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ODE TO PIGGING OUT: KYOTO EATS (Kyoto, Japan)

5/14/2015

39 Comments

 
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Food is our common ground, a universal experience.
 – James Beard
"Umami" is a term distinct with Japan. Umami means savory. Everywhere you go in Japan, be it a street food or a restaurant, you will definitely taste umami in its finest. Through the years, the Japanese developed layering its flavors. Since Buddhist people are usually vegetarians, the Japanese learned to cook without meat by enriching its flavors. Their food is umami heavy since they use a lot of soy sauce, condiments, dashi (cooking stock), and the like. 

While we were in Japan, we decided to focus on street food finds. We were also able to stumble upon local restaurant gems. So, what did we eat? Here is a preview. 

TAKOYAKI OR OCTOPUS BALLS

What is it? Considered to be a Japanese snack, takoyaki or octopus balls is made out of wheat flour batter with diced octopus or tako, tempura scraps, green onion, pickled ginger cooked in a special pan. The takoyaki is brushed with takoyaki sauce, sprinkled with aonori (green seaweed) and dried bonito flakes (katsuobashi).

Love it or Hate it? Love it! This street food find surely hits a spot and we both wished we ate more than a dozen! It was served really hot. The sauce complements the taste of the batter itself, and its somewhat sweet. In each bite you can taste the seafood goodness of the octopus. What's not to like with that?!
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TAMAGOYAKI

What is it? Can also be called Dashimaki, literally means grilled egg or simply called Japanese omelette. It is usually prepared in a rectangular omelette pan and they roll it together to achieve the layers. Usually served during breakfast but you can also find this in a sushi menu. 

Love it or Hate it? Love it! The Tamagoyaki was still hot when we had it and the eggs are as fluffy as it can be. The eggs are so light that you want to order another round. This can be found at Nishiki Market and one of the famous must try. 
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TAKO TAMAGO OR OCTOPUS STUFFED WITH QUAIL EGGS

What is it? Literally, it's a baby octopus with a quail egg inside, candied and skewered.

Love it or Hate it? Love it! We couldn't help but to buy one when we passed it. The Tako Tamago is chewy and savory with a hint of salty and sweet. The quail egg inside is a nice twist on your bite. 
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DANGO OR JAPANESE SWEET DUMPLING

What is it? It is a Japanese sweet dumpling made of mochiko or rice flour. It is often served on skewers, served all year long. Dango has different types of flavors, depending where you are in the Japanese region. It also best paired with green tea.  

Love it or Hate it? You will notice, its everywhere and thus piqued our interest. We find it Meh! If you see one, get one just for the sake of it. 
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FRIED FISH CAKES

What is it? A paste is made out of fish, salt, and other ingredients. The paste is then mixed with flour to make it compact and best served deep fried. Different types of seafood can also be made into a paste. 

Love it or Hate it? Love it! Everywhere in Asia, you will find a variety of this fish cake. Different shape and different ingredients but almost taste the same. Our advice is order one on the side of the road and taste it! You might probably end up loving it. 
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MATCHA ICE CREAM OR GREEN TEA ICE CREAM

What is it? Ice cream flavored matcha or green tea.  This flavor is mostly popular in Asian countries. 

Love it or Hate it? Hate it! It was getting hot during the day so we decided to eat something cold. Kyoto is known for its green tea. If you love green tea, you will surely love Kyoto. However, we did not like the green tea ice cream because it was too bitter for our taste. Probably, with a little bit more sweetness with it, we would love it. 
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YUBA OR TOFU SKIN

What is it? A product of soybeans. When soy milk is boiled, a skin appears on the surface.

Love it or Hate it? Love it! At the middle of the bento box is Yuba. It was mixed with some soy sauce and the taste is very silky. Definitely, melts in your mouth. Oh, and the bento box preparation in Japan is just awesome! 
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YUKKE OR JAPANESE STEAK TARTARE 

What is it? The Japanese version of steak tartare. They usually use the most tender part of the beef, served with sesame seeds, spices, green onions, and raw egg yolk. 

Love it or Hate it? Love it! Nothing wrong with a steak tartare wherever you go. Asian or French, we are up for it! 
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We were also able to taste wagyu beef while in Japan and sadly, we forgot to take a picture of it. We would also love to try to eat kobe beef while we were there but since it was during peak season, it was very difficult to get in to some specialty restaurants without reservation. If you also have time, eat a kaiseki (vegetarian) meal while in Kyoto. 

In general, we enjoyed our street food finds and still daydreaming of the best takoyaki and tamagoyaki we ever ate. 

You might also enjoy:

  • Patbingsu: A Korean Dessert
  • Korean Barbecue Guide

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YOUR
THOUGHTS?

  • Have you tasted some of this food? 
  • What do you think of Japanese food?
  • Would you taste some of the food we ate? 

Categories: Asia, Japan, Food Advenures
39 Comments
Alexandria link
5/11/2015 09:42:09 am

OCTOPUS BALLS? You brave people! I'm not quite sure I would have been up for that! This post seems like a dangerous game for me and I don;t know if I could be involved.

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Tanj
5/11/2015 10:28:17 am

Hahaha! We love to eat and we would eat anything... And for us, this is the part of traveling we love the most! Eating as authentic as possible. You might be able to get over it, someday.... Lol!

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frances
11/10/2015 03:51:49 pm

Not the octopuses actual balls... Just diced octopus mixed in a flour batter, not so dangerous! :p

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Mags link
5/11/2015 12:54:15 pm

I should not have read this before dinner! It all looks great. I don't know if a candied octopus stuffed with quail would be my cup of tea though... but I'll try anything once!

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Tanj
5/11/2015 12:56:22 pm

Its quite weird but its good. Then again, we both eat anything. Haha!

