We will be closing our store on April 15, 2025 (PST) – Click for Official Notice and details

Blog

  • A bowl of udon noodles in a brown soup with seaweed on top

    Udon Noodles: A Nakama Noodles Guide

    You all know that we love ramen, but they aren't the only noodles that Japan is famous for. In fact, there are two types of noodles that have a very long history in Japan. Those types are soba, a delicious buckwheat noodle, and today’s topic—udon!
  • A plate with a couple of mini daifuku with one cut in half to show the red bean paste

    Daifuku: A Mochi Treat Stuffed with Deliciousness

    When we talk about Japanese ramen, it is often a savory affair. That being said, ramen can leave you craving something sweet afterward. Some opt for sweets like chocolate or something healthy like fruit, but one traditional Japanese sweet option...

  • A view of the busy food shop area with many bright signs in the Dotonbori area

    Osaka Food: A Nakama Noodles Guide to Japan’s Kitchen

    Tokyo is famous these days as one of the world’s international food capital, with many foods from all over Japan and the world collecting there. However, only one city has the nickname of ‘Japan’s Kitchen’, and that city is Osaka. People in Osaka are serious about their food, with there even being a phrase called kui-daore, which means ‘to eat yourself broke’.
  • A close-up of nikuman pork buns in a bamboo steamer

    Nikuman: Chinese Buns for the Japanese Palate

    Japan has an interesting food culture full of original dishes. However, some of Japan’s most popular and tasty dishes are actually from other countries and have changed to fit the Japanese palate.
  • A plate of fugu sashimi arranged into a beautiful chrysanthemum

    What is Fugu? Japan's Favorite Poisonous Fish

    Japan has plenty of foods that seem to be fun for adventurous foodies. For some, it’s yakiniku, with its unique cuts of beef and pork. For others, the adventure may be hakozushi with its unique take on sushi. However, for many daring foodies, fugu is the ultimate test of courage.
  • A flame flickers up from under a yakiniku grill and the meat cooking on it

    Yakiniku: A Sizzling Guide to Japanese Barbecue

    Humans have been putting meat over fire for a long time to create, and there’s no wonder why. It tastes delicious, fills you up and is relatively easy to do (but hard to master). Maybe that’s why Japan does it so well.