Nagoya is located in the middle of Japan, and is one of the country’s leading industrial cities. In this blog post, I will share many unique foods you should try if you visit Nagoya. 

 

Aka-Miso

First off, Nagoya is famous for its special miso, and you can’t talk about Nagoya food without knowing about this miso. It is called Aka-miso, which means red miso, and its richness comes from the long aging period. It is saltier than the other types of miso, and also very nutritious. 

I will now show some of the food famous for using the Aka-miso.

Miso Katsu

This is a crispy deep-fried pork cutlet that is topped with a salty-sweet miso sauce. It is usually served with thinly sliced cabbage, rice, and miso soup. 

Miso Nikomi Udon

This is an udon stewed with a soup made from miso. It comes steaming hot in a pot named Donabe, and eating using the lid is the Nagoya way. It is thicker and chewier than regular udon and comes with  toppings such as chicken, green onion, and egg.

Chicken Dish

Nagoya is also famous for Nagoya Cochin, a chicken brand produced in Aichi Prefecture. Although Nagoya Cochin is a high-quality chicken for special occasions, there are many original dishes using chickens, and I will share my favorite dish called Tebasaki.

Tebasaki

Tebasaki refers to the tip part of the chicken wings. It is high in gelatin and fat, and these are deep-fried and seasoned with a delicious mix of spices, salt, and pepper. It is very savory with a mix of sweetness and spiciness.

Breakfast Culture

In Nagoya, there is a culture of eating breakfast at a coffee shop. Almost every coffee shop in Nagoya has this special morning service, and if you order the basic one, it usually comes with coffee, toast, and a boiled egg. 

Ogura Toast

This is one of the standard menu items in coffee shops which originated in Nagoya. It is a toast topped with sweet red bean paste and butter which seems to be an odd combination, but they actually make a great match. 

These are just a few of the many delicious dishes in Nagoya. If you have a chance to visit, be sure to try various types of unique dishes because I am sure that you will fall in love with Nagoya once you try these amazing foods.