166 Most Popular Japanese Seafood Dishes to Try in 2024

Table of Contents

Japanese food features many delicious seafood dishes that are worth trying.

That is why this guide looks at 166 of the most popular Japanese seafood dishes. It includes tasty tuna sushi bowls, juicy grilled mackerel, hearty cod dishes with miso, and briny octopus takoyaki. Both favorite and little-known local specialties are included to showcase the range of Japanese seafood.

Each dish has a short but appetizing description so readers know exactly what it is and what to expect. From light appetizers to hearty rice bowls, there are all kinds of taste adventures for any occasion.

For anyone looking to explore the incredible fish meals Japan has to offer, this is an essential guide. Get your chopsticks ready to be amazed by the wonderful world of Japanese seafood. The iconic fish dishes of this cuisine are waiting to be discovered!

Japanese Seafood Dishes

Aburi Salmon Sushi (炙りサーモン寿司)

Seared salmon sushi

Agedashi Tofu (揚げ出し豆腐)

Deep fried tofu in broth

Aji Sashimi (鯵刺身)

Horse mackerel sashimi

Aji no Tataki (鯵のたたき)

Chopped horse mackerel

Aka Miso Yaki (赤味噌焼き)

Red miso glazed fish

Ama Ebi Sushi (甘海老寿司)

Raw sweet shrimp sushi

Anago Sushi (穴子寿司)

Saltwater eel sushi

Ankimo Yaki (安肝焼き)

Monkfish liver with ponzu

Aori Ika Hitoyaki (青姜烏賊帆立焼き)

Squid and scallop sauté

Aori Ika Sushi (青姜いか寿司)

Squid sushi with green ginger

Assorted Sashimi (造里)

Assorted raw fish

Awabi Sushi (鮑寿司)

Abalone sushi

Ayu no Shioyaki (アユの塩焼き)

Grilled sweetfish with salt

Bafun Uni (馬糞雲丹)

Sea urchin on horse manure

Botan Ebi (牡丹海老)

Botan shrimp sashimi

Buri Daikon (ブリ大根)

Simmered yellowtail and daikon radish

Buri Kama (ブリカマ)

Grilled yellowtail collar

Buri no Teriyaki (ブリのテリヤキ)

Yellowtail glazed with teriyaki sauce

Buri Sashimi (鰤刺身)

Yellowtail sashimi

Chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し)

Savory steamed egg custard with seafood

Dobin Mushi (土瓶蒸し)

Seafood and vegetables in a teapot broth

Ebi Furai (エビフライ)

Breaded and fried shrimp

Ebi Mayo (海老マヨネーズ)

Shrimp with mayonnaise

Ebi Tempura (海老天ぷら)

Shrimp tempura

Ebiko Gunkan (エビ子軍艦)

Shrimp roe battleship sushi

Engawa (エンガワ)

Halibut fins braised in sweet soy

Engawa Sushi (エンガワ寿司)

Halibut fin sushi

Fugu Karaage (河豚唐揚げ)

Deep fried pufferfish

Fugu Sashimi (フグ刺身)

Thinly sliced pufferfish sashimi

Gari (ガリ)

Pickled ginger for sushi

Gindara Misoyaki (銀鱈味噌焼き)

Cod marinated in miso

Gindara Saikyo-Yaki (銀鱈西京焼き)

Marinated black cod in miso

Gyoza (ギョーザ)

Pan-fried dumplings stuffed with seafood

Hamo no Teriyaki (鱧の照り焼き)

Teriyaki glazed pike eel

Hamo Sashi (鱧刺し)

Cutlassfish sashimi

Hamo Sushi (鱧寿司)

Pike eel sushi

Hamachi Kama (はまちカマ)

Grilled yellowtail collar

Hamachi Sashimi (はまち刺身)

Raw yellowtail sashimi

Hamachi Sushi (はまち寿司)

Yellowtail amberjack sushi

Hamaguri Sushi (はまぐり寿司)

Clam sushi

Hamayaki (はま焼き)

Grilled spring mackerel

Hiramasa Karaage (平政唐揚げ)

