Lunch is an important meal in Japanese culture. For most office workers, lunch break is sacred time to escape from their cubicles and enjoy a relaxing meal. Students also look forward to lunch as a break from classes. Even busy housewives make time to prepare bento boxed lunches for their families. From casual noodle shops to elegant kaiseki restaurants, lunch in Japan offers something for everyone.
Popular Lunch Foods
Some of the most popular lunch items in Japan include:
Rice Dishes
Rice is a staple of Japanese cuisine, so it features prominently in lunch meals. Some common rice dishes are:
– Donburi – Rice bowls topped with meat, fish, vegetables or other toppings. Katsudon (pork cutlet), gyudon (beef bowl) and oyakodon (chicken and egg) are some standard favorites.
– Onigiri – Triangular rice balls wrapped in nori seaweed and often containing a salty or sour filling like pickled plum. Onigiri are highly portable, making them a convenient lunch option.
– Sushi – The popular vinegared rice rolls are available for reasonable prices at casual sushi shops known as kaiten zushi. Office workers often grab a quick sushi lunch.
Noodles
Noodles make for a warm, comforting lunch. Some of the go-to noodle dishes are:
– Ramen – Wheat noodles in a savory broth, typically with toppings like pork, eggs, menma bamboo shoots and nori. Ramen shops are ubiquitous, with regional styles and ingredients.
– Soba – Thin brown buckwheat noodles, often served chilled on a bamboo mat with a dipping sauce (zaru soba). Also popular hot in broth (kake soba).
– Udon – Thick, chewy white wheat flour noodles served in soup or with various toppings and dips. Regional styles vary.
Bento Boxes
Bento boxes contain a balanced selection of small dishes such as rice, vegetables, fish and meat. Common items include:
– Onigiri rice balls
– Grilled fish
– Fried chicken
– Rolled omelet
– Boiled vegetables
– Fruit
Bento provide a filling, nutritious lunch. Housewives take pride in preparing creative, picturesque bento for their families.
Sandwiches and Rolls
Influenced by European cuisine, sandwiches and rolls have become popular convenience foods. Fillings might include egg salad, tuna salad, ham and cheese or chicken cutlet. Bakeries offer a wide array of breads and rolls.
Salads
In summer, many opt for lighter cold salads made with greens, vegetables, potatoes or pasta. Goma-ae spinach salad with sesame dressing is a cooling choice for hot days.
Dining Options
Where do people get their midday meal? Here are some of the top places to eat lunch in Japan:
Office Cafeterias
Most major companies have cafeterias where employees can get a subsidized lunch. Office cafeterias typically have daily specials as well as à la carte selections. Menus change with the seasons to highlight fresh ingredients. Having an office cafeteria lunch allows workers to quickly refuel before tackling the rest of the workday.
Convenience Stores
Japanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson are stocked with reasonably priced grab-and-go meals. Popular picks include onigiri, sandwiches, noodles and bento boxes. Convenience stores also have hot food counters selling items like fried chicken, oden stew and steamed buns. Workers often dash into a conbini for a fast lunch.
Supermarkets
Japanese supermarkets like Ito Yokado offer ready-to-eat lunch options in their deli sections. Choices might include sushi, fried foods, noodle dishes, salads and desserts. Supermarket basements known as depachika even bring in chefs to prepare bento, sushi and fine patisseries. Department store food halls offer similar upscale takeout.
Food Stands
In busy business districts, food stands (yatai) often pop up serving cheap eats to office workers on lunch break. Common offerings are ramen, udon, oden and rice bowls. Look for food stands with long lines, a sign of popularity. Yatai provide a quick, no-frills lunch.
Restaurants
From casual eateries to high-end restaurants, lunch menus offer a break from the standard office cafeteria rotation. Popular restaurant options include izakaya pubs, curry shops, ramen shops, sushi bars and noodle shops. Many restaurants have affordable lunch specials to draw in midday diners.
Lunch Sets
Lunch sets, called teishoku, are a ubiquitous meal option. A standard teishoku consists of:
– Rice
– Miso soup
– Main dish (grilled fish, fried pork, etc.)
