Nagoya Meshi is the local Nagoya food. It is unique to Nagoya and its surroundings in Aichi Prefecture and cannot be found anywhere else in Japan in this form. Nagoya Meshi is not the name of a dish but rather the name of the cuisine which can only be found in Nagoya.

In this Nagoya Food Guide you will learn about the different dishes from Nagoya as well as a restaurant recommendation for each dish.

If you want to you can go directly to the sub-categories below. Find posts on specific dishes from Nagoya and at which restaurants to try them in the ‘Dishes from Nagoya‘ category. You can read restaurant reviews of the best restaurants in Nagoya under ‘Restaurant Reviews‘ and you can find out more about Japanese food in general in the ‘Other Japanese Food‘ category. 

Aka Miso

-> Go directly to the Hatcho Miso post

Some kinds of Nagoya Meshi are unique because of the ingredients that are used. For example, the Aka Miso (red Miso paste) that can only be found in Nagoya is such a unique ingredient. If you have ever been to Japan before or to a good Japanese restaurant outside of Japan, you might know Miso from the very famous Miso Soup.

The special Aka Miso from Okazaki in Aichi prefecture is called Hatcho Miso. It is made from the same raw ingredient as any other Miso: soybeans.

The difference is that the Hatcho Miso which is famous in Nagoya only uses soybeans and no other ingredients. To make Hatcho Miso the soybeans are fermented much longer than usual Miso (up to 3 years) which gives the Miso its characteristic flavor and dark red-brown color.

In Okazaki you can try Hatcho Miso soft serve ice cream if you are brave. For more soft serve flavors in Japan click here.

We will tell you a lot more about Aka Miso and its importance for Nagoya during our Nagoya Meshi Food Tour. Find out more about the best way to experience the unique Nagoya cuisine! 

Miso Katsu

-> Go directly to ‘Where to Eat Miso Katsu in Nagoya‘

Miso Katsu is a deep-fried pork cutlet served with a rich dark-brown sauce made from Aka Miso. It is usually served with raw cabbage. For lunch, you will often find it in cafes around Nagoya either as a Miso Katsu Teishoku (a set meal served with rice and soup) or as a Miso Katsu Don (a rice bowl topped with Miso Katsu).

The taste of the Aka Miso is very rich and might be an acquired taste, but with the Nagoya locals, it is hugely popular.

Miso Nikomi Udon

->Go directly to ‘Where to eat the best Miso Nikomi Udon in Nagoya‘

Another dish which uses Aka Miso is Miso Nikomi Udon, a kind of one-pot Udon noodle dish. Udon noodles are thick white noodles made from wheat flour which can be found in different variations served hot or cold all over the country. I love Udon in all its variations.

What is unique about Miso Nikomi Udon is the way it is prepared. Not only is it served in an earthen pot while it is still hot and bubbling but the flavor is unique due to the Aka Miso used in the soup. Other ingredients include chicken, egg, Shiitake mushrooms and green onions.

While Miso Nikomi Udon is not my favorite kind of Udon variation, it is definitely a great dish to warm up your body on a cold winter day and a dish you simply must eat in Nagoya.

Dote-ni

Image via Wikimedia Commons by 小太刀

Dote-ni might be one of those dishes westerners aren’t very fond of. The dish is made from pork or beef entrails boiled in an Aka Miso sauce. Other ingredients are Konnyaku (jelly-like food made from the konjac root) and Daikon (Japanese radish).

The dish emerged sometime in the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912) as popular Nagoya street food and today it is enjoyed by many as a take-home souvenir or in the form of Dote-meshi when poured over rice at an Izakaya.

Miso Oden 

Oden is a kind of winter hot pot food which can be found all over Japan. Ingredients of Oden include eggs, Konnyaku, Daikon and fish cakes which are stewed for a long time.

It is no wonder that in Nagoya and the surrounding Aichi area a Miso based version has emerged. There are two versions of Miso Oden, one where the Miso is used as a broth in which the ingredients are simmered for a long time, and the other where Miso is added to the soy sauce-based broth.

Oden can be found in most convenience stores during the colder months and in Nagoya, it is common to find tubes of Miso next to the Oden to enjoy Miso Oden on the go or at home without the hassle of preparing it yourself.

Moriguchizuke

Image via Wikimedia Commons by Lombroso

While it doesn’t look like the tastiest food from Nagoya, Moriguchizuke, pickles made from Moriguchi Daikon radish, tastes much better than it looks. The radish is pickled using Sake or Mirin (sweet sake) residue and is a very popular gift sold in hundreds of year old gift shops even today.

Nagoya Breakfast or Nagoya Morning Service

Image via Wikimedia Commons by 小太刀

Let me tell you about a Nagoya breakfast tradition called Nagoya Morning (or Nagoya Morning Service) which developed only in the region around Nagoya.

When you order a drink in the morning at a cafe in Nagoya, you will get a Morning Service for free. This often includes half a toast and a boiled egg but can include other items such as salad or yogurt or different kinds of spread for your toast.

