus.

It’s said that this dessert was invented in the 1920s by a Buenos Aires cantina frequented by police officers. “Vigilante” was a colloquial word for police officers hence the dessert’s name.

Photo by Wirestock

25. Mate

Mate is a type of herbal tea made from the leaves of the yerba mate plant. Widely consumed in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, it’s made by steeping the leaves of the plant in hot water. When prepared with cold water and ice, it’s known as tereré.

The preparation and consumption of yerba mate is steeped in ritual. It’s traditionally prepared by filling a hollowed-out gourd or container with dry yerba mate leaves and hot water. When ready, friends and family share the same container and drink from the same wooden or metal straw called a bombilla.

The brewer of the mate passes the gourd to each person, usually in a circle. The recipient gives thanks, takes a sip, and then passes the gourd back to the brewer. The brewer refills the gourd before passing it on to the next person in a clockwise order.

Infused with caffeine, yerba mate is especially popular in the mornings. It’s so popular that Argentinians will often gather to drink mate much in the same way that people meet for coffee or tea.

Pro Tip: NEVER stir the mate with the bombilla. This is considered a cultural faux pas in Argentina, one that many foreigners apparently often make.

Photo by marcinm111

ARGENTINE FOOD TOURS

It’s fun exploring the local cuisine on your own, but if you’d like to really learn about the different foods in Argentina, then you may want to go on a guided tour. Simply put, no one knows Argentine food better than a local so what better way to experience the best of Argentinian cuisine than by going on a food tour?

A knowledgeable guide will take you to the city’s best restaurants, markets, and street food stalls and explain all the dishes to you in more detail. Check out Get Your Guide for a list of Argentine food tours in Buenos Aires and in other cities throughout the country.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FOOD IN ARGENTINA

There are so many reasons to visit Argentina. It’s the birthplace of tango and a mecca for football. It’s produced global icons like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Eva Perón. Patagonia offers fantastic hiking opportunities while Iguazu Falls is frequently cited for being one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls.

And as evidenced by this list, it’s not such a bad destination for food and wine lovers either. Asado may be the most famous but it’s just one part of the rich tapestry that is Argentinian cuisine.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this Argentine food guide are affiliate links. If you make a booking, then we’ll earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as it helps us make more of these free travel and food guides. Gracias!

Cover photo by lenyvavsha. Stock images via Depositphotos.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Traveleater Sep Simborio shares with us ten of the most delicious traditional dishes to try on your next visit to Albania.

Planning a trip to Europe can be a bit challenging with all the gorgeous countries to visit. As a Traveleater, it’s a must to tick the more popular countries off the list. But once the attention is shifted to the in-betweens, that’s where the trip could be a lot more interesting.

Sure, France, Italy, Spain, and Greece are on the top of that list for their stunning views and downright delicious food. But for the more adventurous, their neighboring countries in the Balkans are worth a visit. They’re such pleasant surprises if one just goes “off the beaten path,” so to speak.

One of the underrated countries to visit for another epic gastronomic quest is nestled between Greece and the azure waters of Italy. Albania, a country with a captivating history, natural beauty, and eccentricity waiting at every corner, is an attractive option for epicureans looking to elevate their palatal experience.

ALBANIAN FOOD QUICK LINKS

If you’re planning a trip to Albania and want to really dive into the cuisine, then you may be interested in joining a food tour.

TOURS

• Food Tours: Food and Wine/Drinking Tours in Albania

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Photo by lenyvavsha

WHAT IS TRADITIONAL ALBANIAN FOOD?

From its location on the map, traditional Albanian food is largely a Mediterranean cuisine with roots dating back to the ancient Ottoman Empire. The combination of its fertile soil, long coastline, and cultural influences from its neighboring countries have given rise to modern Albanian cuisine that’s simple yet diverse.

But when it comes to traditional Albanian food, fruits, vegetables, grilled meat dishes, grilled fish, and fresh seafood are typically served along with the abundant use of olive oil. Garlic and onions are the most widely used ingredients in Albanian cooking while different types of meat often make their way into many dishes.

When it comes to regional Albanian cuisine, the country is divided into three – the north, central, and south – and ingredients are primarily based on the area, climate, and land where the produce is grown.

POPULAR ALBANIAN FOODS

Arguably one of the most underrated countries in Europe when it comes to food, Albania is a country worth visiting to satiate that palate. Here are some of the best traditional foods that Albanian cuisine has to offer.

1. Tarator

After a long night of throwing back raki in Albania, mornings can be rough. A good hangover remedy is a refreshing bowl of tarator.

Tarator is essentially cold cucumber and yogurt soup. It also has dill, salt, and garlic added to the mix to elevate the flavor. One of the easiest ways to enjoy this traditional dish is with a side of feta cheese, grilled vegetables, and fresh bread. Fruits, olives, nuts, and hummus with pita bread also go well with it.

Photo by voltan1

2. Dolma

Dolma is a dish of Ottoman origin that means “to stuff” in Turkish. It’s a typical dish popular in many Balkan countries, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Essentially, dolmas are stuffed grape leaves that can be served cold or warm. The traditional dolma recipe involves meat fillings and is served warm with garlic-flavored yogurt sauce. Local traditional restaurants in Albania will often serve them as part of larger meze platters with cured meats, hard-boiled eggs, cheeses, and pickled vegetables.

Also known as japrak, Albanian dolma uses cabbage if there are no vine leaves available and is stuffed with minced lamb meat, rice, onions, herbs, and seasoning. The rolls are simmered until tender and commonly served with cold yogurt soup.

Photo by ezumeimages

Have you seen those bell peppers stuffed with rice? Aside from dishes wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves, dolma can also refer to dishes made from hollowed-out and stuffed peppers, onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables.

Bell peppers stuffed with rice is one of the most common but pictured below is kungulleshka të mbushura, a type of Albanian dolma made with zucchini stuffed with feta cheese, egg, and spices.

Photo by fanfon

3. Qifqi

Gjirokaster is a lovely southern Albanian town well-known for two things – one, its old town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and two, it’s the home of qifqi – rice balls fried in olive oil. Qifqi is hard to find anywhere else in Albania making it one of the most interesting and typical Albanian dishes imaginable.

Qifqi is made with boiled rice that’s shaped into balls or spheres. They’re held together by eggs, seasoned, and then fried in olive oil which gives the dish a distinct and delicious flavor. Occasionally, cheese is known to be added.

Resembling risotto balls, this delicious savory finger food is one of the most interesting vegetarian dishes in Albania. It’s sure to hit the spot when you’re looking for a quick, tasty meal in Gjirokaster.

Photo by shinylion

4. Byrek

A Traveleater never leaves a country without indulging in street food. If it were the street food Olympics, Albania would have byrek as one of its Olympians. It’s one of the most popular Albanian foods and a must-try in Tirana.

Also known as borek, burek, bourekas, or lakror, byrek is a family of baked or fried stuffed pastries made of thin flaky dough called yufka or phyllo (filo pastry). It’s such a popular food in many Balkan countries that each country has its own version of this delectable pie.

Albanian byrek is often filled with savory ingredients, with spinach the most common. In the city capital of Tirana, cheese and eggs are options, with meat and sweet pumpkin also a choice filling. The final form could be one big pie cut into smaller pieces before serving, or smaller triangular pieces commonly sold by street vendors.

Photo by Wirestock

5. Fergese

This rustic dish in a rich tomato sauce is a national dish and one of Albania’s most traditional foods. Fergese is a very popular local dish made with bell peppers, tomatoes, and salted cottage cheese (feta cheese can be used as a substitute). It originated in the country’s capital of Tirana and is widely consumed in central Albania.

This traditional dish is made by sauteing the bell peppers and tomatoes while butter and flour are mixed to make a roux with melted cottage cheese set over it. All the ingredients are combined and seasoned in a clay pot before baking in an oven. Once it has slightly cooled down, the dish is ready to serve with a side of homemade baked bread.

Another version of fergese is made by adding chopped liver and garlic to the tomato sauce. The vegetarian version is usually prepared as a side dish while the meaty variant is served as the main course. You can often find this typical Albanian dish at countryside restaurants that serve traditional food.

Photo by fanfon

6. Tavë Kosi

Tavë kosi is one of Albania’s national dishes. It has a rich history, thanks to the Ottoman Empire, that greatly influenced Albania’s cuisine.

The Islamic traditions of the country’s occupying rulers prompted Albanians to adjust their customs. As a result, lamb became the staple meat in place of forbidden pork, giving rise to tavë kosi – a delicious and very traditional Albanian casserole dish.

Today, tavë kosi is one of the most popular Albanian foods. The dish’s translated name gives away the recipe – tavë in English means “casserole,” and kos refers to goat or ewe milk yogurt. Other base ingredients such as eggs and rice make up the dish with garlic and oregano added for more flavor.

The lamb meat is mixed with the rice and topped with creamy flavored yogurt sauce. It’s baked in the oven till golden brown and commonly served hot with a side dish of vegetable salad. Tavë kosi is a delicious and very filling meal that’s sure to satisfy any appetite.

Photo by lenyvavsha

7. Petulla

Who doesn’t like doughnuts? Children around the world cannot resist the allure of this delicious fried dough treat during snack time, which is also the case for many police officers.

Albania also has its own traditional version of this chewy, fried dough snack that kids learn to prepare with their parents as an afternoon treat called petulla. They’re also commonly sold at food stands throughout Tirana.

Petulla is the Albanian version of fried dough and can be eaten sweet with powdered sugar, just like donuts, or savory with feta cheese. It’s a popular dish eaten not just in Albania, but in many countries throughout the Balkans.

Photo by allasimacheva

8. Trilece

From the name itself, trilece is essentially a cake made of three kinds of milk and topped with caramel. It’s a delightfully light Albanian dessert that’s popular across Europe.

Similar to tres leches, trilece appears as a simple cake, but one bite of its melt-in-the-mouth goodness reveals its mystery. It has a light, airy texture with a creamy and sweet combination due to the eggs, milk, and caramel. If you happen to walk by an Albanian pastry shop in Tirana, then you need to walk in and try this dessert.

While the modern version has many iterations due to the different combinations of milk and dairy products used, the classic version of this sweet dessert is made with goat milk, cow milk, and buffalo milk.

Photo by Alp_Aksoy

9. Kadaif

Another delicious dessert on this list is kadaif, a sweet and crispy traditional food in Albania made of shredded phyllo dough. It’s also a popular Middle Eastern and Turkish dessert where some kadaif recipes use cheese. However, Albanian kadaif calls for chopped walnuts sprinkled with vanilla sugar and baked to perfection.

Photo by eskymaks

10. Boza

All these mouthwatering traditional Albanian dishes deserve a delicious drink to wash everything down, and that beverage is boza.

Boza is an ancient drink that first came to be in Mesopotamia around 10,000 to 11,000 years ago. The invading Turks later introduced it to the Balkans. Derived from the Persian word buze, which means millet, the early version of the drink was sour and contained small amounts of alcohol. This evolved to the sweet non-alcoholic Albanian boza that’s popular across the country.

This thick Albanian malt drink is made by fermenting grains such as corn, barley, millet, wheat. It’s served either hot or cold. Most first-time drinkers may be surprised and say it’s an acquired taste, but this drink won’t last for millennia if it isn’t good.

Photo by stoyanh

ALBANIAN FOOD TOURS

It goes without saying that no one knows Albanian food better than a local, so what better way to experience the best of Albanian culture and cuisine than by going on a guided food tour?

A food-obsessed local will take you to the city’s best spots so all you have to do is follow, listen, and eat. Check out Get Your Guide for a list of Albanian food tours in Tirana and other cities throughout the country.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON ALBANIAN FOOD

Albania has never looked more enticing after going through this Albanian food guide. There are so many exciting flavors to experience in Albanian gastronomy. Perhaps it’s time to book a trip and experience what this “less popular” country can offer. It’s like an underdog winning a gold medal.

Delicious, historical, and perfect for the curious Traveleater – this is how one could describe a gastronomic adventure to this underrated country in the Balkans. See the stunning sights of Albania and let the country tell its fascinating story through its delectable cuisine.

Disclosure

Some of the links in this Albanian food guide are affiliate links. If you make a booking, then we’ll make a small commission at no extra expense to you. As always, we only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as it helps us make more of these free travel and food guides. Thank you!

Cover photo by lenyvavsha. Stock images via Depositphotos.

We travel for food so when I think of Fukuoka, three things immediately come to mind – tonkotsu ramen, yatai stalls, and motsunabe. They’re three of my favorite things about this city that’s regarded by many as the gateway into Kyushu.

To be honest, Fukuoka isn’t my favorite city in Japan. I don’t find it as exciting as Tokyo or Osaka or as charming as Kyoto or Kanazawa but what it does have, is amazing food. In fact, a Japanese friend of mine told me that it’s one of three cities that Japanese people like to visit when they travel for food, the other two being Nagoya and Hiroshima.

Food tops the list of our favorite things to do in Fukuoka but there’s enough to do in this city to merit a short stay. If you’ll be visiting Fukuoka, even for just a day, then this comprehensive Fukuoka travel guide will tell you all you need to know to plan your trip.

VISIT FUKUOKA QUICK LINKS

This travel guide to Fukuoka is long. For your convenience, I’ve compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here.

HOTELS

Top-rated hotels in Nakasu, one of the best areas to stay for first-time visitors to Fukuoka.

• Luxury: Grand Hyatt Fukuoka
• Midrange: The OneFive Villa Fukuoka
• Budget: Hotel Hakata Nakasu Inn

TOURS

• Sightseeing Tour: Downtown & Street Shopping Tour
• Tea Tasting: Japanese Tea Tasting Experience in Fukuoka
• Sake Tasting: Sake Tasting Experience in Fukuoka with Obanzai

OTHER SERVICES

• Visa Services
• Travel Insurance with COVID cover (WFFF readers get 5% off)
• Airport Transfers
• Japan Rail Pass

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GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fukuoka Travel Restrictions Japan Visa Fukuoka at a Glance Best Time to Visit Fukuoka Traveling to Fukuoka Where to Exchange Currency Best Area to Stay in Fukuoka Places to Visit in Fukuoka Things to Do in Fukuoka Day Trips from Fukuoka Japanese Food Guide Where to Eat in Fukuoka Points of Interest in Fukuoka (Map) How to Get Around in Fukuoka How Many Days to Stay / Fukuoka Itinerary Fukuoka Travel Tips

FUKUOKA TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Due to the current global situation, Fukuoka travel guidelines have been changing very often. Our partners at Booking.com created a website that lists detailed information on travel restrictions and advisories around the globe.

Before planning a trip to Fukuoka, be sure to check Booking.com for information on travel restrictions to Japan. If you do decide to visit Fukuoka, then it’s highly recommended that you get travel insurance with COVID coverage.

JAPAN VISA

Depending on your passport, you may need to secure a visa and other travel documents to visit Fukuoka and Japan. Check out iVisa.com to learn about the requirements and to apply for a visa (if necessary).

If you’re a Philippine passport holder residing in Manila, then check out our guide on how to apply for a Japan tourist visa for a step-by-step process.

FUKUOKA AT A GLANCE

Fukuoka is Kyushu’s biggest city and the capital of Fukuoka prefecture. Bordered by the Sea of Japan, it’s been an important harbor city for centuries thanks to its proximity to the Asian mainland. Geographically, it’s closer to Seoul than it is to Tokyo.

Located on the northern shore of Kyushu, Fukuoka is home to one of the busiest international airports in Japan. It’s a convenient entry point for people looking to explore the island of Kyushu and the rest of Japan. Kyushu is made up of eight prefectures, seven on the main island – Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Saga, Oita, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki – plus Okinawa to the south.

As described, Fukuoka is famous for its food. It’s the birthplace of tonkotsu or Hakata ramen – one of the most popular types of ramen in Japan – and it has the largest number of yatai or Japanese street food stalls in the country. So popular are yatai in Fukuoka that they’ve become an iconic symbol of the city.

BEST TIME TO VISIT FUKUOKA

Like many cities in Japan, Fukuoka is largely a year-round destination. You should have a pleasant time no matter when you go but spring and autumn are typically the best times to visit Fukuoka.

DEC-FEB: Because of its southern location, Fukuoka and the rest of Kyushu is warmer than other parts of Japan. It experiences mild winters with temperatures rarely dropping below 0°C. I’ve been to Fukuoka twice in winter and needed little more than a quilted jacket. If you don’t mind cooler temperatures, then winter isn’t a bad time to visit Fukuoka.

MAR-MAY: Because of the cherry blossoms, spring is one of the most popular times to visit Japan. Temperatures are mild and days are sunny and dry. If your goal is to catch the cherry blossoms, then aim to visit Fukuoka around late March to early April. I suggest avoiding Golden Week (end of April to early May) as this is peak season for domestic travel in Japan.

JUN-SEPT: Summers are hot and humid in Japan. In Fukuoka, expect thunderstorms in August and September and plenty of rain in June and July. If you dnon’t enjoy too much heat and humidity, then it’s best to avoid these months if you can.

OCT-NOV: Like spring, fall is one of the best times to visit Japan. The weather is mild and the autumn foliage is lovely, especially around late October to mid-November. For me, this is the best time to visit Fukuoka.

Climate: Annual Monthly Weather in Fukuoka

Check out climatestotravel.com for more on Fukuoka’s weather. For your convenience, I’ve created the average temperature and annual rainfall graphs below. Suggested months to visit are indicated in orange.

Average Temperature

Annual Rainfall

TRAVELING TO FUKUOKA

From Fukuoka Airport

People arriving in Fukuoka by air will be landing at Fukuoka Airport (FUK), which is conveniently located within the city. From the airport, there are several ways to get to Hakata Station or Tenjin Station in downtown Fukuoka.

BY TRAIN: Traveling by train is the fastest and most convenient way of getting to downtown Fukuoka from the airport. Hakata Station is just two stops away while Tenjin Station is five stops from the airport.

BY BUS: Nishi-Nippon Railroad operates a bus that runs between Fukuoka Airport and Hakata and Tenjin stations. From Hakata Station, the ride takes around 18 minutes. From Tenjin Station, it’ll be around 33 minutes.

BY TAXI: Traveling by taxi is convenient but it’s also more expensive. A taxi ride from Fukuoka Airport to your hotel will run you around JPY 2,000.

BY PRIVATE/SHARED TRANSFER: Like taxis, private transfers are convenient but pricier. You can arrange for one in advance through Klook or Get Your Guide.

From Other Parts of Japan

If you’re already in Japan, the you can take a train to Fukuoka. Check out hyperdia.com for train routes and schedules.

If you’re planning on doing a multi-city tour of Japan, then you may be interested in getting a JR Pass. It’ll give you unlimited use of all JR trains for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days. You can purchase JR passes through Klook or Japan Rail Pass.

WHERE TO EXCHANGE CURRENCY

The unit of currency in Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY).

BANKS / POST OFFICES: Banks and post offices have traditionally been the most reliable places to exchange currency in Japan. However, it usually involves a bit of paperwork so the process can take some time, up to 30 minutes or so.

KINKEN SHOPS: Kinken shops are small stores that buy and sell unused event tickets. Some also exchange currency and usually offer competitive rates. I haven’t exchanged currency at a kinken shop in Fukuoka but you can usually find them clustered around major metro stations.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE MACHINES: I exchanged foreign currency through one of these machines in Nagasaki once and I haven’t forgotten it. It was so quick and easy. It looks like an ATM but you insert your foreign currency and out comes the JPY equivalent. I haven’t seen one in Fukuoka but you may be able to find them at busy commercial and tourist areas.

ATM MACHINES: This is my preferred method of acquiring JPY. Not only are rates competitive, but it saves me from the trouble of having to bring too much foreign currency into Japan. I suggest informing your bank that you plan on using your ATM card in Japan. That way they don’t flag any transactions. In my experience, my ATM card works best at convenience store and post office ATMs.

TIP: When withdrawing JPY from an ATM, the machine may ask if you’d like to proceed “with or without conversion”. Never proceed with conversion because doing so will authorize the bank operating the ATM to do the conversion for you, usually at terrible rates. From what I’ve read, the difference in rates can be as high as 10%.

BEST AREAS TO STAY IN FUKUOKA

Fukuoka is a big city but most of its top attractions are located in a relatively compact area. For convenience, first-time visitors should look for accommodations in Tenjin, Nakasu, or around Hakata Station.

I’ve created the color-coded map below to help you understand where these recommended areas are. Click on the link for a live version of the map. (Please note that marked areas are approximations only)

RED – Around Hakata Station
GREEN – Nakasu
PURPLE – Tenjin

AROUND HAKATA STATION

Hakata Station is the main station in Fukuoka and a convenient area to stay for first-time visitors to the city.  Aside from the train and bus stations, it’s where you’ll find some of Fukuoka’s top tourist attractions like Kushida Shrine, Sumiyoshi Shrine, and Canal City Hakata.

On our first trip to Fukuoka many years ago, we only spent the night and had an early bus to catch the next morning so we needed to stay as close as possible to Hakata Station.  Located in a shopping arcade, Fukuoka Hana Hostel is a hostel with a few private rooms.  Not the nicest place but it was cheap and conveniently located.

You can book a room at Fukuoka Hana Hostel on booking.com. or Agoda. If you’d like to stay close to Hakata Station but don’t think this is the right place for you, then check these links for alternate listings in the area: booking.com | Agoda. Here are a few of the top-rated hotels around Hakata Station:

• Luxury: Miyako Hotel Hakata
• Midrange: THE BLOSSOM HAKATA Premier
• Budget: Enzo Fukuoka

NAKASU

Nakasu refers to a district on a small island in Hakata Ward.  It’s a lively entertainment quarter filled with nightclubs, restaurants, izakayas, and karaoke bars.  It’s home to the original branch of the Ichiran ramen shop and the most popular cluster of yatai food stalls.  Of all the areas I’ve stayed at so far in Fukuoka, Nakasu is my favorite.

The Millennials Fukuoka is the COOLEST hostel I’ve ever stayed at. It’s a chain of modern and stylish capsule hotels with branches in Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Kyoto.  It’ll take an entire post to describe all the cool things about this hotel so just check out their website for more pictures and information.  When I was there, they offered daily happy hour with FREE beer and margaritas for guests.  Need I say more?

