The must-try “pote-sara” during your visit to Japan
I’m willing to bet that potato salad probably isn’t on your list of foods you’re dying to try during your trip to Japan, but you might want to reconsider that. You’d be amazed at the unique and delicious takes on this beloved izakaya staple. In this article, I’ll show you three must-try potato salads, or pote-sara, as it’s often abbreviated locally.

Potato salad just how you like it—because you mash it yourself!

If you’re interested in an interactive potato salad experience, try Shinjidai. A chain of izakaya, Shinjidai’s main store in Akihabara is easily accessible from Tavinos via Hamamatsucho Station. Named the “troublesome” potato salad (mendokusai poteto sarada), this dish arrives at your table as a bowl of ingredients: thinly sliced onions and cucumber, corn, hard-boiled eggs, seasoned mayo, and freshly boiled potatoes. Not only does this presentation allow you to decide how smooth or chunky you want the salad to be, but mixing it up fresh at the table keeps the potatoes at their fluffiest. No soggy spuds here! The seasoned mayo gives it just the right amount of zip while the onions and cucumbers give it a satisfying crunch, and the corn provides some sweetness.

Shinjidai is also famous for its skewers of crispy chicken skin. How good are these? Well, they’ve sold two hundred thousand of these skewers so far, and those kind of numbers speak for themselves. They’re super crispy, and the uniquely sweet sauce is made with Asian ginseng, which is said to cure whatever ails you—perfect for keeping you healthy and happy during your trip!

Shinjidai

Address: 2-10-2 Sakuma-cho, Kanda, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
Hours: Open 24 hours
Closed: Open all year round
Website: https://shinjidai-akihabara.owst.jp/en/

Other unique potato salads to you’ll want to try

NoMeat NoLife in Shinjuku Kabukicho mainly offers wagyu yakiniku (also known as Korean BBQ), but their “adult potato salad” (otona no poteto sarada) is a must-try, especially if you are a fan of soft-boiled eggs like me. On top of a mound of potato salad flavored with spicy Japanese mustard, paprika, and bacon sits a soft-boiled egg coated in delicious seasonings that you get to break open and mix to your liking. It’s the perfect blend of spicy and smokey. Plus, the spicy mustard acts as a palate cleanser between bites of yakiniku.

If you’re new to yakiniku and not sure what to order, NoMeat NoLife suggests particularly tender cuts of beef like the fillet (hire) and chateaubriand. Also, I recommend trying the karubi or rib meat, which is very popular among Japanese people. While you’re at it, why not try some sushi—with raw meat! I ordered the “red meat” (akami) wagyu nigirizushi. It was delicious, and I highly recommend it to any adventurous eaters who enjoy their steaks on the rare side.

NoMeat NoLife 2nd

Address: 1-13-10 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo
Hours: 5:00 pm - 1:00 am
Closed: Open all year round
Website: https://www.firstring.jp/shoplist.html#yakinikubar2nd


While enjoying all the delicious foods Japan has to offer, eating out every day can take a toll on your stomach, and you may find yourself craving something closer to home cooking. On those days, look no further than Potato Cream in Jiyugaoka.

Rather than potato salad, Potato Cream serves super creamy mashed potatoes topped with one of several sauces. While tempted by their seasonal menu, I decided to try their two regular menu items: potato cream topped with eggplant and ground meat in tomato sauce and potato cream with Japanese turnips and chicken in gorgonzola sauce. Served in stylish containers, they were very Instagram-ready.

But they weren’t only a feast for the eyes; they were delicious and filled with veggies. The eggplant and ground meat had spinach, shimeji mushrooms, and asparagus and was flavored with cream, parmesan cheese, and basil. The turnip and chicken came with edamame and eringi mushrooms and was seasoned with dill. As the name suggested, the mashed potatoes were super creamy and were the perfect vehicle to enjoy the sauce. I would 100% recommend stopping by this cute little shop for a meal that will not only taste good but make you feel good, too.

Potato Cream

Address: 1-25-2 1F Jiyugaoka, Meguro City, Tokyo,
Hours: 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Closed: Wednesday
Website: https://www.instagram.com/potatocream1214/

Writer

Rachael Aoki
Originally from the East Coast of the United States, Rachael has called Japan home for over a decade. She enjoys discovering destinations that are popular with locals from quaint cafes to hole-in-the-wall eateries and sharing that information with visitors from overseas. She also loves taking trips to onsen and is always up for a trip to Hakone, Kanagawa.