Kochi

Local ramen of Susaki, served bubbling hot in a clay pot. Thin straight noodles go into a chicken bone soy sauce broth, topped with older hen meat, green onion, chikuwa and a raw egg. It stays hot to the end. The classic way is to eat it with takuan pickles and rice, and adding rice to the leftover broth to make porridge is another pleasure. Many shops in Susaki serve it. It is very hot, so be careful not to burn yourself.

Typical price

¥700–1,000

Where

Susaki

Kochi's signature local dish. The surface of bonito is quickly seared over the fierce flames of burning straw. You can enjoy the smoky aroma unique to straw grilling and the tender, sashimi-like inside. The classic way is to cut it thick, pile on garlic slices, green onion and myoga, and pour on ponzu or sauce. At places like Hirome Market in Kochi City, you can watch it being seared over straw right in front of you. Early summer and autumn bonito taste different.

Typical price

¥1,000–2,000

Where

Kochi City, Nakatosa and around

Seared bonito eaten with salt instead of ponzu. Bonito fragrantly seared over straw is cut thick and sprinkled with coarse salt. Eating it with salt brings out the flavor of the bonito itself and the aroma of the straw fire. It is often served with garlic, wasabi or sudachi. It is popular as a way of eating only possible in Kochi, where fresh bonito is available. Try it at izakaya in Kochi City and at Hirome Market. You can really taste how fresh the fish is.

Typical price

¥1,000–2,000

Where

Kochi City and around

A local dish essential to banquets in Kochi. A huge platter about 40 cm across is lavishly arranged with sashimi, seared bonito, sushi, simmered dishes, fried dishes, fruit, yokan and more. Its free style, letting guests take what they like as much as they like, is distinctive. Kochi people, said to love drinking and parties, have passed it down as a dish of hospitality. You can enjoy it by reservation at restaurants in Kochi City. Its gorgeous look is sure to impress.

Typical price

¥3,000–6,000 per person

Where

Kochi City and around

Sashimi of Shimizu saba, a brand of blue mackerel caught off Tosashimizu. They are caught one by one by pole-and-line fishing and brought back to port alive, so freshness is outstanding. Mackerel spoils quickly, so eating it as sashimi is only possible near where it is caught. Enjoy the firm bite and the flavor of moderately fatty flesh. Try it at restaurants in Tosashimizu. Pair it with sightseeing at Cape Ashizuri. Autumn to winter, when it is fattier, is especially good.

Typical price

¥1,000–2,000

Where

Tosashimizu

A Kochi dish of baby sardines eaten raw. Dorome are tiny, translucent fish with a slippery texture and delicate flavor. The Kochi way is to eat them with ponzu or nuta, a vinegared miso made with garlic leaves. They spoil quickly, so enjoy them freshly caught locally. In Akaoka, Konan, the Dorome Festival features a contest to see who can drink a huge cup of sake fastest with dorome as a snack. Try them at izakaya in Kochi. Early spring is the season.

Typical price

¥500–1,000

Where

Konan, Kochi City and around

Salted and fermented bonito innards. A Kochi specialty, its name, sake thief, is said to come from it being so good that you keep drinking until you would steal sake to have more. It has deep umami and a pleasant saltiness, and nibbling a little at a time goes perfectly with sake. It is also eaten on rice or combined with pasta or cheese. It is sold at markets and souvenir shops in Kochi City. It is strong, so savor it in small amounts.

Typical price

¥500–1,500

Where

Kochi City and around

A Kochi local dish made with moray eel, scary-looking but mild and delicious. The eel is seared and served as tataki, with the jiggly, gelatinous skin and elegant white flesh. It is eaten with ponzu and condiments such as garlic and green onion. In Kochi, moray eel is also fried, dried and simmered. Try it at restaurants in Susaki and Nakatosa, or at Hirome Market. Many are surprised by the gap between its looks and its taste.

Typical price

¥800–1,500

Where

Susaki, Nakatosa, Kochi City and around

A famous Kochi sweet: sweet potatoes cut into thin sticks, fried until crisp and coated in sugar syrup. The crunchy texture, natural sweetness of the potato and sweet syrup combine so well that once you start, you cannot stop. Its simple, nostalgic taste has long made it a favorite Kochi snack. There are many varieties, such as salted kenpi. It is sold at shops in Kochi City and souvenir shops around the prefecture. It keeps well, which suits souvenirs, and goes well with coffee or tea.

Typical price

¥300–1,000

Where

Kochi Prefecture

Small round biscuits made by a Kochi company. They are fried in vegetable oil and sprinkled with salt, with a light, crisp texture, pleasant saltiness and a faint sweetness. They are a hometown taste long loved by Kochi people, and once you start eating, it is hard to stop. Small bags are available, perfect for handing out as souvenirs. There are also limited editions in various flavors. They are sold at supermarkets and souvenir shops in Kochi. They are great with tea.

Typical price

¥100–500

Where

Kochi Prefecture

A Kochi summer tradition: an ice treat lighter than ice cream, with a slightly icy texture. Made with eggs, sugar and skim milk, it has an old-fashioned, simple sweetness. In Kochi, it is often sold under parasols along roadsides. Sometimes it is scooped onto a cone in the shape of a rose. You can enjoy it at Katsurahama Beach and other sightseeing spots in Kochi City. Take a cool break between sightseeing on a hot day.

Typical price

¥200–400

Where

Kochi City (Katsurahama and around)

A Kochi local bread shaped like a straw hat. Castella-like batter is poured over a round bun before baking, creating the brim. Enjoy the crisp brim and the fluffy bread. It is said to have been created at a Kochi bakery, and one story says it was born from an accidental mistake. For locals, it is a taste familiar since childhood. It is sold at supermarkets around the prefecture. Its simple sweetness is comforting.

Typical price

¥150–250 each

Where

Kochi Prefecture