Beyond Sushi: 9 More Japanese Dishes You Have to Try

While sushi is arguably one of the finest foods in the world, Japan is a nation of excellent cuisine, all of which is well worth trying at least once. 

From the nation's favorite home-cooked meals to the best izakaya dishes on offer, we've narrowed down a list of the best dishes worth checking out next time you visit Japan.

There's enough variety to suit any dietary needs or picky eaters. In this sure-to-satisfy ranking, we've combined the dishes Japanese locals most want to introduce to visitors and their favorite comfort foods, so loosen that belt buckle and get ready to dig in. 

Yakiniku often ranks second among Japanese people's favorite foods, just below sushi, so we had to put it at the top of our list. And if you’re a fan of barbeque, yakiniku is for you! You can smell a great yakiniku joint from a mile away; just follow your nose toward the savory, smokey scent of grilled meats pouring into the street.

From adventurous cuts like offal hormone to luxurious wagyu and savory sirloin, yakiniku is a deliciously interactive way to enjoy Japanese food. Grill your meat and fresh veggies as you eat. To check out some of the best yakiniku in Tokyo, head to the city's Korea town, Shin-Okubo, right next to the bustling Shibuya.

Did you know there’s a lot more to raw food in Japan than sushi? Food safety is one of the country’s claims to fame, a status that makes delicious Japanese dishes like the TKG a top choice for travelers.

The classic TKG features a fresh raw egg or egg yolk broken over hot rice and topped with your favorite flavorings. Soy sauce is standard, but mix it up with pickles, shredded nori, or even natto for some extra Japanese funk. 

Wondering where to get this home-cooked staple as a tourist? Just look for a hotel like Piena in Kobe, with excellent morning service and a make-it-yourself serving style. 

No trip to Japan would be complete without at least one curry rice meal. Many folks in Japan would agree that it's a must-have while you're here. 

Classic Japanese curry has a homey taste, combining a thick gravy of stewed ingredients and spices, crunchy pickles and toppings, and fluffy rice.

There's nowhere better to taste Japanese curry than Tokyo's hip Shimokitazawa district, where you can dine on some of the country's best roux between vintage clothes shopping and record store hopping. Stay at a boutique hotel with a name as flavorful as its neighborhood: Mustard Hotel in Shimokitazawa.

Lots of people grow up eating good old fried chicken; in Japan, it's not that different. But you'll be surprised to discover that the Japanese take on this popular dish, karaage, is arguably a lot tastier. 

Get your hands on some of the biggest, juiciest boneless fried chicken out there and take a bite out of what Japanese people have been enjoying for decades. 

Karaage is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, served heaping and hot at local diners and fried chicken specialty shops across the country. Best enjoyed with a frosty cold Japanese beer!

Nabe, aka "Japanese hot pot" may be considered a winter food, but according to Japanese locals, it's one of the most expressive cuisines of Japanese tastes. 

Nabe dishes run the spectrum from sweet sukiyaki to the hearty "chankonabe", a sumo wrestler's famous stamina-enhancing soup. No matter when you visit Japan, get a taste of this essentially Japanese dish with a healthy bent at local shops around Tokyo's sumo-populated Ryogoku neighborhood. 

Tempura was brought to Japan’s shores by Portuguese missionaries in the 1600s. It's a double frying technique that wicks excess oil, leaving you with a light-tasting dish that's crispy and satisfying. From giant shrimp to fresh seasonal vegetables, just about everything makes a delicious tempura. 

Dip a few pieces in ten-tsuyu, Japan's original dipping sauce made just for this cuisine, or enjoy it atop bowls of rice and noodles. Visit Kaneko Hannosuke, a famous tempura restaurant a stone's throw from the convenient business hotels and lively night scene of the Nihonbashi district.

In Japan, people love to gather around a table and share meals where everyone can participate. So, it's no surprise that shabu-shabu often makes the list of Japan's favorite meals. 

Shabu-shabu is the country's other version of hot pot, where skewered or ladled ingredients boil together in a delicious broth base, adding to the flavor as the water boils and new ingredients are introduced. Gather with your travel companions around a pot of shabu-shabu and enjoy razor-thin sliced meat and chunky vegetables with this simply delicious cooking style.

"As you like it" is the name of the game with okonomiyaki, an ultra-customizable Japanese dish found on teppanyaki tables and street stalls across the country. 

You can enjoy flipping and decorating your own okonomiyaki in many of Osaka's famous storefronts. During festivals, vendors serve fresh, hot savory pancakes on charming little trays to enjoy as you stroll along lantern-lit streets. 

Whether your anticipation comes from waiting on that perfect little mound to char on the teppan or waiting for fireworks to light up the summer sky, okonomiyaki is a festive dish to eat just the way you like it. 

Rounding out our top non-sushi Japanese foods list is, of course, ramen. 

It's a famous favorite among Japanese people of all ages and one of the most recommended dishes for foreigners. Ramen comes in all kinds of regional varieties, including tonkotsu, miso, shio (salt), and shoyu (soy sauce) to name a few. 

Some shops specialize in letting you customize your bowl with all-you-can-eat toppings or variations of noodle hardness and broth strength. You can't travel far in Japan without hearing the name Jiro's ramen at least once but get in line early if you want to try their famous noodles.

Jiro Ramen has garnered a serious cult following since its 1968 establishment. With generous serving portions, thick bread-flour noodles, massive chunks of pork and lashings of garlic, topped with bean sprouts, Jiro's bowls are big in size and legend. The chain has become so popular it's spawned a subculture of obsessives that call themselves “Jirorians”. Thankfully, its Mita storefront is just a quick walk from some of Tokyo's best hotels.