What Locals Eat for Street Food in Japan

(Not Tourist Food) 

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Japanese street food for locals is practical, everyday food — quick to eat, affordable, and usually bought near stations or neighborhood streets. Below are the top 5 street foods locals actually eat, with where to find them.

 Onigiri – Everyday Rice Balls

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What it is:
Rice balls filled with salmon, tuna mayo, or pickled plum — simple, filling, and eaten any time of day.

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Where locals eat it:
Tokyo – Train stations & residential neighborhoods
Look for small takeaway shops near Shinjuku, Ueno, Ikebukuro stations

Locals grab onigiri before work, between errands, or on the train.

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 Yakitori – Grilled Chicken Skewers

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What it is:
Grilled chicken skewers seasoned with salt or soy-based sauce, eaten fresh off the grill.

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Where locals eat it:
 Tokyo – Under train tracks & backstreets
Areas like Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho or Shimbashi

This is classic after-work street food for salarymen.

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 Takoyaki – Osaka’s Daily Snack

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What it is:
Crispy-on-the-outside batter balls filled with octopus, soft inside.

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Where locals eat it:
 Osaka – Neighborhood shopping streets
Nishinari, Tennoji, and local shotengai (shopping arcades)

Locals eat takoyaki casually, not as a special food experience.

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Taiyaki – Traditional Sweet Snack

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What it is:
Fish-shaped pancake filled with red bean paste or custard.

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Where locals eat it:
 Tokyo – Old neighborhoods
Asakusa side streets, local markets

Often eaten while walking, especially in cooler months.

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Korokke – Japanese Croquettes

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What it is:
Deep-fried potato or meat croquettes, crispy outside and soft inside.

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Where locals eat it:
 Tokyo & Osaka – Local butcher shops
Residential areas, not tourist centers

One of the most everyday street foods — cheap, filling, and often missed by tourists.

How to Spot a Local Street Food Area in Japan

• Near train stations

• Close to office districts or schools

• Short menus, no English signs

• Locals eating standing or quickly