Every now and then, anime watchers get to feast their eyes on a number of Japanese delicacies while watching anime. Even in animated form, they do not fail to make our stomachs rumble and yearn for a mere bite from those divine-looking foods.
Food are common sights in some anime while being more occasional in others. Either way, they market, promote, showcase and share their culinary genius, cuisine and culture perfectly. The anime may be sponsored by a certain brand or shop to feature their specialties in the series or the producers simply want viewers to see what forms food takes in Japan. Be it full-on meals or simple snacks, we cannot deny that we wanted a taste.
No matter how far away from Japan you may be, there are always means to get your hands on some of their delicacies. All you need is some cash, patience and maybe some cooking expertise. There are online recipes available for all these foods; so if you’re experienced in the kitchen, do not hesitate and try your hand at concocting these with local ingredients. You can also purchase the genuine ingredients online. If the kitchen isn’t your place, feel free to order these delicacies online or visit a local restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine.
This list will be our Top Ten picks for the Anime based Snacks you can buy online for your next convention experience. The list will include purchasable ready-made snacks as well as snacks you can easily put together at home after securing the ingredient packs. All of these are available on Amazon and if you’re a regular anime watcher, there’s no way you’ve missed any of these brilliant snacks!
Yakisoba
We have all seen Ramen, but what about the inferior-in-no-way Yakisoba? This is a Japanese noodle stir-fry dish. Typically Soba comes from buckwheat, but in the case of Yakisoba, it is Chinese noodles made from wheat flour. The main flavor is similar to Worcestershire sauce. Every now and then we see characters feast on delicious Yakisoba from a roadside stand while they are out. Try your hand at Yakisoba now, it’s quick and easy to make with this pack!
Takoyaki
Takoyaki is a casual fast food snack typically sold by street vendors during festivals. We see this treat in anime a lot when characters visit all sorts of festivals. It is made with a batter molded into round balls using a special pan. This batter is rich with seafood and vegetables and is topped off with thick savory sauce. The above kit will make the process fast and painless!
Taiyaki
Taiyaki is the very cute fish shaped bread we commonly see characters snacking on. The batter is poured into fish-shaped moulds, baked until golden brown and generally stuffed with sweetened Adzuki bean paste. These packs will deliver ready-made Taiyaki straight into your hands!
Pocky
Pocky, the reason so many anime kisses finally came about! This sweet Japanese snack consists of chocolate-coated biscuit sticks. More than once we have seen a character with a pocky in their mouth, only for the other end of the stick to be seized by another character. The two will blush and typically end up kissing after eating the Pocky. Whether you’re looking to create an intimate moment or not, these are simple but absolutely delicious snacks. Get your own Pocky pack today!
Anpan
Anpan is yet another simple yet wonderful snack. These sweet buns are traditionally filled with red bean paste and are common snacks in anime, like in “Soreike! Anpanman”. Anpan comes in different flavours too, like chocolate and matcha! Get your ready-made Anpan easily from the link below.
Curry Rice/Curry Pan
Curry is not so common in Western countries but it’s a staple in Eastern culture, not only Japan. This comes with Japan’s love of spices, particularly curry powder. Curry in anime is thick, sweet and spicy (hot, medium or mild). Curry may be served with bread (as a filling) or rice, with complimentary meat chunks, onions, carrots and potatoes. We see so many characters hyped for Curry in anime, to the extent that some even have Curry days in their households. The above curry pack will simplify things for you.
Ramen
Good ol’ ramen, we can’t have an anime food list without it. It even has its own specialty shops with multiple versions of noodle soups in Japan. It is mostly popular among students in the form of Instant Ramen. Japanese Ramen is made with Japanese noodles and comes with sliced pork, vegetables, an egg, nori and Naruto (a cured fish product) when bought fresh. For those who didn’t know, that’s where Naruto Uzumaki’s name comes from! Get your own Instant Ramen packs from the link below.
Onigiri
The Japanese Rice Ball is in a league of its own. These are firmly pressed rice balls (typically triangular) which traditionally come with pickled plum or salted salmon fillings. Nori (roasted seaweed) sheets help to hold the sticky rice balls together and keep the diner’s fingers clean. Fruits Basket fans must avidly remember Tohru’s iconic quote about Onigiri, so never undermine yourself. The above pack will help you make the perfect Onigiri easily at home.
Dango
Yaki Dango are grilled Japanese snacks sold at Japanese street shops, especially during festivals. Tiny mochi (Japanese rice cake) dumplings are skewered on a stick and come in various flavors; both sweet or savoury. Typically they are shown to be chewy in texture and sweet. The toppings are key in the flavour; like brown sugar syrup, sweetened soy sauce, red bean paste, etc. Dangos are at your fingertips with the above pack!
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a savoury cabbage pancake, which comes covered in sweet Worcester-based sauce. It is prepared by layering the ingredients on top of a pancake batter composed of cabbage and onion, prepared atop a hot griddle. Filling ingredients typically used are nori, yams and thinly sliced meat types. The cherry atop this cake is okonomiyaki sauce itself. We commonly see characters go to a restaurant, sit around a Okonomiyaki griddle and custom-make their own after requesting the ingredients. This is an experience one must have personally, but until then this kit will do for you!
I hope you enjoyed this look at our top ten picks for the best Anime based Snacks for your next convention! Whether you can buy it ready-made in a neat little pack or have it put together with a few easy steps, these snacks will keep you in just the right mood at any convention. Not to mention, it’ll keep your stomach full while giving you some nutritional value as well. Even if you’re stuck at home due to the pandemic, these snacks can uplift your spirit and fuel your passion for Anime all over again. So, do not hesitate to order these or make them from scratch! Thanks so much for checking out my blog and until next time, stay BOUNDLESS!!!
