Shizuoka Oden

Oden is a dish of daikon radish, fish cakes, and other ingredients simmered in a lightly seasoned broth. Many regional varieties exist, but Shizuoka oden is particularly distinctive. First, its broth is black. This is partly due to its many dark-colored ingredients, including coarse-textured black hanpen made from dark-fleshed fish such as sardines and mackerel, as well as beef tendon. Another major reason is that each shop may add its own ingredients, such as soy sauce or pork offal, or continually replenish broth passed down through generations.

Another distinctive feature is that all the ingredients are served on skewers and topped with aonori seaweed and dried fish powder. The broth soaks into everything, from the richly flavored black hanpen and distinctive beef tendon to classic ingredients such as daikon radish and eggs, giving each one an exceptional savory taste.

In Shizuoka City, skewers of Shizuoka oden are sold individually at places such as prepared-food shops and traditional candy stores, making them an easy snack. Near JR Shizuoka Station are two retro oden districts decorated with lanterns: Aoba Oden-gai and Aoba Yokocho.