What is Oden? 🍢
A simple guide to one of Japan’s most comforting winter dishes.
What Is Oden? 🍢
Oden is a traditional Japanese dish made by simmering different ingredients in a flavorful broth. It’s especially popular during the colder months.
There are many different ingredients to choose from. Some of them may be unfamiliar if you’re visiting Japan for the first time.
The ingredients are slowly simmered, allowing them to absorb the flavor of the broth.
What Is Oden Broth Made Of?
Oden is simmered in a Japanese soup made mainly with dashi, soy sauce, salt, and other seasonings. The exact flavor varies depending on the region and the shop.
Common ingredients used to make the dashi include kombu (kelp) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes).
This gives the broth a gentle umami flavor!
Common Oden Ingredients 🍢
Oden can contain many different ingredients. Here are some common ones, including a few that may be unfamiliar to visitors.
Daikon — 大根
Japanese radish that becomes soft and absorbs the flavorful broth.
Egg — たまご
A boiled egg simmered in the broth until the outside becomes flavorful.
Konnyaku — こんにゃく
A chewy food made from konnyaku, a plant-based ingredient. It has a unique texture and absorbs the broth well.
Shirataki — 白滝
Thin, noodle-like strands made from konnyaku. They have a light, chewy texture.
Chikuwa — ちくわ
A tube-shaped fish cake made from white fish paste. It’s one of the most common oden ingredients.
Hanpen — はんぺん
A soft, fluffy fish cake with a light and airy texture.
Chikuwabu — ちくわぶ
A chewy tube-shaped food made from wheat flour. Unlike chikuwa, it doesn’t contain fish.
Atsuage — 厚揚げ
Thick fried tofu with a soft center and lightly fried outside.
Ganmodoki — がんもどき
A fried tofu cake usually mixed with vegetables and other ingredients.
Satsuma-age — さつま揚げ
A fried fish cake made from seasoned fish paste. It’s especially common in southern Japan.
Mochi Kinchaku — 餅きんちゃく
A small tofu pouch filled with chewy mochi rice cake.
Beef Tendon — 牛すじ
Beef tendon slowly simmered until tender. It has a rich flavor and soft texture.
How Do You Eat Oden?
Oden is usually served hot with some of the broth.
Choose the ingredients you want, then add karashi (Japanese mustard) if you like a little spicy kick.
The mustard is usually added to individual ingredients rather than mixed into the whole pot.
Where Can You Eat Oden? 🍢
There are several easy ways to try oden when you’re traveling in Japan.
🏪 Convenience stores
Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart may sell oden, especially during the colder months. They’re one of the easiest places for travelers to try it.
If you’re not sure how to buy oden at a convenience store, 7-Eleven Japan has a short English video showing you how.
🍢 Oden restaurants and specialty shops
Oden restaurants specialize in the dish and often offer a wider variety of ingredients. This can be a good option if you want to sit down and enjoy oden as a full meal.
🍶 Izakaya
Some izakaya also serve oden alongside drinks and other Japanese dishes. It’s a casual way to enjoy oden as part of a larger meal.
Oden Around Japan 🇯🇵
Oden can taste quite different depending on where you are in Japan. The broth, ingredients, and condiments vary by region.
- Tokyo: Often has a darker broth with bonito dashi and dark soy sauce. Chikuwabu and hanpen are common ingredients.
- Kyoto: Often features a lighter, delicate broth with kombu and light soy sauce, along with tofu and local vegetables.
- Shizuoka: Known for a dark broth, black hanpen, and beef tendon. Fish powder and aonori may also be added when serving.
- Aomori: Oden may be served with a ginger miso sauce, giving it a distinctive flavor.
- Himeji, Hyogo: Local oden is traditionally served with ginger soy sauce.
Dietary Information
- 🌱 Plant-based: Daikon, konnyaku, shirataki, and some tofu-based ingredients can be plant-based.
- 🌾 Gluten: Chikuwabu is made with wheat flour, so it’s not gluten-free.
- 🐟 Fish-based: Chikuwa, hanpen, and satsuma-age are made from fish.
- 🥚 Egg: Eggs are not vegan.
- 🥩 Meat: Beef tendon is not vegetarian or vegan.
- ⚠️ Check ingredients: Oden broth and seasonings may contain animal products, so check with the shop if you have strict dietary requirements.
Enjoy Exploring Japan! 🇯🇵✨