Nagoya cuisine facts for kids

Nagoya cuisine (名古屋めし, Nagoya meshi) is a special kind of food from the city of Nagoya in central Japan. It's also called Nagoya meshi. This food is unique because of the local culture, history, weather, and ingredients.

Nagoya cuisine has its own traditions. But it also gets ideas from other countries! You'll find dishes inspired by Italian cuisine, Taiwanese cuisine, Indian cuisine, and even Chinese food.

Many Nagoya dishes use a special kind of miso called mame miso or a type of soy sauce called tamari. These give the food a really strong and yummy taste.

Two important ingredients in Nagoya cooking are Nagoya kōchin (a special chicken) and Shrimp. You'll see them in many local dishes.

Some dishes that started from foreign foods, like different kinds of spaghetti and "Taiwanese" noodles, are now a big part of Nagoya cuisine.

What Makes Nagoya Food Special?

Nagoya's food stands out because of its history and local ingredients. The city has always been a busy place, so it picked up cooking ideas from many different areas. This mix of old traditions and new ideas makes Nagoya cuisine exciting and delicious!

Famous Nagoya Dishes

Here are some of the most popular foods you can try in Nagoya:

Tebasaki

Tebasaki are yummy chicken wings. They are cooked and then covered in a sweet sauce with sesame seeds. They are a bit like a type of yakitori, which is grilled chicken.

Kishimen Noodles

Kishimen are flat udon noodles. They are very smooth and slippery! People usually eat them in a light soy sauce soup. You might also find sliced leek or other tasty toppings. You can enjoy Kishimen hot or cold.

Red Miso Dishes

Many Nagoya dishes use a special red miso. This miso gives the food a rich, deep flavor.

• Miso Katsu: This is a pork cutlet (a fried pork chop) served with a sweet red miso sauce.
• Miso Nikomi Udon: This dish has hard udon noodles stewed in a thick red miso soup. It's very hearty!
• Miso Oden: Oden is a type of stew with different ingredients. In Nagoya, it's made with a delicious red miso broth.
• Dote Nabe: This is a miso nabemono (a hot pot dish) with meat and vegetables, all cooked in a rich miso broth.

Ogura Toast

Ogura toast is a popular breakfast or snack. It's simply toast spread with sweet ogura (red bean jam) and butter. This tasty treat started in Nagoya and is very common in cafes in the Aichi prefecture.

Hitsumabushi

Hitsumabushi is a special rice dish with unagi (grilled eel). It comes in a wooden container with a lid. You can enjoy this dish in three different ways:

1. First, eat it like a regular unadon (eel on rice).
2. Next, add some spices or condiments to change the flavor.
3. Finally, pour hot tea or broth over it to make it like chazuke.

Nagoya Kōchin Chicken

Nagoya kōchin is a very special type of free-range chicken. It's a mix of a Nagoya chicken and a cochin chicken. These chickens take longer to grow than regular chickens. Their meat is super juicy and tender, and it doesn't have a strong smell.

• Toriwasa: This is a type of sashimi made from Nagoya kōchin. It can include the chicken's flesh, liver, heart, and gizzard.

Uirō Dumplings

Uirō is a sweet rice dumpling. It's made by mixing rice flour with sugar and then steaming it. The name Uirō might have come from a Chinese medicine that looked similar in color. People think this medicine was brought to Japan by Chinese traders a long time ago, before the 15th century.

Tenmusu Rice Balls

Tenmusu is a small rice ball wrapped in nori (seaweed). Inside, it has a piece of tempura (fried shrimp or other seafood/vegetable). This dish first came from Tsu but became very popular in Nagoya.

Moriguchizuke Pickles

Moriguchizuke are pickles made from a special radish called Moriguchi daikon. This radish is very long, about one and a half meters (almost 5 feet) long, but only about two centimeters (less than an inch) thick. It's pickled in barrels with sake and other seasonings. Because the radish is so long, people have to pack them carefully along the inside wall of the barrel!

Gallery

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  Kishimen noodle soup

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  Miso katsu

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  Miso nikomi udon

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  Hitsumabushi

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  Tebasaki

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  Ankake spaghetti

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  Teppan spaghetti

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  Indian spaghetti

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  Ogura toast

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  Shironoir

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  Taiwan ramen

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  Sugakiya ramen

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  Onimanju

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  Tenmusu