Traditional Japanese breakfast recipes provide a significant upgrade to your morning meal. You can trade bland toast and cold cereal for exciting dishes ranging from fish waffles to street crepes.
These 20 recipes feel light and healthy and well balanced. A traditional Japanese breakfast usually includes a rice dish and protein plus soup and a side dish.
But you do not have to perform lots of preparations for a delightful morning meal. I am showing you 19 inventive Japanese breakfast recipes today that you can enjoy alone or pair with other Japanese classics.
Read on for fantastic recipes that brighten up your day and leave a smile on your face. Let’s dig in!
1. Japanese Green Tea Rice
Japanese green tea rice is comfort food made healthy. This rice dish pairs well with various entrees.
Is it easy to make? A big YES.
You simply pour green tea over steamed white rice. I suggest using brown rice for additional fiber if you want to make it healthier.
2. Japanese Red Bean Pancakes
Two golden pancakes hold a filling of sweet red bean paste. This recipe represents breakfast or dessert perfection!
You can try other yummy variations too. I suggest making sandwich pancakes with chestnut or custard cream or matcha cream fillings.
3. Ogura Toast
Ogura toast originated in Nagoya but is now popular all over Japan. This recipe yields toasted bread topped with butter and red bean paste.
It is super easy yet so tasty. Adding whipped cream on top is optional but I love it on my toast!
4. Japanese Breakfast Skillet
This breakfast skillet features classic Japanese ingredients. It looks complicated to make at first glance.
But really it just takes some chopping and stir frying. You can make things easy by using a blender for the sauce.
Top the colorful dish with a fried egg to make it more appealing and filling.
5. Strawberry Sauce
This recipe is also known as strawberry compote. It yields a thick strawberry mixture with big chunks of berries for texture.
This strawberry sauce is perfect as a cheesecake topping. But you can also pair it with pancakes or waffles or even ice cream!
6. Japanese Fruit Sandwich
People in Japan call this sandwich “fruit sando” and it is a popular dish in fruit parlors. You find fresh fruits enclosed in chilled whipped cream between two slices of milk bread.
This is the type of sandwich I eat for breakfast and an afternoon snack! Make it at home because it is definitely worth your time.
7. Japanese Pancakes
Japanese pancakes feel fluffy and light with a souffle like consistency. This dish is a dream come true for pancake lovers when topped with maple syrup and melted butter!
The recipe requires simple ingredients. However you will need molds and a nonstick skillet to achieve the perfect height and shape and texture for the pancakes.
8. Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is famous street food from Osaka. It is a savory pancake made with flour and eggs and cabbage and your choice of meat.
Some versions of this recipe cook with squid or shrimp or scallions or just veggies. Feel free to mix and match and be creative as you like!
9. Banana Bread
Banana bread is a classic breakfast dish. I like mine freshly baked and moist and perfectly sweet.
Making homemade banana bread is not as hard as you think. You will know you are doing it right when the bread is soft and there are delicious bits of banana inside. Yum!
10. Japanese Fish Waffle
Taiyaki or Japanese fish waffles are a delicious delicacy from Tokyo. These sweet fish shaped treats keep you warm on a wintry morning.
The outer shell of the waffle is light and crispy while the inside fills with sweet red bean paste. You can use custard cream or Nutella for the filling if you are not a fan of red beans.
11. Japanese Street Crepes
Make classic crepes at your home the Japanese way. These are thin crepes in a lovely cone shape with a filling of your choice.
It is a must that you roll the crepes into a cone shape so you can eat them on the go. It is THE breakfast for busy mornings!
12. Rolled Omelette
Rolled omelette or tamagoyaki is a classic breakfast dish. It is also used as a side dish for bento lunch boxes or a filling for sushi.
You make this beautiful omelette by rolling thin layers of seasoned egg. Adding dashi soup stock to the egg mixture gives you umami rich flavors no one can resist!
13. Japanese Rice Porridge
This rice porridge is one of the easiest Japanese breakfast recipes out there. You will only need rice and water and salt if you want to make it plain.
Simple right? You can make this dish with stock instead of water to infuse more flavor.
You can also add toppings like chopped green onions and sesame seeds and pickled plums.
14. Banana Muffins
Banana muffins made with caramelized bananas are the best! They are moist and rich in flavor but not too sweet.
These muffins come with a Nutella swirl on top and small banana chunks for texture. Serve warm and enjoy!
15. Onigri
Are you tired of having a sandwich for breakfast? Onigiri or Japanese rice balls offer a fun and delicious alternative!
These rice balls are wrapped with dried seaweed and stuffed with various fillings. It is the filling that brings flavor to the dish because onigiri requires plain steamed rice.
Expect a perfectly savory filling that will jumpstart your morning.
16. Japanese Milk Bread
This milk bread is yet another soft and fluffy treat from Japan. The secret to achieving the super soft texture is the tangzhong.
It is a roux made with flour and water which prolongs the fluffiness of the bread. You can enjoy this bread with any type of spread.
Turn it into a more flavorful breakfast like a chicken katsu sandwich if you have extra time.
17. Japanese French Toast
You can also use your milk bread to make this French toast. Just soak it in a seasoned egg mixture for a custardy French toast!
Make sure that you use thick slices of bread if you want your toast extra fluffy. Top with powdered sugar and syrup and whipped cream to add some pizazz!
18. Miso Breakfast Oats
This savory oatmeal is a morning mealtime hero of mine. It is full of warm flavors and packed with umami flavor.
The nutrients it gives are a great bonus too! The best part? This recipe is super easy.
Just cook the oats in an Instant Pot. Stir in the miso paste and kale and seasonings.
Add the toppings and you are done!
19. Japanese Avocado Toast
You will fall in love with this recipe if you are a fan of avocado toast! This is the tastiest avocado toast in my book.
A crunchy toasted bread gets topped with creamy avocado and roasted seaweed. It is such a fantastic combination!
Ikura also adds a mild fishy flavor and the sesame seeds bring a nutty taste.
