Your Guide to Japanese Food

From delicate sushi to crisp gyoza, Japanese-inspired dishes are firmly part of our everyday eating. Discover Foodhall favourites to try, plus delicious recipes from our test kitchen.

Content editor

Ellie Spicer

What are some traditional Japanese dishes?

Traditional Japanese dishes often centre around fresh, seasonal ingredients paired with bold, umami-rich flavours. Nutritional balance is also important, with pickles and ferments playing a key role in many meals.

Japanese recipes

There’s plenty to explore, including:

Bento – neatly packed lunch boxes with rice, protein and pickles
Gyoza – juicy dumplings, pan-fried or steamed
Karaage – crisp, marinated fried chicken
Miso soup – a comforting broth enriched with fermented soybean paste
Mochi – soft rice cakes, often filled with ice cream
Okonomiyaki – savoury cabbage pancakes
Sushi – seasoned rice with fish or vegetables
Takoyaki – bite-sized balls filled with octopus
Tempura – light, crisp batter-fried vegetables or seafood
Tonkatsu – golden, breadcrumbed pork, often served with curry sauce
Udon, ramen and soba – distinctive noodles served in flavour-packed broths
Yakitori – grilled skewers glazed with savoury sauces

Find Japanese Ingredients in the Foodhall

Cooking Japanese-inspired dishes at home starts with a well-stocked cupboard. Add these essentials to your next Foodhall shop:

Rice: Choose short-to-medium grain rice – Arborio or Carnaroli work surprisingly well. For sushi, choose authentic sushi rice.
Noodles: From thick, chewy udon to nutty soba and slurp-worthy ramen, each noodle brings its own character.
Soy sauce: A store cupboard staple. Light soy sauce is salty and delicate, often used for seasoning, while dark soy sauce is sweeter and made for dipping. Tamari is a gluten-free soy sauce.
Miso: A deeply savoury fermented soy bean paste, miso brings subtle sweetness and instant umami. It’s not just for soup; try using it as a glaze for chicken skewers.
Rice vinegar: Mild and gently tangy, rice vinegar balances dressings and broths, and is essential for sushi rice.
Sesame oil: Rich and nutty, perfect for finishing dishes or whisking into dipping sauces.
Tofu: Silken tofu is often also eaten raw with a dipping sauce, while firm tofu is perfect in stir-fries.

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Japanese Recipes to Try at Home

Feeling inspired? Give these Japanese-inspired recipes a go, or explore our full collection for even more Japanese food ideas.

Smoked salmon sushi bowls

All the flavours of your favourite sushi, transformed into a fresh, summery bowl. Our Collection Scottish Mild and Delicate Smoked Salmon brings this dish to life with rich, deep flavour, paired with plenty of greens for nutritional balance.

Salmon sushi bowl recipe

Chicken katsu curry

From MasterChef winner Shelina Permalloo, this katsu curry comes together in just 45 minutes. Zesty smashed cucumber and fluffy sushi rice provide the perfect base for crispy, sesame-coated chicken katsu, drenched in our cheat's katsu curry sauce.

See the katsu recipe

Japanese-inspired cheesy cabbage pancakes

Inspired by traiditional okonomiyaki, these showstopping pancakes are a great use-up recipe. We've added a ball of creamy mozzarella for that quintessential cheese-pull, but you could easily swap in Cheddar, cooked bacon or leftover shredded chicken. Chilli sauce and mayo are essential toppings.

Pancakes this way

Veggie mushroom broth ramen with crispy tofu

From Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines, this refined vegetarian ramen centres on a shitake mushroom and miso base broth. Tender noodles, soft-boiled eggs and crunchy tofu bring a range of textures, while the sweet chilli and crisp onion sauce topper brings a vibrant finish to every mouthful.

Give the ramen a go

Try world cuisines with M&S Food

From speedy Asian-inspired dishes to sunshine-ready Greek recipes and Americana-style sharers, explore our world food hub for more inspiration – and shop ingredients from around the globe in your local Foodhall.

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Published 25/05/2026