Hi!! I’m traveling to Japan soon but I have to avoid red meat due to health reasons. We will be there for 17 days- will it be reasonable to say I’ll be able to avoid red meat for most meals in Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka? I can probably swing eating it around 2-4 times max if it’s something amazing but again I need to avoid it for health reasons 🙁
Chicken fish and all types of seafood are fine! Just not pork/beef. Thanks in advance!
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It should be fairly easy. But note that restaurants often specialize in a specific dish or specific ingredients, so if you are traveling with someone who want to eat red meat, then there might be less options in restaurants that offer dish based on it.
Then only order chicken and fish meals. All the places we went had meals options without red meat. The only exclusion was the meal course in our ryōkan, but I’m pretty sure they could’ve swap that one meal.
If you are okay with chicken and seafood, you can travel in Japan.
You can avoid red meat in your diet.
So eat at places that serve chicken or fish/seafood. They are literally everywhere.
Super easy. Tonkatsu and yakitori will be your friends.
Haven’t all of the red meat health studies been debunked? I thought it was generally accepted that any correlation between red meat consumption and health is very weak.
Japan is a really easy place to do that, there’s plenty of seafood and chicken options. Even ramen might be found with chicken based broth, but you’d have to research your options first that.
Should be way easier than eating vegetarian or hallal and people manage that.
I’m allergic to red meat and had no problem avoiding it the entire three weeks I spent there. Just use Google Translate and steer clear of places where they specialize in red meat like sukiyaki spots.
Definitely doable, just make sure you know how to say no red meat and order accordingly.
If you go for ramen, double check what the broth is made of. Pork is the most common base for ramen. If you can tolerate the broth and it’s just the meat you need to avoid, it’s easy to get a ramen that doesn’t have meat toppings (you can just ask). I don’t think you’ll really have any problem finding some amazing food that skips the beef and pork. Fish and chicken dishes are plentiful!
wont be any issue
I had no issue getting Chicken in any of those areas as well as pretty much any seafood. Chicken was very common as a secondary to Beef in majority of restaurants I went to.
Sushi/Sashimi is pretty much anywhere you go in Japan as well. So you really have nothing to worry about.
Just curious. If you’re willing to share. What health concern is steering you towards avoiding red meat. Many health experts are recommending it now as a cure, not something to be avoided
Definitely doable in those cities. There are plenty of izakyas, ramen spots, and sushi spots in those cities.
Yes, red meat is not the most consumed thing in Japan, it’s not uncommon by any means, but you could be on a worse spot.
Restaurants in Japan are different because a lot of them focus in one specialty only, it could be tonkatsu (fried pork), Japanese curry, Ramen (each shop makes their own version) and many other things, so just be aware. Also it’s not common to modifiy plates or menu courses. For example, conveyor belt sushi is an exception where you can find multiple options (mostly around sushi dishes but there are normally other things).
If you’re willing to eat red meat a couple of times, without a doubt go to a Teppanyaki that serves specialty Wagyu (Kobe, Matsusaka, etc), it’s expensive but worth it, also the meat portion is typically small (150g-200g) and normally you’re served a full set with rice, soup and vegetables. It’s top quality beef (considered the best on the world) and prepared in front of you by a master chef. Try to avoid places that offer full “western style” cuts like a full 600g Ribeye.
Another great red meat option is gyukatsu, breaded prefried beef that you finish cooking on a small stone at your table.
this might be a little specific, but please try oyakodon if you come across it! it’s a super flavorful egg and chicken steamed dish that’s served on top of rice. the egg is mixed with japanese broth and other sauces like mirin to give it a really nice flavor and makes the eggs so soft even after cooking. the broth seeps down into the rice and it’s just so good. highly recommend. and sometimes you can find this in katsu restaurants, so if the person you’re going with wants japanese pork cutlets but you don’t, then try search for this dish 🙂
You can eat so well only eating seafood. No worries. Just don’t go to beef specialist
Yes, it’s easy. I’ve lived in Japan for nearly 34 years and have been a pescatarian for all of them. When we stay at hotels or *ryokan* we call ahead and request vegetarian meals. I have never eaten any red meat or fowl in Japan.
However, be careful with deserts and packaged/premade food: deserts are very often made with gelatin, and many of the most innocuous-seeming snacks, such as potato chips, are usually made with pork or chicken.
Don’t worry. Even if you go to a beef grill place, they do have chicken
Eat sushi every day.
These cities offer a wide range of culinary options beyond red meat. Since you’re okay with chicken, fish, and seafood, you’re in for a treat. Japanese cuisine is renowned for its diverse seafood dishes and excellent chicken options.
For a unique experience, you could try sushi and sashimi, which are exceptional in Japan. Also, don’t miss out on chicken-based dishes like Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and Oyakodon (chicken and egg over rice). Many ramen shops offer chicken-based broth as an alternative to the more common pork broth, so you’ll still have a chance to enjoy this iconic dish. Just make sure to confirm the broth base before ordering.
If you decide to indulge in red meat occasionally, consider trying Kobe beef, a delicacy in Japan, known for its flavor and quality. However, it’s usually served in small portions, so it shouldn’t overburden your red meat intake limit.
It’s always helpful to learn a few phrases in Japanese to communicate your dietary restrictions, like “Niku wa tabemasen” (I don’t eat meat). Also, Google Translate can be a lifesaver in restaurants.
Overall, with a little bit of planning and communication, you should have a fantastic culinary experience in Japan without compromising your health. Enjoy your trip! 🍣🍜
Sushi places may also have (red and white) horse meat, so be aware of that.
I have an allergy to beef and pork and here are some tips from my experiences:
-I had a card in Japanese noting my allergies and used Google translate to explain my allergy (I had to specify no pork oil since I found some soup and tempura places used it)
-A couple days into my trip I learned most/all restaurants are required to have an allergies card of the 23(?) most common allergies and it’ll list everything on their menu and if it contains that allergy or may cross-contaminate.
—I started just defaulting to asking for this allergen list partway through as opposed to the card
—Some restaurants also list allergens online (think mostly fast food) so we planned ahead. I also used Google translate on store bought goods to see what ingredients were in it (like bento boxes)
-I also opted for some dishes that I couldn’t imagine actually containing said allergen…like pancakes and sushi when I was lazy and didn’t want to ask.
As some others have mentioned, it’s super easy to eat in Japan with an allergy to red meat. There was only 2-3 restaurants we went to and couldn’t eat at because everything contained an allergen. A lot of places were understandable about allergies as well.
Can you eat eggs and potatoes? There is one restaurant in Kyoto called ’eggs n things’. They do have teriyaki chicken, but only if you order it. They have pancakes with towering whipped cream. It’s a Hawaiian 🌺 like restaurant in Kyoto not far from the hotel I stayed at (Princess Nikko Kyoto). There are some places in shopping mall, but I forget the names. That’s just one I ate at while touring japan past September (2 weeks).