Deep fried yellowtail amberjack

Hirame Sashimi (平目刺身)

Halibut sashimi

Hirame Sushi (平目寿司)

Halibut sushi

Hokkigai Sashimi (北寄貝刺身)

Surf clam sashimi

Hokkigai Sushi (鮑貝寿司)

Surf clam sushi

Hotate Gai (帆立貝)

Steamed scallop shell

Hotate Sushi (帆立寿司)

Scallop sushi

Hotategai Karaage (帆立貝唐揚げ)

Deep fried scallops

Hotategai no Kinpira (帆立貝の金平)

Sauteed scallop with burdock root

Ibodai Sushi (疣鯛寿司)

Butterfish sushi

Ika Geso Karaage (烏賊下足唐揚げ)

Fried squid legs

Ika no Shiokara (烏賊の塩辛)

Heavily salted squid

Ika Somen (いか素麺)

Somen noodles made from squid

Ikameshi (イカ飯)

Squid cooked with rice

Ikura Donburi (イクラ丼)

Salmon roe rice bowl

Ikura Gunkan Maki (イクラ軍艦巻き)

Salmon roe sushi

Ikura Sushi (イクラ寿司)

Salmon roe sushi

Iwana Sushi (イワナ寿司)

Char sushi

Iwashi no Nitsuke (鰯の煮付け)

Simmered sardine fish

Iwashi no Tsukudani (鰯の佃煮)

Simmered sardine in soy sauce

Iwashi Sushi (鰯寿司)

Sardine sushi

Ika Sushi (烏賊寿司)

Squid sushi

Kaki Furai (牡蠣フライ)

Breaded and fried oysters

Kaki Yaki (牡蠣焼き)

Grilled oysters

Kampachi Sashimi (間八刺身)

Amberjack sashimi

Kampachi Sushi (間八寿司)

Amberjack sushi

Kani Cream Korokke (カニクリームコロッケ)

Crab cream croquettes

Kani Miso Yaki (蟹味噌焼き)

Baked crab in miso

Kani Sushi (蟹寿司)

Crab sushi

Katsuo no Tataki (鰹のたたき)

Seared skipjack tuna

Katsuo no Tataki Teishoku (鰹のタタキ定食)

Seared skipjack set meal

Katsuo Sushi (鰹寿司)

Skipjack tuna sushi

Katsuo Tataki (鰹のタタキ)

Seared skipjack tuna

Katsuo Tataki Don (鰹のタタキ丼)

Seared skipjack tuna rice bowl

Kohada Gunkan Maki (小鰭軍艦巻き)

Gizzard shad sushi

Kohada Shioyaki (小鰭塩焼き)

Salted and grilled gizzard shad

Kohada Sushi (小鰭寿司)

Gizzard shad sushi

Koi Koku (鯉の子)

Carp steeped in sweet soy sauce

Kuruma Ebi Sushi (車海老寿司)

Prawn sushi

Lobster Miso Yaki (ロブスター味噌焼き)

Grilled lobster in miso

Maguro no Kama (鮪のカマ)

Tuna collar

Maguro no Tataki (鮪のたたき)

Seared tuna sashimi

Maguro Sashimi (マグロ刺身)

Fresh raw tuna sashimi

Maguro Sushi (まぐろ寿司)

Tuna sushi

Masago Sushi (真砂子寿司)

Smelt roe sushi

Mejina Sushi (メジナ寿司)

Large-eye snapper sushi

Mentaiko (メンタイコ)

Spicy pollock roe

Mirugai Sushi (みる貝寿司)

Geoduck sushi

Mizutaki (みずたき)

Chicken hot pot with seafood

Nasu Miso Yaki (茄子味噌焼き)

Eggplant stuffed with crab miso

Odori Don (踊り丼)

Dancing squid on rice

Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き)

Savory Japanese pancake with seafood

Otoro Sashimi (大トロ)

Extra fatty tuna sashimi

Owan (御椀)

Seafood soup bowl

Pengui Sashimi (ペンギン刺身)

Raw pengui fish sashimi

Roe (イクラ)

Fish eggs eaten as delicacy

Saba no Misoni (鯖の味噌煮)