In effect, for the price of a drink, you get a small breakfast. Isn’t that great?

Ogura Toast

-> Go directly to ‘Where to eat Ogura Toast in Nagoya‘

Ogura toast is a slice of golden-brown freshly toasted toast topped with butter or margarine and Anko, sweet red bean paste. This dish can be found in coffee houses all over Nagoya and is especially popular as a breakfast dish with a cup of coffee.

The dish, a mix of western and Japanese cuisine originated in the Taisho Period, at the beginning of the 20th century in a small coffee shop in Sakae district in Nagoya. From there it gained fame and popularity and today it can be found in many coffee shops all over the city.

If you are looking for a Nagoya-style souvenir you might want to buy some cookies or other sweets based on the flavor of Ogura toast which you can find in many souvenir stores in Nagoya.

Hitsumabushi

-> Go directly to ‘Where to Eat Hitsumabushi in Nagoya‘ post

My all-time favorite Nagoya Meshi is Hitsumabushi. It might also be the most expensive dish to be found on this list because eel is a real delicacy in Japan. Hitsumabushi is Japanese eel prepared in the unique Nagoya style. The whole eel is split open at the belly, the bones are removed and the eel is grilled whole without steaming.

Hitsumabushi is said to have originated around the Meiji Period (1603 – 1867) when waitresses dished out each serving of sliced eel from a sizeable wooden tup for keeping cooked rice called Ohitsu into individual bowls for each customer.

Hitsumabushi is often the highlight of our Nagoya Meshi Food Tour. If you want to learn how to eat it properly and what makes Hitsumabushi so special participate in the Nagoya Meshi Food Tour. We have daily tours. Find out more and book your spot today!

Ebi Furai 

->Go directly to ‘Where to Try the Best Ebi Furai in Nagoya‘ post

Ebi Furai, deep-fried shrimp, didn’t originate in Nagoya. Still, it is worth mentioning in this Nagoya food guide.

Fried shrimp are often used in Nagoya as topping for noodles, rice dishes or Japanese style curry dishes and they are a real Nagoya specialty.

Many shops in Nagoya serve Ebi Furai with the same Aka Miso sauce as Miso Katsu, making it true Nagoya cuisine.

Aichi Prefecture has one of the highest consumption of shrimp in Japan, so it is really no wonder that there would be restaurants offering shrimp prepared in all kinds of different ways in Nagoya.

Tenmusu 

-> Go directly to ‘Where to try Tenmusu in Nagoya‘

As a visitor to Japan, you will have probably heard about Onigiri, the rice balls filled with all kinds of ingredients such as tuna/mayo, salmon, fish eggs, and wrapped in seaweed.

In Nagoya, you can find something similar to an Onigiri, called Tenmusu. Half the size of a normal Onigiri and filled with small shrimp tempura it is a popular snack or souvenir in Nagoya.

You can find Tenmusu in specialty stores and department stores and even train stations in Nagoya.

Ebi Senbei 

-> Go directly to ‘Where to buy the best Ebi Senbei in Nagoya‘

Senbei are rice crackers that can be found all over Japan. They come in different flavors and with different ingredients depending on the region.

Aichi is the biggest producer of Senbei made from shrimp which can be found in abundance in the area. These shrimp rice crackers are called Ebi Senbei.

Ebi Senbei are a popular snack or souvenir and there are different types from the cheap supermarket kind to expensive luxury Senbei made in the shape of whole prawns.

Tebasaki

Image via Flickr by kawanet

-> Go directly to ‘Where to find the best Japanese Chicken Wings (Tebasaki) in Nagoya?‘

Tebasaki are Nagoya chicken wings. And if you love chicken wings, in general, you will love Tebasaki. The chicken wings are flavored with different spices and deep-fried twice without any batter to delicious and crispy perfection.

Tebasaki in Nagoya are hugely popular to enjoy with a beer or even Sake.

Nagoya Cochin Chicken

-> Go directly to ‘Where to try Nagoya Cochin in Nagoya‘

Nagoya Cochin is a local brand of chicken. In the Meiji Period two brothers from the Owari clan bread local and Chinese Baifu Cochin chicken to develop a new food culture based on chicken. Even though cheap imports from foreign countries endangered local poultry production Nagoya Cochin has a strong brand power and is very popular with locals.

There are specialty shops and restaurants using the local chicken meat in traditional Japanese foods such as Nabe (Japanese hot pot) but also in chicken Sashimi and Karaage fried chicken.

Kishimen

Image via Wikimedia Commons by toshinori baba

-> Go directly to ‘Where to eat the best Kishimen in Nagoya‘ post

Kishimen are flat, and broad noodles served in a hot tamari soy sauce broth. Other common ingredients include dried bonito flakes, Kamaboko (steamed fish paste), boiled spinach and spring onions. Kishimen are a type of Udon, just flatter and broader with shorter cooking time; this makes the noodles more tender and easier to swallow. I have to admit that I still prefer traditional Udon noodles over Kishimen. 

