28 Valentine’s Day Recipes & Menu Ideas

Looking for recipe ideas to celebrate Valentine’s Day? From breakfast, appetizers, and dinner ideas to decadent desserts, you’ll find plenty of inspiration to show your love on this special day.

Valentine’s Day is approaching soon. Are you planning to cook up something special for your loved ones? Here, you’ll find our best Valentine’s Day recipe ideas that will make the occasion extra special.

There are fluffy pancakes for breakfast, a classic Caesar salad for an appetizer, creamy mushroom pasta, and elegant miso cod for dinner, and a decadent chocolate soufflé for dessert. Plus, popovers with strawberry cream for the kids! We’ve even included different ideas on how to plan out your menu, with options for Western and Japanese recipes. No time for complicated meals? We’ve got you covered too. Feel free to mix things up, of course.

Whether your Valentine’s Day involves your significant other, mom and dad, little ones, or just yourself, you won’t go wrong with good food. Hope your Valentine’s is filled with lots of love!

Breakfast

French Toast

You can never go wrong with classic French toast for an indulgent breakfast. This amazing French toast recipe is from the chef at Asaya Hotel in Kinugawa Onsen. It’s fluffy and tender on the inside, golden crisp on the outside. Breakfast or brunch? You decide!

Best Homemade Crepes

Light and moist with crispy edges, these crepes are so fun to eat! Because you can fill or top them with practically anything, they make the perfect addition to the breakfast menu for this occasion. I have plenty of filling ideas—both sweet and savory—in the recipe post.

Japanese Souffle Pancake

Surprise your special someone first thing in the morning with Japanese Souffle Pancake. Serve these fluffy pancakes with fresh berries and a pot of freshly brewed coffee, and you’ll have the ideal breakfast in bed! Who wouldn’t want to wake up to this?

If you want something unique, we have the Matcha Souffle version too.

Cozy drink ideas: Masala Chai, Matcha Latte, or Cold Brew Coffee.

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Appetizers and Sides

Popover with Strawberry Butter

Who could resist warm fluffy popovers slathered with strawberry butter? These amazing, buttery delights are inspired by the legendary Neiman Marcus Popovers recipe. Warning: your kids (or spouse) may request this as their Valentine’s Day Tradition.

Caesar Salad

Salad, soup, and steak—sometimes an occasion like Valentine’s Day summons just the classics on the menu. This Homemade Caesar Salad is topped with homemade garlic croutons and a creamy dressing made with Japanese mayonnaise.

Salad with Japanese Onion Dressing

This Japanese Onion Dressing is an absolute star that will elevate any salad combo you put together! It is simple yet complex and flavorful. Even non-salad eaters will fall in love with it. What’s best? The dressing can be made in a big batch and used on other yummy dishes like grilled meat, seafood, roasted veggies, and more!

Japanese Sake-Steamed Clams

We love the idea of bringing Izakaya-style (Japanese pub) recipes to Valentine’s dinner. Instead of the usual full course, consider serving a few small plates of delicious and fun bites, like these Japanese Sake-Steamed Clams. It takes only 10 minutes to make and requires just 5 ingredients!

Other fun small bites to serve: Gyoza, Edamame, Sushi Rolls, and Yakitori.

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Mains

Steak Garlic Rice

Tender seared beef tossed in a smoky steak sauce, and nestled on a bed of buttery garlic rice—this is one of those dishes that win hearts!

Start your course with a light soup, followed by a simple salad, and then serve this, along with wine or whatever romantic drinks you concoct. You’ll have the most perfect and romantic dinner for the day.

Miso Salmon

This Miso Salmon is marinated in a sweet and savory miso sauce, broiled until the outside is beautifully crisp, and the inside is perfectly moist. It’s even better when served with Japanese ginger rice. You’ll make it a staple in no time.

Black Cod with Miso

Seafood is an elegant choice for Valentine’s Day, especially if you’re serving Black Cod with Miso (or simply Miso Cod 銀だらの西京焼き). Instead of spending a fortune at Nobu, the acclaimed fine Japanese restaurant, you can easily recreate their famous seafood dish at home.

The recipe works equally well for other fish like sea bass, halibut, or salmon. Serve with a Homemade Miso Soup and Broccolini Gomaae.

Cheese Stuffed Japanese Hamburger Steak (Hambagu)

Skip the steakhouse and make your special someone steak at home! Served with a red wine reduction sauce, this Japanese hamburger steak stuffed with cheese is honestly out of this world. The meat is juicy and melts in your mouth, and the sauce amplifies its deliciousness.

For a lighter version without the cheese, then make my original Hamburger Steak.

Spicy Shoyu Ramen

If your loved one fancies something bold and lively, this Spicy Shoyu Ramen makes a fun option. Top with a soft-boiled egg, fish cake, nori, and fall-apart tender chashu (or take a shortcut by using Trader Joe’s Pork Belly), this delicious bowl of spicy delight is both sexy and romantic.

Vegetarian Ramen

Ramen can be super romantic, especially a brightly flavored homemade bowl. This vegetarian ramen is not only easy to make, but the super-rich and creamy broth will surprise your taste buds. Serve it with chilled rosé or green tea.

You can start the dinner with edamame and a side of agedashi tofu or Japanese chilled tofu before you serve the ramen, and finish up with some sake for a Japanese-theme dinner.

Creamy Mushroom and Bacon Pasta (Vegetarian Adaptable)

“I never comment on recipe pages and I do try a lot of recipes I find online. However, this was exceptional!” — from our Australia reader with Italian heritage!

I hope this alone would convince you to consider this recipe if you’re thinking of pasta for Valentine’s dinner. Creamy, luscious, elegant yet simple—it checks all the factors for a cozy date night meal.

Vegetarian? You can easily adapt it by leaving out the bacon and using an assortment of mushrooms.

Japanese-style Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini

Japanese-style Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini is an easy recipe that everyone will love. Seasoned with crunchy garlic chili oil, dashi soy sauce, and butter, this wafu pasta dish is incredibly flavorful and satisfying. Ready in just 15 minutes!

Cioppino

This is a tomato-based seafood stew inspired by a local San Fransisco famous fish market recipe in Moss Landing. It’s warm, robust, and bursting with flavor! Enjoy it with some crusty bread and a bottle of white wine.

Poke Bowl or Tuna Poke

A tropical vacation to Hawaii would be a dream come true, but we can always bring a taste of the island to the table for a culinary getaway. Poke is very simple to make, and there are plenty of ways to customize your bowl. For an extra dose of sunshine, pair it with a Mai Tai or Hawaiian style Magarita!

Japanese Cream Stew (White Stew)

This classic yoshoku or Western-style cuisine dish is packed with tender chicken, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and broccoli. While it‘s easy to make from scratch, you can use instant cream stew mix for a convenient shortcut. Serve it with steamed rice or crusty bread for a comforting lunch or dinner.

Sukiyaki

Hot pot is not conventional for Valentine’s Day, but it is such a clever and cute idea to cozy up over a hot pot, don’t you think? It’s all prep-work, and you can just cook, eat, and enjoy an intimate conversation all night!

Honey Garlic Pork Chop

Juicy and sweet, with just a hint of garlic, these succulent oven-baked Honey Garlic Pork Chops make a lovely meal in an intimate setting. Cap it off with a sweet dessert and a glass of sake or white wine. Serve with some roasted vegetables to complete a balanced meal.

Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) or Chicken Katsu

These delicious crispy cutlets can remind you of dinner out at a Japanese diner. I have both deep-fried and baked versions: Baked Tonkatsu or Tonkatsu and Chicken Katsu (Fried and Baked).

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Desserts & Sweets

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Fresh strawberries and chocolate are a classic pairing. Why not make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries for this Valentine‘s Day? With just two ingredients, you can create these beautiful treats in less than 30 minutes.

Nama Chocolate

Rich and smooth homemade Nama Chocolate made with chocolate and fresh cream, this ROYCE’s copycat chocolate is a truly special treat. It’s one of the most popular gifts from Japan. Make a double batch and share it with all the people you care about.

Chocolate Gateau

This moist and rich Chocolate Gateau recipe is a classic dessert found in cafes and pastry shops across Japan. Topped with strawberries and fresh whipped cream, this decadent cake is a beautiful and elegant sweet treat to make at home for any festive occasion.

Basque Burnt Cheesecake

We’re crushing hard on Basque burnt cheesecake, especially on special occasions. With its eye-catching top and lip-smacking creaminess, it is bound to win hearts.

Japanese Cheesecake

Looking for a dreamy dessert to feed a crowd? This Japanese Cheesecake will be a sweet surprise. It’s a melt-in-your-mouth combination of creamy cheesecake and airy soufflé. A second (or more) serving is guaranteed!

Madeleines (French Butter Cakes)

These bite-sized French butter cakes with a hint of lemon are so pretty and make a delicious gift to share with everyone you wish to pamper in this month of love!

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Editor’s Note: The post was originally published on February 10, 2016. The contents have been updated with new recipes in January 2024.