Restaurants in Japan are very numerous and many are different from our French restaurants. Here is an article that will give you an overview of Japanese gastronomy through different restaurant concepts.
- Storefronts
- Very realistic plastic dishes, called sampuru
- The big signs
- The different types of Japanese restaurants
- Traditional Japanese restaurants
- Japanese restaurants on the floor
- Japanese restaurants with a conveyor belt
- Yatai restaurants
- Japanese restaurants with built-in hotplates, teppan
- The different types of Japanese bars and cafes
- Izakaya
- Cat bars
- The Maid Café
- Ordering a dish in a Japanese restaurant
- Ordering on a kiosk
- Order on a tablet
- Call the waiter
- Eating in a Ryokan
Storefronts
The very realistic plastic dishes, called sampuru
First of all what jumps out are these plastic dishes called sampuru “食品サンプル” in the window. Very surprisingly, the dishes that some restaurants offer are presented not on a menu like in France but in very realistic dishes like these gyoza on the left. For tourists and for those who can’t read Japanese, it’s perfect! The dishes that you are served are very faithful to the presentation of the window. Indeed, the Japanese are precise and meticulous and push the detail very far. The resemblance between the famous plastic dish and the one brought to you is striking.
The big signs
In Japan, signs are very visible, some are even completely disproportionate or even gigantic. For example in Osaka, you will find giant octopuses, crabs or an octopus above some restaurants, you can’t miss them. You will then know from afar that this restaurant sells takoyaki and okonomiyaki for example.
The different types of Japanese restaurants
Traditional Japanese restaurants
You also have traditional restaurants which are a bit unnoticed. Indeed, these restaurants look like wooden houses whose sliding doors are closed. That’s why, you might think as a French tourist that these restaurants are closed. But no! There are“noren““暖簾” (small split curtains) of Japanese character on the front of the doors which indicate the specialty of the restaurant: “okonomiyakiya” “takoyakiya ” ” sushiya” etc. So don’t hesitate to open the doors and enter. The restaurant is closed as soon as these“noren” are inside the restaurant.
Japanese restaurants on the floor
In big cities, especially in Tokyo, restaurants can be found on the floor or in the basement. You should not hesitate to look at the floors! You will be surprised to see all these stores and restaurants that are located in buildings and whose signs are only on the floor. It seems very surprising for French tourists, but it is very common in Japan. So take the time to look up when you walk or you might miss a good restaurant!
You will also find Chinese, Korean or French restaurants in Japan! There are also famous American fast food like Macdonald’s, KFC, Burger King etc… there are many Japanese restaurant chains like Yashinoya, Matsuya, or Mos burger for example, cheap and good value. Know that unlike other countries, in Japan chains are synonymous with quality! So don’t be afraid to go there.
Japanese restaurants with a conveyor belt
You probably know the concept, in France we find them for example in the chains of Matsuri restaurants. It is exactly the same principle: you sit around a conveyor belt where you can take small plates of food, generally sushi. You can take small plates of food, usually sushi, often with an all-you-can-eat formula. In Japan, the sushi is much better than in France and the price is not excessive. To be tested.
The yatai
The yatai or walking stalls are fast food stands, in the open air in Japan. You will find on sale okonomiyaki (Japanese salted pancakes), of takoyaki (octopus dumplings), amaguri (roasted chestnuts) or even in summer kakigori (Japanese crushed ice).
You can easily find them at markets, festivals or in the cities of Fukuoka prefecture where they are particularly numerous.
Japanese restaurants with built-in hotplates, teppan
If you have the opportunity to eat okonomiyaki, or a Korean barbecue you will find on your table a hot plate where you put your ingredients yourself. Very friendly, this kind of restaurant is very popular in Japan.
Personally I loved the Korean barbecue in Japan. The meat is really tender and of an incredible quality. You manage the cooking yourself. Excellent, I really recommend it! The best I tasted for the moment is in Odaiba. A pure moment of ecstasy…
The different types of Japanese bars and cafes
The izakaya
Experience to do when you are in Japan, these Japanese bars, the izakayaThey are tiny and the atmosphere is very friendly. You will find alcoholic drinks and small Japanese dishes, such as edamameand korokke (Japanese croquettes), Japanese beers, sake or even umeshu for example.
Generally these bars welcome about 10 people and are frequented in the evening by work colleagues or friends. There is a small counter where you sit and eat while drinking and chatting with friends. You could compare it to a bistro in France or a Spanish tapas restaurant.
Cat bars
The cat bar, cat café or neko café is a place where you can drink your drink accompanied by cats all around you. It is important to know that Japanese people don’t really have pets in their homes because of the small size of the house and the restriction of the owners.
You can play and pet the cats in the bar, there are a lot of neko cafe in Japan, in France this concept is starting to be established.
The Maid Café
The Maid Café are traditional or thematically decorated cafés in which the waitresses are dressed in uniforms like in mangas.
These cafés are for manga fans, video game fans and Japanese idols. You will find many of them in the Akihabara district in Tokyo.
There are of course bars, or “classic” coffee shops like Starbucks for example where you can order just coffee or/and pastries.
Ordering a dish in a Japanese restaurant
In Japan you have the possibility to order in different ways. Here are the most common ones:
Ordering on a kiosk
There are no waiters to take your order, you choose your dishes on a kiosk at the reception of the restaurant or on the street. You choose your dish and pay directly. A ticket comes out, you sit down and your dish arrives in exchange for your ticket. Surprising, but effective. The only negative point is that you can’t take your time to choose your dish and there are not necessarily pictures of the dishes, just the name in Japanese…
Order on a tablet
You can also order on a tablet placed on your table. Very high tech, but there you can take your time to choose your dish, moreover some restaurants offer a translation in English, not negligible for tourists who can’t read Japanese.
Calling the waiter (or waitress)
Often in Japanese restaurants, there is a small button on your table to call a waiter. We found this concept very nice because it gave us the time to choose on the menu and to decipher the dishes. Moreover, if you want to ask for something, you don’t have to wait for someone to pass by, you can press the button and be served.
Eating in a Ryokan
If you really want to eat traditionally we advise you to go to a ryokan in Japan. It is an inn that offers traditional meals in the morning and/or evening for every night spent in the establishment. The meals are very elaborate and of a great cuisine. You will also often have access to a private onsen.
It is important to know that Japan is the country where there are the most Michelin starred restaurants. It is ahead of France! Do not hesitate to go to a restaurant at random, you will rarely be disappointed.
