Cheap! Delicious! Trivia on Casual B-Class Dishes

What is B-Class Dishes?

B-Class dishes is a set of dishes that are known for their delicious taste while having a mass appeal for their affordable prices. Many of these dishes have a strong element of “machi-okoshi” (town revitalization) that reflects the food culture in the entire country. There are also a lot of events that gather the famous B-Class local dishes from all over Japan.

Where Can You Buy Them?

B-class dishes are often sold at festivals, events, flea markets and other venues and events, as well as stalls occasionally set up in front of supermarkets, snack shops at tourist spots, and convenience stores. There are also shops dedicated to these specialty dishes.

What Dishes Are Considered Classics?

All right then, let’s try to see what dishes are actually considered standard B-Class dishes.

Imagawayaki

Imagawayaki is a Japanese dessert that is made by putting wheat flour dissolved in water onto a baking mold, filling the dough with azuki-an (red bean paste) or custard cream, and then cooking both sides of the dough. It got its name from the fact that it began to be sold near the Imagawabashi bridge in Tokyo’s Kanda area late in the Edo (1603 - 1867) period, but it is also called by different names in different areas, such as Obanyaki, Taikoyaki and Tomoeyaki. This dish is mainly sold in stalls. It usually costs around 100 JPY apiece.

Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a baked confectionery that is created by pouring dough from wheat flour, sugar and other ingredients dissolved in water into a mold that is shaped like “tai” (sea bream). The inside of this baked delight is mainly filled with red bean paste or custard cream. It is usually sold in stalls, but there are shops that specialize in this dessert throughout the country, too. It generally costs 100 – 200 JPY apiece.

Takoyaki

Takoyaki (octopus dumpling) is a dish that is known as a specialty of Osaka. It is made by putting sliced tako (octopus), dried shrimps, powdered bonito flakes and sliced spring onions inside the batter made from wheat flour, and then the batter is poured into a mold that will shape it into balls that look like the head of an octopus. It is eaten with sauce and green nori (dried seaweed). While it is mainly sold in stalls and dedicated shops, there are also eat-in spots in Osaka and other areas in Japan. Several pieces of the dumplings are put on a tray, with each serving priced at around 300 – 500 JPY.

Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a dish that is known as a specialty dish of Osaka and Hiroshima. To make this, wheat flour dissolved in water is mixed with dried shrimps, sliced squid, meat and vegetables, and the mixture is cooked on an iron plate. It is eaten with sauce, powdered bonito flakes and mayonnaise. There are many shops that specialize in okonomiyaki, so you can either eat it inside the shop or take it out. It is also usually sold in stalls. When bought from a stall, it generally costs around 300 – 500 JPY.

Yakisoba

Yakisoba is a noodle dish that traces its roots back to Chinese cuisine. It is generally made by sautéing boiled Chinese noodles with meat and vegetables and then seasoning the ingredients with sauce. Yakisoba is mostly served in okonomiyaki shops and other spots that have many dishes on their menu, and it can be eaten inside the shop or ordered for take-out. It is also a popular dish for stalls. If you buy it from a stall, then it usually costs 300 – 500 JPY.

Nikuman

Nikuman (meat bun) is a steamed delicacy that is made by seasoning sliced vegetables and ground meat with salt, pepper and other spices, and then wrapping it in flour-based dough. There are many kinds of ingredients used for this dish, so there are various types of nikuman found all over the country, including “anman” that has red bean paste inside, “pizzaman” that has cheese and tomato sauce, and “curryman” that has curry sauce. It is mainly sold in convenience stores, priced at around 100 – 200 JPY apiece.

Soft-serve Ice Cream

Soft-serve ice cream is a kind of ice cream that is smooth and soft to the tongue. It is mostly sold in a swirling, spiral shape inside a cone cup. The usual ice cream is made by cooling and solidifying the ice cream while mixing the ingredients so that air is trapped inside, but soft-serve ice cream is the kind that is served in the semi-frozen state of solidification. Aside from convenience stores, it is also often sold in sightseeing spots and farms. There are many different flavors of local soft-serve ice creams. They usually cost around 100 – 200 JPY.

Monaka Ice Cream

Monaka ice cream is a frozen dessert that is made by kneading glutinous rice dough, spreading and baking it into a thin sheet and then filling it with vanilla or chocolate ice cream. It is known for its crispy skin and sweet and melt-in-your-mouth ice cream inside. It is sold in convenience stores and other spots. It usually costs 100 – 200 JPY.

Enjoy the dishes that have “A-Class taste, but B-Class prices”!