What to eat in Nagoya
My top 5 food to try in Nagoya
Nagoya scores big on the food charts and offers some really excellent bold and earthy flavours. In fact, the word Nagoya-meshi is often used to describe the unique taste of Nagoyan food, which is often paired with Aichi Prefecture’s famous red hatcho miso paste to give the food a distinct flavour.
For me, one of the best reasons to travel is to get a chance to experiencing the local cuisine. I love exploring new flavours, finding out new ways of cooking, and meeting people who take pride in their local gastronomic heritage. Nagoyans have capitalised on the local Aichi speciality, red hatcho miso (a paste made out of fermented soya beans, sometimes with some additional ingredients like rice and barley), and use it to season many food items to give the local cuisine a unique taste that is not often found in the rest of Japan.
A special thing about Nagoya is its iconic "Morning Set" breakfast tradition. Served at many local cafés, the Morning Set is a light meal that you get for no extra cost, when you simple buy a cup of coffee. This could be something light as a buttered toast, a boiled egg, and / or a small salad. Some places offer more elaborate variations, with options like fruit, yogurt, or even mini-sandwiches. It must be noted that not ever cafe will offer the Morning Set service, and you may not have a choice in what is served to you, but this thoughtful start to the day has become a signature part of Nagoya's food culture, and just adds to the charm of the city.
So, here is a list of my top 5 foods to eat in Nagoya. Some I have already tried in my last visit… some I can’t wait to try on my next trip!
Hitsumabushi
The most special dish of Nagoya is also one of the most expensive and may not be palatable to everybody, but I can’t wait to try it. Hitsumabushi is grilled eel, basted in a thick sweet soy sauce, served with rice and other condiments. There is a specific way of eating it, which respects the culinary traditions of Nagoya. You divide the rice, topped with eel into four portions, and each portion is supposed to be had in a specific way, with different condiments, and even as a soup. This whole theatrical precision and effort makes eating Hitsumabushi an experience to be savoured, more than just a meal to fill your stomach.
Misokatsu
If you want to try something less elaborate and more humble, try the misokatsu in Nagoya . Basically, katsu is one of the most common food items you will see in Japan. It is essentially a fried meat – usually pork – cutlet, covered in bread crumbs, and is usually served on a bed of cabbage and even rice. What makes miso-katsu in Nagoya so special is that here the katsu is slathered in the unique red miso sauce special to the region, which giving it an intense barbeque flavour, that is not found easily in the rest of Japan. I love miso, and I love fried meat. So, misokatsu for me is like heaven on a plate!
Tebasaki
Fried chicken is like an obsession in Japan, and Nagoya has taken it one notch higher. Tebasaki is fried chicken wings, but instead of the usual batter, they are covered in soya sauce, and seasoned with salt, pepper and sesame seeds. Its one of the most popular drinking snacks, and don’t forget to order this when you visit an izakaya in Japan
Kishimen
Almost every region in Japan has its own special way of preparing and serving noodles, and kishimen is Nagoya’s main noodle dish. These are thick, flat noodles that are served in a bowl of hot broth, flavoured with soy sauce, sake and topped with different toppings like boiled eggs, benito flakes, steamed fish cakes and fried tofu, as per your choice. I have seen enough videos of kishimen on YT to almost know what it tastes like, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a bowl!
Ogura Toast
I saw this dish on a video blog and just the simplicity of this put this dish made me want to try it out. Simply put, it is a thick slice of buttered white-bread toast, with a dollop of azuki red bean paste spread on it. The fluffy looking ogura toast goes best with coffee and is a popular breakfast item in many cafes. I loved the one at Komeda Coffee. Mmm mmmmm!
These are just a few of the great eats Nagoya has to offer. I am certain there are lots more street foods, meats and sweets you can find here. So, if you are a foodie, you won’t have a problem of choice in Nagoya. If you think I have missed anything out, do let me know in the comments.