You can book a pod at the Millennials Fukuoka on booking.com or Agoda. If you’d like to stay in the area but don’t think the Millennials Fukuoka is the right place for you, then you can check booking.com for alternate listings. Check out some of the top-rated hotels in Nakasu:

• Luxury: Grand Hyatt Fukuoka
• Midrange: The OneFive Villa Fukuoka
• Budget: Hotel Hakata Nakasu Inn

TENJIN

Tenjin is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Fukuoka. It’s a well-known shopping area with lots of restaurants, cafes, bars, and nightlife options. If you’re young and like to party, then Tenjin is probably where you’ll want to stay. You can search for accommodations in Tenjin on booking.com or Agoda. Check out some of the top-rated hotels in the area:

• Luxury: Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Fukuoka
• Midrange: Richmond Hotel Tenjin Nishi-Dori
• Budget: Nishi Nakasu apartment 301

You can also book hotels and homestays in Fukuoka using the handy map below.

PLACES TO VISIT IN FUKUOKA

Listed below are a few of the city’s top tourist attractions. For more suggestions, be sure to check out our guide on the most popular things to do in Fukuoka.

1. Ohori Park

Ohori Park is a spacious public park featuring the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and a large pond that used to be part of the castle’s moat system. Ohori in Japanese means “moat”.

Unfortunately, not much of the castle remains except for a few walls and lookout points but the pond is a great place to take a stroll on sunny days. You can also visit Ohori Park Japanese Garden and the Fukuoka Art Museum which are both located on the eastern side of the pond. Admission is JPY 250 and JPY 200 respectively but entrance to the park is free.

You can easily visit Ohori Park on your own but if you’d like to go on a guided tour, then you can book one through Get Your Guide. They offer several city tours that make stops at Ohori Park.

Photo by jacky-kou via Shutterstock

Suggested Length of Visit: 1-2 hrs
Admission: FREE to the general park area
Nearest MRT Station: Ohori Park (Fukuoka Art Museum) Station

2. Kushida Shrine

Kushida Shrine is one of the most important Shinto shrines in the city. It was built in 757 and regarded by locals as the temple guardian of Fukuoka.

If you visit Fukuoka in July, then you’ll get to experience the biggest festival in the city – Yamakasa Gion Matsuri. It features large elaborately decorated floats measuring up to 10 meters tall and weighing over a ton. On the last day of the festival, hundreds of men representing Hakata’s neighborhoods compete in a race while carrying these giant floats. The largest of these floats are then put on display at Kushida Shrine until the next festival.

Kushida Shrine is about one kilometer northwest of Hakata Station. You can go on your own or visit the shrine as part of a guided city tour.

Photo by Nattee Chalermtiragool via Shutterstock

Suggested Length of Visit: 1 hr
Admission: FREE
Nearest MRT Station: Gion Station

3. teamLab Forest

We were lucky to visit teamLab Borderless in Tokyo before they permanently closed their doors in 2022. If you weren’t so lucky, then you’ll be pleased to learn that the popular art collective recently opened one of its newest projects in Fukuoka called teamLab Forest. Like Borderless, it’s an immersive digital art installation that aims to “navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, and the natural world.”

We’ve yet to visit teamLab Forest but I read that the space is divided into two main sections – “Catch and Collect Forest” and “Forest of Motion”. You can purchase tickets at the gate but it’s highly recommended that you purchase tickets in advance.

NOTE: The photo above is from teamLab Borderless in Tokyo.

Suggested Length of Visit: About 2-3 hrs
Admission: JPY 2,200
Nearest MRT Station: Tojinmachi Station

4. Fukuoka Tower

If you like lofty views, then you should visit Fukuoka Tower. At 234 meters tall (768 ft), it’s Japan’s tallest seaside tower and features an observation deck with 360° views from 123 meters (404 ft) above the ground.

Fukuoka Tower is located on the shore of Hakata Bay. The nearest metro station is about 1.5 km away so it’s best to catch a bus from Hakata Station. You can purchase tickets to the observatory at the door or in advance through Klook.

Photo by leungchopan via Depositphotos

Suggested Length of Visit: 1 hr
Admission: JPY 800
Nearest Bus Station: Fukuoka Tower Minamiguchi

THINGS TO DO IN FUKUOKA

1. Eat at a Yatai Stall

A yatai is the Japanese version of a street food stall. Street food isn’t as widespread in Japanese culture so these yatai stalls are one of the few times you can experience authentic street food in Japan.

You can find yatai in other Japanese cities but Fukuoka has the most, about 150 clustered in different parts of the city. The most popular cluster is in the southern end of Nakasu. You’ll find about twenty yatai attractively situated by the river. They’re a beloved symbol of Fukuoka and a great way to rub elbows with locals.

2. Go Shopping

If you enjoy shopping, then there are a few places where you can drop a few yen in Fukuoka. Canal City Hakata is the biggest shopping and entertainment complex in Fukuoka while Tenjin Chikagai is an underground shopping mall with about 150 shops and restaurants.

If you like bargain shopping, the you’re going to love Don Quijote (Donki for short). Similar to Daiso, it’s a popular chain of discount shops with over 160 outlets throughout Japan. They sell everything you can think of like cosmetics, snacks, electronics, household items, and souvenirs. Check the Don Quijote website for a list of branches in Fukuoka.

3. Take a Cooking Class

We enjoy taking cooking classes when we travel. For me, it’s one of the best ways to learn about an unfamiliar cuisine. Eating ramen is one thing but learning how to make it is another. I didn’t take one in Fukuoka but I did take a cooking class in Tokyo where I learned to make Japanese favorites like udon, tempura, and tamagoyaki. It was super fun.

If you’d like to take a cooking class in Fukuoka, then you can search through Cookly or byFood to find a class that suits you. You’ll have dozens to choose from.

Photo by bonchan via Shutterstock

DAY TRIPS FROM FUKUOKA

There may not be as much to do in Fukuoka as other Japanese cities like Kyoto or Tokyo but it makes for a good base to do day trips. Listed below are some of the easiest and most popular but check out our article on day trips from Fukuoka for more recommendations.

1. Nanzoin Temple

Nanzoin Temple is one of the most popular day trips destinations from Fukuoka. It’s a Buddhist temple that’s home to a giant reclining bronze Buddha statue measuring 41 meters long (135 ft), 11 meters high (36 ft), and weighing in at nearly 300 tons. It’s said to be the biggest bronze statue in the world.

To get to Nanzoin Temple, catch a train to Kido Nanzoin-mae Station. From there, it’s about a 3-minute walk to the temple. Admission to the temple is free but there’s a JPY 500 fee to enter the prayer room underneath the Buddha.

Photo by Thana Thanadechakul via Shutterstock

Travel Time: Around 30 mins

2. Dazaifu

The city of Dazaifu was once the administrative center of Kyushu. It no longer serves that role but it remains a key point of interest on the island with its many temples and shrines, none more important than Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. It’s also home to the Kyushu National Museum, a large museum that hosts collections of Japanese artefacts related to the history of Kyushu.

Dazaifu is about 45 minutes away so you can easily visit on your own by bus from Hakata Bus Terminal.

Photo by grandspy_photos via Shutterstock

Travel Time: Around 45 mins

3. Yanagawa

Yanagawa City is often referred to as the “city of water” or the “Venice of Kyushu” because of its famous network of canals totaling about 470 km (292 miles) in length. These canals were built for irrigation centuries ago but today, they’re used mainly to take tourists on cruises using boats propelled by boatmen with bamboo poles.

Aside from its canals, Yanagawa is also famous for a steamed eel dish known as unagi seiro mushi. Unagi and strips of egg are layered over rice then steamed together in a bamboo steamer.

You can get to Yanagawa in less than an hour by train but if you’d prefer to go on an organized tour, then you can book one through Klook. Some tours may include a boat ride and an unagi seiro mushi lunch.

Photo by Hiya Hiyo via Shutterstock

Travel Time: Around 50 mins

JAPANESE FOOD GUIDE

If I had to eat just one cuisine for the rest of my life, then it would definitely be Japanese. It’s my favorite cuisine in the world and a big reason why we love visiting this country. If you enjoy Japanese food as much as we do, then check out our Japanese food guide and Japanese dessert guide for a list of the best and most interesting dishes to try in Japan.

WHERE TO EAT IN FUKUOKA

Listed below are a few of my favorite restaurants in Fukuoka. Hakata ramen and motsunabe are must-try dishes but there are other regional specialties that you should look out for. Check out our Fukuoka food guide for a list of delicious dishes to eat in Fukuoka and where to try them.

1. Hakata Genki Ippai

On my last trip to Fukuoka, I ate almost nothing but tonkotsu ramen to try and find the best. Hakata Genki Ippai was one of my two favorites. Their Hakata ramen was rich and creamy and overflowing with wood ear mushrooms which I love.

I enjoyed Hakata Genki Ippai not just for the food, but for the experience. People refer to them as “blue bucket ramen” because they have a unique way of letting people know if they’re serving ramen. If you see a blue bucket hanging outside their shop (which doesn’t have a sign), then you’re in luck. But if you don’t, then you need to come back another day. Obviously, I was lucky that day.

2. Ichiran

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to like Ichiran because it’s a famous chain. But it turned out to be one of my two favorite bowls of Hakata ramen in Fukuoka. In fact, based on taste alone, it may have been my favorite. The broth is incredibly rich and creamy and simply delicious. I guess there’s a reason why they’re so famous.

Ichiran is a popular chain of ramen shops that started in Fukuoka. Aside from their delicious Hakata ramen, they’re known for their solo dining booths that are meant to amplify the ramen dining experience. At Ichiran, it’s all about the ramen. They have several outlets in Fukuoka but I suggest going to the original branch in Nakasu.

3. Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Akasakaten

Like tonkotsu ramen, motsunabe is one of our favorite regional dishes in Fukuoka. It refers to a type of nabemono or Japanese hot pot dish made with beef or pork offal served in a flavorful broth with cabbage, garlic chives, and champon noodles. It’s a dish that’s meant to be shared and perfect for winter.

I’ve had motsunabe at a few places but Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Akasakaten is my favorite. It’s a big and expensive-looking restaurant but don’t let that intimidate you. Their prices are very reasonable.

POINTS OF INTEREST IN FUKUOKA

To make it easier for you to visualize where everything is, I’ve pinned most of the places recommended in this Fukuoka travel guide on a map. Click on the link for a live version of the map.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN FUKUOKA

Like any big city in Japan, Fukuoka has an extensive public transportation system that makes it easy to get around. However, Fukuoka’s weather is mild and its top tourist attractions are in a fairly compact area so you may not need to use the subway as much. Whenever I visit Fukuoka, I get around mostly on foot.

If you don’t plan on venturing far from the Hakata, Nakasu, and Tenjin areas, then a good way to get around is the 100 Yen Bus. It runs on a loop between Hakata and Tenjin stations and passes by Canal City Hakata and Nakasu yatai stalls. It costs just JPY 100 per ride and runs every 10 minutes or so.

No matter how you choose to get around in Fukuoka, it’s highly recommended that you navigate with Google Maps (iOS / Android). It’ll tell you exactly how to get from point A to point B either by walking or using any city’s local transportation system. It’s super helpful and accurate and something we never travel without.

If you’d like to get a transportation card, then there are a few available in Fukuoka:

1-Day Subway Pass

The 1-day subway pass will give you unlimited use of Fukuoka’s metro system for one calendar day. It costs JPY 640 and can be purchased from vending machines at any metro station.

Fukuoka Tourist City Pass

Aside from giving foreign tourists unlimited use of virtually all Fukuoka metro and bus lines for one calendar day, the Fukuoka Tourist City Pass will provide discounted or free admission to some tourist attractions as well. It comes in two versions – the JPY 1,500 pass which is good for Fukuoka only and the JPY 1,820 version which also includes the Nishitetsu train to Dazaifu.

The Fukuoka Tourist City Pass can be purchased from the Fukuoka Airport tourist information desk or the ticket offices of the Hakata and Tenjin subway and bus stations.

Sugoca / Nimoca / Hayakaken IC Cards

IC Cards are stored value cards that can be used on the public transportation system in many cities throughout Japan. Available at all metro stations, they won’t give you a discount on fares but they’ll save you from the trouble of having to buy single journey tickets every time.

In Fukuoka, there are three IC Cards available – Sugoca, Nimoca, and Hayakaken. They’re owned by different companies but they all pretty much do the same thing. The great thing about IC Cards is that you can use them in many cities throughout Japan. On my last trip, I bought the Suica IC Card in Tokyo and used it other cities like Kanazawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. You can do the same with any of the three Fukuoka IC Cards.

You can even use your IC Card to pay for items at convenience stores. When your balance runs low, you can easily top it up at machines found in every metro station. They’re super convenient and my preferred transportation card in Japan. Click on the link for more information on Japan’s IC Cards.

HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY / FUKUOKA ITINERARY

Fukuoka is a big city but it doesn’t have as many tourist attractions so you can realistically see everything in one full day. Here’s a suggested 1-day Fukuoka itinerary to help you plan your trip.

DAY ONE • Ohori Park • Ohori Park Japanese Garden • Fukuoka Art Museum • Fukuoka Castle Ruins • teamLab Forest • Fukuoka Tower • Original Ichiran (late lunch) • Kushida Shrine • Chikuzen Sumiyoshi • Canal City Hakata • Nakasu Yatai (dinner)

FUKUOKA TRAVEL TIPS

1. Plan your Trip with Sygic Travel

If you’re like me and enjoy creating your own travel itineraries, then you’re going to enjoy using Sygic Travel. It’s a free trip planning app that allows you to pin all points of interest on a map to create as efficient an itinerary as possible. I’ve been using this for several years now and still find it very useful. You can download it for free on iTunes and Google Play.

2. Stay Connected

Having a reliable internet connection when traveling is a must these days. You’ll need it to do research, book hotels and tours, and make sense of Japan’s efficient but often confusing railway system.

In Japan, you can get access to the internet by renting a pocket wifi device or buying a sim card. We prefer connecting through pocket wifi devices because we find them to be more reliable, but either is fine. You can arrange for them before your trip through Klook (pocket wifi | sim card) or Get Your Guide.

3. Bookmark Hyperdia or Get the App on your Mobile Device

I can’t stress enough how helpful Hyperdia is when commuting in Japan. Not only will it give you precise train arrival and departure times, but it’ll tell you exactly how to go from one station to the next so you don’t get lost. It makes commuting so much easier so be sure to download the app or bookmark the website on your mobile device.

WEBSITE: hyperdia.com

4. Check for Fukuoka Travel Deals

If you need to book tours, get discounts on attraction tickets, or buy travel-related vouchers, then you can do so through Klook or Get Your Guide. There are many of these online travel marketplaces but these are two of the biggest and most reliable.

Check out Klook and Get Your Guide to search for Fukuoka travel deals. Even if I don’t buy anything, it’s always fun to look just to see what’s available.

5. Get Travel Insurance

When we were younger, getting travel insurance seemed like an unnecessary expense. But now that we’re older, it’s easier for me to understand its value. The fact is, you never know what can happen on a trip. Most of the time, everything goes smoothly but it’s good to have an insurance policy just in case they don’t.

We always get travel insurance from SafetyWing or Heymondo. They’re travel insurance companies often used by many digital nomads. Click on the links to get a free quote from SafetyWing or Heymondo. Get 5% off on Heymondo if you purchase a policy using our link.

7. Bring the Right Power Adapter

Japan has Type A or Type B electrical outlets so be sure to bring the right power adapters for your devices. Electrical voltage is 100V and the standard frequency is 50/60Hz.

8. Learn Basic Japanese Etiquette

Japan is a country with many unwritten rules. You don’t want to be the dumb foreigner who offends the locals so I suggest reading up on this basic overview on Japanese etiquette for tourists.

Have Fun!

I’ve been to Fukuoka four times in the last four years but I don’t consider myself an expert. With that said, I do hope you find this guide useful as I’m only sharing the things I’ve learned from my trips. If you have any questions or suggestions, then do let us know in the comment section below. You’re welcome to join our Facebook Travel Group as well.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful time sampling all the delicious food in Fukuoka!

OUR GEAR

These are some of the things we brought with us to Fukuoka. Have a look inside our backpack for a complete list of our travel gear. (NOTE: The following links are Amazon and other affiliate links.)

Disclosure

This Fukuoka travel guide contains affiliate links, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you make a booking or purchase at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as this helps us make more of these free travel guides. Arigato gozaimasu!

Japanese street food isn’t a phrase you hear as often as Thai street food or Vietnamese street food. Perhaps due to cultural reasons or stricter hygiene standards, Japan doesn’t have as pronounced a street food culture when compared to other countries in Asia.

Unlike Bangkok or Hanoi, people eating noodles by the side of the road isn’t a common sight in Tokyo or Osaka but there are a few street food dishes you can look forward to on your next trip to Japan. Takoyaki is one, soft cream is another.

I have a passion for street food and Japanese food so I worked with my Japanese friend to come up with this guide listing some of the best and most popular street food dishes in Japan.

JAPANESE STREET FOOD QUICK LINKS

If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to learn more about Japanese food, then you may be interested in joining a food tour or taking a cooking class.

TOURS

• Food Tours: Food and Drinking Tours in Japan
• Cooking Classes: Cooking Classes in Japan
• Other Food Experiences: Food Experiences in Japan

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THE BEST JAPANESE STREET FOOD

What is Japanese Street Food? Street Food Etiquette in Japan 15 Must-Try Japanese Street Food Dishes Popular Places for Street Food in Japan Japanese Street Food Tours

WHAT IS JAPANESE STREET FOOD?

Like any cultural street food, Japanese street food pertains to Japanese dishes that are commonly eaten on the street. They’re typically sold from outdoor stalls or carts that offer no formal restaurant seating.

When doing research for this guide, I came across a few articles listing what seemed to me like questionable “Japanese street food dishes”. By that, I mean they don’t seem to fit the definition of classic street food. Some of those dishes include ramen, okonomiyaki, and gyoza.

While it is true that ramen is a common dish at yatai stalls in Fukuoka, it’s much more often enjoyed at ramen shops. The same goes for gyoza. The latter seems like an ideal street food dish but the sauce served with it makes it more difficult to eat on the street.

We’ve been to Osaka many times and we’ve never had okonomiyaki as street food. Unlike takoyaki, it seems more difficult and less enjoyable to eat on the street. Our Japanese friend is from the Kansai region and he doesn’t consider okonomiyaki to be classic Japanese street food either.

STREET FOOD ETIQUETTE IN JAPAN

I think that Japanese etiquette is part of the reason why Japanese street food isn’t as popular. In Japan, it’s traditionally been considered rude to eat while walking. Many Japanese people frown upon it which is why you’ll often find signs at markets telling you to eat your food in front of the stall you bought it from.

Most foreigners are oblivious to this. Personally, we’ll eat the dishes in front of the stall we bought it from or at a designated dining area. If we buy food from a konbini (convenience store), then we’ll eat it inside the shop or at a public space like a park with benches.

With that said, I don’t think it’s a major faux pas to eat while walking on Japanese streets. Our Japanese friend does it from time to time and it may even be gaining social acceptance. In some parts of Japan like Nakamise Shopping Street and Ameyoko Market in Tokyo, it’s acceptable to do tabe-aruki which means “eating while strolling”.

Just know that some places may not like it so if you see any signs telling you to not eat and walk, then it’s best to stand, eat, and go on your way only after you’ve finished eating.

15 MUST-TRY JAPANESE STREET FOOD DISHES

1. Takoyaki

The two dishes that are most representative of Osaka food culture are takoyaki and okonomiyaki. Both are frequently labeled as street food but in our opinion, only takoyaki should be considered true Japanese street food.

Takoyaki refers to a gooey ball-shaped snack made from wheat flour batter filled with chopped octopus, scraps of tempura, pickled ginger, and green onion. It’s usually topped with a sweet and savory takoyaki sauce along with Japanese mayo, green laver, and bonito flakes.

Like okonomiyaki, takoyaki stands are ubiquitous in Osaka. But unlike okonomiyaki, takoyaki is easy to eat and just as frequently enjoyed outside of the traditional restaurant setting.

2. Tako Tamago

Tako tamago refers to these red glazed baby octopuses stuffed with a whole quail egg. Tako means “octopus” and “tamago” means egg.

Tako Tamago is skewered on bamboo sticks and is said to have been invented at Nishiki Market in Kyoto. They’ve since become a popular street food snack which you can enjoy at many markets throughout the Kansai region.

If you’re visiting Osaka, then you can find them at Kuromon Ichiba Market, one of the best places in Osaka to have street food.

3. Kushiten

I asked my Japanese friend what he thought were the best Japanese street food dishes and kushiten was one of the first dishes he mentioned. It refers to a type of skewered Japanese fish cake.

Also referred to as tempura skewers, kushiten is made with surimi (white fish paste) that’s been pureed and then steamed, grilled, or deep-fried until firm. Kushi means “skewer” so the fish cakes are served on bamboo sticks to make them easy to eat.

According to my Japanese friend, kushiten is commonly served at festivals though similarly skewered izakaya favorites like kushikatsu and kushiyaki are not.

“松岡明芳“, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

4. Dango

Dango refers to a street food snack consisting of skewered rice dumplings made from uruchi and glutinous rice flour. It has a chewy mochi-like consistency and can be covered in different coatings and glazes.

There are many different types of dango but one of the most popular is mitarashi dango. It’s covered in a sweet-savory glaze made with soy sauce, sugar, and starch. Other popular types of dango include hanami dango (three-colored dango), kinako dango (dusted with roasted soy flour), and anko dango (covered with red bean paste).

Depending on what it’s coated with, some types of dango are often enjoyed with green tea. They’re also popular as a dessert or snack, or as festival food.

Pictured below is miso dango from the popular Ohagi no Tambaya chain. As its name suggests, it’s covered in a delicious miso glaze.

5. Korokke

Korokke is the Japanese word for croquette. It refers to breaded and deep-fried patties that were introduced to Japan by the French in the late 19th century.

To prepare, different types of chopped meat, seafood, or vegetables are mixed with mashed potatoes or a white sauce. They’re then rolled in wheat flour, eggs, and panko breadcrumbs before being deep-fried to a golden brown.

Korokke is an easy-to-eat street food snack that’s popular throughout Japan. You can even find them at groceries and konbinis.

6. Senbei

Senbei refers to a type of Japanese rice cracker. They comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors and can be both savory or sweet.

