I Tried Every Viral Street Food in Japan

octopus

🥗Healthier: squid

💰Cheaper: cooked shrimp

Squid is a lower-cost alternative, while shrimp is more widely available.

dashi stock

🥗Healthier: vegetable broth

💰Cheaper: water with soy sauce

Vegetable broth provides flavor without fish, and water with soy sauce is budget-friendly.

mayonnaise

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: sour cream

Greek yogurt offers a tangy flavor with fewer calories.

bonito flakes

🥗Healthier: smoked salmon

💰Cheaper: cooked chicken

Smoked salmon adds a similar umami flavor, while chicken is more economical.

Traveling to Japan to try legendary street food.

Starting at Harajuku, Takeshita Street.

First stop: tanghulu skewer with strawberry and grape.

Evaluating tanghulu: coating is crisp, strawberries are fresh, rating it a B tier.

Next, trying a rainbow six-layer cotton candy; noting texture and flavor, rating it a B tier.

Offering leftover cotton candy to kids due to lack of trash cans.

Visiting a micro pig cafe, expressing excitement.

Next stop: massive sandwiches with 400g of meat and egg.

Working in the kitchen to make a sandwich; adding seasoning, butter, and honey mustard to the toasted buns.

Layering cooked meat into a pyramid shape, wrapping in plastic, and slicing.

Tasting the meat sandwich; noting tenderness and richness, rating it an A tier.

Tasting the egg sandwich; praising its texture and flavor, rating it S tier.

Getting a rating confirmation from an audience member for the steak sandwich.

Trying twisted potatoes on a skewer, fried and seasoned with salt and butter.

Evaluating twisted potatoes: mixed textures, rating it an A tier.

Stopping for coffee at Latte Pocket, trying a three-dimensional latte.

Observing the latte art process, tasting the coffee and rating it a B tier.

Discovering Texas barbecue in Tokyo, trying A5 Wagyu brisket and burnt ends.

Describing the tenderness of the brisket and its flavor profile.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens