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Home » Recipes » Lunch

Lunch Recipes

Enjoy light and refreshing Japanese lunch recipes that are perfect for warm days or quick meals. Try simple favorites like onigiri (rice balls), comforting ochazuke (tea over rice), or chilled noodle dishes like zaru soba, somen, and hiyashi chuka (cold ramen).

Warm up with a bowl of kake udon, or switch things up with savory, soy-based wafu pasta. These easy and satisfying meals are full of flavor and ideal for a light lunch at home, work, or on the go.

Japanese bowls containing Classic Udon Noodle Soup called Kake Udon or Su Udon, topped with sliced green onion, onsen tamago (poached egg), and fish cake slices.

Udon Noodle Soup (Kake Udon) (Video) かけうどん

4.67 from 93 votes
A plate containing three tuna mayo onigiri and pickles, served with a wooden bowl of miso soup.

Tuna Mayo Onigiri ツナマヨおにぎり

5 from 3 votes
A black round plate containing metaiko pasta - Japanese spaghetti with spicy salted cod roe topped with julienned shiso and shredded nori seaweed.

Easy Mentaiko Pasta (Video)

4.34 from 3 votes
A paper box containing Japanese Sandwiches (Mixed Sando).

Japanese Sandwich – Mixed Sando ミックスサンド

4.79 from 14 votes
A glass plate containing cold natto udon topped with kimchi, onsen tamago, blanched okra, fresh cucumber, and grated nagaimo.

Cold Natto Udon

5 from 2 votes
A glass bowl containing cold somen noodles with dipping sauce.

Japanese Cold Somen Noodles そうめん

4.79 from 38 votes
An oval plate containing 3 pieces of Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) placed on a bamboo leaf.

Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls) (Video) おにぎり

4.76 from 234 votes
A white round plate containing sliced Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Roll).

Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Roll) キンパ

5 from 2 votes
A donburi bowl containing a Japanese grilled rice ball in a flavorful dashi broth, topped with green onions and furikake rice seasoning.

Yaki Onigiri Chazuke (Grilled Rice Ball Soup) 焼きおにぎり茶漬け

5 from 6 votes
A white bowl containing Shiso Pesto Pasta garnished with shaved Parmesan cheese and shiso leaves.

Shiso Pesto Pasta (Video) 大葉ジェノベーゼパスタ

4.67 from 9 votes
Tamago Sando - Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich on a plate along with salad.

Japanese Egg Sandwich (Tamago Sando) たまごサンド

4.71 from 385 votes
A Japanese ceramic plate containing Salmon and Shio Kombu Onigiri served with daikon pickles.

Salmon and Shio Kombu Onigiri 鮭と塩昆布のおにぎり

4.77 from 13 votes
A blue bowl containing cold somen noodles topped with thinly sliced sudachi citrus.

Cold Somen Noodles with Sudachi Lime すだちそうめん

5 from 5 votes
A white square plate containing Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Noodles)

Japchae (Korean Stir-Fried Noodles) (Video)

4.73 from 70 votes
A plate containing Japanese Pizza Toast made with Japanese milk bread, pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and various toppings.

Pizza Toast ピザトースト

4.58 from 14 votes
Zaru Soba (Cold Buckwheat Noodles with Dipping Sauce) | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com

Zaru Soba (Cold Soba Noodles) ざるそば

4.75 from 116 votes
A white plate containing Pickled Mustard Green Fried Rice (Takana Chahan).

Pickled Mustard Greens Fried Rice (Takana Chahan) 高菜チャーハン

4.60 from 25 votes
A black bowl containing somen noodle soup with vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, egg, kamaboko fish cake, garnish with green onion.

Somen Noodle Soup (Nyumen) (Video) にゅうめん

4.85 from 19 votes
A donburi bowl containing udon noodles topped with toasted mochi, spinach, and fish cake.

Udon Noodle Soup with Toasted Mochi (Chikara Udon) 力うどん

4.67 from 12 votes
A Japanese plate containing inari sushi garnished with sushi ginger.

Inari Sushi いなり寿司

4.77 from 65 votes
Meal Prep for Bento: Freezer-Friendly Bento Dishes

Meal Prep Freezer-Friendly Bento Dishes

A wooden tray containing a plate of somen noodles, a bowl of sesame miso dipping sauce, and a plate of pork shabu shabu and cucumber slices.