Senbei is usually made with rice, wheat flour, or starch that’s either baked, deep-fried, or grilled over charcoal. They’re often brushed with a glaze made from mirin and soy sauce and can be flavored with other ingredients like nori, black sesame, red chili pepper, and seafood.

Senbei have a unique flavor and texture that’s unlike any cracker I’ve ever had. They’re crunchy, savory-sweet, a little sticky, and sometimes smokey in flavor.

7. Onigiri

Onigiri is my go-to konbini snack. If I want something quick and easy to eat that won’t fill me up too much, then I’ll usually go with onigiri.

Onigiri refers to a popular Japanese snack made with white rice, nori, and some type of filling. They’re called rice balls though they often come in triangular and cylindrical shapes as well.

Typical onigiri fillings include tuna, salmon, umeboshi (pickled Japanese plum), katsuobushi (bonito flakes), mentaiko (pollock roe), and kombu (kelp), though they can be filled with any salty or sour ingredient that can be used as a natural preservative.

In spite of its name and its appearance, onigiri isn’t a form of sushi. Sushi is made with vinegared rice while onigiri is made with unseasoned white rice.

8. Yakisoba

Yakisoba means “fried noodles” and refers to a Japanese stir-fried noodle dish. In spite of the “soba” in its name, it isn’t made with buckwheat noodles. It’s made with wheat flour noodles flavored with a condiment similar to worcestershire sauce.

Yakisoba is prepared by frying ramen-style wheat noodles with pork, cabbage, and onions on a griddle then topping it with benishoga (pickled ginger), katsuobushi, aonori (seaweed powder), Japanese mayonnaise, and yakisoba sauce. Occasionally, a fried egg is added on top.

Yakisoba is quick to prepare and easy to eat. It’s one of the most popular street food dishes served at Japanese festivals.

“富士宮焼きそば” by yoppy, used under CC BY 2.0 / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

9. Yaki Tomorokoshi

Yaki tomorokoshi refers to charcoal grilled cobs of corn brushed with a glaze made from soy sauce, mirin, and butter. Like yakisoba, it’s a popular festival food in Japan, especially during summer festivals when corn is in season.

“Food stand; Grilled corn” by Lisa Pinehill, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

10. Yaki Imo

Yaki imo refers to a traditional Japanese street food dish made with roasted sweet potatoes. A type of Japanese sweet potato called satsuma-imo is roasted or baked over charcoal and served in paper packets to be enjoyed as a snack.

Yaki imo is commonly made with satsuma potatoes though they can be made with annou, milk sweet, and beni haruka potatoes as well. Washed potatoes are thrown over coals without being seasoned or buttered to allow the natural flavors of the potato to shine through.

When cooked right, yaki imo has a pleasantly chewy skin with soft and tender flesh that’s sweet and caramel-like in flavor, much like a Thanksgiving yam.

Silentpilot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yaki imo is a popular street food snack in autumn and winter. You can typically find them being sold from these street food carts and trucks by the side of the road, usually around train stations.

“MShades“, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

11. Imagawayaki

If you’re familiar with Taiwanese food, then you may recognize these bean-filled pastries as Taiwanese wheel cakes or red bean cakes. They’re originally from Japan where they’re known as imagawayaki.

Imagawayaki are pancake-like desserts cooked in disk-shaped cast-iron molds. They’re cooked till crispy and traditionally filled with a sweet azuki bean paste, though more modern versions can be filled with a variety of ingredients like vanilla custard, fruit custard, chocolate and matcha. They can even be filled with savory ingredients like curry, potato, and cheese.

Imagawayaki are a popular festival food in Japan though they can be purchased from shops as well. According to my Japanese friend, the Gozasoro chain makes the best imagawayaki in Japan.

They’re known as imagawayaki in the Kanto region (Tokyo) though they’re often referred to by different names depending on the region. In the Kansai region (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara), they’re known as kaitenyaki or obanyaki.

Ocdp, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

12. Taiyaki

Like imagawayaki, taiyaki are pancake-like snacks filled with sweet azuki bean paste. They’re made in a fish-shaped mold resembling tai (red seabream), hence the name taiyaki.

Taiyaki is commonly filled with sweetened azuki beans though they can be made with other fillings as well like custard, chocolate, cheese, and sweet potato. It’s basically a fish-shaped version of imagawayaki, but with a different texture.

Taiyaki is one of the most popular Japanese street food snacks. Tai is considered a symbol of good luck so you can find taiyaki pretty much anywhere in Japan.

13. Kashi Pan / Kare Pan

Kashi pan refers to Japanese sweet breads filled or topped with a variety of ingredients like sweetened azuki bean, jam, chocolate, or custard. Kare pan is similar except its breaded and deep-fried and filled with savory ingredients like Japanese curry.

You’ll find many different types of kashi pan and kare pan at konbinis. When we’re in Japan, it’s part of our nightly ritual to stop at convenience stores to buy kashi pan before retiring to our hotel. We eat a few for dessert and save the rest for breakfast the following morning.

“Anpan” by NattyQ2, used under CC BY 2.0 / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

I don’t think this really qualifies as kashi pan or kare pan but I just wanted to share with you this odd-looking snack called yakisoba pan. As its name suggests, it’s basically yakisoba served in a hot dog bun.

The Japanese love these and you can find them at any convenience store throughout Japan.

Ocdp, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

14. Shu Cream

Shu cream is the Japanese term for a cream puff. It refers to French-inspired choux pastry puffs filled with sweet custard and dusted with powdered sugar.

The most popular type of shu cream is filled with custard cream but they can be filled with other ingredients as well like chocolate, matcha, coffee, or strawberry cream.

Common at metro stations, the Beard Papa chain is one of the most popular places to try shu cream in Japan.

15. Soft Cream

Soft cream is what the Japanese call soft serve ice cream. It’s creamier and thicker than your average soft serve and is perhaps the single most popular street food snack on this list. It’s available everywhere in Japan, from rest stops to markets to festivals and convenience stores.

Japan, especially Hokkaido, is known for its dairy industry which is why Japanese soft cream is so good. It’s delicious everywhere in Japan but especially in Hokkaido. No trip to Sapporo can ever be complete without indulging in soft cream and other Hokkaido milk products.

Pictured below is the terrific Uji matcha soft cream I enjoyed at Kyoto’s Nishiki Market.

Is this the most decadent cone of soft serve you’ve sever seen? This gold leaf soft cream was from the Hakuichi shop in Kanazawa, a city known for producing 99% of Japan’s high-quality gold leaf. Talk about boujee!

POPULAR PLACES FOR STREET FOOD IN JAPAN

Street food is available throughout the country but listed below are some of the most popular places for tourists to enjoy street food in Japan.

1. Yatai Stalls in Fukuoka

When I think of Japanese street food, Fukuoka’s yatai stalls is the first image that comes to mind. They’re basically Japan’s version of the street food stall.

Yatai stalls are small outdoor stalls that can seat about 8-10 people. They open only at night and serve a range of small izakaya-type dishes like yakitori, kushiyaki, grilled seafood, and Hakata ramen. Enjoying beers and bar chow while rubbing elbows with locals is one of the best things you can do in Fukuoka.

Yatai stalls can be found in other Japanese cities but they’ve become largely associated with Fukuoka. They’re an iconic symbol of Fukuoka food culture and one of the best places to have a true street food experience in Japan.

At present, there are about 150 yatai stalls in Fukuoka. They’re clustered in different pockets of the city like Nagahama, Tenjin, and Nakasu.

2. Dotonbori in Osaka

No first-time Osaka itinerary can be complete without allocating a good chunk of your time to the Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori areas. While Shinsaibashi is recognized for being one of the city’s premier shopping districts, Dotonbori is known for its food.

Aside from its dizzying plethora of restaurants, bars, and cafes, you’ll find many of these eye-catching street food stands selling dishes like takoyaki, gyoza, Japanese pastries, and soft cream.

3. Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka

About a 10-minute walk from the Dotonbori area is Kuromon Ichiba Market, one of the best places to have street food in Osaka. Open since 1902, this market contains about 150 shops selling fresh fish, seafood, meat, fruits, and vegetables. It’s where many of the city’s chefs get their supplies, hence its nickname “Osaka’s kitchen”.

Aside from fresh produce, you’ll find many restaurants and stalls offering a variety of street food dishes at Kuromon Ichiba Market. Things like uni, sushi, grilled seafood, takoyaki, tako tamago, and wagyu are all part of the menu here.

Kuromon Ichiba Market is one of our favorite stops in Osaka and a place we always visit on every return trip to the city. You can easily visit on your own but if you’d like to go with a guide, then you may be interested in booking a tour (byFood | Magical Trip).

4. Nishiki Market in Kyoto

Nishi Market is like the Kyoto equivalent of Osaka’s Kuromon Ichiba Market. It’s nicknamed “Kyoto’s kitchen” and features over a hundred shops, street food stalls, and small restaurants offering a wide range of local food products.

Kyoto is known for its many interesting regional food specialties. If you’d like to experience as many of them as you can under one roof, then Nishiki Market is one of the best places for you to go.

Nishiki Market is easy to visit on your own, but if you’d like to have a guide take you to the best spots, then you may be interested in booking a tour (byFood | Magical Trip).

5. Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo

For me, Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji Outer Market isn’t just one of the best places to have street food in Tokyo, it’s one of the best places to have street food in Japan period.

You may recognize Tsukiji Market as the former home of Japan’s most famous tuna auction. The auction has since moved to Toyosu Market but Tsukiji’s outer market is still open to the public and thriving. It’s filled with hundreds of restaurants and stalls offering a dizzying array of seafood and street food.

If you love seafood, then you need to add Tsukiji Outer Market to your Tokyo itinerary. It’s easy enough to explore on your own but if you’d like to go with a guide, then there are plenty of walking food tours to choose from: Klook | Get Your Guide | byFood | Magical Trip (Option 1 | Option 2).

6. Nakamise Shopping Street in Tokyo

Nakamise Shopping Street is another great place to have street food in Tokyo. It refers to the area between Asakusa’s Senso-ji Temple and its main gate, Kaminarimon. Senso-ji is one of Tokyo’s most visited cultural attractions so if it’s your first time in the city, then you’ll probably be making a stop here.

Nakamise Shopping Street is a 250-meter approach filled with many small shops selling souvenir items and Tokyo street foods like kinako dango, senbei, and traditional Japanese candies. It’s a fun atmosphere and a great place to munch on street food while enjoying a bit of culture in Tokyo.

7. Ameyoko Market in Tokyo

Ameyoko Market in the Ueno District is another great place to have street food in Tokyo. It refers to a popular open-air market that runs parallel to the Yamanote Line between Ueno and Okachimachi stations.

You’ll find hundreds of shops at Ameyoko Market selling different types of products ranging from fresh seafood to clothing to candy. I had one of my cheapest meals in Tokyo there – a JPY 550 kaisendon bowl at the Minatoya seafood stall. You can check out our Tokyo food guide for more information.

8. Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido

Street food is a staple at Japanese festivals, and one of the most popular festivals you can attend is the Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido. It’s an annual week-long festival in Sapporo featuring large snow and ice sculptures and a smorgasbord of Japanese street food.

Hokkaido is home to some of the best dairy and seafood in Japan – including some of the most enviable crabs – so you can expect a very high level of street food at the festival.

JAPANESE STREET FOOD TOURS

I love experiencing Japanese street food on my own but if you’re pressed for time, then you may want to go on a food tour. A knowledgeable local will take you to the city’s best spots and explain every street food dish to you in more detail. Simply put, when it comes to Japanese street food, no one knows better than a local.

Check out Get Your Guide and byFood for a list of food tours in Japan. Both are reputable companies that offer a good selection of street food tours, restaurant tours, and izakaya bar hopping tours in different cities throughout the country.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON JAPANESE STREET FOOD

Street food culture may not be as pronounced or as embraced in Japan as it is in other Asian countries, but as you can see from this list, there are quite a few street food dishes to look forward to on your next trip to Japan.

For me, Fukuoka’s yatai stalls offer the truest Japanese street food experience while festivals – if you can properly time your trip – offer the most enjoyable and relaxed environment. Eating while walking may be frowned upon in many parts of Japan but you don’t have to worry about any of that at Japanese festivals. Personally, committing a cultural faux pas is the last thing I want to worry about when eating street food in Japan.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading this article on the best street food dishes in Japan. If you have any suggestions on obscure regional Japanese street foods that we can add to this list, then please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing time eating all the oishi street food in Japan!

Disclosure

Some of the links in this Japanese street food guide are affiliate links. We’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as it helps us make more of these free travel guides. Thank you!

As with cooking, you need the right ingredients to make food photos look exceptional. Photos that pop and grab a viewer’s attention.

The good news is that you don’t need to be a Michelin chef to cook a portion of tasty food. Same goes for photos. No need to be a graphic designer or professional retoucher to really improve your photos.

I want to mention Zoner Photo Studio X, software that can actually replace multiple tools many use in their workflow and help you create photos smoothly so you can actually travel and photograph more.

The program is designed with a photographer’s workflow in mind so that it will save you time. The user interface is divided into four modules that guide you every step of the way.

The Manager module for importing and navigating your photo archive, the Develop module for processing photos, the Editor for photo manipulation and the Create module for collage, video or ordering printed photo products. Yes, A to Z and all under one roof.

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Manage Your Food Photos with Ease

You have some very powerful tools to manage your photos in ZPS X. Cull your images using popular star ratings or colour labels but also, don’t forget about metadata.

Add a Title and Description to remember the name of the food or story of the chef. And just like that, information from your travel diaries won’t get lost in some vast pit and will always be on hand!

Photo by Lisheng Chang via Unsplash

By utilizing Keywords you can very easily create categories like breakfast, lunch, dinner or distinguish sweet and spicy dishes. For example, you can use the Catalog search function to filter all of your best dessert shots from your adventures from the photo archive with one click.

Does your camera have a built-in GPS? You can use the Map view to pinpoint the exact location of that market food stall you bought from.

Take Your Food Photos to the Next Level

The Develop module is where you will do all the editing. Thanks to the non-destructive philosophy of this module you can always return and modify the settings while preserving the original files, untouched.

Start from top to bottom and make sure that your photo is correctly exposed. You can even overexpose your shots just a little bit so the food on the dark plate stands out.

Photo by Michele Blackwell via Unsplash

Compared to other genres of photography when editing, you can utilize and apply heavier adjustments to Clarity and Saturation with food photos.

Clarity creates micro-contrast in your images. It can be considered as a kind of sharpening but only to the edges of important elements in the photo, like the edges of the noodles.

You can apply a Clarity value of +30 safely but be more careful with Saturation. Keep an eye on the details, when subtle hues start to wash out you have gone overboard.

Staying around a value of +15 should be your maximum. On the other hand, you don’t really need to be careful with the Vibrance slider.

If you would like the meal to pop off in the background a little bit more, you can use Local adjustment tools – the Radial and Gradient filter or the Filter brush.

Just simply paint over the food and adjust values accordingly. A good recipe to start with would be: Exposure by +0,3 EV, add 10 points of Saturation and Clarity.

Photo by Siami Tan via Unsplash

Selectively editing even specific Hues is easy with the Color correction tool. Plus, you can set Smoothness or show a mask for even more precise editing in the Advanced mode.

And for the icing on the cake, don’t forget to apply Sharpening, this will literally give you an edge. Again in food photos, you can be generous with this setting.

You can speed up your workflow by using presets that are built-in or create your own. Just be careful and make sure that your food photos still look natural and “appetizing”.

Unlimited Possibilities in Editor

Would you like to unleash your creativity further? The Editor module with Photoshop-like support allows you to create composite images by using filters and masks. Changing a boring sky in the background is possible here too.

Also, imagine the following: It was a long day of travelling, you are finally sitting at the restaurant with your friends. Most likely you will be very hungry and not patient enough to wait for all of the meals to arrive on the table to create that rich meal-filled table photo.

Photo by Spencer Davis via Unsplash

Prohibiting others to dig in and wait? Mission impossible. But you can cheat a bit using this trick: Prepare a tripod, shoot the meals as they come, eat, bon appetit and repeat.

In Zoner Photo Studio X you can easily merge multiple pictures and fill that table in post-processing. And remember, no need to shuffle to another program!

Create Module and Sharing

To finalize the post-processing you can stop by the Create module. Here you can even create short clips or slideshows in the Video editor, order printed photo products like postcards or photo books but my favourite is the Collage.

It can be beneficial to group similarly themed images from your trip into one. Most likely you will end up with various images, some horizontal, some vertical.

The best thing about Collage feature is that it utilizes a Content-aware option that will automatically create a collage from images with various aspect ratios, without any cropping. No need to fiddle with the grid or adjust borders, just select the photo and template.

As with the last step, you can export your final photos using Export presets. Save to your hard drive, optimize them for Instagram or in full resolution to the unlimited Zonerama online album. There are many options and you can actually do it simultaneously by clicking the export button only once.

As you noticed, achieving those distinct food photos that catch the eye, only takes a few moves. Going from an image that was rather dull to one that shows those subtle colours changes and textures just takes a few clicks.

Give it a try on your own, you can actually download a 30-day trial for free. To get yourself orientated, you can also rely on articles on the learn.zoner.com portal or YouTube channel so you’ve got nothing to lose.

What is your experience with editing food photos while travelling? Do you have some other tips and techniques that help you or could help others? Let us know in the comment section below.

Disclosure

This article was published in partnership with Zoner Photo Studio X.

Japan is one of the best countries for food, not just in Asia, but in the world. The fact that Japan trails only France in number of Michelin stars speaks for itself.

Unlike many travel bloggers, we don’t have a desire to visit every country in the world but we do intend to visit every prefecture in Japan, and a lot of that has to do with our love for traditional Japanese food culture. If the cost of living weren’t so high, we’d actually love to live in Japan. That would be a dream!

To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever met a Japanese dish I didn’t like so it was hard limiting this food guide to just 45 dishes. To make it as well-rounded as possible, I focused on creating a balanced list that featured both popular Japanese dishes and more obscure regional specialties from the different prefectures in Japan.

Traditional Japanese foods like ramen and tempura are represented well but so are lesser known prefectural delicacies like fukagawa meshi and kaga ryori. You’re probably familiar with maguro sushi and sashimi, but have you tried kabura zushi?

Japanese cuisine is my favorite cuisine in the world so a lot of love went into writing this guide on traditional Japanese foods. No matter what your level of affection for traditional Japanese cuisine, I hope you find something delicious to whet your appetite before that next trip to Japan.

JAPANESE FOOD QUICK LINKS

If you’re planning a trip to Japan and want to really dive into the cuisine, then you may be interested in joining a food tour or taking a cooking class.

TOURS

• Food Tours: Food and Drinking Tours in Japan
• Cooking Classes: Cooking Classes in Japan
• Other Food Experiences: Food Experiences in Japan

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WHAT IS TRADITIONAL JAPANESE FOOD?

Traditional Japanese food or washoku is characterized by its sense of balance, aesthetics, and the seasonality and freshness of its ingredients. Different dishes are served depending on the season. Rice is a staple dish in Japanese cuisine, and to a lesser extent, so are noodle dishes like soba and udon.

Like many countries in Asia, rice is combined with one or two main dishes to go with a number of side dishes that typically include miso soup and tsukemono (Japanese preserved vegetables). The phrase ichiju-sansai – meaning “one soup, three sides” – describes the makeup of a typical Japanese meal.

When Buddhism became the official religion in Japan during the Kofun period, the consumption of meat became limited. This led to a minimal use of spices in Japanese cooking and an increase in the use of fish and other types of seafood as the main source of protein in Japanese cuisine.

In the 9th century, grilled and raw fish were widely consumed throughout Japan and a new way of preserving fish was invented. This Japanese method of preserving raw fish by fermenting it in boiled rice is recognized as the earliest form of sushi.

Only when Japan started opening up to the west in the mid- to late-19th century did meat find its way back into the Japanese diet. This gave rise to the popular Japanese meat dishes of today like tonkatsu, wagyu, and yakiniku.

Historically, traditional Japanese cuisine was influenced by Chinese cuisine but modern Japanese food culture has been influenced by western cuisines as well. You can see (and taste) this western influence in dishes like Japanese curry, spaghetti, pizza, and hamburgers.

THE BEST JAPANESE DISHES

To help organize this list of the best-tasting Japanese foods, I’ve divided them up by category. Click on a link to jump to that section.

Popular Japanese Foods Fish / Seafood Meat / Poultry Noodle Dishes Mixed Ingredient Dishes Desserts / Drinks Japanese Food Tours Japanese Cooking Classes

POPULAR JAPANESE FOODS

If you don’t have a lot of experience with Japanese cuisine and want to try the most popular dishes, then you can start with these ten famous Japanese foods.

1. Sushi

Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish and the first thing people think of when they think of Japanese cuisine. For sushi connoisseurs, it’s more than just food. It’s an art form.

Sushi refers to a family of artfully presented dishes made with vinegared sushi rice and a variety of ingredients, mostly raw fish and other types of seafood. It can be made with any type of fresh raw fish, some of the most popular being maguro (tuna), shake (salmon), hamachi (yellowtail), saba (mackerel), and unagi (freshwater eel).

Sushi is commonly eaten with pickled ginger and dipped in soy sauce mixed with wasabi.

Sushi was invented in Japan as a way of preserving raw fish by storing it in fermented rice. This early type of sushi is known as narezushi and can still be enjoyed in Japan today.

Pictured below is kabura zushi, a more modern type of narezushi associated with Kanazawa. It’s a Kanazawa food specialty made with salted buri (Japanese amberjack or yellowtail) sandwiched between pieces of pickled turnip.

More common types of sushi in Japan include maki sushi, nigiri sushi, chirashizushi, and inari sushi. Non-Japanese people are probably most familiar with nigiri sushi and maki sushi.

Nigiri sushi refers to oblong-shaped rice balls topped with a sliver of fish and other types of seafood, while maki sushi is the type of sushi commonly referred to as “sushi rolls”. You can see examples of both in the picture above.

2. Sashimi

Sashimi refers to thinly sliced raw fish or seafood. It can even refer to different types of raw meat. It’s basically sushi minus the vinegared rice. Like sushi, it’s usually eaten with soy sauce mixed with wasabi.

