Top Okayama Food You Must Try!

Hi there. It’s Mr. Wada, back on duty. I would like to introduce Okayama food.

Top Okayama Food You Must Try!

Ebi-Meshi

Ebi-meshi is a kind of pilaf, usually served with prawns. Despite its dark color it isn’t salty as it seems (the color comes from demi-glace sauce, ketchup, etc). Okayama City has been promoting this as one of Okayama’s local cuisines for tourists but  an interesting fact is that many people in Okayama have never had it or don’t even know what it is. Heh.

Demi-Katsu Don

Demi-Katsu stands for demi-glace sauce and tonkatsu. Compare to average tonkatsu sauce, demi-glace sauce gives it a lot milder taste. Nomura is famous as the first restaurant that began serving it. Yamato is another popular place by locals (its ramen is popular as well).

“Hormone” Udon

It is stir-fried noodles with beef internals. Since it has become popular local cousine of Tsuyama City (northern Okayama), many places in Okayama Prefecture now serve it.

Bara-Sushi

Bara-sushi is probably different from sushi you know. Its origin is from Edo era. The lord of Okayama, Terumasa Ikeda prohibited lux and instead encouraged people to have simple one-soup-one-dish meals. However people thought of a way out and came up with a dish with lots of toppings like fish, veggies, etc., just like Barasushi today, but served in reversed order to hide the toppings. It is served at many restaurants in Okayama.

Mamakari Sushi

Sushi with pickled Mamakari (a family of herring) is loved by especially those blue fish lovers. It is available at supermarkets in Okayama.

Kaki-Oko

Kaki-oko refers to oyster Okonomiyaki. It is known in Hinase City where we visit every year for the oyster festival. Oysters are best in winter but it is available all year around. Tamachan is a popular local restaurant that you may want to check out.

Ontama Meshi

Fried rice with eel (half-boiled egg on top), promoted by Tamano City as a new local cousine.

Kasaoka Ramen

A big difference between Kasaoka ramen and regular ramen is topping. Pieces of chicken meat comes on top of Kasaoka ramen instead of pork ham. Soup is also chicken base. It is said that it is because there are (were) many chicken farms in Kasaoka City (western Okayama).

Lastly

How do you find it? Some are B food but it would be interesting to try local food, wouldn’t it?

See you around!