Food is a major part of Japanese culture. Even on dating apps, you’re more likely to find profiles seeking a drinking buddy or a スイーツ巡り(sweets meguri; “sweets tour”) partner than anything else. If food is the way to the Japanese heart, then B-kyu gurume is the comfort food that everyone should know and love.
Japanese vs Internationally Influenced
Where Can I Find B-Kyu Gurume?
Must-Try Japanese Comfort Food
What Is B-Kyu Gurume?
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B級グルメ (B-kyu gurume) literally means “B rank food”. It refers to cuisines that are popular with the masses, made with less ‘fancy’ ingredients. They are often quickly and easily served and eaten. Most B-kyu gurume can easily be replicated at home, so it’s also got the added home cooking, “made with love” factor to it as well.
These Japanese comfort foods are also known as ご当地グルメ (gotochi gurume) — or “local dishes” — because they feature local ingredients. What counts as B-kyu gurume in Osaka is completely different from what is comfort food in Sapporo. Even within a given city, there can be vastly different ideas of soul food depending on the area’s history.
If you’re looking for healthy Japanese fare, B-kyu gurume is probably not going to work for you. However, if you’re looking for something different for a treat, then it’s sure to hit the spot. Just be aware of any potential food allergies, as hidden ingredients can sometimes be unexpected.
Basically, B-kyu gurume is the gourmand’s equivalent of your family’s secret recipe handed down for generations. It’s often made with full-fat and sugar, but available for a cheap price and made to order.
Japanese vs Internationally Influenced
As with food cultures around the world, there are both those that are domestic and those that grew from international influences. B-kyu gurume offers a mix of classically Japanese dishes and “Japanified” foreign varieties.
The Japanese-Style Classics
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One of the oldest and most well-known Japanese B-kyu gurume is おにぎり (onigiri; “rice balls”). These glutinous delights tend to be topped or filled with anything from flaked salmon, wasabi greens, soft-boiled eggs or pickled plums. They may be wrapped with a sheet of roasted nori seaweed as well. There are shelves of these in every supermarket, convenience store and even take-out bento shops in Japan—that’s how common they are.
Another rice-based comfort food is 卵かけごはん (tamago kake gohan). Basically, you crack a raw egg over some plain white rice and add a dash or two of soy sauce for flavor. That’s it. Of course, you can liven it up with some furikake seasoning, too, or purchase gourmet eggs specially bred for their tastiness (or whatever the technical term may be!), but even the most basic of ingredients will give you classic Japanese comfort food.
International Twists
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Two international dishes, according to my friends, are considered must-have foodstuffs: curry rice and spaghetti Napolitano.
Curry rice is typically made with Japanese curry roux (prepared with beef or pork, potatoes, carrots and onions), accompanied by rice (white, turmeric-seasoned, or with garlic and butter). It can also be topped with a slab of とんかつ (tonkatsu; “pork cutlet”) or 牛カツ (gyukatsu; “beef cutlet”). It’s not spicy at all, very hearty and something that most Japanese people eat at least once a week.
Spaghetti Napolitan was invented in Yokohama by Chef Shigetada Irie of Hotel New Grand during the postwar period. It consists of well-cooked pasta (no al dente here), with a sauce made from onions, green peppers, bacon or ham and… ketchup. Yes, the sauce is made almost entirely from Japanese ketchup (some add tomato paste to thicken it). You can also add a dash of Tabasco sauce to liven it up, but otherwise, it’s a very kid-friendly comfort food.
Where Can I Find B-Kyu Gurume?
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