It isn’t fish but pictured below is one of my favorite types of sashimi – uni or sea urchin sashimi. Often served in its own shell, I had this golden glistening bowl at Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka but you can pretty much find uni sushi and sashimi at any seafood market in Japan.

Spoiler alert, the sashimi below isn’t made with fish either. If you’re a daring eater, then you may want to try chicken sashimi. Yes, you read that correctly – RAW chicken sashimi.

Chicken sashimi is made from a specific breed of Japanese chicken known as the “blue foot chicken”. This breed of chicken presents a lower risk of salmonella though the raw chicken meat still needs to be super fresh to be safely eaten. Because of obvious health concerns, a special license is required to serve raw chicken in Japan.

Chicken sashimi is absolutely delicious and one of the most surprising Japanese dishes we’ve had so far in Japan. If you can get past the fact that it’s raw chicken, then I suggest trying it if you see it on a Japanese restaurant’s menu.

We haven’t seen it that often but we did get to try it at Korombia Izakaya in Sapporo.

3. Ramen

Like sushi, ramen is a Japanese food favorite and one of the best dishes you can eat in Japan. It refers to a noodle soup made with four basic components – the broth, tare (seasoning), wheat noodles, and toppings.

Tare (or kaeshi) is the salty concentrated essence placed at the bottom of every ramen bowl. Together with the broth, it’s what determines the style of the ramen, of which there are four main types – shoyu, miso, shio, and tonkotsu. The noodles and toppings enhance the experience but the true star of this beloved Japanese dish is the seasoned broth.

It’s important to understand that even with the four recognized styles of ramen, limitless variations exist within each style. Every bowl of ramen falls into one of the four basic types but the variations within each style are immense. And we aren’t even talking about the type of noodles or combination of toppings yet!

So vast are the possibilities with ramen that a large number of varieties have been established throughout the different regions of Japan. In fact, you can write an entire Japanese food guide on ramen alone.

Pictured below is a bowl of miso ramen from Ramen Alley in Sapporo. It’s made by mixing miso (soy bean paste) with oily chicken or fish broth to create a heavy and hearty soup suitable for Hokkaido’s harsh winters. It’s one of the best Japanese dishes to look for when you visit Sapporo.

Toppings between restaurants vary but miso ramen is usually topped with a variety of ingredients like chashu (thinly sliced braised pork belly), nori (seaweed), ground pork, leeks, scallions, bean sprouts, and a ramen egg.

Personally, my favorite type of ramen in Japan is Fukuoka’s Hakata ramen. Also known as tonkotsu ramen, it’s made by boiling pork bones, fat, and collagen over high heat for anywhere between 12-20 hours. This long boiling process breaks down the marrow, causing it to ooze out and create a rich and milky broth.

Hakata ramen is often made with thin wheat noodles and usually topped with scallions, wood ear mushroom, chashu pork, and a ramen egg. It’s creamy and delicious and one of the best Japanese dishes you can have when you visit Fukuoka.

Another variation of ramen you might want to try in Japan is tsukemen. Tsukemen refers to any style of ramen where the broth and noodles are served separately. This is to ensure that the noodles stay firm throughout your meal.

To eat, you dip the noodles into the soup. Tsukemen broth is more intensely flavored than typical ramen broth to make sure the noodles are coated with as much flavor as possible.

Pictured below was one of the most delicious and interesting bowls of ramen I’ve ever had in Japan. It’s a type of tsukemen made with motsu or offal. You can check out our Kyoto food guide for more details.

It’s funny, I went on this Kyoto foodie night tour later that day and my guide was surprised when I told him I had this motsu tsukemen for lunch. Coincidentally, it’s his favorite bowl of ramen in Japan.

4. Tempura

Tempura is a traditional Japanese cooking method that involves deep-frying seafood or vegetables coated in a light batter made with cold water and soft cake flour. The tempura batter is lightly mixed and kept cold with lumps to create a crisp and fluffy texture when fried.

Most tempura is cooked for just a few seconds before being served with grated daikon radish and a dipping sauce, most often tentsuyu which is made with dashi (soup stock), mirin (rice wine), and shoyu (soy sauce). Alternatively, it can be sprinkled with sea salt or mixtures of powdered green tea, salt, and yuzu before eating.

Different types of fish, seafood, and vegetables are used to make tempura in Japan though ebi (shrimp) is the most popular.

5. Unagi

Unagi is freshwater eel. It isn’t to be confused with anago which is saltwater or conger eel.

To prepare unagi, the eel is cut open and its head and bones are removed. The meat is then skewered and broiled before being slowly grilled over charcoal while being basted with a kabayaki sauce (sweet soy sauce).

Grilled unagi is commonly served as sushi in Japan, or over a bed of rice in a dish called unagi donburi or unadon for short.

One of the best unagi dishes you can eat in Japan is hitsumabushi. It refers to a Nagoya specialty of grilled unagi over rice that’s eaten in three stages.

Unagi is served in a bowl over rice with yakumi (condiments) and dashi as a side dish. The first stage involves eating the eel over rice as is.

After you’ve had a few bites, you then mix the yakumi into your bowl in the second stage. The type of yakumi varies between restaurants but they typically include ingredients like wasabi, pickled vegetables, nori (seaweed), and green onions.

When you’re down to your last few bites, you pour the dashi (sometimes tea) into your bowl and finish the rest. It’s a fun way of eating unagi in Japan that isn’t as common as unadon or unagi sushi.

No matter how it’s served, unagi is one of my favorite traditional Japanese foods. Smokey and savory-sweet with great texture, it’s something you need to have when you visit Japan.

6. Wagyu

The term wagyu refers to any of the four Japanese breeds of cattle – namely Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Polled, and Japanese Shorthorn.

Any beef produced from these four breeds of cattle is known as wagyu, However, not all types of wagyu are equal. The most desired wagyu comes from Japanese cattle that’s genetically predisposed to intense marbling, like the Tajima strain of cattle raised in Hyogo. You’ve probably heard of it as Kobe Beef.

Wagyu in Japan is branded according to where it was raised, so Kobe Beef means it came from Kobe, Aso Beef means it came from Aso, and so on and so forth.

Kobe is the most famous but other top wagyu brands in Japan include Matsusaka, Saga, Ohmi, and Hida. Try any of these wagyu brands and you’ll never think of beef in the same way again. They’re so incredibly tender they practically dissolve in your mouth.

Pictured below are the most tender slices of Kobe Beef yakiniku at Tsurugyu, one of our favorite restaurants in Osaka.

7. Kushiyaki / Yakitori

Many non-Japanese have probably heard of the term “yakitori”, but not “kushiyaki”. Both refer to skewers of grilled meat popular at izakayas or informal Japanese gastropubs. Like oden, it’s one of the most popular bar foods in Japan.

Strictly speaking, yakitori refers specifically to skewered and charcoal-grilled chicken, though it’s often used to describe skewered meat in general, both poultry and non-poultry.

The proper blanket term to describe all types of skewered grilled meat in Japan is kushiyaki. Different types of meat and vegetables are skewered on bamboo or metal sticks before being grilled over charcoal and seasoned with a tare sauce. It’s one of the best Japanese dishes you can have with beer.

8. Takoyaki

Takoyaki is an Osaka food favorite. It refers to a ball-shaped snack made from wheat flour batter filled with minced or diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onions. It’s usually topped with a sweet and savory takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, green laver, and bonito fish flakes.

Like okonomiyaki, takoyaki is one of the best dishes you can have when you visit Osaka.

9. Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki refers to a Japanese sweet-savory pancake dish made with a batter of flour, eggs, dashi, and shredded cabbage mixed with ingredients like pork belly, vegetables, shrimp, squid, and other seafood.

The batter and fillings are pan-fried on both sides then finished with a variety of toppings like a sweet and savory brown sauce, Japanese mayo, dried seaweed, and bonito fish flakes.

Okonomiyaki is one of the most popular Japanese foods. It’s widely available throughout Japan but it’s most closely associated with Osaka and Hiroshima. Pictured below is an Osaka version of okonomiyaki.

This is what a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki looks like. Both versions use similar ingredients but they differ in how they’re prepared.

In Osaka, the fillings are mixed into the batter before being cooked on the grill. In Hiroshima, the ingredients are layered one at a time instead of being mixed together.

Like in Osaka, okonomiyaki is a quintessential Hiroshima food and something you need to try when you visit Hiroshima.

10. Miso Soup

Miso soup is a traditional Japanese soup made with dashi, miso paste, and any number of optional ingredients like vegetables, tofu, abura-age (deep-fried tofu pouches), fish, and seafood. It’s a Japanese food staple that’s served with many set meals in Japan.

Personally, miso soup is my favorite dish to eat at the end of a Japanese meal. I prefer it over anything, even dessert. Not only is it delicious, but it’s good for you as well. It’s made with fermented soybeans which is considered a type of health food in Japan.

JAPANESE FISH / SEAFOOD DISHES

11. Kaisendon

Kaisen is the Japanese word for “seafood” while donburi translates to “rice bowl”, so kaisendon literally means “seafood rice bowl”. It refers to a family of Japanese dishes made with raw fish and seafood sashimi topped over unseasoned white rice.

Kaisendon isn’t to be confused with a similar-looking dish called chirashizushi. At first glance, both dishes look the same but chirashi is topped over vinegared sushi rice while kaisendon is made with plain steamed rice.

You can find kaisendon at markets and restaurants in Japan that offer fresh fish and seafood. I had this overflowing bowl at Takinami Shokudo in Hokkaido.

12. Anago Meshi

Anago meshi is a very similar dish to unagi donburi, but instead of freshwater eel, it’s made with anago which is saltwater or conger eel.

Compared to unagi, anago is softer in texture and glazed with a sauce that isn’t as sweet as kabayaki sauce. It’s more subtle in flavor and not quite as oily.

Anago is often used as an ingredient for sushi but anago meshi is considered a specialty dish of Hiroshima prefecture.

13. Zuke

Zuke refers to an old Japanese method of preserving raw fish by soaking fish fillets in a soy sauce mixture. It was a technique long forgotten since the onset of refrigeration but has seen a resurgence in recent decades as a method of food preparation in Japan.

Today, thinly sliced fillets of raw fish are marinated in the zuke method not for preservation, but for flavor. We had this delicious bowl of maguro and shake zuke (tuna and salmon) at a restaurant in Nagasaki.

14. Tako Tamago

Tako tamago refers to these glazed baby octopuses stuffed with whole quail eggs. They’re skewered on sticks and commonly sold as street food in Japan.

Tako tamago seems to have originated at Nishiki Market in Kyoto but you can find them at similar food markets throughout the Kansai region. This picture was taken at Kuromon Ichiba Market in Osaka.

15. Fukagawa Meshi

Fukagawa meshi refers to a Tokyo food specialty of clam and long onion cooked in miso then topped over rice. It’s named after the area in Tokyo where it was invented – Fukagawa.

During Japan’s Edo period, Fukagawa was a fishing town and the people who lived there earned a living by catching fish, gathering clams, or harvesting laver. This dish was invented during that time and is still enjoyed to this day.

16. Fugu

Fugu is the Japanese word for pufferfish. It’s a highly toxic fish containing a powerful neurotoxin about 1,200 times stronger than cyanide.

So dangerous is this fish that the preparation of fugu in Japan is strictly controlled by law. Only qualified chefs with three or more years of rigorous training are allowed to prepare the fish. Even then, it’s said that it takes a minimum of ten years of apprenticeship to be a proper fugu chef in Japan.

Fugu can be prepared a number of ways but it’s most usually served as sushi or sashimi or in a winter hot pot dish known as fugu chirinabe. It’s said that the liver is the tastiest part, but it also happens to be the most poisonous so serving liver in Japanese restaurants has been banned since 1984.

We tried fugu at Zuboraya, one of the most recognizable but touristy restaurants in Osaka. If you’re serious about trying the best fugu in Japan, then it’s best to make a trip to Yamaguchi.

The city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi is the largest harvester of pufferfish in Japan and is nicknamed the country’s “Fugu Capital”.

17. Crab

Japan’s love for crab is legendary. The crab consumption in Japan ranks among the highest in the world and their love for it reaches fever pitch in winter.

Typically eaten in the colder months, crab is the quintessential winter dish in Japan. You can find crab throughout Japan but one of the best places to have it is in Hokkaido.

We were in Sapporo for the Sapporo Snow Festival and Nijo Market and Sankaku Market in Otaru were practically drowning in several types of crab – king, snow, hairy, and thorny.

Hokkaido may be home to some of the best crab in Japan but northern Hyogo is a haven for crabs as well. It’s home to the prized Matsuba Crab, a term given to male snow crabs caught from the Sea of Japan.

What sets Matsuba Crab apart from other snow crabs in Japan is the plankton-rich environment where it lives. This results in crabmeat loaded with flavor.

So prized is Matsuba Crab in Japan that the Japanese make trips to Tottori, northern Kyoto, and northern Hyogo in winter just to feast on this delectable crustacean.

I went to Kinoaski Onsen and found many vendors and restaurants offering Matsuba Crab. I tried it at a minshuku called Nashikisou and it was one of the best crabs I’ve ever tasted in my life, even better than the crabs in Hokkaido.

18. Oysters

Like okonomiyaki and anago meshi, oysters are a Japanese food specialty in Hiroshima. They’ve been cultivated in Hiroshima Bay for almost 500 years with the region accounting for over two-thirds of oyster production in Japan.

Hiroshima oysters are fairly large, about the size of an infant’s fist. They’re at their most plump in January and February and from March till April.

Although they can be eaten raw, oysters in Hiroshima are more often served cooked – either grilled, steamed, deep-fried, smoked, or pan-fried.

You can enjoy an oyster set like this at one of the many Japanese restaurants on Miyajima Island. It came with deep-fried breaded oysters, grilled oysters, smoked oysters, oyster miso soup, pickled oysters, and kaki meshi. Kaki meshi is a dish of oysters cooked in soy sauce and topped over rice steamed in oyster broth.

Stuffing your face with fat juicy oysters is one of the best things you can do in Hiroshima.

JAPANESE MEAT & POULTRY DISHES

19. Gyoza

Gyoza refers to Japanese dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables wrapped in a thin sheet of dough. They’re originally from China but they’ve become very popular in Japan as well.

Gyoza are typically filled with ground pork, chives, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and other ingredients. They’re usually pan-fried but they can be served steamed or deep-fried as well, either on their own or as a side dish to more substantial dishes like ramen.

20. Karaage

Karaage is a Japanese cooking method that involves deep frying meat, poultry, or seafood in oil. Chicken karaage is most common though other types of meat and fish are also used.

Karaage is similar to tempura except the ingredients are marinated before being coated in a heavier wheat flour, potato or corn starch. This results in a thicker, crunchier coating.

21. Japanese Curry

Curry rice is hugely popular in Japan. It was introduced to Japan by the British during the Meiji period but it wasn’t until the late 1960s that it exploded in popularity when it became widely available at supermarkets and Japanese restaurants.

Today, Japanese curry rice is considered by many to be a national dish of Japan. It’s available throughout the country and commonly served over rice, over udon, and in savory Japanese pastries.

A Japanese curry meal typically consists of curry sauce, rice, and different types of meat and vegetables like carrots, onions, and potatoes. Pork, beef, and chicken curry are the most common though it can be made with other meats as well.

Pictured below is a less common horse meat katsu curry (deep-fried breaded cutlet) from Kumamoto. We enjoyed it at Warokuya restaurant in Kurokawa Onsen. Kumamoto and Nagano are among the few prefectures in Japan known for farming horse meat.

22. Korokke

Korokke is the Japanese term for croquette. It’s a breaded deep-fried patty containing meat, seafood, or vegetables mixed with mashed potato or white sauce. The patty is rolled in wheat flour, eggs, and then panko breadcrumbs before being deep-fried to a golden brown.

Korokke is widely available anywhere in Japan, even groceries and convenience stores. We had these delicious crab and octopus croquettes at a popular stand in Yufuin.

23. Yakiniku

Yakiniku technically isn’t a dish, but a Japanese style of cooking meat and vegetables on small tabletop grills. Raw meats and vegetables are brought to the table so diners can grill the food themselves.

The meats and vegetables are usually served with a tare made with any number of ingredients like soy sauce, sake, mirin, sugar, garlic, fruit juice, and sesame.

It’s interesting to note that although yakiniku is a Japanese culinary term, this style of cooking is widely considered to have Korean roots. It became widespread in Japan after WWII and is believed to be a variant of Korean bulgogi or galbi which was modified to suit Japanese tastes.

This may explain why some yakiniku restaurants in Japan serve Korean dishes like kimchi as well. I noticed this at yakiniku restaurants in Sapporo and Fukuoka.

If you’ve been to Sapporo, then you may recognize jingisukan as a specific type of yakiniku. It’s native to Hokkaido and entails the grilling of mutton or lamb meat over a convex metal skillet.

24. Miso Katsu

Miso katsu refers to a Nagoya specialty dish of pork tonkatsu served with a thick sauce made with Hatcho miso. It’s perhaps the one dish that best represents Nagoya meshi or Nagoya cuisine.

Tonkatsu refers to a breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet dish that’s very popular in Japan. It’s made with a 2-3 cm slice of pork loin or tenderloin coated with panko bread crumbs and deep-fried in oil. It’s typically served with rice, a savory-sweet tonkatsu sauce, shredded cabbage, and pickled vegetables.

Miso katsu is a Nagoya version of tonkatsu. The pork cutlet is exactly the same but what makes the dish different is the sauce.

Instead of being served with regular tonkatsu sauce made with the usual ingredients like soy sauce, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce, the main ingredient in miso katsu sauce is Hatcho miso bean paste.

Hatcho miso is the most famous type of mame or red miso in Japan. Loaded with umami and touted to have many health benefits, it’s this red miso bean paste that gives Nagoya cuisine its distinctive flavor.

25. Motsunabe

If you like offal and hot pot, then you’re going to love this Fukuoka specialty. Motsunabe is a Japanese hot pot stew made with beef or pork offal. Beef intestines are most common though other types of offal can also be used.

Motsunabe is usually cooked in a shallow hot pot on your table. The offal is allowed to simmer for a few minutes in a soup base seasoned with soy sauce, garlic, and chili pepper. Other ingredients like cabbage, garlic chives, and champon noodles are later added to complete the dish.

Motsunabe hot pot is delicious, especially when eaten with rice. It’s one of the best things you can do in Fukuoka. I’ve had it a few times but the best motsunabe I’ve tried was from the highly regarded Hakata Motsunabe Yamanaka Akasakaten restaurant.

26. Jingisukan

Jingisukan (pronounced jing-giss kahn) or Genghis Khan is a mutton dish popular in Hokkaido. In typical yakiniku fashion, servers will bring the raw meat and vegetables to your table which you’ll cook yourself on a convex metal skillet over a gas stove or hot coals.

Jingisukan is rumored to have gotten its name in prewar Japan, when lamb was believed to be the meat of choice among soldiers in Mongolia. The dome-shaped metal skillet used today is meant to represent a soldier’s helmet which was allegedly used to cook food.

One of the most popular places to have jingisukan in Sapporo is the Sapporo Beer Museum.

27. Basashi

Basashi refers to a Japanese dish of horse meat, specifically raw horse sashimi.

Horse meat in Japan is referred to as sakuraniku – meaning “cherry blossom meat” – because of its pinkish color. It’s a highly localized dish, a specialty in only a handful of prefectures in Japan, most notably Kumamoto and Nagano. Even for most Japanese, eating basashi is a rare occurrence.

We tried basashi at two restaurants in Kurokawa Onsen. Pretty much all the restaurants in that small onsen town was serving some form of horse meat. Aside from sushi, we had it in a croquette and in Japanese curry as well.

Kumamoto had an over-abundance of horses in the 1960s which they no longer needed for transport or agricultural work. It was around that time that the Japanese turned to horse meat as a regular food source. Today, there are horse farms and restaurants all throughout Kumamoto.

Basashi is typically served cold together with soy sauce, garlic, and wasabi. From what I understand, it’s served cold because it’s treated for bacteria and other parasites at -20°C for at least 48 hours.

28. Hida Beef Sushi

Hida beef refers to wagyu produced from black-haired Japanese cattle raised in Gifu prefecture. Like Kobe beef, Hida beef is considered one of the most prized beef brands in Japan, revered for its intense marbling and juiciness.

Compared to Kobe beef which tends to be more balanced in its meat and fat distribution, Hida beef has more of the latter, giving you a truer melt-in-your-mouth experience.

We visted Takayama and Shirakawa-go and enjoyed Hida Beef in a variety of dishes like burgers, croquettes, rice balls, and steamed buns, but our hands down favorite was Hida Beef sushi. It really does melt in your mouth. Wow.

The thought of eating raw beef may be challenging for some but if you can get past it, then you’ll be rewarded with one of the best food experiences in Japan. Eating Hida Beef sushi really is one of the best things you can do in Takayama.

29. Kakuni Manju

Kakuni manju is a Japanese-style pork belly bun from Nagasaki. It’s basically a Japanese version of the Chinese gua bao.

The pork belly is simmered in dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and sake before being cooked for several hours over a low flame. This slow cooking process breaks the collagen down into gelatin which helps keep the meat moist while making it extremely tender.

The pork belly is then sandwiched in a soft bun – often with scallions and cucumber – and served out of bamboo steamers. You can find them pretty much anywhere in Nagasaki, especially around Chinatown.

30. Tebasaki

Tebasaki refers to Japanese-style deep-fried chicken wings. They’re made with non-battered bone-in chicken wings that are double fried to achieve a supremely crisp but delicate coating.

Tebasaki is a popular Japanese dish that can be flavored with a variety of seasonings, though many izakayas will serve them coated in a sticky, savory-sweet glaze. It’s widely available throughout Japan but the dish may have its roots in Nagoya.

The best tebasaki is said to be made from Nagoya cochin, one of the most prized chicken breeds in Japan.

31. Doteni

Doteni refers to a Nagoya dish of beef tendon, innards, and daikon radish simmered in Hatcho miso sauce. Like tebasaki, it’s a staple izakaya dish that you need to try in Nagoya.

Doteni is one of my favorite dishes in Nagoya cuisine. Like miso katsu, the flavor from the Hatcho miso is what really makes this dish.