Pork Shabu Shabu and Cold Somen with Sesame Miso Sauce 豚しゃぶ冷やしそうめん味噌胡麻だれ

4.64 from 22 votes
A Japanese plate containing Ume Miso and Shiso Onigiri.

Ume Miso and Shiso Onigiri 梅味噌と紫蘇のおにぎり

4.84 from 12 votes
A glass plate containing Cold Tuna Tomato Somen topped with julienned shiso leaves.

Cold Tuna and Tomato Somen (Video) ツナとトマトの冷やしそうめん

4.76 from 37 votes
A ramen bowl containing Curry Ramen -a dish inspired by Netflix "Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories" Season 2.

Curry Ramen – Midnight Diner Season 2 カレーラーメン

4.81 from 26 votes
Kitsune udon in a Japanese bowl.

Kitsune Udon (Video) きつねうどん

4.60 from 171 votes
Japanese tea is poured on top of steamed rice and flaky baked salmon in a rice bowl.

Ochazuke (Green Tea Over Rice) (Video) お茶漬け

4.80 from 106 votes
Yakisoba Pan (Yakisoba Dog) served in a baking tray.

Yakisoba Pan (Yakisoba Dog) – Midnight Diner Season 2 焼きそばパン

4.68 from 31 votes
A white ceramic containing shiso garlic pasta.

Shiso Garlic Pasta 青じそペペロンチーノ

4.82 from 11 votes
Rice bowls containing shrimp fried rice.

Shrimp Fried Rice 海老チャーハン

4.76 from 33 votes
Unagi Chazuke in a Japanese donburi bowl.

Unagi Chazuke (Hitsumabushi) 鰻茶漬け

4.70 from 13 votes
A football-shaped Chicken fried rice served on a plate

Chicken Fried Rice チキンライス – Midnight Diner Season 2

4.69 from 38 votes
Chashu fried rice served on white plates.

Chashu Fried Rice チャーシューチャーハン

4.80 from 20 votes
Katsu Sando stacked on top of each other.

Katsu Sando カツサンド

4.95 from 37 votes
Menchi Katsu Sandwich is a ground meat patty coated with crispy panko and deep fried into golden brown. It is then topped with thinly sliced cabbage and homemade tartar sauce, and sandwiched in soft brioche buns.

Menchi Katsu Sandwich メンチカツサンド

4.84 from 6 votes
A white bowl containing cold curry udon with sliced pork, boiled egg, and fresh vegetables.

Cold Curry Udon 冷やしカレーうどん

4.75 from 12 votes
A ceramic plate containing Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen) with Sesame Miso Sauce. Chilled noodles are served with sliced tomatoes, shredded chicken, and cucumber.

Hiyashi Chuka (Cold Ramen) with Sesame Miso Sauce 冷やし中華 胡麻味噌ダレ

4.74 from 50 votes
Miso Yaki Onigiri placed on a bizenware ceramic plate garnished with shiso leaf.

Miso Yaki Onigiri (Grilled Rice Balls) 味噌焼きおにぎり

4.79 from 70 votes
Omurice オムライス (Omelette Rice - "Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories" | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com

Omurice (Omelette Rice) (Video) オムライス – ‘Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories’

4.67 from 74 votes
A blue bowl containing cold and refreshing shirataki noodles with honey sesame dressing.

Honey Sesame Shirataki Noodles

4.77 from 21 votes
Ginger Pork Onigirazu (Rice Sandwich) | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com

Ginger Pork Onigirazu 豚の生姜焼きおにぎらず

4.91 from 11 votes
A white p late containing Teriyaki Salmon Onigirazu wrapped in plastic and showing the cross section.

Teriyaki Salmon Onigirazu 照り焼きサーモンおにぎらず

4.91 from 11 votes
Spam Onigirazu

Spam Onigirazu スパムおにぎらず

4.90 from 38 votes
A green plate containing teriyaki chicken quesadilla.

Teriyaki Chicken Quesadilla

5 from 4 votes
A plate containing Chicken Katsu Onigirazu.

Chicken Katsu Onigirazu チキンカツおにぎらず

4.69 from 29 votes
A lunch box container containing Bulgogi Onigirazu.

Bulgogi Onigirazu プルゴギおにぎらず (Video)

4.87 from 15 votes
Piggy spam musubi in the two tier bento box.

Piggy Spam Musubi Bento (Video)

4.34 from 6 votes
Croquette Sandwich | Easy Japanese Recipes at JustOneCookbook.com

Croquette Sandwich コロッケサンド

5 from 3 votes
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