Japanese Food Tier List [2023]

It is perhaps the goal of every foodie to try out dishes from as many places in the world as possible. And even if that isn’t a title you would apply to yourself, it’s still a really fun experience to try different dishes from countries you normally wouldn’t consider. Japanese dishes, in particular, are gaining recognition globally as the overall popularity of the country increases year after year. So, in our Japanese food tier list, we will list some of the most popular foods from the island nation.

Additionally, I want to add that do you feel the same as I do? I mean from my point of view, social media plays a crucial role in promoting food from different parts of the world. For instance, if someone goes on a vacation, they must post whatever they eat. And, if I come across a post where food seems tempting and is a dish I have never had before, I start craving it. Undoubtedly, the same thing happens with the majority of people. 

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Key Points

• There are a total of Japanese food in this tier list.
• Each entry has been ranked according to its taste, popularity, etc.
• In the highest tier, you can find sushi, Okonomiyaki, etc.
• Among the lowest tiers, you will find Onigri, croquettes, etc.

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Summary

We will be ranking all the entries in a small table below.

S Rank	A Rank	B Rank	C Rank	D Rank
Karaage	Japanese Cheesecake	Tonkotsu Ramen	Butadon	Onigiri
Sushi	Ramen	Kare Raisu	Gyutan	Croquettes
Takoyaki	Kare	Gyoza
Okonomiyaki

S Tier

In the S rank of the Japanese food tier list, I will place the best types of Japanese food. There are some food items that you can have daily with the same craving level. Can you relate to me? So, you will find these kinds of dishes in this category; These are famous all over the world because of their taste and as well as the ingredients used in them. In simple words, these dishes are the epitome of perfection.

Sushi

You must expect sushi to be number 1 on the list. It is one of the most famous Japanese dishes all over the world. However, people outside of Japan do not exactly know what sushi is. They always make a mistake by saying it is just raw fish. No man! That’s not it. There is so much more to the dish than just that. It is not only famous internationally but also in Japan itself. Sushi combines various ingredients such as raw fish, vinegared rice, and vegetables that taste so delicious. 

For instance, one of its most well-known forms is Sushi Nigiri, consisting of vegetables, eggs, and raw fish turned inside a soft and properly cooked small bundle of rice. Another form is Maki Sushi wrapped up in a particular seaweed known as “Nori.” Apart from that, we have another form of Sushi consisting of a cone shape. 

One of my favorite ones is Inari Sushi, where deep-fried tofu is rolled up in rice. Now, you must be wondering that, oh I misunderstood the real taste of Sushi. Now, whenever you visit any restaurant next time then, make sure to brief your order to the waiter. I hope that you will find the one with your favorite taste. Do let me know in the comment section below how was your first experience with it.

Average Calories per serving	370
Major ingredients	Salmon, tuna, rice, Avocado

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a really interesting dish not only to eat but to cook as well. It is a special kind of item which is best to order in groups. Talking about the ingredients, it is made up of a wide variety of tasty ingredients such as beef, chicken, pork, seafood, tofu, cheese, corn, onion, and many other vegetables. Every bite of it is supposed to be more delicious than the last. 

After mixing the mesmerizing batter, it is then fried on a grill just like we do for a pancake. Whenever you visit a restaurant then they give you the option to select your very own Okonomiyaki batter. Do you know the meaning of this dish’s name? It means “grill your favorite”. Therefore, almost every other person in the group orders the batter of his own choice according to his likes and dislikes. 

It is not about the batter only but it is also topped up with some great-tasting sauces. For an idea, I can tell you that the perfectly cooked batter is drizzled with a yummy brown sauce, dried bonito flakes, and mayonnaise. Doesn’t it sound like a meal full of fun?

Average Calories per serving	550
Major ingredients	Cabbage, meat/fish, wasabi,etc.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki is a go-to meal for Japanese individuals mostly enjoyed as street food. It is basically a grilled Octopus. No, it does not mean that by simply grilling an Octopus you are good to go. Instead, it is made with a blend of sauces and a bit of spice as well. Basically, these are dumpling balls smaller in size which the chef fills with Octopus later. Its batter consists of flour and dashi that are properly fried in a mold of spherical shape. Some of its other ingredients are tempura scraps and green onions. 

After frying, a thick Takoyaki sauce is drizzled on it along with mayonnaise and bonito flakes. People often love to have these at special Japanese festivals. You will definitely love it too.