Simmered mackerel in miso

Saba Shioyaki (鯖塩焼き)

Salt grilled mackerel

Saba Sushi (鯖寿司)

Mackerel sushi

Sake Sushi (鮭寿司)

Salmon sushi

Sashimi (刺身)

Fresh raw seafood slices

Sashimi Moriawase (刺身盛り合わせ)

Assorted sashimi platter

Sayori Sushi (細魚寿司)

Halfbeak sushi

Sea Bream Teriyaki (鯛のテリヤキ)

Black sea bream glazed in teriyaki

Shako Gunkan Maki (蝦蛄軍艦巻き)

Mantis shrimp sushi

Shima Aji no Saikyo-yaki (縞鯵の西京焼き)

Saikyo miso marinated striped jack

Shima Aji Sushi (縞鯵寿司)

Striped jack sushi

Shiokara (塩辛)

Heavily salted squid innards

Shirasu no Goma-ae (白子の胡麻和え)

Boiled whitebait with sesame

Shiromi Sushi (白身魚寿司)

White fish sushi

Surf Clam Miso Soup (蜆の味噌汁)

Miso soup with surf clams

Sushi (寿司)

Vinegared rice with seafood toppings

Sushi Moriawase (寿司盛り合わせ)

Assorted sushi platter

Suzuki Sashimi (鱸刺身)

Sea bass sashimi

Tai Meshi (鯛飯)

Red snapper cooked rice

Tai no Kama (鯛のカマ)

Red seabream collar

Tai Sushi (鯛寿司)

Sea bream sushi

Takoyaki (たこ焼き)

Octopus dumplings

Tako Karaage (蛸唐揚げ)

Fried octopus

Tako Sushi (蛸寿司)

Octopus sushi

Tako Wasabi (たこわさび)

Octopus with wasabi

Tako Yaki (たこ焼き)

Grilled octopus

Tamagoyaki (玉子焼き)

Japanese omelette, often with fish

Tamago Sushi (玉子寿司)

Sweet egg sushi

Tataki Omakase (タタキおまかせ)

Chef's choice seared fish

Tobiko Gunkan Maki (飛び魚軍艦巻き)

Flying fish roe sushi

Tobiko Sushi (とびこ寿司)

Flying fish roe sushi

Tobiuo Sushi (飛魚寿司)

Flying fish sushi

Torigai Sushi (とり貝寿司)

Cockle shell sushi

Tsukune (つくね)

Fish meatballs

Unagi Donburi (うなぎ丼)

Grilled eel rice bowl

Unagi Kabayaki (鰻の蒲焼)

Grilled eel kabayaki

Unagi Sushi (鰻寿司)

Eel sushi

Unaju (うな重)

Grilled eel on rice

Uni (うに)

Sea urchin roe

Uni Don (雲丹丼)

Sea urchin rice bowl

Uni Ikura Don (雲丹イクラ丼)

Sea urchin and salmon roe bowl

Uni Sushi (雲丹寿司)

Sea urchin sushi

Uzaku (鱶鮓)

Horse mackerel sashimi

Wakame Miso Soup (わかめ味噌汁)

Seaweed and miso soup

Yakizakana (焼き魚)

Grilled fish

Getting the Most out of Japanese Seafood Dishes

When exploring the world of Japanese seafood cuisine, there are some key tips to enhance the experience:

First, pay close attention to seasonality - certain fish and shellfish taste best at different times of year. Asking what's in season helps guarantee freshness.

Dip sashimi and sushi pieces directly into soy sauce rather than pouring sauce all over. This avoids soaking the rice and keeps flavors clean.

When eating steamed and simmered dishes, enjoy the broth as it brings everything together. Sip it alongside each bite.

Chopsticks are ideal for Japanese seafood to get the right sized bites with each piece. But don't be afraid to use your hands too.

Order an array of seafood types and preparations to enjoy the diversity. From raw to grilled to steamed, try it all.

Say 'itadakimasu' before starting your meal to show gratitude for the food, a tradition in Japan.

Savoring seafood the Japanese way helps one gain a deeper appreciation of the cuisine and culture.