Nov 12, 2025
Japanese foods that would take off back home
It might be a weird thing to ponder, but sometimes I think about which Japanese foods would catch on in Australia if more people gave them a try. One that always comes to mind is hambāgu.
Most expats in Japan already know it well. The juicy patty of mixed beef and pork, seasoned just right, and often served with rice and the trademark demi-glace sauce. It's simple and comforting, but feels more upmarket than a lot of ground meat dishes.

Aussies love a fried egg, too, so I think this kind of meal would be a real hit back home.
Considering how much Australians love beef, I can't help thinking hambāgu would be a hit. It takes the familiar textures of a burger or meatloaf but offers some different flavors without it being too much of an overwhelming jump. A big part of why I think it'd be popular is because it feels both familiar and new at the same time.
It makes me wonder what other Japanese comfort foods could find a home overseas. Obviously things like sushi and ramen have already taken off in lots of places, but maybe curry rice, omurice, or even karaage would do well abroad.
Are there any Japanese foods that you think would do really well in your home country, perhaps aside from obvious ones like sushi or ramen that are already pretty well-known and accepted?
1 Comment
TonetoEdo
7 hours ago
It looks like Japadog has taken off in Vancouver, Canada. A Japanese couple started the business in the early 2000s. Think okonomiyaki and yakisoba meet hot dogs. There are a handful of restaurants there that do Japanese curry rice, too. I don't see any restaurants there specializing in nabemono. I think if you spin it right, chanko nabe and the like would appeal in Canada.