Average Calories per serving	300
Major ingredients	Octopus, green onion, spices, etc.

Karaage

Karaage is one of the most famous Japanese dishes. It is basically crispy fried chicken with a touch of Japanese taste in it. Its juicy marination consists of soy sauce, mirin, and garlic. Its sweet, succulent, and salty taste make the chicken perfect for every occasion. If you want to enhance its taste then eat it with special dips or simply mayonnaise with a bit of lemon juice in it.

Average Calories per serving	100
Major ingredients	Chicken, flour, salt.

A Tier

Secondly, there are dishes that have a perfect blend of tastes however, there might be minor flaws in them but these are ignorable. So, you can feel free to try out these dishes as there is no harm or risk in choosing these. 

Ramen

If you were to ask most people what’s the most famous food in Japan? Then chances are that they will say Ramen. It is one of the cheapest and most popular dishes in Japan. The inexpensive dish was first concocted in 1910, when Japanese cooks came up with the idea of mixing noodles in a salty broth. Talking about its serving, then it is a proper meal consisting of wheat noodles, miso soup, or soy sauce along with different interesting ingredients to enhance its taste to the fullest. The ingredients that are a must in the dish are green onions, eggs, pork slices, and seaweed.

If you ask me to compare the flavor of it to any other item then trust me it is not possible. If you ask me what is the most delectable part of the dish, then not only mine but the majority’s answer will be its soup. The taste of soup varies from soft to strong depending upon your choice or the place you are ordering from. Its hot broth is prepared from pork, fish, miso, and soy sauce. A final touch comprises meat slices, tempura, or pork fillet, whatever your preference is.

Average Calories per serving	160
Major ingredients	Ramen, vegetables, meat.

Kare

Kare is a Japanese-style curry that is gaining popularity all over the world. If we talk about other countries like India or Pakistan then their curries are made by adding spices to them. Whereas, this one is made from coconut powder. Initially, the dish used to be so expensive that ordinary people were not able to afford it. It was a symbol of wealth as only wealthy people can have it back then. 

Some of the most popular combinations of Kare are listed below:

• Kare Raisu
• Supu Kare
• Katsu Kare
• Kare Pan
• Dorai Kare
• Yaku Kare
• Nashi Kare
  

  Average Calories per serving	300
  Major ingredients	spices, meat, meat broth etc.

Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese Cheesecake is not like ordinary ones. In comparison to normal cheesecakes, these are more soft and fluffy. Normally, in different parts of the world cheesecake is served hot. However, people in Japan mostly like to have their specialty straight out of the oven. 

The main ingredients used in it are flour, cream cheese, cornstarch, eggs, milk, butter, and sugar. Combining these items created a really scrumptious dessert that you will surely want to have again and again.

Average Calories per serving	300
Major ingredients	Eggs, butter, sugar, cream

B Tier

In the B category of the Japanese food tier list, I am going to place the likable Japanese food. These are the go-to and safest option for people who have not tried these till now. So, are you ready to find out which dishes are a part of the category? Let us begin!

Tonkotsu Ramen

It is one of the forms of Ramen but maybe a heavy version of it. If you want a complete meal then Tonkotsu would be enough for you but taste wise ordinary Ramen holds a higher position than it. This version of Ramen has a topping of egg yolk and soft pork belly. You will definitely love it if you are a true noodles fan. Because it consists of noodles that taste different due to a special kind of broth in it. Its broth is of creamy texture as it includes properly cooked pork bones, fat dissolve, and collagen.

Average Calories per serving	250
Major ingredients	Pork belly, egg yolk, ramen.

Gyoza

Gyoza is one of the majority’s favorite Japanese meals. It is sort of a dumpling having a crescent shape. The batter of these dumplings consists of wheat flour, eggs, and water. Once the batter is prepared then a delicious filling is added to it. The filling is a mixture of meat and vegetables. The chefs came up with its recipe by bringing a slight change to ordinary Chinese jiaozi dumplings. 

Up Next: Mic tier list

Most commonly the ingredients for the stuffing include foods like minced pork, cabbage, chives, garlic, ginger, and green onions. The people who like to have signature momos will start comparing gyoza to the original momo’s recipe which is why Gyoza’s ranking is lower relatively. 

Average Calories per serving	73
Major ingredients	meat/pork, spices, green onion.

