Source: Guwashi999
Every Japanese prefecture has its unique cuisine with its statement dishes. Hiroshima is not an exception, moreover, it is a great place to start your food experience in this country. The best restaurants to try special Hiroshima foods are located in the downtown and around Hiroshima station. Now when you know where to find the place to eat, let’s see what you can try from unique Hiroshima cuisine.
1. Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki
Source: pelican
The most famous and popular local food is Okonomiyaki. It’s true, you can find this dish in other Japanese prefectures, but it will be not the same. The point is that Hiroshima chefs prepare it differently. Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki has a thinner layer of butter, has much more cabbage on the top of noodles and the most popular toppings are cheese, oysters (another one famous Hiroshima food) and squid. Totally must try to eat if you are in Hiroshima.
2. Oysters
Source: TheMarcusChance
Do you want to try the best Oysters in Japan? If yes, you need to visit Hiroshima. This prefecture produces about 60-70% of all Japanese`s oysters, so local chefs are really professional experts in cooking this meal. The best way to eat this dish is to eat it raw and with adding the soy sauce or grilled and served on the top of the rice bowl.
3. Momijimanju
Momijimanju is a famous local dessert that looks like maples leaves. It was created in the 1990s special for Momijidani Park. The dessert represents the maple trees of this place. At the beginning, this dish was prepared only handmade, but nowadays it is cooked by machines. Don’t be afraid, the taste is the same, moreover, today you can find Momijimanju with different fillings like chocolate, cheese, matcha and custard.
4. Tsukemen
Source: Mokeneco
Tsukemen is also the dish that you will find in every city and town of Japan, but Hiroshima has its own and special method to cook it. Local tsukemen is much more spicey that other ones. Hiroshima`s chefs take cold noodles and dip them into a spicy sauce, which was made by red pepper. Usually, the customers can choose the degree of the spiciness of the Tsukemen. This is perfect for travelers as well as for locals.
5. Seafood of the Seto Inland Sea
Source: shellac
The Hiroshima`s fishermen catch fish all year around, this is perfect as for local businessmen as for foreigners that want to try fresh and seasonal seafood. In Hiroshima, you have a chance to try the most famous local seafood dish – anchovy (also known like little sardines). The best time to eat this meal is in winter and the best way it can be served is sashimi.
6. Hiroshima Ramen
Source: SteFou!
Every Japanese prefecture has its own recipe for Ramen. Everyone prepares this dish in a unique and delicious way, but now we are talking about Hiroshima`s food, so let’s pay more attention at its individuality in this meal. Local Ramen has much thinner noodles and chicken stocks. For a richer flavor, Hiroshima`s chefs add soy sauce. If you want to add some vegetables or seafood to your Ramen, just ask the chef.
7. Rice Wine (sake made in Saijo)
Source: Martin Abegglen
Everyone in the world knows that the most popular alcohol drink in Japan is sake. Sake is also known as Rice Wine and it is made in every prefecture of Japan. Hiroshima`s sake has a big history, about 400 years local wine warehouses in Saijo have been preparing it by their own recipe. If you want to try different types of local rice wine, come to the Hiroshima prefecture at autumn. Saijo prepares big festival of sake every year in this season. This event gathers many tourist and locals every time.
While you will be visiting one of the most beautiful and historical prefectures of Japan, don’t forget to try at least few things from this list. Local cuisine is like local sightseeing, you just need to try it to understand the culture of this incredible part of Japan.
Have a good trip and travel!