JAPANESE NOODLE DISHES

32. Udon

Along with ramen and soba, udon is one of the most popular noodle varieties in Japan. It refers to a type of thick chewy Japanese noodle made with wheat flour. It’s typically served hot in winter or chilled in summer and can be topped with ingredients like thinly chopped scallions, tempura, abura-age, and kamaboko (fish cakes).

Like ramen, the type of udon broth and toppings vary from region to region in Japan. Eastern udon tends to be darker brown in color while western udon is lighter. The broth’s color is determined by the type of soy sauce used.

Generally speaking, udon broth isn’t as flavorful as ramen broth, presumably to highlight the udon noodles which seem to be the real star of this beloved Japanese dish.

Kishimen is a type of udon dish from Nagoya. It’s made with udon noodles that are broad and flat.

I learned to make udon noodles in a Tokyo cooking class and the teacher told me to cut the noodles thinly, otherwise I’d be making Nagoya-style udon.

Like any udon dish, kishimen can be prepared hot or cold and seasoned with salt, soy sauce, miso, or Japanese curry. The most traditional version in Japan seems to be served in a hot broth with steamed fish cakes, spinach, deep-fried tofu, green onions, and bonito fish flakes.

33. Soba

Soba refers to thin noodles made from buckwheat flour. They can be served cold with a dipping sauce called tsuyu, or in a hot broth as noodle soup.

Chilled soba noodles are often served on a bamboo tray (zaru) with a tsuyu of dashi, mirin, sweetened soy sauce, wasabi, scallion, and sesame seeds. To eat, you dip the buckwheat flour noodles into the tsuyu before slurping the noodles.

Eating them chilled is said to be the best way of appreciating soba noodles. Allowing them to soak in a hot soup often changes its texture. It’s the same reason why some people prefer tsukemen over regular ramen.

Soba is widely available throughout Japan but the best soba noodles are said to come from Nagano prefecture, where it’s known as Shinshu soba. Nagano’s drastic day and night temperature differences and its mountain soil rich in volcanic ash make it the ideal environment for growing soba.

Pictured below is the zaru soba from Kobayashi Soba in Matsumoto. They’ve been open for over a hundred years and are known for serving some of the very best soba in Japan.

If you visit Matsumoto, then you may be interested in trying toji soba as well. It’s an interesting way of enjoying soba noodles that’s available only within certain areas in Nagano like Matsumoto.

Toji soba is similar to shabu-shabu. Using a small basket, you steep the soba buckwheat noodles in a hot broth for a few seconds before eating them with the vegetables inside the pot. It’s a popular Japanese winter dish and a unique way of enjoying soba in Matsumoto.

34. Champon

Like kakuni manju, champon is a Japanese-Chinese dish from Nagasaki. It’s a noodle soup dish made by frying pork, seafood, and vegetables with lard, then adding a soup made with chicken and pig bones. Champon ramen noodles are then added to the mix before boiling.

Champon was first served in Nagasaki by Chinese restaurant Shikairo. According to the restaurant, it was based on a dish in Fujian cuisine called tonniishiimen. It was created during the Meiji period to provide a cheap, filling meal for Chinese students attending school in Japan.

Champon is widely available in Nagasaki. We had it at Horaiken Bekkan, a highly regarded champon restaurant near the Atomic Bomb Museum.

JAPANESE MIXED INGREDIENT DISHES

To be honest, I didn’t really know where to put these dishes. They aren’t predominantly meat or seafood dishes but I couldn’t categorize them as vegetarian either so I decided to create this section of mixed ingredient Japanese dishes.

35. Chawanmushi

Chawanmushi is a popular Japanese savory egg custard dish. In Japan, it’s traditionally served hot in winter and chilled in summer and is usually part of a larger set meal.

Chawanmushi recipes vary but it’s typically made with ingredients like shiitake mushroom, parsley, ginkgo, lily, chestnut, chicken, and different types of seafood.

Some accounts trace the origin of chawanmushi to 17th century Nagasaki. It’s said to be one of the dishes served in shippoku set meals which are large, banquet-type spreads containing a medley of Chinese, Western, and traditional Japanese dishes.

You can find chawanmushi anywhere in Japan. If you visit Nagasaki, then we suggest trying it at Yossou. They’ve been open since 1866 and make their signature chawanmushi with nine specific ingredients – white fish, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, kikurage mushrooms, bamboo shoots, ginkgo, kamaboko, wheat powder, and anago.

36. Oden

Oden refers to a type of nabemono (Japanese one-pot dish) made with any number of ingredients like chikuwa, konnyaku, ganmodoki, daikon, and boiled eggs stewed in a soy-flavored dashi broth.

It’s a popular Japanese dish enjoyed throughout the country – at restaurants, izakayas, even konbinis (convenience stores) like 7-Eleven. Ingredients vary between restaurants but it’s usually served with a side of karashi (Japanese mustard).

37. Onigiri

Onigiri is a type of Japanese snack made from rice, nori (seaweed), and a filling. They’re referred to as rice balls even though they aren’t always shaped like balls.

White rice is formed in triangular or cylindrical shapes and wrapped in nori. It’s typically filled with ingredients like tuna, salmon, umeboshi, katsuobushi, mentaiko, kombu, or any other salty/sour ingredient that can be used as a natural preservative.

In spite of its appearance and name, onigiri shouldn’t be confused as a type of sushi. Sushi is made with vinegared rice while onigiri is made with unseasoned white rice.

You’ll find different types of onigiri sold at every konbini in Japan. It’s a popular Japanese snack and personally my favorite thing to eat when I’m looking for a quick bite to eat in Japan.

38. Monjayaki

Monjayaki is the quintessential Tokyo dish. According to my Japanese friend, you can’t talk about Tokyo food without talking about monjayaki.

Monjayaki refers to a Japanese dish made with pan-fried batter. It’s similar to okonomiyaki except the batter used to make it is much runnier due to the addition of dashi or water. When cooked, it has the texture of melted cheese and doesn’t quite solidify into pancake form the way okonomiyaki does.

Like okonomiyaki, monjayaki is usually cooked on your table. Shredded cabbage is spread out over the griddle before being poured over with the batter. The server then mixes it all up for a few minutes before allowing it to rest and cook for a few more minutes.

Monjayaki can be made with any number of ingredients like pork, octopus, squid, shrimp, and other types of seafood. To eat, you scoop small sections off using a spatula. It’s an interesting Japanese dish that you should try when you visit Tokyo.

39. Tamago Kake Gohan

Often referred to as “TKG”, tamago kake gohan is a popular Japanese dish of steamed rice topped with raw egg and soy sauce.

According to my Japanese friend, it’s a type of Japanese comfort food that’s similar to an American PB&J sandwich. It’s a dish locals like to eat when they want something simple and comforting.

The Japanese often consume tamago kake gohan with just raw egg, white rice, and soy sauce, but it can be made with other ingredients as well like chicken.

40. Kaiseki

Like yakiniku, kaiseki is more a Japanese culinary term than a dish. It refers to a traditional multi-course meal in Japan consisting of over ten small artfully prepared Japanese dishes.

You can think of kaiseki as the Japanese equivalent to western haute cuisine. It’s usually served at ryokans and small restaurants in Japan called ryotei over a course of several hours.

There’s no formula for kaiseki meals though there is a prescribed order to the dishes. Kaiseki typically consists of appetizers, a soup course (suimono), seasonal courses, cooked dishes, a rice course (shokuji), and dessert and tea.

Much is left to the creativity of the chef who’s free to omit any course except the suimono and shokuji courses. Kaiseki can be enjoyed throughout Japan though it’s said to have its roots in Kyoto.

If you visit Kyoto and want a truly special Japanese meal, then I suggest making arrangements for a kaiseki dinner. It’s one of the best culinary experiences you can have in Japan.

JAPANESE DESSERTS / DRINKS

41. Matcha

Matcha is an important part of Japanese culture. It refers to a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves.

Traditionally, matcha is mixed with hot water to make tea. It’s the central component in Japanese tea ceremonies which revolve around the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha as hot tea. The Japanese drink it often as it’s touted to have many health benefits.

Pictured below is a cup of matcha with wagashi from an informal tea ceremony I enjoyed in Kanazawa. Wagashi are carefully crafted traditional Japanese sweets or confections that are usually served with green tea. Considered an art form in Japan, it comes in many shaped and can be made with a diverse array of ingredients and preparation methods.

The best matcha in Japan is said to come from Uji, a small town between Kyoto and Nara. The highest grade of matcha is referred to as ceremonial-grade matcha and is the type used in Japanese tea ceremonies.

Matcha may be the central component in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies but the ingredient has found its way into many modern dishes as well.

Culinary-grade matcha is used to flavor a spectrum of trendy food products in Japan like mochi, ice cream, chocolates, candy, lattes, cakes, and pastries. It’s even used to flavor savory Japanese dishes like soba and tempura.

42. Mochi

Mochi is one of the most well-known Japanese sweets. It refers to a popular Japanese rice cake made from mochigome, a glutinous short-grain rice. The rice is pounded into a paste before being molded into the desired shape.

Mochi can be enjoyed year-round in Japan though it’s traditionally eaten to usher in the Japanese New Year. It’s often eaten on its own but it can also be used as an ingredient in many products like confections and ice cream. Apart from attracting good fortune, it’s believed that long strands of freshly made mochi symbolize a long life and good well-being.

If you visit Japan in spring, then be sure to look out for a special type of pink mochi called sakuramochi. It’s made to welcome spring in Japan and is filled with a sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf.

Mochi is traditionally made in a labor-intensive process called mochitsuki. The steamed rice is pounded with a heavy wooden mallet (kine) in a large mortar (usu).

Two people work in tandem – one pounds while the other turns and wets the mochi. They have to keep a steady rhythm so as not to crush the mochi-wetter’s hand with the heavy kine!

43. Hokkaido Dairy

Hokkaido is the biggest prefecture in Japan and home to a massive dairy industry. They produce about half of the country’s milk and 90% of its cheese.

Dairy from Hokkaido is more expensive than dairy from other prefectures because of its reputation for quality and freshness. It’s so highly regarded that you’ll often find labels on packages proudly showing they were made with Hokkaido dairy.

This is true even outside of Japan. Many dessert and pastry shops in Asia will often create and highlight products made with Hokkaido dairy.

There are terrific dairy products everywhere in Hokkaido but the best we found were in Otaru, a small port city less than an hour northwest of Sapporo. You can try it in pastries, cookies, custard, and other Japanese desserts, though the most popular is soft serve ice cream.

Take a stroll down Sakaimachi Street and sample goodies at its many dairy shops. Be sure to stop at the hugely popular LeTao to pick up one of these double fromage cheeseckaes. It’s insanely delicious.

44. Castella Cake

Castella is a Japanese sponge cake made with sugar, flour, eggs, and starch syrup. It was brought to Japan by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century through Nagasaki, which at the time was the only Japanese port open to foreign commerce.

Today, castella cake is considered a specialty of Nagasaki, its name derived from the Portuguese dish Pao de Castela meaning “bread from Castile”.

Castella cake is available at many shops in the city and is one of Nagasaki’s most popular tourist gift items. We bought a few boxes at popular Castella chain Bunmeido.

45. Sake

Sake is the national beverage of Japan. It refers to an alcoholic drink made by fermenting rice that’s been polished to remove the bran.

Sake is referred to as Japanese rice wine though its brewing process is actually closer to beer than wine. Like beer, sake is produced by converting starch into sugars which ferment into alcohol.

I went on a sake tasting tour in Kyoto’s Fushimi district and I was fascinated by the process. Like wine, you can pair different types of sake with certain dishes to bring out the flavor and character of the sake and food.

If you’d like to learn more about sake in Kyoto, then you can book a sake tasting tour through Magical Trip.

JAPANESE FOOD TOURS

No one knows Japanese food better than a local, so what better way to experience Japanese cuisine than by going on a food tour? A knowledgeable local will take you to the city’s best spots and markets and explain every dish to you in more detail.

We’ve gone on food tours in Tokyo and Kyoto and enjoyed them both very much. If you’re visiting Japan, then check out Get Your Guide and byFood for a list of food tours in Tokyo, Osaka, and other destinations throughout the country.

JAPANESE COOKING CLASSES

Aside from food tours, we enjoy taking cooking classes when we travel. For me, it’s one of the best ways to learn about the local cuisine because you get to see the different ingredients and methods that go into making it.

As described, I took a cooking class in Tokyo where I learned to make Japanese dishes like tempura, udon, and tamagoyaki. Before your trip, check out Cookly and byFood for a list of cooking classes in Tokyo and in other cities throughout Japan.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON JAPANESE FOOD

We’ve been to Japan many times but I feel like we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of Japanese cuisine. We’ve visited less than half of the 47 prefectures in Japan so this Japanese food guide still has a long way to go.

As described, it’s a labor of love that I’ll be expanding and refining after every trip to Japan. We enjoy the food in Japan so much that we plan on visiting at least once a year every year until we’ve explored every prefecture and experienced most of its regional Japanese food.

As always, I’m a food enthusiast, not an expert, so if you spot any mistakes or wrong information, then feel free to let me know in the comments section below. I’d love to hear your suggestions for any must-try Japanese dishes as well.

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful time eating your way through Japan!

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Nagoya is a major port and transportation hub in Japan’s Chubu region. An important industrial center, it’s Japan’s fourth largest city and home to many tourist attractions like three Toyota-related museums, a railway park, and a science museum housing one of the world’s biggest planetariums.

I enjoyed Nagoya’s museums but I loved its food even more. I left the city surprised by how good all the food was! I already knew about the magic of hitsumabushi but dishes like miso katsu and doteni caught me off guard. Everything I tried in Nagoya was delicious.

Nagoya doesn’t get as much attention as Tokyo or Osaka but I was intrigued by how much there is to see, do, and eat there. There are many interesting Nagoya attractions so whether you’re into cars, trains, culture, or Japanese food, Nagoya has something for you.

NAGOYA ATTRACTIONS QUICK LINKS

This article on the top attractions in Nagoya is long. For your convenience, we’ve compiled links to hotels, tours, and other travel-related services here.

HOTELS

Recommended hotels around Nagoya Station, the most convenient area to stay for first-time visitors to the city.

• Luxury: The Tower Hotel Nagoya
• Midrange: Hotel Vista Nagoya Nishiki
• Budget: Choukou Hotel

TOURS

• Sightseeing Tour: Private Full-Day City Tour
• Food Tour: Private and Personalized Eat Like a Local Tour
• Theme Park: LEGOLAND® Japan Resort 1 Day Passport

OTHER SERVICES

• Visa Services
• Travel Insurance (with COVID cover)
• Airport Transfers
• Japan Rail Pass
• Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass

NAGOYA TRAVEL GUIDE

If you’re visiting Nagoya for the first time, then be sure to check out our detailed Nagoya travel guide. It’ll have all the information you need – like when to go, where to stay, which attractions to visit, etc. – to help you plan your trip.

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THINGS TO DO IN NAGOYA

1. Enjoy Nagoya Meshi

I didn’t realize this until after my visit but Nagoya is a favorite destination for food among the Japanese. Together with Fukuoka and Hiroshima, many locals consider it to be one of the best food cities in Japan.

This was less a revelation and more a confirmation of what I had experienced during my time there. I remember being surprised by how good the food was in Nagoya. It wasn’t something I was expecting at all.

In fact, so delicious is the food in Nagoya that the Japanese even have a term for it – Nagoya meshi. Nagoya meshi means “Nagoya food” or “Nagoya cuisine”. It pertains to all the delicious dishes you can have in Nagoya like miso katsu (pictured below), hitsumabushi, kishimen, and doteni.

Because Nagoya meshi is such an important part of the local culture, no trip to Nagoya can be complete without trying its many terrific dishes. If you travel for food like we do, then exploring Nagoya meshi is one of the most fun things you can do in Nagoya. Check out our Nagoya food guide to learn what dishes to look out for.

2. Explore the Toyota Techno Museum

This is one of the most visited attractions in Nagoya. Nearly everyone in the world has heard of the Toyota Motor Corporation. It’s Japan’s leading car manufacturer and one of the biggest automobile companies in the world.

Toyota was founded in Nagoya in 1911 and maintains its headquarters and many of its domestic production plants in and around the city. Visiting one or all three Toyota-related museums is one of the top things to do in Nagoya.

If you don’t have time to visit all three, then the most popular and easiest to get to is the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology or Toyota Techno Museum for short.

Like many people, I grew up with Toyotas but I never knew that the company didn’t actually start off as an automobile manufacturer. They started off as an automatic loom manufacturer and was named Toyoda, with a “d”, after its founder Sakichi Toyoda. A loom is an apparatus that makes fabrics.

It wasn’t until 1935 after his son Kiichiro Toyoda took over that the company started producing automobiles and was renamed Toyota. The Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology has two sections – the first documenting its early history as an automatic loom manufacturer and the second detailing its transition into a car manufacturer.

It’s a huge museum with plenty of fascinating exhibits, many of which are interactive and come alive with the press of a button. With an entrance fee of just JPY 500, it has to be one of the most interesting and affordable attractions in Nagoya.

This is one of the earliest automatic looms produced by the Toyoda company. If I remember correctly, it precedes the Type G which came to be regarded as the best-performing automatic loom in the world at that time.

Toyoda didn’t transition into a car manufacturer because they weren’t succeeding in the loom business. On the contrary, the were pioneers in both.

Pictured below is the very first passenger car mass-produced by Toyota – the AA Standard Sedan. The Toyota AA was the first passenger car but it wasn’t the first automobile they produced. That distinction goes to the Toyota G1, a 6 meter (20 ft) long truck with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons.

I loved the Toyota Techno Museum and spent the entire afternoon there. With more time, I would have loved to visit the other two Toyota museums as well – the Toyota Kaikan Museum and the Toyota Automobile Museum. Unlike the Toyota Techno Museum that’s located in the city center, the other two are located about an hour away by train from central Nagoya.

The Toyota Kaikan Museum is located next to the company headquarters and offers plant tours while the Toyota Automobile Museum showcases Japanese, European, and American cars produced from the late 1800s to the 1960s. If you’re a car enthusiast, then you’ll probably want to visit all three.

Operating Hours: 9:30AM-5PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mondays)
Admission: JPY 500

3. Visit the Nagoya City Science Museum

I was supposed to visit the Nagoya City Science Museum after the Toyota Techno Museum, but I enjoyed the Techno Museum so much I would up spending all of my time there.

As its name suggests, the museum features exhibits dedicated to science and modern technology. It known for its giant silver globe that houses one of the world’s biggest planetariums. Unfortunately, shows at the planetarium are conducted only in Japanese, but seeing the visuals may be cool enough.

If you’re traveling with kids or enjoy interactive science exhibits, then visiting the City Science Museum is a great way to spend the day in Nagoya. It features seven floors of permanent and temporary exhibits, some of the most popular being the Tornado Lab, Electric Discharge Lab, and the Deep Freezing Lab.

Photo by Aberu.Go via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 9:30AM-5PM, daily
Admission: JPY 400

4. Go Trainspotting at SCMAGLEV and Railway Park

Japan has arguably the most enviable railway system in the world. It’s extensive, efficient, and accurate to the minute. Planes are faster and buses are cheaper but trains are the preferred means of travel in Japan.

If you have a fascination for trains or are interested in learning more about Japan’s highly efficient railway system, then you may be interested in visiting The SCMAGLEV and Railway Park. It’s the museum of Central Japan Railways (more commonly known as JR Central) and is one of the most unique attractions in Nagoya.

The museum features over three dozen retired trains – many of which you can enter – from historic steam locomotives to the shinkansen to the most modern magnetic levitating trains.

On one end of the main exhibit hall are the museum’s steam and electric locomotive trains. The oldest of these locomotives date back to the early 20th century.

Pictured in the foreground below is the superconducting maglev train, or SCMaglev for short. With its aerodynamic nose resembling a duck’s bill, the SCMaglev topped out at 603 km/h (375 mph), making it the fastest rail vehicle ever created.

High speed maglev links connecting Tokyo with Nagoya and Tokyo with Osaka are currently underway and estimated to open in 2027 and 2045 respectively.

Operating Hours: 10AM-5:30PM, daily
Admission: JPY 1,000

5. Spend the Day at Legoland

I didn’t even know there was a Legoland in Nagoya until I got off the metro to go to SCAMGLEV & Railway Park. As you can probably guess from its name, Legoland is an amusement park inspired by the iconic Lego bricks.

Legoland features theme park rides, large Lego models, games, souvenir and hobby shops, and restaurants. It’s geared towards younger children so if you’re visiting Nagoya with kids, then a day at Legoland should be at the top of your Nagoya itinerary.

The theme park is located near SCAMGLEV & Railway Park, at Kinjofuto Station which is the last stop on the Aonami Line. If you go early enough, then it’s possible to visit both attractions on the same day.

You can purchase tickets at the gate or in advance through Klook. They offer combo tickets that include entrance to Legoland Japan and Sea Life Nagoya, a small aquarium located right next to the theme park.

“NAGOYA Spiral Towers” by S.Brickman, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

Operating Hours: legoland.jp
Admission: Starts at JPY 3,400 (kids), JPY 4,600 (adults)

6. Enjoy Peace and Calm at Atsuta Shrine

I’ve been to many temples and shrines in Japan. After a while, they started to lose their novelty but in Nagoya, they were a welcome sight. Compared to less modernized destinations in Japan, Nagoya feels more urban and industrialized so it was nice to sit down and enjoy the peace and quiet of Atsuta Shrine.

Located within a forested area in southern Nagoya, Atsuta Shrine is one of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines. It was established sometime between 71 and 130 AD to house the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, an ancient sword that’s considered one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan.

The shrine complex occupies a large wooded area of about 200,000 square meters (2,153,000 sq ft). Aside from the main shrine, it features many smaller shrines along a network of walking trails. Exploring the temple grounds is one of the most relaxing things you can do in Nagoya.

Operating Hours: 24 hrs
Admission: FREE

7. Take a Stroll at Shirotori Garden

Located less than a kilometer from Atsuta Shrine is Shirotori Garden, a Japanese landscaped garden covering an area of almost four hectares.

I’ve been to a few landscaped gardens in Japan, including Shukkei-en in Hiroshima, Koishikawa Korakuen in Tokyo, and the spectacular Kenroku-en in Kanazawa. After visiting Atsuta Shrine, I was excited to visit Shirotori Garden as well only to find it closed on a Monday. Bummer.

