Kid-Friendly Foods to Try in Japan That Aren’t Sushi

Traveling to Japan with kids is enchanting until you arrive at your first restaurant and your toddler refuses to eat anything that isn’t chicken nuggets. If you’ve ever tried forcing your child to eat sushi, you know how we feel.

Sure, sushi is Japan’s signature dish. But trust us, there’s so much more food kids love in Japan.

Japan has quickly become one of our favorite countries for eating with kids, because it has so much more to offer than sushi. There are tons of comforting, familiar dishes that kids tend to love once you know where to look.

We’ve made it our mission to search out the absolute best kid-friendly foods in Japan, trying different meals on our trips with our kids. Here is everything we consistently found our kids loved eating in Japan.

Why Japan Is Surprisingly Kid-Friendly for Food

This list isn’t just an opinion, it’s what actually worked for our family meal after meal when traveling in Japan. If you’re already traveling with kids you know meals can make or break your day.

As you browse Japanese menus, here’s why Japan is so surprisingly great at feeding kids:

You won’t go hungry. Portions are manageable for kids, many places offer kid’s meals or smaller sets. Flavors tend to be simple and not too seasoned so there’s no worry about spice or salt. Presentation is everything in Japan, which helps with convincing your kids to try new foods.

Plus, you can always count on the widespread convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson) to save you with some fresh and high-quality meals at reasonable prices.

It never hurts to have a backup plan, right?

Ramen (minus the spicy stuff)

Ramen is usually the first dish tried after sushi.

Warm, comforting noodles are always a winner with kids. It’s customizable and broth based, which tends to go over well with picky kids.

Stick to simple soy based or chicken broth and skip the spicy stuff. Tonkotsu broths may be too rich for little ones. Many shops let you choose how soft you want your noodles, and will portion down ingredients if you need them to.

For us, ordering plain ramen and asking for half the toppings fixed the problem. Plain noodles in broth with some sliced pork or chicken is usually a safe bet. Many places offer small sizes too, or will happily give you an extra bowl to share.

Kids love noodles, so ramen is usually a safe choice.

Udon (Thick, Soft Noodles Kids Love)

Udon is the simpler cousin to ramen.

Made of thick, chewy noodles served in a light broth, it’s a wonder why this wasn’t our number one. The texture of the noodles are soft making it easy for younger kids to eat. It’s not overloaded with ingredients and the broth is usually mild.

Many shops offer tempura on the side you can add to your udon, or keep it separate if your kids aren’t into it.

One of the biggest wins with udon is its simplicity. If you have picky eaters, this is important. Plain noodles in broth just looks less intimidating which helps ensure they will actually eat it.

For us, udon won hands down against ramen for our youngest.

Omurice (The Ultimate Comfort Food)

Omurice is basically fried rice smothered in a yummy, soft omelette. Ketchup is drizzled over top.

Yes, ketchup. Just look at those mom points we’re about to score.

The fried rice is lightly seasoned with chicken and vegetables, but not over-powering. Omurice tends to have a mild flavor, plus the soft texture of the egg really helps. You’ll also find restaurants trying to get cute with their presentation, like drawing smiley faces with the ketchup.

If your kid likes eggs and rice, you’ve already found their next favorite meal.

Japanese Curry Rice (Mild and Sweet)

Japanese curry is nothing like Indian or Thai curry. It’s thick, almost sweet, and typically mild on the spice.

Curry is served over rice with chicken, pork, or beef and is hearty and filling. Many Japanese curry chains have options for lowering the spice entirely. You can even find kid’s curry bowls on menus at some restaurants.

Curry chain restaurants like Coco Ichibanya allow you to fully customize portion size and toppings. Making it easy to adjust to your kids appetite and liking.

Curry was one of our go-to fallback foods when our kids refused anything else.

Tonkatsu (Crispy Breaded Pork Cutlet)

Think of tonkatsu like a breaded chicken nugget, but with pork.

A cutlet of pork is breaded and deep fried, served with rice and shredded cabbage. The texture is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Most places serve it sliced in bite sized pieces too.