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Kim link
5/11/2015 08:58:22 pm

Wow, you are all very adventurous eaters. I like to try new things but I'm not sure I could have tried the candied octopus.

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Tanj
5/12/2015 12:13:05 pm

We love to eat so we are open to anything, literally!

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Robin Masshole Mommy
5/11/2015 10:39:11 pm

Sometimes just flat out pigging out is awesome. It sure looks like you ate really well that day :)

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Tanj
5/12/2015 12:13:27 pm

Yeah, we did! Woohoo!

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Joanne T Ferguson link
5/11/2015 11:41:37 pm

Thank you for allowing me to learn something food new! I always enjoy reading post through people's unique view!

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Tanj
5/12/2015 12:13:47 pm

Thank you Joanna!

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Sara-Jayne link
5/12/2015 12:25:12 am

Everything looks so delicious - although I'm not so sure I could eat those little octopi or the balls! You are very brave and I hope I get to try some of the tamagoyaki one day too!

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Tanj
5/12/2015 12:14:17 pm

It was sooo good though.

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Ashley link
5/12/2015 12:50:33 am

You guys are very brave! Though I'm sure all of the dishes you loved were delicious, they mere sight of those little octopuses would have stopped me from eating them lol! I do, however, LOVE yuba & yukke, and can only imagine they would be more delicious in Japan than at our local restaurant. Hope you enjoyed your trip!

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Tanj
5/12/2015 12:14:49 pm

We did enjoyed the trip and the food was just sooo good!

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AJ @ Roaming Family link
5/12/2015 01:18:40 am

Ok, what a fun experience with so much delicious food! I don't think I could do any octopus though. I have a huge thing with textures- so..just not sure :)

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brook link
5/12/2015 03:33:18 am

wow.. so much food out there.That ice cream is so inviting.Octopus ..mmm i dnt think i can eat that D for the rest it seems everything so deliscious

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Christy Maurer link
5/12/2015 04:56:18 am

I am sure I am not brave enough to try most of these! I'd eat the eggs and maybe the fried fish cakes..the rest...probably not!

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Lisa @bitesforbabies link
5/12/2015 06:31:43 am

I love seafood!!!! I remember seeing those octopus balls on one of Anthony Bourdain's shows...they look so good!

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Amby Felix link
5/12/2015 08:24:15 am

I really want to visit Kyoto. We eat a lot of Japanese food though since for one it's pretty popular here in California and two, it's super healthy! Dango and green tea ice cream are my favorites!

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Jennifer A Stewart link
5/12/2015 11:10:54 am

I have never been there but I love all the food! Your pictures are gorgeous!

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Hannah link
5/12/2015 12:22:20 pm

eeeep those little octopus creep me out- won't be putting those anywhere near my mouth!

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Tiffany link
5/12/2015 12:52:07 pm

I like squid (probably because it is battered and fried, ha!), but not sure how I feel about octopus! Maybe if I didn't see the little tentacles and if it wasn't stuffed with egg?!

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Christine link
5/12/2015 03:19:37 pm

Oh man! You are making my mouth water! So many crazy, adventurous dishes here! You are brave to have tried so many! I think the octopus and quail egg looks the most crazy and I'm not sure that I would be daring enough to try!

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Aisha Kristine Chong link
5/12/2015 04:24:29 pm

OMG. I can't wait till the time I get to Tokyo myself. I would end up pigging out as well. These are too yummy to even resist!

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Franc Ramon link
5/12/2015 04:53:49 pm

Their street food looks really delicious. I would love to try the octopus balls and actually everything in here. It looks like it would be a different treat to the taste buds.

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Connie Reed link
5/12/2015 05:13:57 pm

The one thing that looks really good to me (the ice cream) was the one thing you hated. LOL I need to expand my palate.

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Myrabev link
5/12/2015 05:38:46 pm

As much as I love most asian foods from this list maybe the omelette I can eat, not sure about the rest definitely not match nor octopus even though I have had both before.

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Rebecca Swenor
5/12/2015 07:59:13 pm

These are indeed interesting dishes and I don't know if I could even try some of these. I would eat the egg dish and the matcha ice cream but not the other stuff. Thanks for sharing.

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Fi Ni Neachtain
5/12/2015 09:27:31 pm

Firstly, Ode to Pigging Out is such a fun post title! :) Secondly, I've never tried Japanese food before but those foods look so appetising!

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Jennifer link
5/13/2015 02:08:17 am

A lot of that food I have never had before but it looks amazing. I have had green tea ice cream before and I loved it.

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Krysten Quiles link
5/13/2015 02:39:42 am

I don't know if I'm adventurous enough to try some of this!

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Jolanta aka Casual Traveler link
5/13/2015 05:27:05 am

I would LOVE some octopus balls! I don't know if I'd try some of the other things, but I do love seafood! Thank you for sharing all your comments. Now I'll know what to try and what not to try if (when) we ever visit Japan!

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Brianna Simmons link
5/13/2015 10:27:21 am

looks like you had a blast tasting your way around Kyoto!

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Tami link
5/14/2015 12:35:43 am

I would try the ice cream or tamagoyaki. I don't care for the thought of octopus anything in my mouth.

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Charles McCool link
5/14/2015 02:01:49 am

... and now I am suddenly hungry.

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Beth link
5/15/2015 06:59:20 am

Oh that octopus looks so bizarre, but I would have to try it at least once!

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The Adventure Ahead link
5/19/2015 05:07:13 pm

I really enjoyed this post - so interesting to see all of the different foods. I think I would have passed on the octopus though!

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Pandan
11/29/2015 07:41:56 am

Hey guys, this post is really interesting! May I know where did you guys try those snacks? Nishiki Market?

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