– Pickled vegetables
The well-balanced sets provide a filling lunch at an affordable fixed price. Teishoku are widely available at restaurants, cafeterias and even convenience stores.
Kaiseki Lunches
Kaiseki is the traditional multicourse Japanese meal. Lunch kaiseki is a refined dining experience available at high-end restaurants and hotels. Though condensed, the meal reflects the essence of kaiseki with beautiful presentation, seasonal ingredients and varied cooking techniques.
A lunch kaiseki may consist of:
| – Sakizuke – Seasonal appetizer |
| – Hassun – Assorted dishes |
| – Mukouzuke – Sashimi |
| – Takiawase – Soup |
| – Yakimono – Grilled dish |
| – Mushimono – Steamed dish |
| – Shokuji – Rice dish |
| – Mizumono – Dessert |
Though expensive, lunch kaiseki allows one to experience the flavors and aesthetics of this refined cuisine in a condensed format.
Popular Lunch Dishes by Region
Japan’s regional food cultures add variety to lunch. Here are some local specialties:
Hokkaido
– Jingisukan – Grilled mutton
– Butadon – Pork rice bowl
– Kaisendon – Rice topped with local seafood
Tohoku
– Wankosoba – All-you-can-eat noodles
– Kiritanpo nabe – Hot pot with rice sticks
– Sanshaudon – Sanriku salmon rice bowl
Kanto
– Edomae sushi – Fresh sushi with seafood from Tokyo Bay
– Monjayaki – Fried batter with cabbage, seafood and meat
– Unadon – Grilled eel over rice
Kansai
– Okonomiyaki – Savory cabbage pancake with meat and seafood
– Tako meshi – Rice mixed with octopus
– Kitsune udon – Noodles in broth with aburaage tofu
Chugoku
– Zenzai – Sweet red bean soup with mochi rice cakes
– Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki – Layered savory pancake
– Olive beef rice bowl – Wagyu beef and olives over rice
Kyushu
– Hakata ramen – Pork broth ramen with thin, straight noodles
– Motsunabe – Offal hot pot
– Karashi mentaiko spaghetti – Spicy cod roe pasta
Desserts
Though not everyday fare, some sweet treats provide a nice finish to lunch. Favorites include:
– Seasonal wagashi – Traditional Japanese confections
– Castella sponge cake
– Dorayaki pancakes filled with sweet red bean paste
– Uirō sweet rice cakes
– Purin custard pudding
– Fresh fruit
– Green tea
Lunch Manners
Some key points of etiquette for dining out at lunch:
– Arrive on time, as restaurants need to turn over tables.
– Avoid overly noisy conversations that might disturb others.
– Do not make calls or play music aloud. Silence or mute cell phones.
– Customers typically pay at the register up front, though some restaurants accept payment at the table.
– Finishing every last grain of rice in your bowl is not necessary. Leave some to indicate you are satisfied.
– Cover your mouth when using a toothpick.
– It is polite to say “Gochisōsama deshita” (Thank you for the meal) when leaving.
Lunch Break Importance
Why is lunch so important in Japanese society? Some reasons include:
– Provides physical nourishment to refuel for the afternoon.
– Gives mental respite from morning’s tasks.
– Opportunity to socialize with colleagues and foster team rapport.
– Chance to enjoy different food choices beyond home and office meals.
– Breaking up the day increases productivity and motivation.
– Reflects cultural value on food, health, balance and harmony.
Lunch is relished as quality time to nourish both body and mind. Even busy professionals make time for lunch.
Conclusion
From simple rice balls to refined kaiseki, lunch in Japan offers an abundance of options tailored to all tastes and budgets. Favorite lunch foods like ramen, bento and teishoku reflect local flavors and ingredients. While casual affordable fare is ubiquitous, lunch can also provide a welcome break to enjoy conversation and savor complex seasonal dishes. More than just a meal, lunch is a way to nourish social bonds and find calm amid a hectic day.