TRADITIONAL FOOD

MONJAYAKI (もんじゃ焼き)

Many people are familiar with the savory pancake-like dish from western Japan called okonomiyaki, but did you know that the Kanto region has its own equivalent called "monjayaki"? Ingredients like cabbage, carrots, prawns, squid, and corn are cooked on an open griddle and formed into a ring with an open center. Runny batter is poured into this open space and cooked with small metal spatulas, which are then used to scoop up and eat this batter. It's a salty fried dish that's fun to eat in a group.

TAIYAKI (鯛焼)

Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake. It imitates the shape of the tai (Japanese red sea bream), which it is named after. The most common filling is a red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. Other common fillings may be custard, chocolate, cheese, or sweet potato. Some shops even sell taiyaki with okonomiyaki, gyoza filling, or a sausage inside.

Taiyaki is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side, the filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until it turns golden brown.

YUBA (湯葉)

Yuba is a thin beancurd skin collected from the surface of soy milk during the tofu making process. It can be served raw or cooked and has a delicate flavor with a light soybean taste. The texture of raw yuba is sometimes compared to mozzarella cheese, while dried yuba has a slightly chewy texture and is typically fried, boiled, or served in soup. In Nikko, you can try yuba in all kinds of local delicacies, from fried yuba croquettes to yuba ramen and soba, to even yuba ice cream!

NAMERO (なめろ)

A traditional fisherman's dish from Chiba prefecture, namero is roughly chopped fish mixed with ginger, miso, green onion, vinegar, and other condiments. The dish is said to be named for the Japanese word "nameru", meaning "to lick" because it's so delicious that you'll want to lick your plate. The condiments help neutralize any strong fishy odors, which makes namero a good option for those who don't like to eat sashimi or other raw fish. Namero can also be fried and eaten with fresh perilla herbs, or it can be served on top of rice with green tea poured over in a traditional dish called ochazuke.

ZERI FURAI (ゼリーフライ)

Zeri Furai ("Jelly Fry") is a fried food from the city of Gyoda in Saitama prefecture that actually has nothing to do with jelly. It's a croquette made from steamed potato, okara (soybean pulp that's a byproduct of the tofu-making process), diced green onion and carrot, mixed together and molded into an oval-shaped patty. The patty is deep-fried and dipped in Worcestershire sauce. While zeri furai is not well known outside of Saitama, there are many small shops around Gyoda city specializing in this deep-fried treat.