Like any Japanese garden, Shirotori Garden is meant to represent Japan’s landscapes in miniature. Certain features within the garden symbolize real-life geographical elements in the Chubu region like Mt. Ontake, the Kiso River, and Ise Bay.

Photo by rolling rock via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 9AM-5PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mondays)
Admission: JPY 300

8. Explore Oasis 21 and Nagoya TV Tower

The observation decks of Nagoya Tower, the oldest TV tower in Japan, is literally one of the top things to do in Nagoya. It stands at 180 meters tall (591 ft) and boasts two observation decks – the indoor Skydeck and the outdoor Sky Balcony at 90 meters (295 ft) and 100 meters (398 ft) above the ground.

After enjoying the views, you can cross the street and do some shopping at Oasis 21 – a futuristic shopping complex and bus terminal known for its unique glass rooftop called “Spaceship Aqua” (pictured below). It’s remarkable during the day but even more so at night when the glass walkway is illuminated from underneath.

Spaceship Aqua is free but you’ll need to purchase tickets to go up to the observation decks of Nagoya TV Tower. You can get them at the gate or in advance through Klook.

Photo by cozyta via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 10AM-10PM, daily
Admission: JPY 900 (Nagoya TV Tower)

9. Visit Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle was built during the early Edo period and was at one point one of the biggest castles in Japan. It was completed in 1612 and features a five-story main keep supported by distinctive fan-shaped sloping stone walls.

Sadly, like many of Japan’s original castles, much of Nagoya Castle was destroyed in the air raids of WWII. The only surviving original structures are Omote-Ninomon Gate and three corner turrets. Most of what you see today is a ferroconcrete reconstruction dating back to 1959.

Since May 2018, the castle has been undergoing a total reconstruction in wood so it more closely resembles the original design. It’ll be closed until its unveiling in 2022, though the castle grounds and Honmaru Palace will remain open to visitors.

Numerous cherry trees are planted throughout the castle grounds, making it one of the most popular spots in Nagoya to view the cherry blossoms in spring. Once it’s fully open to the public, it will surely be one of the most visited tourist attractions in Nagoya.

Photo by Tonic Ray via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 9AM-4:30PM, daily
Admission: JPY 500

10. Walk Through a Tunnel of Light at Nabana no Sato

If you visit Nagoya anytime between mid-October and early May, then you may want to visit Nabana no Sato, a botanical garden located in neighboring Kuwana City. It’s home to one of the largest and longest illumination events in Japan.

Most illumination events in Japan are held for just a few weeks in winter, but the Nabana no Sato Illumination extends to nearly seven months. It features seven installations with over 8 million LED lights illuminating an area of about 210,000 square meters (2,260,000 sq ft). Among the most popular installations are two tunnels of light, each over 100 meters (328 ft) long and illuminated by flower-shaped LED lights.

Nabana no Sato is part of Nagashima Resort in Mie prefecture. Aside from the botanical gardens, the resort is home to Nagashima Spa Land amusement park, a water park, a hot spring complex, and an outlet shopping mall. It’s located just 40 minutes by bus from Meitetsu Bus Center making it an ideal day trip destination from Nagoya.

It’s easy enough to go to Nabana no Sato on you own using public transportation, but if you’d like to go on an organized tour, then you can book one through Klook (option 1 | option 2 | option 3).

Photo by Phubet Juntarungsee via Shutterstock

Illumination Schedule: Around mid-October till early May
Admission: JPY 2,300

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE TOP ATTRACTIONS IN NAGOYA

I wasn’t expecting much from Nagoya but I left intrigued with its possibilities. As much as I enjoyed the city, I can’t say I fell in love with it. It lacks the charm and atmosphere of more traditional destinations like Kyoto or Takayama, which at the end of the day is what I love most about Japan.

With that said, I’m looking forward to going back. I want to visit the other two Toyota museums and all the other Nagoya attractions I missed because at the time, I didn’t put enough stock in this city to plan as well as I should have. I hope this guide on the best things to do in Nagoya helps you plan your trip well so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.

If you plan on exploring Nagoya and other cities within the Chubu region like Kanazawa, Takayama, Fukui, and Shirakawa-go, then you may be interested in getting a Takayama Hokuriku Pass. It’s a rail pass that gives you unlimited travel on JR trains within the Chubu region for five consecutive days. Check out our 5-day Chubu itinerary to help you plan your trip.

Disclosure

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If you have an interest in history and a passion for Vietnamese food, then you’re going to love Hue.

Located about 130 km north of Hoi An, Hue is a former Vietnamese capital that served as the Nguyen Dynasty’s seat of power for well over a century. It’s home to the magnificent Imperial City and a series of royal tombs housing the remains of nine Nguyen Dynasty emperors.

If you travel for food like we do, then you’ll be happy to find an interesting bevy of regional dishes like com hen, banh hue, banh khoai, nem lui, banh ep, and my personal favorite – bunh bo hue.

The food is delicious everywhere in this country but it took just a few days of traveleating in Hue for it to become one of my favorite food destinations in Vietnam.

If you’re visiting Hue for the first time, then I hope this comprehensive travel guide helps you plan your trip. It’ll give you key information on where to stay, what to do, how much to budget, and of course, what and where to eat.

VISIT HUE QUICK LINKS

This Hue travel guide is comprehensive. What that means is that it’s very long. For your convenience, I’ve compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here.

HOTELS

Recommended hotels and homestays in the Citadel, one of the most convenient areas to stay for people on their first trip to Hue.

• Nemo Homestay
• Ciel Homestay
• Asean Garden Homestay Hue

TOURS

• Sightseeing Tour: Hue City Full-Day Tour
• Food Tour: 5-Hour Street Food Tour by Motorbike
• Cooking Class: Vietnamese Royal Cooking Class

OTHER SERVICES

• Vietnam eVisa
• Travel Insurance with COVID cover (WFFF readers get 5% off)
• Airport Transfer
• eSIM Data Plan

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GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hue Travel Restrictions How to Apply for an E-visa to Vietnam Hue at a Glance Best Time to Visit Hue Traveling to Hue Where to Exchange Currency Best Areas to Stay in Hue Things to Do in Hue Day Trips from Hue Vietnamese Food Guide Where to Eat in Hue Which Cafes to Visit in Hue Points of Interest in Hue (Map) How to Get Around in Hue How Many Days to Stay / Hue Itinerary Hue Travel Tips

HUE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Because of the current global situation, travel guidelines can change very often. To help you with your trip, our friends at Booking.com created a website that lists detailed information on travel restrictions around the globe.

Before planning a trip to Hue, be sure to check Booking.com for information on travel restrictions to Vietnam. If you do decide to go ahead and visit Hue, then we strongly recommended getting travel insurance with COVID coverage.

HOW TO APPLY FOR AN E-VISA TO VIETNAM

Depending on what type of passport you carry, you may need an e-visa and medical declaration to enter Vietnam.

I’m a Philippine passport holder so I can visit Vietnam visa-free for up to 21 days. However, I wanted to stay longer so I applied for an e-visa through iVisa.com which allowed me a maximum stay of 30 days. The approval process took about 2-3 days.

Requirements and fees may differ depending on your passport, so you can visit iVisa.com for more information and to apply.

HUE AT A GLANCE

Hue is a city in central Vietnam that served as the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. The first Nguyen emperor – Gia Long – established control over the whole of Vietnam in 1802 and made Hue it’s capital.

During the French occupation which began in the 1880s, Hue became part of the French protectorate of Annam which encompassed central Vietnam. The Nguyen Dynasty was kept in power as puppets of the French.

Hue would remain the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty until 1945 when the last Nguyen emperor – Bao Dai – abdicated the throne. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam would be formed in the same year with Hanoi in the north being declared its capital.

Meanwhile, the French would appoint Bao Dai as Head of State of the newly formed State of Vietnam in 1949, with Saigon in the south being its capital. And so was born North and South Vietnam.

Due to its proximity to the border between North and South, Hue would suffer considerable damage during the Vietnam War. Many of the city’s historical sites would lay in disrepair for many years because the victorious communist regime viewed them as relics from Vietnam’s feudal past.

Sentiments have since changed with much of Hue now being restored as an important historical attraction and center for tourism and transportation in central Vietnam.

BEST TIME TO VISIT HUE

Unlike northern Vietnam that has four seasons, central Vietnam only has two – wet (Sept-Jan) and dry (Feb-Aug). Hue has a similar climate to Hoi An and Da Nang so the best time to visit, in terms of the weather, is from February till April.

I went to Hue in early- to mid-September which is just at the start of the rainy season. It didn’t rain when I was there but it was overcast on multiple days and still fairly hot.

DRY SEASON: Hue’s dry season is from February till August. May till August is the hottest time of the year with temperatures often rising above 33°C (91.4°F). On top of that, August is a peak month for domestic tourism. February till April are the driest months and the best time to visit Hue. Humidity is low and temperatures hover at a more tolerable 23°C (73.4°F).

WET SEASON: The rainy season in Hue starts around September and goes till January. It’s one of the rainiest cities in Vietnam with the heaviest rainfall coming in October and November. This isn’t the best time to visit Hue.

Another factor to consider when planning a trip to Hue is the Tet holiday or Vietnamese New Year celebration. This is held sometime between the end of January and early February. Many businesses will be shuttered during this time and hotel rates will be at their highest.

Climate: Annual Monthly Weather in Hue

For more on Hue’s weather, check out these climate graphs from climate-data.org. I’ve also created average temperature and annual rainfall graphs with the most ideal months to visit marked in orange.

Average Temperature

Annual Rainfall

TRAVELING TO HUE

The most popular ways to get to Hue is by plane, bus, or train. I flew to Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) which is located about 15 km south of the city. From there, I took a minibus into Hue.

I’ll describe each method in more detail below but you can go to Bookaway to check for transportation options to Hue from wherever you are.

By Plane

If you’re flying into Phu Bai Airport, then you’ll need to arrange for an airport transfer into Hue. Phu Bai Airport is about 15 km away so it’ll take around 30 minutes to get into the city by car.

SHUTTLE BUS: This is what I did. At just VND 70,000, it’s the cheapest transfer option from the airport to Hue. When you exit the arrival terminal, just look for signs for the airport shuttle bus. You can buy tickets on the spot. If I remember correctly, it dropped me off in front of a travel agency in the city center so you may have to take a taxi or Grab to your hotel.

TAXI: This is considerably more expensive than a shuttle bus but it’s also a lot more comfortable. It’s also more convenient because it’ll drop you off right at your hotel. A taxi to Hue from Phu Bai Airport should cost you around VND 250,000.

PRIVATE TRANSFER: A private transfer is the most comfortable option but it will probably be the most expensive. You can book it in advance through Bookaway.

By Bus

I love Vietnam’s sleeper buses. They’re so comfortable. The seats are reclined to such a degree that you’re lying almost flat on your back. They’re my preferred means of transport for shorter distances in Vietnam.

Pictured below is the sleeper bus I took from Hue to Hoi An. Taking a bus to Hue may or may not be possible depending on where you are, so you can check for available routes on Bookaway.

By Train

I haven’t taken a train in Vietnam but I’ve read that they generally aren’t as comfortable as buses. Travel time is about the same but they’re considerably more expensive.

You can check for available train routes to Hue Railway Station on Bookaway. From there, you can take a taxi or Grab or walk to your hotel.

WHERE TO EXCHANGE CURRENCY

The unit of currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND).

I withdrew VND from ATMs in Hue so I didn’t have to exchange any currency. But in my experience, the best place to exchange currency in Vietnam is at banks and gold/jewelry shops. I’ve exchanged currency at banks and gold shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and I’ve always gotten good rates.

Personally, I think withdrawing VND from an ATM is the more convenient option. You’ll need to confirm this with your bank but rates are often comparable and you won’t have to bring too much foreign currency with you.

Just make sure to advise your bank that you plan on using your ATM card abroad so you don’t run into any problems. In my experience, my ATM card works in some machines but not in others.

NOTE: Some ATMs may ask if you’d like to proceed “with or without conversion”. Always proceed WITHOUT conversion. If you proceed with conversion, then you’re authorizing the foreign bank operating the ATM to do the conversion for you, usually at less than favorable rates.

BEST AREAS TO STAY IN HUE

In my opinion, where you stay in Hue depends on which you prefer – history or food. If you prefer history, then it’s a good idea to stay in the Citadel. If you prefer food, then it’s best to stay across the river in the Vinh Ninh / Phu Hoi areas.

Represented on the color-coded map below are the two aforementioned areas. Click on the link to view a live version of the map. (Please note that marked areas are approximations only)

BLUE – Citadel
RED – Vinh Ninh / Phu Hoi

I’ll provide targeted links under each description but you can book accommodations in Hue through Booking.com or Agoda.

CITADEL

The Imperial City is the top historical attraction in Hue. It refers to a moated area within a larger moated area known as the Citadel.

If you’d like to explore the Imperial City without having to rely too much on public transportation, then the Citadel is the ideal place for you to stay. You can search for accommodations in the Citadel area on Agoda.

Check out a few recommended hotels and homestays in the Citadel.

• Nemo Homestay
• Ciel Homestay
• Asean Garden Homestay Hue

VINH NINH / PHU HOI

I went to Hue primarily for the food so I stayed in the Vinh Ninh / Phu Hoi areas. If you look at a map, you’ll see that Vinh Ninh and Phu Hoi are two neighborhoods located right next to each other on the other side of the Perfume River, opposite the Citadel.

I stayed at Candy Inn which is a clean and comfortable bed and breakfast located in an alley in Phu Hoi. It’s in a quieter part of town with plenty of restaurants and street food stalls within walking distance of the hotel.

You can book a room at Candy Inn on Agoda. If you’d like to stay on this side of the Perfume River but don’t feel this is the right hotel for you, then you can search for alternate listing on Booking.com or Agoda.

Listed below are some of the most recommended accommodation options in Vinh Ninh and Phu Hoi.

• Luxury: Melia Vinpearl Hue
• Midrange: HOTEL LA PERLE
• Budget: MaiLy Hostel

You can also book hotels and homestays in Hue using the handy map below.

THINGS TO DO IN HUE

1. Explore the Imperial City

The Imperial City is a walled palace complex that served as the Nguyen Dynasty’s seat of power from 1802 till 1945. It’s a large complex of palaces, shrines, pavilions, and gardens enclosed within a perimeter wall measuring about 2.5 km (1.6 miles) in length.

You can explore the Imperial City on your own but it’s probably best to go on a tour so you have the benefit of a guide explaining everything to you. I went on this Klook full day tour that took me to the Imperial City, two royal tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda, and a few other stops. Get Your Guide offers Hue city tours that take you to the Imperial City as well.

If you’d prefer to explore the Imperial City on your own, then entrance to the walled complex is VND 200,000. Just know that much of Hue was badly damaged during the war so you’ll find many buildings in varying states of restoration and disrepair.

If you plan on visiting the royal tombs as well, then you can save on the total cost of admission by purchasing a combo ticket that includes admission to the Imperial City and two or three of the most popular tombs.

Operating Hours: 8AM-5:30PM (Fri-Wed), 8AM-10PM (Thurs)
Admission: VND 200,000
Estimated Time to Spend: At least half a day

2. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu or the Pagoda of the Celestial Lady is one of Hue’s most important temples. It’s located on the banks of the Perfume River, about 3 km west of the Citadel.

Thien Mu Pagoda’s most recognizable structure is Thap Phuoc Duyen – a seven-story 21-meter (69 ft) octagonal tower viewed as an unofficial symbol of Hue. Each of the tower’s seven stories is dedicated to a Buddha which manifested itself in human form.

Entrance to Thien Mu Pagoda is free so you can go to the temple on your own via cyclo, Grab, or dragon boat. As described, I visited the temple on this full day guided tour that took me to the Imperial City and two royal tombs.

Operating Hours: 8AM-5PM, daily
Admission: FREE
Estimated Time to Spend: About 1 hr

3. Explore the Royal Tombs

The Nguyen Dynasty had thirteen emperors. There are seven known tombs in Hue housing the remains of nine of those emperors. Of those seven royal tombs, three are frequently visited by tourists – Minh Mang, Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh. This is due to the tombs’ good condition and ease of accessibility.

Each of these three tombs is located at least 5 km (3 miles) from downtown Hue so you’ll need to book a Grab or cyclo to get there. As described, I went on a full day guided tour which took me to Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb and the mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh. You can learn more about these tombs in my article on the best things to do in Hue.

If you’d prefer to visit the royal tombs on your own, then the cost of admission is VND 150,000 per tomb but you can save on the cost by purchasing Imperial City combo tickets.

Admission: VND 150,000 per tomb
Estimated Time to Spend: About 1-2 hrs per tomb

4. Visit Dong Ba Market

Asian markets are always fun to explore. Covering an area of 16,000 square meters, Dong Ba Market is the biggest and oldest market in Hue. It’s located by the banks of the Perfume River, about 1 km east of the Imperial City.

If you’re into street photography or simply enjoy the atmosphere of markets, then you’ll have fun getting lost in Dong Ba Market’s network of stalls selling fresh meat, produce, handicrafts, and clothing.

Estimated Time to Spend: About 1 hr

5. Ride a Cyclo

Hue is small compared to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City but it isn’t small enough to be easily explored on foot. Exploring the areas on either side of the Perfume River takes a considerable amount of walking, which isn’t always fun under Vietnam’s intense midday sun.

If you’d like to explore Hue without doing too much walking, then perhaps you’d be interested in a cyclo tour. You’ll be taken around in these three-wheeled bicycles that were a popular form of transport during the French colonial period.

6. Take a Cooking Class

We took our first cooking class in Hoi An a few years ago. We enjoyed it so much that Ren’s been taking at least one cooking class on every trip since then.

I went to Hue on my own so I didn’t take a cooking class, but if you’re interested in learning how to make some of Hue’s delicious regional dishes, then you may want to go through Cookly’s list of cooking classes in Hue.

Photo by ngoc tran via Shutterstock

DAY TRIPS FROM HUE

1. Thuy Bieu Village

Thuy Bieu is a village located about 7 km west of downtown Hue. It’s made up of two villages – Nguyet Bieu Village and Luong Quan Village – and is known for its centuries-old stone houses and gardens growing a special kind of pomelo.

Known locally as thanh tra, this green-skinned pomelo was so prized that it was previously served only to members of the royal family.

Thuy Bieu Village is too far to walk for most people so it’s best explored on a bicycle, either on your own or on a guided tour.

PHOTO: “Pomelo Garden” by Hue Riverside Resort, used under CC0 1.0 / Processed in Photoshop and Lightroom

2. Tam Giang Lagoon

Located about 15 km north of downtown Hue is Tam Giang Lagoon. It’s the largest freshwater lagoon in Southeast Asia with a total surface area of about 22,000 hectares.

Water from the Perfume River and other major rivers pour into Tam Giang Lagoon before exiting into the East Sea. It’s a beautiful area that’s home to thousands of fisherfolk who live by its shores and earn a living from its aquatic resources.

For the most picturesque experience, Tam Giang Lagoon is best enjoyed at sunset during the dry season. You can book a tour on Klook or Get Your Guide.

Photo by TBone Lee via Shutterstock

3. Ho Thuy Tien Abandoned Water Park

Adventurous tourists looking to do something more offbeat in Hue may want to visit Ho Thuy Tien, an abandoned water park about 8 km south of downtown Hue.

The park has been closed to the public since 2006, just two years after its unveiling. An estimated VND 70 billion (about USD 3 million) was spent on its construction which makes its sudden closure all the more baffling.

There may be a guard manning the park’s entrance but I read VND 10,000-20,000 is enough to have him look the other way. Do understand that this is an abandoned park so it may not be the safest place to visit. Explore at your own risk.

Photo by Yuttana Suntivong via Shutterstock

4. Bach Ma National Park

If you’re staying long enough in Hue and want to do some hiking, then you may be interested in spending the day at Bach Ma National Park. It’s a protected area and former hill station located about 1.5 hours south of Hue.

Covering an area of about 220 sq km, Bach Ma National Park is home to trekking trails through a lush jungle with lakes, waterfalls, and an abundance of flora and fauna.

You can book a day trip to Bach Ma National Park through Klook or Get Your Guide.

Photo by FoTonBuijs via Shutterstock

5. Phong Nha Cave

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park may be too far for some people but if you have a fascination for caves, then the 4-hr drive from Hue will be worth it.

Located in Quang Binh Province, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s home to Phong Nha Cave, a 7,729-meter-long cave containing 14 grottos and a 13,969-meter underground river.

You can book a Phong Nha Cave tour on Get Your Guide.

Photo by Dudarev Mikhail via Shutterstock

VIETNAMESE FOOD GUIDE

For us, Vietnamese is one of the best cuisines in the world. We can’t get enough of it which is why we keep going back.

If you’re wondering what to eat in Vietnam, then check out our Vietnamese food guide for a list of some of the best-tasting dishes in the country. If you’re a fan of desserts, then you’ll definitely want to check out our Vietnamese dessert guide as well.

WHERE TO EAT IN HUE

While our Vietnamese food guide focuses on the best dishes to have in Vietnam, our Hue food guide lists some of the best restaurants in Hue. If you’d like to know where to try some of the tastiest examples of dishes like bun bo hue, banh beo, com hen, and nem lui, then this article will be useful to you.

Fourteen may be too many for most travelers so I’ve listed five of my favorites below. Be sure to click through to our complete Hue food guide for more pictures and information.

1. Bun Bo Hue My Tam

I enjoyed many dishes in Hue, but bun bo was my hands down favorite. It refers to a supremely tasty noodle soup dish made with rice vermicelli, thin slices of beef brisket, and hefty chunks of boiled beef shank. It’s absolutely delicious and one of my favorite dishes to eat not just in Hue, but in all of Vietnam.

I didn’t meet a bun bo I didn’t like in Hue but I suggest trying it at My Tam. It’s a popular place that was suggested to me by my hotel’s owner. They open at 5PM and close when they run out of food so come early if you can.

2. Com Hen Hoa Dong

Like bun bo, com hen is a regional specialty and another must-try in Hue. It refers to a dish made with either rice (com) or noodles (bun) topped with stir-fried baby basket clams, vegetables, and a host of other ingredients like fermented shrimp paste, fish sauce, herbs, and pork crackling.

