Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Oita region.
Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Oita region.
When visiting the Oita region, be sure to enjoy the authentic local gourmet dishes at their best.
Table of Contents
Soft-Shelled Turtle Hot Pot
Tori-ten
Nakatsu Karaage
Seared Seki Horse Mackerel & Seki Mackerel Sashimi
Beppu Reimen (Cold Noodles)
Yaseuma
Jigoku Mushi
Dango-jiru
Ryukyu
Hita Yakisoba
Soft-Shelled Turtle Hot Pot
A nutritious delicacy for glowing skin
Soft-shelled turtles raised in Oita Prefecture thrive in its pristine rivers and mild climate, creating the ideal breeding conditions for this prized ingredient. Known since ancient times for its h...
Tori-ten
A beloved local specialty from Oita, known for its high chicken consumption
Tori-ten (とり天, Tori-ten) is a traditional dish cherished in Oita Prefecture. It features tender chicken, carefully marinated in a ponzu or soy sauce-based seasoning, then lightly battered and fr...
Nakatsu Karaage
The "Holy Land of Karaage" – Nakatsu City in Oita Prefecture
Nakatsu Karaage (中津からあげ, Nakatsu karaage) is a beloved local dish from Oita Prefecture, now famous across Japan! Nakatsu City is home to numerous karaage specialty shops, earning its reputati...
Seared Seki Horse Mackerel & Seki Mackerel Sashimi
Fresh fish from the pristine waters of the Bungo Channel
Seki Horse Mackerel and Seki Mackerel (関アジ・関サバ, Seki Aji & Seki Saba) are premium fish caught in the Bungo Channel, off the coast of Saganoseki, Oita Prefecture. These delicacies are renowne...
Beppu Reimen (Cold Noodles)
Refreshing cold noodles to beat the summer heat
Beppu Reimen (別府冷麺) first made its debut in Beppu around 1950, when a chef who had returned from Manchuria (northeastern China) opened a noodle shop. In Manchuria, where many Korean ethnic comm...
Yaseuma
A traditional sweet treat from Oita Prefecture
Yaseuma (やせうま) is a local specialty of Oita Prefecture made by boiling flattened wheat flour dough and coating it with a mixture of roasted soybean flour (kinako) and sugar. The dough is the...
Jigoku Mushi
Beppu’s signature "hell-steamed" delicacy
Jigoku Mushi (地獄蒸し, Jigoku mushi) is a traditional cooking method dating back to the Edo period, where high-temperature steam from hot springs is used to steam ingredients. Vegetables, seafo...
Dango-jiru
A taste of Oita's tradition – Dango-jiru soup
Dango-jiru (だんご汁) is a classic dish from Oita Prefecture made with hand-kneaded wheat flour dough stretched into wide, ribbon-like pieces. These flavorful noodles are simmered with seasonal veg...
Ryukyu
A local delicacy from Oita with a name that pays homage to Okinawa
Ryukyu (りゅうきゅう, Ryukyu) is a traditional dish from Oita Prefecture, which is blessed with an abundance of fresh seafood thanks to its location facing the Seto Inland Sea. This dish features...
Hita Yakisoba
Crispy noodles! A whole new texture with Hita Yakisoba
Hita Yakisoba (日田やきそば, Hita yakisoba) is a local specialty from Hita City in Oita Prefecture. Freshly boiled noodles are pan-fried until perfectly crispy, just before reaching the point of...
