Fries

Speaking of typical Western-style menu originated in Japan, the fried dishes is probably one of the most well-known examples. The fried dishes are meat, seafood, vegetables, etc., dipped in flour, egg, or breadcrumbs and deep-fried in hot oil, right? The Japnanese fried dishes were invented in the Meiji era (1868-1912) at a restaurant called “Renga-Tei” in Ginza. The first dish invented was a kind of “pork cutlet” with pork as an ingredient. The dish referred to was a French dish called “côtelette”, which is beef coated with fine breadcrumbs and baked in a stir-fry. “Schnitzel”, which is also eaten in Germany, Holland, Austria, Israel, Turkey, and other European countries, is a very similar dish, isn’t it?

Tempura, a dish in which food is coated with a batter and deep fried, was already introduced in the Nara and Heian periods before the fried dishes. Also, around the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholic missionaries introduced some of Western-style fried dish recipes. Well, it was not until the Meiji era that fried dishes became popular in Japan. This is probably because it was a time when modernization was being promoted throughout the country. As a new Western-style dish, fried dishes seems to have quickly gained acceptance. At the the above-mentioned “Renga-Tei”, following the “pork cutlet”, “fried shrimp” and “fried oysters” were invented, and other restaurants also invented “tonkatsu”, “croquettes” and other fried dishes that have become standard nowadays. The reason why fried dishes have a Western feel is probably due to the use of “breadcrumbs” in the batter. In the Meiji era, breadfood culture was introduced to Japan and became well known to the general public. This may have been one of the reasons why people thought that dishes made with “bread crumbs” dishes were Western-style dishes. Probably, it became popular because it looked very high-caliber. Japanese fried dishes are sometimes very popular with people from overseas. Well, you all must be tempted to give it a try, right?