Aside from the traditional variation of Kishimen served in the hot broth there are other very delicious variations, including curry Kishimen, cold Zaru Kishimen, which are dipped into a cold soup before eating or salad Kishimen.

Ankake Spaghetti

-> Go directly to ‘Where to eat the best Ankake Spaghetti in Nagoya‘

Ankake spaghetti doesn’t have much to do with Japanese cuisine, but still, it is very popular in the Aichi region and therefore worth mentioning in this Nagoya food blog. Ankake spaghetti is made from a rich spicey, peppery sauce which is topped with either ham (called Miraneze) or vegetables (called Kantori) or a combination of both (Mira-kan).

Teppan Spaghetti

If you have ever been upset by the fact that spaghetti tends to get cold before you are finished eating then Teppan spaghetti is the perfect dish for you. Spaghetti with a ketchup-based sauce is served on a hot plate (called a Teppan Zara). Toppings include paprika, onions, small sausages, mushrooms, and peas and to top everything off a beaten egg is poured over the spaghetti.

When the dish was first created Teppan spaghetti could mainly be found in Nagoya’s coffee shops but in recent years the dish has gained in popularity all across Japan and nowadays it is also served in spaghetti houses. A true Nagoya must eat dish!

Taiwan Ramen

Taiwan Ramen are not like the name suggest from Taiwan, but a Nagoya creation. Spicy peppers and garlic are added to minced meat together with leak and bean sprouts. The ramen soup is based on a chicken broth with soy sauce. And the contrast between spicy topping and the refreshing broth is the secret to the popularity of Taiwan Ramen.

Nowadays Taiwan Ramen can be found in almost 50 percent of the local Chinese and Ramen restaurants in Nagoya, but you can also find them as instant cup noodles in supermarkets or in souvenir shops.

Oni Manju

-> Go directly to ‘Where to try Oni Manju in Nagoya‘

Oni Manju (devils rice cake) is a simple dessert that can be only found in Aichi. The Manju is made from rice flour with sweet potato cubes sticking out of the surface like the horns of the devil.

The simple snack can be found in department stores as well as specialty stores all over Nagoya and is a great little bite in between.

You can taste an Oni Manju during our Nagoya Meshi Food Tour which takes places daily in Sakae district in Nagoya. Find out more and sign up to an unforgettable food experience in Nagoya!

Uiro

-> Go directly to ‘What is Uiro? And where to try Uiro in Nagoya?‘

Uiro is not limited to Nagoya and can be found all over the country. The confectionary is made from steam, rice flour, and sugar to which other flavors are added such as brown sugar, green tea, red bean or yuzu citrus.

90% of the sweet is produced in the area which makes it a true Nagoya specialty. It is a very popular souvenir to bring home to friends and family after a visit to Nagoya and can be found in department stores and souvenir shops.

Nagoya Meshi Food Tour

Many of the dishes introduced above are part of the Nagoya Meshi Food Tour.

The tour runs daily from 2:30 p.m. for 3 to 3.5 hours. With stops at some of the restaurants mentioned above. You will get an amazing overview of the local Nagoya cuisine in a short time with information otherwise very hard to find.

Some of the highlights are the bubbling hot Miso Nikomi Udon, and also the local special Hitsumabushi.

Click here for more details on the Nagoya Meshi Food Tour.

If you would rather have a private tour just for you, your friends and family we can do that as well. You can choose what kind of dishes you want to try and at what time you would like the tour to start. It is fully customizable to your needs!

Find the details for a private Nagoya food tour here.

Souvenirs from Nagoya

If you want to take some of the delicious food found in Nagoya home with you, you have multiple options.

You could buy some Miso paste so you can put it on your meat dishes at home and remember your trip to Nagoya through this unique flavor.

You could also buy cooking kits for Kishimen, or Miso Nikomi Udon.

Typical Nagoya snacks and sweets can also be found at souvenir shops all over the city.

For more information check out the Nagoya Souvenir Guide.

Other Things to Try in Nagoya

The list above only mentions the unique Nagoya Meshi to be found almost exclusively in Nagoya and the surrounding areas. Of course, there are delicious dished that can be found all over Japan, including in Nagoya, and for that reason, it is time to list up just a couple of the best Japanese dishes not to miss in my post ‘What to eat in Japan‘.

However there are also some very strange Japanese foods out there. I encourage everyone (including myself) to be advenurous and try things even when they seem weird.

Did you realize that not only the food but also the drinks in Japan are unique? I suggest you find the time and explore a supermarket, convenience store or you raid a vending machine to try some of the most interesting Japanese drinks while you are in the country.

If you want to read this post again when you are in Japan, pin it to your ‘Food in Japan’ or ‘Japan Travel’ Pinterest board. It would also mean a lot to me if you shared this post on Facebook or Twitter and with anyone planning a trip to Japan!