Kare Raisu

Kare Raisu is a very delicious yet simple dish that is popular all over Japan. It is simply boiled rice served with different Japanese curries. I am saying “different” because it depends on your taste buds whether you want spicy, mild, or regular flavor. Apart from that, different ingredients are added to it according to your preference. For instance, if you love to have beef or chicken meat then you can go for it otherwise you can have duck or pork too. 

The vegetables that are normally used in Kare Raisu are onions, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Other than that you can add or neglect the vegetables you want to according to your taste. If you want to have something light and tasty then Kare Raisu is indeed s a good option for you in those cases. Do let us know in the comment box below that which vegetables and meat you will preferably want to have in your curry with rice. Moreover, if you have an interesting recipe then share it with your friends as well.

Average Calories per serving	140
Major ingredients	ginger, green onion, garlic, chicken.

C Tier

Now, moving towards the second last category of the tier list. In this tier, I will be ranking the Japanese food that is neither perfect nor too bad. It depends on the mood of a person and whether he is willing to taste or have these at a particular time or not. 

Gyutan

Gyutan is also one of the famous dishes in Japan. However, it does not have some special kind of taste because there are no different sauces present in it that create or enhance the flavor. Simply, it is grilled and then garnished with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon. There are two ways to have it either to cut it thin or thick. A thick tongue requires grilling for a longer time and vice verse.

Average Calories per serving	500
Major ingredients	Beef tongue, spices, lemon.

Butadon

Butadon is cooked pork meat that is served over a bed of rice. It is not too famous or likable because of its ordinary taste. If you really want to have flavorsome Japanese food then look at the above tiers. The ingredients of Butadon include some ordinary sauces, salt, and onion. That’s it!

Average Calories per serving	500
Major ingredients	Pork belly, spring onion, miso soup etc.

D Tier

Finally, we are at the last rank of the tier list. Here, you will find those kinds of dishes that are not the first preference of a person. Only a minority likes to have these. Again, I am not saying that you must have the same opinion as I do or what the majority feels like. I am simply pointing out that these are the least popular.

Croquettes

Croquettes have nothing special to praise about. Mashed potatoes, meat, and vegetables with a coating of crunchy panko breadcrumb. Do you find anything impressive or unique in it? I am not saying that it does not taste good, but my point is that if you really want to have something from Japanese cuisine then it must be a special item, not a croquette.

Average Calories per serving	100
Major ingredients	Meat, breadcrumbs, vegetables.

Onigiri

Just simple rice wrapped up in seaweed with seaweed and for a final touch a brush of soy sauce, is it a joke or something? If you are going to Japan as a visitor then I will never recommend you to have it and waste your time. Go for a little extra to enjoy your trip to the fullest. Undoubtedly, it is a cheap dish but still not worth it. No special taste, no special flavor, and no presentation at all! Will you still want to have it? I think it is better to have some other thing which will give you a memorable taste as well as experience.

Average Calories per serving	200
Major ingredients	rice, meat, etc.

Comparison Table

Foods	Tier	Average Calories per serving	Major ingredients
Karaage	S	100	Chicken, flour, salt.
Sushi	S	370	Salmon, tuna, rice, Avocado
Takoyaki	S	300	Octopus, green onion, spices, etc.
Okonomiyaki	S	550	Cabbage, meat/fish, wasabi,etc.
Japanese Cheesecake	A	300	Eggs, butter, sugar, cream
Ramen	A	160	Ramen, vegetables, meat.
Kare	A	300	spices, meat, meat broth etc.
Tonkotsu Ramen	B	250	Pork belly, egg yolk, ramen.
Kare Raisu	B	140	ginger, green onion, garlic, chicken.
Gyoza	B	73	meat/pork, spices, green onion.
Butadon	C	500	Pork belly, spring onion, miso soup etc.
Gyutan	C	500	Beef tongue, spices, lemon.
Onigiri	D	200	rice, meat, etc.
Croquettes	D	100	Meat, breadcrumbs, vegetables.

Verdict

So, this was our Japanese food tier list, where we listed some of the most popular dishes from the country in a short and neat format for our reader’s convenience. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that these rankings were not done purely on taste, but were also based on the recognition power of each dish. For example, no one really thinks that Croquettes taste bad, but they’re not the first dish that comes to mind when thinking of Japan.

And a lot of our readers might not agree with our rankings, and that’s fine. We welcome all constructive criticisms, which you can leave in the comment section below.