Between rice and noodles, I preferred noodles but be sure to try both. I had com hen and bun hen at many shops in Hue but my clear-cut favorite was from Hoa Dong on Con Hen Island. They served the best che bap as well which is a type of che or dessert pudding made with sweet corn.

Con Hen Island is recognized as the birthplace of com hen so it makes sense to try it there. The name con hen literally means “baby clam island”.

3. Original Hang Me

Original Hang Me is known for serving some of the best banh hue in town. “Banh hue” is a collective term used to describe a family of steamed bite-sized “cakes” or snacks made with rice flour and shrimp.

Pictured below is arguably the most popular type of banh hue called banh beo. It consists of steamed rice cake topped with dried shrimp, pork rinds, and other ingredients. It’s served with a side of nuoc cham or Vietnamese dipping sauce.

Other types of banh hue include banh loc, banh ram it, banh nam, banh uot, and cha tom. They’re made with similar ingredients so they all taste roughly the same – silky soft and bursting with sweet and savory umami flavor.

4. Cozy Restaurant

This hidden gem was one of our favorite restaurants in Hue. We’re partial to street food eateries that specialize in just a handful of dishes but we couldn’t help but fall in love with Cozy. It’s more of a full-service restaurant that offers a wide menu of regional and Vietnamese dishes.

Pictured below is nem lui, a Hue specialty of grilled minced pork wrapped around a lemongrass skewer. We’ve had nem lui a few times in Hue but this was the best version of this dish we’ve had so far. They make a mean banh khoai as well, which is like the crunchier lesser-known cousin of banh xeo.

5. Ancient Hue Restaurant

If you’re looking for a special meal in central Vietnam, then you may be interested in Hue’s imperial cuisine. It refers to a multi-course meal that attempts to recreate the royal dining experience.

Pictured below is a plate of grilled beef meatballs wrapped around stalks of green onion. It was one of about eight or nine dishes served during the course of my meal. I believe this dish is a more refined version of nem lui.

As you can see, many courses are plated with hand-carved vegetables resembling animals like fish, birds, and the mythical dragon and phoenix. It’s an interesting though perhaps slightly touristy experience that you can have only in Hue.

A few restaurants and hotels offer royal cuisine but Ancient Hue Garden Houses had the best reviews by a mile. They were also twice as expensive as anyone else, but if you’re going to have this experience just once, then may as well go for the best.

WHICH CAFES TO VISIT IN HUE

Hue is home to the one of the most interesting coffee creations I had in Vietnam – salt coffee. From Hanoi’s egg coffee to Ho Chi Minh City’s apartment block cafes, you’ll find interesting cafes and coffee drinks throughout Vietnam.

Like I did in every city, I sought out as many coffeehouses as I could to come up with this list of the best cafes in Hue.

There’s no need to visit all nine cafes so I’ve listed the three most interesting below. Be sure to click through to our Hue coffee guide for more pictures and information.

1. Ca Phe Muoi

If you were to have just one cup of coffee in Hue, then it should be a cup of salt coffee at Ca Phe Muoi, the cafe credited for inventing it.

Ca phe muoi means “salt coffee” and refers to a coffee drink made by whipping salt with fermented milk and cocoa powder. Traditional Vietnamese coffee is filtered into this mixture to create a unique coffee drink that’s meant to be enjoyed with ice.

Salt in coffee sounds odd at first but it’s a combination that works. Like egg coffee, it’s delicious and something I wouldn’t mind having again and again in Hue.

I’ve had salt coffee a few times in Hue and Ca Phe Muoi’s cup is still one of the best. It has just the right balance of salty, sweet, creamy, acidic, and bitter.

2. tan.cafe (Đinh Tiên Hoàng branch)

We went to two tan.cafe branches in Hue. Both were great and popular with young Vietnamese locals but the branch at the Citadel was probably our favorite cafe in Hue. Aside from their beautiful industrial interiors, they offer a few interesting specialty coffee drinks as well.

You may have heard of egg coffee and coconut coffee. I’ve just told you about salt coffee but did you ever think that coffee and corn could ever coexist in the same cup? That’s exactly what you’re looking at below.

Virtually every cafe in Hue now serves salt coffee but the Dinh Tien Hoang branch of tan.cafe is the only place we’ve found that serves corn coffee. Like egg coffee and salt coffee, the combination may sound odd at first but it actually works.

3. PhinHolic

PhinHolic doesn’t have as much character as tan.cafe but it’s a lovely cafe that offers many delicious coffee drinks, tea, and juices. Unlike the previous two cafes, it’s more centrally located so it’s easier to get to.

Aside from their coffee drinks, what I liked most about PhinHolic is the space itself. The cafe seems to have been designed for remote workers. It consists of two floors with lots of big tables and sockets so if you ever needed to get some work done in Hue, then this is one of the best cafes you can go to.

POINTS OF INTEREST IN HUE

To help you understand where everything is, I’ve pinned the places recommended in this guide on this map. Click on the link to open a live version of the map in a new window.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN HUE

As described, Hue is small compared to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City but it isn’t small enough to not warrant the occasional ride on public transportation.

I enjoy walking so I got around mostly on foot. However, I frequently had to walk a few kilometers to get from point A to point B, often under the intense Hue sun.

If you don’t enjoy walking as much, then you can get around in a cyclo or book a Grab. Cyclo rides within the city center should cost up to VND 20,000. I booked Grab Bike just once, to get from my hotel to Ancient Hue Garden Houses which is about 5 km away. After dinner, I walked back to my hotel.

The royal tombs are too far to walk from downtown Hue so you’re better off booking a guided tour (Klook | Get Your Guide). If you’d rather explore them on your own, then you can book a Grab or cyclo.

Perhaps the best option would be to rent a bicycle or motorbike for the duration of your stay in Hue. You can ask your hotel for rental shop recommendations but it should cost you around VND 50,000 and VND 120,000 respectively per day.

HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY / HUE ITINERARY

I stayed five days in Hue because I wanted to explore as much of its regional cuisine as I could. But if you don’t have as much time, then two days should be enough. Stay for three if you don’t plan on joining any guided tours.

Assuming you’re visiting Hue’s top historical attractions on a guided tour, then here’s a 2D/3N sample itinerary to help you plan your trip.

DAY ONE • Minh Mang’s Tomb • Mausoleum of Khai Dinh • Imperial City • Thien Mu Pagoda

DAY TWO • Thuy Bieu Village • Tomb of Tu Duc • Tam Giang Lagoon

HUE TRAVEL TIPS

1. Plan your Trip with Sygic Travel

I’ve been using Sygic Travel for many years now. It’s a free trip planning app that allows me to plot all points of interest on a map then group them by day so I can create as efficient an itinerary as possible.

You can download Sygic Travel for free on iTunes or Google Play. Check out my article on Sygic Travel for more information.

2. Rent a Pocket Wifi Device

It goes without saying that a strong and steady internet connection is a must when traveling. It’ll allow you to navigate, translate, stay connected, and google “best bun bo in hue”. We never board a plane without securing a pocket wifi device first.

You can rent a 4G pocket wifi device through Klook but you’ll need to pick it up in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. We prefer using pocket wifi devices but a cheaper alternative is to purchase a sim card. You can buy a sim card through Klook and then pick it up at Da Nang Airport. Another option is to get an eSIM.

3. Check for Hue Travel Deals

I use several travel ecommerce websites to look for travel deals but my favorites are Klook and Get Your Guide. They have the biggest selection and their websites are the easiest to navigate.

Follow these links for a complete list of Hue travel deals on Klook and Get Your Guide. Even if I don’t wind up buying anything, it’s always fun to look just to see what’s available.

4. Get Travel Insurance

We get travel insurance more often these days but there was a time when we didn’t get it at all. It seemed more like a luxury than a necessity. I don’t feel that way anymore.

Now, it depends on where we’re going, what we’ll be doing, and how long we’ll be away for. We’ve been taking longer trips so we do find ourselves getting it more often.

When we do feel the need for insurance, we get it from SafetyWing or Heymondo. They’re both popular travel insurance companies used by many long-term travelers. Click on the links to get a free quote from SafetyWing or Heymondo. Will Fly for Food readers get 5% off on Heymondo when using our link.

5. Pay Only in VND

Some establishments in Hue may accept payment in USD, but you should always pay in VND. If something is priced in VND, then you should pay for it in VND because using any other currency will lead to terrible exchange rates.

6. Don’t Be Confused by the Currency

Vietnamese currency is the most confusing I’ve seen so far. Having all the zeros is confusing enough, but some banknotes even look the same. For example, VND 100,000 bills have a similar green hue as VND 10,000 notes.

Based on what I’ve seen and heard, tourists getting confused with Vietnamese banknotes isn’t uncommon. In fact, it happened to a woman who was on this Hoa Lu and Tam Coc tour with us in Hanoi. She mistakenly gave the vendor a VND 200,000 note when she meant to give her a similarly red VND 50,000 bill.

Be careful when paying for things with cash in Vietnam because chances are, vendors won’t correct you if you overpay.

7. Bring the Right Power Adapter

Vietnam has Type A, Type C, or Type F electrical outlets so be sure to bring the right power adapters for your devices. Electrical voltage is 220V and the standard frequency is 50Hz.

Have Fun!

I’m not an expert on Hue but I do hope this guide helps you plan your trip. I’m only sharing some of the things I learned from my trip. If you have any questions or comments, then please leave them in the comment section below. You’re welcome to join our Facebook Travel Group as well.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing time in Hue!

OUR GEAR

These are some of the things I brought with me to Hue. Have a look inside our backpack to see what other gear we use. (NOTE: The following links are Amazon and other affiliate links.)

Disclosure

Some of the links in this Hue travel guide are affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, then we’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services that we use ourselves and firmly believe in. We really appreciate your support as this helps us make more of these free travel guides. Thank you!

Port wine, the Douro River, francesinhas and cachorrinhos; there is so much to love about Porto, especially for first-time visitors.

After spending a few days exploring the cobblestone streets of Porto, we were in an Uber on our way to Campanha Railway Station when our driver began describing to us the differences between Porto and Lisbon.

According to him, Lisbon is more contemporary and exciting. It’s more of a party city and a melting pot of different cultures while Porto remains relatively homogenous and unchanged. Being a Porto native, he said it in a way that didn’t sound flattering to Lisbon.

I wasn’t in the position to agree or disagree but what he said seemed largely true. Lisbon did seem like the more exciting melting pot while Porto was like its older, more fastidious sister. As the local saying goes: “Coimbra sings; Braga prays; Lisbon shows off; and Porto works.”

Porto may not have the flair of Portugal’s capital but what it lacks in panache it more than makes up for with character and charm.

I found Porto to be an exceedingly fascinating city, steeped in history and culture and proud of an identity uniquely its own.

VISIT PORTO QUICK LINKS

This travel guide to Porto is long. For your convenience, I’ve compiled links to hotels, tours, and other services here.

HOTELS

Top-rated hotels in the city center, the most convenient area to stay for first-time visitors to Porto.

• Luxury: Torel Palace Porto
• Midrange: Wood Loft by RDC
• Budget: Majestic Hostel Porto

TOURS

• Sightseeing Tour: 3-Hour Walking City Tour & Lello Bookstore Visit
• Food Tour: Delicious Food and Wine Walking Tour
• Port Wine Tasting: Walking and Wine Tasting Tour with Snacks

OTHER SERVICES

• Visa Services
• Travel Insurance with COVID cover (WFFF readers get 5% off)
• Airport Transfers
• Car Rental
• Portugal eSIM

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GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS

Porto Travel Restrictions Portugal Visa Porto at a Glance Best Time to Visit Porto Traveling to Porto Where to Exchange Currency Best Areas to Stay in Porto Places to Visit in Porto Notable Churches in Porto Things to Do in Porto Day Trips from Porto Portuguese Food Guide Portuguese Desserts Where to Eat in Porto Points of Interest in Porto (Map) How to Get Around in Porto How Many Days to Stay / Porto Itinerary Porto Travel Tips

PORTO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Because of the current global situation, Porto travel guidelines have been changing on a weekly basis. Our friends at Booking.com created a website that lists detailed information on travel restrictions around the globe.

Before planning a trip to Porto, be sure to check Booking.com for information on travel restrictions to Portugal. If you do decide to visit Porto, then you may want to seriously consider getting travel insurance with COVID coverage.

PORTUGAL VISA

Depending on your passport, you may need a visa and other travel documents to enter Portugal. Visit iVisa.com to learn about the requirements and to apply for a visa (if necessary).

PORTO AT A GLANCE

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and the capital of its Northern Region. The name Porto refers to both the city and the greater metropolitan area which is home to over 2.4 million people.

Located along the Douro River, Porto’s historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is characterized by hilly cobblestone streets, centuries-old churches, and beautiful azulejo tiles. Wrought with detail, Porto is a city that begs to be explored on foot.

Francesinha and tripas (tripe) are two of its most sought-after dishes while port wine, a fortified wine grown exclusively in the Douro Valley, is one of its most prized exports.

BEST TIME TO VISIT PORTO

The best time to visit Porto is from May till September when days are sunny and the weather is warm. However, July and August are peak tourist months so you may want to shoot for May, June, or September. There are fewer tourists and the weather is still ideal.

MAY-SEPT: This is the main tourist season in Porto. The weather is perfect and there are several popular festivals during this time. As described, July and August are the busiest months so aim for May, June, or September if you can.

OCT-APR: The rainy season in Porto begins in late September and lasts till April. It’s described as one of the wettest major cities in southern Europe so if you don’t like the rain, then this may not be the best time to go.

We were in Porto in early May just as the April rains were tapering off. It was still overcast and a bit chilly on most days but it didn’t rain. The end of May would have been better.

Climate: Annual Monthly Weather in Porto

For more on Porto’s weather, check out these climate graphs from holiday-weather.com. I’ve also created the average temperature and annual rainfall graphs below with the most ideal months to visit marked in orange.

Average Temperature

Annual Rainfall

TRAVELING TO PORTO

Porto is an easily accessible city. We traveled to Porto by bus from Santiago de Compostela in Spain but there are many ways to get there depending on where you are.

By Plane

There are regular flights to Porto from many cities in Europe. You can do a search on a flight aggregator like Skyscanner to find cheap flights to Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro) Airport (OPO).

Porto Airport is about 11 km north of the city center. You can make your way to downtown Porto in one of the following ways.

METRO: This is usually our preferred method of transfer but it may not be as ideal in Porto because of how hilly the city center is. But if you aren’t traveling with a lot of luggage, then the Porto Metro is an efficient and inexpensive way of getting to your hotel from the airport. Travel time will be between 30-45 minutes and the fare will cost you EUR 2.60 (EUR 2 for the fare + EUR 0.60 for the Andante Card). Trains operate from 6AM till midnight.

BUS: Get Bus offers eight daily departures from Porto Airport to the city from 10AM till 6:25PM. However, the last stop is at Campo 24 de Agosto bus station which is about 1.4 km from the city center. Depending on where you’re staying, you may still need to book an Uber to get to your hotel. The bus trip takes 25 minutes and costs EUR 2.80.

PRIVATE/SHARED TRANSFER: If you’d like to book an airport transfer in advance, then you can do so through Bookaway. A private transfer should cost about the same as a taxi.

UBER: We didn’t need it as much in Porto, but we used Uber a lot in Lisbon. It was reliable and super convenient. The journey from the airport to downtown Porto should take between 20-30 minutes and cost around EUR 15-20.

TAXI: We rarely use taxis these days thanks to Uber. I read that taxis in Porto are a bit more expensive than Uber with the same airport trip costing between EUR 20-30. To keep yourself from getting scammed, be sure that the driver switches on the meter as they’re required to use it by law.

By Train

If you’re somewhere in Portugal or in a nearby city in Spain, then traveling to Porto by train may be the better option. Trains are fast, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive.

We took the Alfa Pendular from Porto to Lisbon and a tourist class ticket cost us EUR 31.20. The journey took about 2 hrs 40 mins.

If you’d like to explore the option of traveling to Porto by train, then you can check train routes on the Comboios de Portugal website. This is Portugal’s official rail website and where we bought our Porto-Lisbon tickets. Another popular transportation website you can look at is Bookaway.

From the train station, you can then book an Uber to your hotel.

By Bus

As described, we traveled to Porto from Santiago de Compostela. There were no direct trains so we took a 3 hr 15 min Alsa bus instead. It was comfortable and on time and cost just EUR 23 each.

Like trains, traveling to Porto by bus may be a good option if you’re somewhere in Portugal or in a nearby city in Spain. You can check bus routes and purchase tickets on Bookaway. From the bus station, you can then catch an Uber to your hotel.

By Car

Traveling by car is perhaps the best way of exploring Portugal and many parts of Europe. We drove from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela and unlike public transportation, it gave us the freedom to stop wherever and whenever we wanted.

If you’re looking to rent a car and driving to Porto, then you can rent one on Rentalcars.com.

WHERE TO EXCHANGE CURRENCY

The unit of currency in Portugal is the Euro (EUR). I withdrew EUR from an ATM so I didn’t have to exchange currency in Porto. This seems to be the best option in Portugal and in many other European countries these days.

ATM rates are competitive and you don’t have to bring as much foreign currency with you. Plus, I read that the exchange rate given at cambios (currency exchange offices) typically aren’t as good.

If you plan on using your ATM card abroad, then it’s best to inform your bank beforehand. That way you don’t run into any problems. In my experience, my ATM card works in most machines but not in all.

NOTE: Some ATMs may ask if you’d like to proceed “with or without conversion”. Always proceed WITHOUT conversion. If you proceed with conversion, then the foreign bank operating the ATM will do the conversion for you, usually at terrible rates.

BEST AREAS TO STAY IN PORTO

The city center is the best place to stay in Porto. It refers to an area north of the Douro River and Dom Luis I Bridge. It’s actually comprised of several smaller neighborhoods and districts but to keep things simple, let’s just call it Porto City Center.

If you jump to the points of interest map at the bottom of this guide, you’ll see that most of Porto’s attractions are located in the city center. If it’s your first time in the city, then this is the best area for you to stay.

The area marked in blue in the map below represents Porto City Center. The area colored in red is Boavista, the best area to stay if you have a rental car. I’ll explain why below. Click on the link for a live version of the map. (Please note that marked areas are approximations only)

BLUE – Porto City Center
RED – Boavista

PORTO CITY CENTER

Almost all of Porto’s tourist attractions are located within an area north of Dom Luis I Bridge. We stayed near Clerigos Church and I only had to take public transportation once, to go to Foz do Douro. Almost everything else I could easily walk to from our hotel, including Vila Nova de Gaia which is the area across the bridge.

We stayed at this colorful inn called Victoria Studios. It’s a modern boutique inn with just eight rooms along Rua de Tras. Clerigos Church is a 3-minute walk away while Praca da Liberdade and Sao Bento Railway Station are just six minutes down the hill. Livraria Lello, often called the world’s most beautiful bookstore, is just a quick four minutes away on foot.

Victoria Studios is situated near the apex of a hill so we had terrific views of the city from our room’s balcony. You can book a room at Victoria Studios on Booking.com or Agoda.

If you don’t feel that this is the right place for you, then follow these links to do a search for alternate listings in Porto City Center: Booking.com | Agoda. Check out some of the top-rated hotels in the area:

• Luxury: Torel Palace Porto
• Midrange: Wood Loft by RDC
• Budget: Majestic Hostel Porto

BOAVISTA

At first, I was only going to recommend the city center until I read that hotels in the Boavista area are the only ones with car parking. If you’re driving to Porto, then this is probably where you’ll want to be.

Boavista is a quieter area that’s home to bigger international hotel chains. If you can, try to find a hotel on the eastern side of Rotunda da Boavista. That way you won’t have to go so far to reach the tourist attractions in the downtown area.

You can search for accommodations in the Boavista area on Booking.com. If you need a hotel with parking, then you can filter results by ticking on the “Parking” box under “Facilities”. Check out these top-rated hotels in the Boavista area:

• Luxury: Sheraton Porto Hotel & Spa
• Midrange: Porto Deluxe Apartments
• Budget: Pilar Hostel

You can also book hotels and home stays in Porto using the handy map below.

PLACES TO VISIT IN PORTO

1. Livraria Lello

Open since 1906, Livraria Lello is one of the oldest bookshops in Portugal. It’s frequently cited as one of the world’s most beautiful and is rumored to have inspired Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter series.

The interior of Livraria Lello is stunning. The shop isn’t that big but you could spend an hour just admiring it’s many decorative details. Among its most notable features include a stained glass window ceiling, intricate wooden carvings, and a forked spiral staircase that appears to be a favorite selfie spot.

Livraria Lello is one of Porto’s most popular attractions so expect a long line and (annoyingly) heavy crowds at any time of the day. Do note that you’ll need to purchase tickets and check your bag at a shop next door before lining up.

It’s easy enough to visit Livraria Lello on your own, but if you’d like to go on a guided tour, then there are a few you can choose from on Get Your Guide (Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3).

Operating Hours: 9:30AM-7PM, daily
Admission: EUR 5
Estimated Time to Spend: About 1 hr

2. Clerigos Church / Tower

There are a few notable churches in Porto though Clerigos Church is perhaps the most well-known. Built in 1750, it’s a Baroque church featuring a 75.6-meter high tower that’s become one of the most recognizable symbols of the city.

Entrance to Clerigos Church is free but you’ll need to pay EUR 6 to climb the 240 steps to the top of Clerigos Tower. You can purchase tickets at the gate or get them in advance through Get Your Guide.

Operating Hours: 9AM-7PM, daily
Admission: FREE (Clerigos Church), EUR 8 (Clerigos Tower)
Estimated Time to Spend: About 1 hr

3. Sao Bento Railway Station

Not far from one of the world’s most beautiful bookshops is one of its most stunning railway stations. Sao Bento Station isn’t just one of Porto’s busiest train stations, it’s also its most breathtaking.

Sao Bento Station features over 20,000 azulejo tin-glazed ceramic tiles depicting key moments in Portugal’s history. The station was built in 1900 with the blue and white tiles being put in place over a period of eleven years (1905–1916).

Together with Igreja do Carmo, Porto Cathedral, Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, and Casa da Musica, Sao Bento Station is one of the most popular places to see azulejo tiles in Porto.