Tonkatsu sauce is served on the side for dipping, but isn’t necessary if your kids aren’t into flavorful sauces. Many places offer chicken tonkatsu as well, which may be an even safer option for picky kids.

Works best with older kids who are into crunchy foods.

Onigiri (Convenience Store Lifesaver)

Onigiri are honestly a lifesaver. If you haven’t had these yet you’re in for a real treat.

Onigiri is Japanese for rice balls. They are super popular in Japan and found in every single convenience store. Packaged individually and labeled so you know exactly what’s inside.

You can find onigiri with simple salted rice inside, or almost any other filling you can imagine. Our kids favorites were tuna mayo and straight up plain salted rice.

Not only does the packaging show you how to properly unwrap your onigiri, but they are so convenient. Portable, affordable, and found anywhere you turn.

Perfect for the days you’re running around with no time to sit down for a restaurant meal, or your kids are refusing to eat anything but rice.

Yakitori (Grilled Skewers That Feel Like Street Food Treats)

Most people know yakitori as grilled skewers. Usually chicken, cooked on a charcoal grill.

Straight up yakitori (chicken) is simple, yet satisfying. We love grabbing some for a snack when out and about.

Stick with salt grilled yakitori rather than the sauce based options. Chicken thigh, chicken meatballs, or even vegetable tempura work well.

Eating off a stick is always fun for kids and the perfect dish for casual street food markets at night. Bonus points if you’re sitting street side and they poke their food like a New York City Hot Dog.

You can easily snack on these or eat a few for a meal.

Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings)

Everyone loves dumplings, right?

Thin pastry stuffed with meat and vegetables then pan fried to perfection. One side is crispy and the other soft.

The flavor is mild and you typically dip your gyoza in a sauce. If your kids prefer plain taste plain and enjoy.

Often served as an appetizer, which makes it great for sharing between kids and adults. You can always get rice or noodles to go on the side.

Every kid we’ve seen who likes dumplings at home has loved gyoza after one bite.

Tempura (Lightly Fried and Surprisingly Kid-Friendly)

Similar to fried foods we know in America, tempura is lightly battered seafood or vegetables fried to perfection.

For kids we found shrimp tempura was a huge win. But honestly, vegetable tempura like sweet potato or pumpkin are both amazing too.

The batter is very light and not oily or greasy like you might expect fried food to be. Tempura comes with a dipping sauce, but can totally be eaten plain as well.

Japanese Pancakes and Desserts

Okay, hear us out. If all else fails and your kid is being difficult, go with dessert.

Japan is home to some amazing desserts that can double as meals or great snacks.

Japanese pancakes are thick and fluffy. Almost like a cloud of sweetness. Served with syrup, fruit and cream they’re heavenly and kids love them.

Other favorites include Japanese style crepes, taiyaki desserts, and soft serve you’ll find in every flavor.

These aren’t “meal” foods, but they sure can help motivate your kids or be a great treat after a long day of sightseeing.

Tips for Ordering Kid-Friendly Food in Japan

These are the tips we learned after multiple trips to Japan with our own kids:

• Check out the plastic food samples outside of most restaurants. These show you exactly what the dish looks like, which makes ordering in Japanese ten times easier.
• Try and find restaurants with picture menus or English translations. You’ll find tons of these in touristy areas.
• Do not be afraid to share. Portions can be large in Japan and it’s better to share than waste food if your kids don’t eat it all.
• Bring along easy snacks from a convenience store. This will save you from grumpy bellies while waiting for the next meal.
• Ultimately just roll with it. Some foods will be a hit others not so much. Traveling with kids is all about expecting the unexpected.

Final Thoughts: Kids Will Not Go Hungry

Fear not parents, Japan has plenty of food options that kids will love beyond sushi.

Udon, tonkatsu, omurice… Japan is full of comforting foods that your kids will love if you know what to order. Ramen is just the start.

Japan is now one of our favorite countries to travel with kids specifically because of the food. Once you find meals that your kids love, it makes the rest of your trip that much easier.

Got favorite kid friendly meals in Japan? Leave them below! We love hearing from fellow parents and their real world experiences helps others learn.