Operating Hours: 9AM-6PM, daily
Admission: FREE
Estimated Time to Spend: About 30 mins – 1 hr

4. Praca da Liberdade

When people say “Porto city center”, they’re perhaps referring to Praca da Liberdade or Liberty Square. It’s the most important square in Porto and serves as a boundary between the old town and the more modern parts of the city.

Situated between Clerigos Church and Sao Bento Station, the square features a 10-meter bronze equestrian statue of King Peter IV and what’s been called the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world.

5. Palacio da Bolsa

The Palacio da Bolsa or Stock Exchange Palace is a 19th century Neoclassical building that once served as the headquarters of Porto’s Chamber of Commerce. It’s a Portuguese National Monument that looks even more impressive from the inside.

Unfortunately, I was too cheap to pay the EUR 11 entrance fee so I could only go as far as the library. But they do conduct daily tours every half hour if you’re interested. It’s a 45-minute guided tour that takes you to different rooms in the palace, including the magnificent Moorish revival Arab room.

You can purchase tickets at the gate though it’s probably best to make reservations in advance through the Palacio da Bolsa website.

Operating Hours: 9AM-6:30PM, daily
Admission: EUR 12.50
Estimated Time to Spend: About 1 hr

6. Muralha Fernandina

Muralha Fernandina had me stumped. I was at the exact place my map told me to go but I couldn’t find anything that looked like a castle. Only when I stepped back and looked at the wall I was leaning against did I realize I had already found it.

Muralha Fernandina or the Fernandine Walls are medieval fortifications built in the 14th century to protect the city. It’s basically a series of walls that you can appreciate from different parts of the old town.

The walls are so well-integrated that you often don’t notice them. It doesn’t seem to have a focal point so it isn’t something you need to seek out. Just appreciate it when you see it.

Photo by Artur Bogacki via Shutterstock

7. Casa da Musica

Our bus from Santiago de Compostela dropped us off not too far from this striking building.

Opened in 2005, Casa da Musica is a concert hall in the Boavista area designed by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas. It stands in stark contrast to the historical attractions that characterize much of Porto.

We didn’t go inside but tours in English are offered daily at 11AM and 4PM starting at EUR 12. Inside is a VIP Room which has some of the best examples of azulejo tiles in Porto.

You can refer to the Casa da Musica website for more details.

Photo by Nestor Noci via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 9:30AM-7PM, Mon-Sat (till 6PM on Sundays)
Admission: EUR 12
Estimated Time to Spend: About 1 hr

8. Serralves

Like Casa da Musica, Serralves is one of the few modern attractions in Porto. Comprised of a contemporary art museum, an 18-hectare park, and an Art Deco villa, Serralves is a cultural institution that ranks among the top 100 most visited museums in the world.

If you have an interest in contemporary art or would like to take a break from Porto’s historical attractions, then you may want to visit Serralves. Tickets cost EUR 20 which you can purchase at the gate or in advance through Get Your Guide.

Serralves is located about 30 mins west of downtown Porto. You can easily go there on your own using public transportation.

Photo by Davide Pedone via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 10AM-7PM, Mon-Fri (till 8PM on weekends)
Admission: EUR 20
Estimated Time to Spend: About 2-3 hrs

NOTABLE CHURCHES IN PORTO

1. Clerigos Church

This is what it looks like inside Clerigos Church. It isn’t that big, with a seating capacity for maybe 150-200 people.

Operating Hours: 9AM-7PM, daily
Admission: FREE

2. Igreja do Carmo

About a 2-minute walk from Livraria Lello is Igreja do Carmo, a Rococo-style church built in the 18th century.

I didn’t know this at the time but when you’re standing in front of the church, you’re actually looking at two churches. On the right is Igreja do Carmo and on the left is Igreja dos Carmelitas. The two churches are separated by a comically narrow one meter wide house that was inhabited until the 1980s.

The house was built so the two churches wouldn’t share a common wall, thereby helping to prevent any relations from forming between the nuns of Igreja dos Carmelitas and the monks of Igreja do Carmo. Ha!

Igreja do Carmo’s most distinguishable feature is this exterior wall covered in azulejo tiles. They depict scenes from the founding of the Carmelite Order.

Operating Hours: 10AM-6PM, Tue-Sun (opens at noon on Mondays)
Admission: FREE

3. Porto Cathedral (Se Cathedral)

Located in Batalha, at the highest point in the city, Porto Cathedral or the Se Cathedral is one of the oldest monuments in Porto. It’s a Portuguese National Monument and considered the most important religious landmark in the city.

Apart from its age, what makes Porto Cathedral interesting is its mix of architectural styles. Construction began in the 12th century but the church was renovated and rebuilt a number of times, resulting in a structure that’s part Romanesque, part Baroque, and part Gothic.

I know little about architecture but looking at the cathedral’s facade, it’s clear that it was built using a mix of different styles.

Operating Hours: 9AM-5:30PM, daily
Admission: FREE (church), EUR 3 (inner sections)

4. Church of Sao Francisco

The Church of Sao Francisco is considered one of the most prominent examples of Gothic architecture in Porto. I didn’t go inside but its inner decoration is described as being Baroque in style, with an alleged 300 kg of gold dust used to adorn its interior.

I wasn’t aware of this then but under the church lie the catacombs where the remains of Franciscan monks and members of Porto’s wealthiest families are buried. It houses an ossuary with thousands of human bones that you can see through a glass floor. Had I known that, I would have definitely gone inside!

The Church of Sao Francisco is located right next to Palacio da Bolsa. A fire had destroyed part of the church in 1832 and in its place was built the Stock Exchange Palace.

Operating Hours: 9AM-8PM, daily
Admission: EUR 7.50

5. Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

Less than a 10-minute walk from Porto Cathedral is Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, an 18th century Baroque church featuring a facade of 11,000+ azulejo tiles depicting the life of Saint Ildefonso and figurative imagery from the Gospels.

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso was designed by the same Italian architect responsible for Clerigos Tower and the loggia of Porto Cathedral.

Photo by JPF via Shutterstock

Operating Hours: 3-6:30PM (Mon), 9AM-12NN, 3-6:30PM (Tue-Sat), 9AM-1PM, 6-8PM (Sun)
Admission: FREE

6. Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar

Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar is a former monastery in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River just past Dom Luis I Bridge. Unlike the other religious landmarks on this list, it’s shaped like a circle which isn’t common in Portugal.

The monastery is located on a hill offering spectacular views of the city and the Douro River. You can enjoy the view for free but you’ll need to pay EUR 1-3 to go inside, which according to many reviewers, isn’t worth it.

Operating Hours: 10AM-5:30PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mon)
Admission: FREE (view), EUR 1-3 (cloisters)

THINGS TO DO IN PORTO

1. Enjoy the View from Dom Luis I Bridge

The Dom Luis I Bridge is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the Douro River and connects Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. It’s an impressive bridge that offers some of the best views in Porto.

I walked on the lower deck going to Vila Nova de Gaia then walked on the upper deck going back. The lower deck is about 172 meters (564 ft) long while the upper deck is over twice as long at 395 meters (1,297 ft).

This is what it looks like from the upper deck. The views are spectacular.

You’re walking at a height of about 85 meters (279 ft) so it can trigger your fear of heights, especially when the wind is blowing.

2. Go Port Tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia

Crossing the Dom Luis I Bridge and the Douro Rover takes you to Vila Nova de Gaia, a city and municipality in Porto District. It’s famous for its many cellars where port wine has been kept and aged since the 17th century.

Port wine is a fortified wine made exclusively from grapes grown in northern Portugal’s Douro Valley. It’s shipped to Vila Nova de Gaia to age in casks before being bottled. Shipments today happen over land but the wine used to be sent down the Douro River in these traditional boats called “barcos rabelos”.

If you drink wine, then going on a port wine tasting tour is one of the best things you can do in Porto. It’s one of Portugal’s most famous exports, one that gets its name from the city of Porto.

I went on a self-guided audio tour at Taylor’s Port Winery but there are many organized tours you can join as well (Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3).

3. Go on a 6 Bridges Cruise

Porto is described as the only city in Europe with six bridges. That isn’t entirely true. Vila Nova de Gaia holds the same distinction, because it shares the exact same bridges as Porto City!

Known as “The City of Bridges”, there are a few ways you can explore Porto’s bridges, but none more fun perhaps than on a Douro River cruise. After all, the Douro River is why these bridges exist in the first place.

You can book a 6 Bridges Cruise on Get Your Guide (Option 1 | Option 2).

Photo by Aranami via Shutterstock

4. Go on a Segway Tour

If a river cruise isn’t your thing, then perhaps a Segway tour is. I often saw small tour groups cruising around Porto on Segways. It seems a great way of navigating the city’s hilly neighborhoods.

Get Your Guide offers a few Segway tours in Porto. They offer other interesting sightseeing tours as well, like biking tours, electric car tours, and tuk tuk tours.

Photo by Soloviova Liudmyla via Shutterstock

5. Have Coffee at Majestic Cafe

If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter books, then you may want to have a cup of coffee at Majestic Cafe. It’s where JK Rowling spent much of her time working on her debut novel – “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”.

It’s a beautiful cafe and restaurant for sure, but quite pricey. A cup of cafe americano will set you back EUR 6. A francesinha? A whopping EUR 22. Yeesh.

6. Have a Big Mac at McDonald’s Imperial

Not to be outdone by Livraria Lello or Sao Bento Station, this McDonald’s claims to be the most beautiful place in the world to grab a Big Mac. It occupies the former Imperial Cafe in Praca da Liberdade and boasts chandeliers, ornate ceilings, and a large stained glass wall.

7. Enjoy Ocean Views in Foz do Douro

Foz do Douro is a coastal area situated in the western part of Porto, where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a lovely neighborhood that’s said to be one of the most expensive in Porto.

Foz do Douro is less than half an hour west of the city center and easily accessible by public transportation. It isn’t nearly as crowded as downtown Porto and makes for an easy escape from the city.

At the end of a jetty where the Douro River and the Atlantic Ocean intersect is Farolim de Felgueiras, a 19th century lighthouse and popular vantage point for the Porto sunset.

8. Go on a Food Tour

We love going on food tours. It’s a great way of finding authentic hole-in-the-walls that only locals would know about. Diligent research can get you far, but sometimes you need the help of locals to find the most obscure places. Get Your Guide offers a variety of local-led food tours in Porto.

Photo by Tsuguliev via Shutterstock

9. Take a Cooking Class

Food tours are great for finding obscure eateries, but if you really want to learn about Portuguese cuisine, then there’s no better way to do that than by taking a cooking class.

Like food tours, taking a cooking class is something we try to do at least once on every trip. You can search for one-day cooking classes in Porto on Cookly.

Photo by Paulo Vilela via Shutterstock

10. Photograph the Tiles

I had a lot of fun doing this in Portugal. Porto is known for its tiles and all throughout the city – from the old town to Foz do Douro – are tiles of different shapes, sizes, colors, patterns, and designs.

I photographed azulejo tiles in Lisbon as well for a coffee table book I’ll be publishing called “A Tile of Two Cities”. Sorry.

DAY TRIPS FROM PORTO

1. Douro Valley

As described, port wine is one of Portugal’s most beloved exports. It’s produced using grapes grown exclusively in the Douro Valley. If port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia isn’t enough for you, then perhaps you’d like to go on a day tour of the Douro Valley.

Located about 100 km (62 miles) east of Porto, the Douro Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a protected region. It’s characterized by terraced vineyards and picturesque rolling hillsides shaped over the centuries by the Douro River.

If you’d like to explore and go wine tasting in the Douro Valley, then there are several day tours you can choose from (Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3).

Photo by De Visu via Shutterstock

2. Fatima

Fatima is a town and parish in central Portugal, about 200 km south of Porto. It’s home to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world.

Fatima’s prominence is attributed to apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Multiple apparitions were reported by three shepherd children between May and October in 1917, events that the Catholic Church later recognized as “worthy of belief”.

You can check Get Your Guide for day tours to Fatima from Porto.

Photo by KazT via Shutterstock

3. Braga

Braga is a city in northern Portugal, less than an hour north of Porto. It’s recognized by some as the religious center of Portugal, home to its oldest archdiocese and one of its oldest cathedrals.

Pictured below is the striking Bom Jesus do Monte, a beautiful church famed for its Baroque 116-meter (381 feet) stairway that represents the ascent to heaven.

Get Your Guide offers several day tours to Braga and Guimaraes from Porto (Option 1 | Option 2).

Photo by Cortyn via Shutterstock

4. Guimaraes

Located about 25 km southeast of Braga is Guimaraes, an historic city famous for its castle and medieval architecture. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s often regarded as the “birthplace of Portuguese nationality” or “the cradle city”.

Because of its proximity to Braga, Guimaraes is often visited on the same day trip (Option 1 | Option 2).

Photo by trabantos via Shutterstock

5. Peneda-Geres National Park

Geres is the only national park in Portugal. It’s located about 100 km north of Porto and covers an area of over 270 square miles. It features picturesque hiking trails through valleys, lush forests, and waterfalls with remote granite villages that have changed little since the 12th century.

If you’d like to have a day of hiking and kayaking from Porto, then you may want to visit Peneda-Geres National Park. (Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3).

Photo by jorisvo via Shutterstock

PORTUGUESE FOOD GUIDE

Portuguese cuisine is characterized by rustic and hearty fare like cozido a portuguesa, rojoes, arroz de tamboril, and tripas a modo do porto. If you’d like to eat like a local in Porto, then check out our Portuguese food guide for 25 of the best dishes to eat in Portugal.

PORTUGUESE DESSERTS

Got a sweet tooth? Pastel de nata may be the most famous but there are so many more delicious desserts to try in Portugal. Check out our guide on traditional Portuguese desserts for the lowdown on all things sweet and delicious in Portugal.

WHERE TO EAT IN PORTO

Our Portuguese food guide offers suggestions on what dishes to look for in Portugal. This Porto food guide suggests which restaurants to visit for some of the best food experiences in Porto.

Fifteen may be too many for most people so I’ve listed five of our favorites below. Be sure to click through to the full food guide for more pictures and information.

1. Casa Guedes

Casa Guedes is a Porto institution. They’ve been around since the 1970s and have long been considered Porto’s most iconic sandwich shop.

Be sure to get the sande de pernil com queijo de ovelha (roasted pork sandwich with sheep’s milk cheese). According to Culinary Backstreets, it’s the “the best sandwich in Porto – arguably in the country”.

2. Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha

We loved this place. Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha is a little sandwich shop that serves some of the best cachorrinhos in Porto. Cachorrinhos are like Portuguese hot dogs made with crusty bread, sausage, and cheese brushed with a spicy sauce.

Gazela has been making cachorrinhos for over fifty years and sell about 300 hundred of these hot dog sandwiches every day. Take a bite and you’ll understand why.

3. Lado B

If you were to east just one dish in Porto, then it should be a francesinha.

A francesinha is a sandwich made with bread, wet-cured ham, Portuguese sausage, and steak or roast beef. It’s then covered with melted cheese and drenched in a thick tomato and beer sauce before being topped with a fried egg and served with a side of french fries.

It’s Porto’s flagship dish and something every first-time visitor should try. Everyone has an opinion as to who makes the best francesinha in Porto. Lado B is in that conversation.

4. Pregar

As you can probably tell, I enjoyed many different types of sandwiches in Portugal. The prego was one of my favorites.

A prego is a simple but delicious sandwich of thinly-sliced grilled beef slathered in a garlicky marinade and served in a papa seco or Portuguese bread roll. It’s something the Portuguese enjoy as a snack, and oddly enough, at the end of a heavy seafood meal.

I had prego twice in Porto. Both were excellent but I may have to give the slight nod to Pregar.

5. Manteigaria

The pastel de nata is one of Portugal’s most iconic and beloved dishes. It’s a Portuguese egg tart pastry that’s crispy and flaky on the outside and creamy on the inside. It’s something every visitor to Portugal has to try at least once.

I had pastel de nata at four popular places in Porto and Manteigaria was the best of them all. Theirs was silkier than the others with a pronounced taste of cinnamon. Absolutely delicious!

POINTS OF INTEREST IN PORTO

To help you visualize where everything is, I’ve pinned the places recommended in this guide on this map. Click on the link for a live version of the map. As you’ll see, the vast majority of them are located within the Porto city center.

HOW TO GET AROUND IN PORTO

Porto has an extensive and efficient public transportation system so it shouldn’t be a problem getting around. But if it’s your first time in the city and all you’re interested in are the attractions within the city center, then you may not need it much.

I enjoy walking so I got around almost exclusively on foot. The only time I used public transportation was to take the bus to Foz do Douro, then the tram to go back.

If you find that you do need to use public transportation (ie from Porto Airport to the city center), then you’ll need to get either an Andante Card or a Porto Card. Click on the link to learn the differences between the two.

Andante cards can only be purchased in Porto but you can buy Porto Cards in advance through Get Your Guide.

No matter how you get around, I suggest downloading the Google Maps app (iOS | Android) if you haven’t already. It’ll tell you all the different ways to get from point A to point B using public transportation. It’s accurate and reliable and something we use on every trip.

Be sure to have Uber installed on your phone as well in case you need to book a ride. We only needed it twice, to go from the Boavista-Casa da Musica bus stop to our hotel when we arrived, and to go to Campanha Railway Station when we left.

HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY / PORTO ITINERARY

Thanks to Porto’s top attractions being clustered within a relatively small area, you can see them all in two days. You can then add one more day for the attractions located away from the city center.

Here’s a sample 3D/4N Porto itinerary to help you plan your trip.

DAY ONE • Livraria Lello • Igreja do Carmo • Clerigos Church / Tower • Praca da Liberdade • Sao Bento Railway Station • Cafe Majestic • Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

DAY TWO • Porto Cathedral • Dom Luis I Bridge • Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar • Taylor’s Port Winery • Palacio da Bolsa • Church of Sao Francisco

DAY THREE • Casa da Musica • Serralves • Foz do Douro

PORTO TRAVEL TIPS

1. Plan your Trip with Sygic Travel

There are two types of people in this world – those who enjoy trip planning and those who don’t. The ones who do will like the Sygic Travel app. I’ve been using this free trip planning app for many years now. It allows me to pin points of interest on a map then group them together by location to create as efficient an itinerary as possible. You can download it for free on iOS or Android.

2. Stay Connected in Portugal

Having a reliable wifi connection is a must when traveling. You’ll need it to convert currencies, translate menus, and google “best francesinha in porto”. Having access to Google Maps alone justifies the cost.

We own Pokefi pocket wifi devices so we didn’t need to rent one in Europe. But if you want to stay connected in Portugal, then you can purchase an eSIM through Klook.

3. Buy Tickets First Before Lining Up

As previously mentioned, you’ll need to purchase tickets before entering Livraria Lello. You don’t want to get to the front of the line after waiting over an hour and NOT have tickets!

Tickets cost EUR 5 and can be purchased at this shop on the corner, to the left of Livraria Lello. If you have large bags, then you’ll be asked to store them inside free lockers at the shop.

4. Prepare for the Hills

Much of downtown Porto is hilly with narrow winding streets paved with cobblestone. It’s lovely to look at but it might make walking a bit difficult for some.

Segway tours could make sightseeing easier, but this is something you should consider if you have mobility problems. Maybe choose a hotel that isn’t on an incline.

5. Save Fado for Lisbon

Fado is a musical genre that can be traced to 1820s Lisbon. Watching a fado performance is one of the best things you can do in Lisbon so I considered catching a show in Porto as well. Thanks to this TripAdvisor thread, I learned that I shouldn’t.

According to two locals, there is very little fado tradition in northern Portugal. In Porto, fado is for tourists so it’s best to wait until Lisbon if you want the real thing.

6. Bring Home Conservas

Conservas refers to gourmet canned seafood popular in Portugal and Spain. They’ve been an important part of Portuguese culture and its culinary heritage since the 1850s.

Preserved seafood like anchovies, octopus, eel, and bacalhau packaged in attractive tins and wrapped in paper make for the perfect Portuguese food souvenir.

Loja das Conservas may be the better option but if you want the most artistic-looking tins, then check out O Mundo Fantastico da Sardinha Portuguesa. Their prices are considerably higher than other shops but they have by far the most exquisitely designed tins.

At these prices, these conservas are probably more for keeping than for eating. They even have tins marked with your birth year.

7. Store Your Luggage

With the increasing popularity of AirBnB, a safe place to store your luggage is becoming more of a necessity. We didn’t need it in Porto but there were a few cities in Europe where we had to store our luggage in lockers while waiting to check in to our AirBnB.

If need a secure place to store your luggage for a few hours, then you can check Luggage Hero for available storage options in Porto.

8. Check for Porto Travel Deals

There are many websites where you can buy vouchers to tours and other travel-related services. In Porto, I suggest going through Get Your Guide and Klook. They’re both leading travel ecommerce websites that offer a good selection of deals on tours, airport transfers, show tickets, and more.

9. Rent a Car

Renting a car is one of the best ways to experience Europe. It just gives you so much more freedom.

We didn’t rent one in Portugal but we did rent cars in Santorini and Spain. It gave us the freedom to go wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted.

If you’re considering renting a car in Portugal or anywhere else in Europe, then you can do so through Rentalcars.com.

10. Get Travel Insurance

Whether or not to get travel insurance is something we consider before every trip. It depends on where we’re going and what we’ll be doing. If we plan on doing any physical activities, anything that could get us hurt, then we’ll definitely get it.

Whenever we do feel the need for insurance, we get it from SafetyWing or Heymondo. They’re popular travel insurance providers used by many long-term travelers. Click on the links to get a free quote from SafetyWing or Heymondo. Will Fly for Food readers get 5% off on Heymondo if you use our link.

11. Bring the Right Power Adapter

Portugal has Type C or Type F electrical outlets so be sure to bring the right power adapters for your devices. Electrical voltage is 230V and the standard frequency is 50Hz.

Have Fun!

I’m not an expert on Porto but I do hope that you find this guide helpful. I’m only sharing some of the things I learned from our trips.

If you have any questions or comments, then please feel free to leave them in the comment section below. You’re welcome to join our Facebook Travel Group as well.

Thanks for reading and have an amazing time drinking port wine in Porto!

OUR GEAR

These are some of the things we brought with us to Porto. See what’s in our backpack for a complete list of our gear. (NOTE: The following links are Amazon and other affiliate links.)

Disclosure

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