17 Easy Japanese Side Dishes For Your Weeknight Dinner

Looking for reliable side dishes to round out your weeknight dinner? From teriyaki tofu to tamagoyaki to mushrooms in foil, we’ve put together a collection of easy Japanese side dishes that your family will love and that work well for many occasions.

In a Japanese household, you’ll often find colorful side dishes served in small plates at family dinners. These side dishes play an equal role to the main dish in providing sustenance and making the meal more appetizing. Additionally, they refresh the palate to counter heavier or greasier foods on the table.

What do you look for when choosing a side dish? I follow these simple rules: consider varying colors, textures, flavors, and nutrients that round out a meal. Here, you’ll find easy Japanese side dishes that pair well with a wide variety of Japanese meals. From tried-and-true classics to Western-inspired dishes, each one is easy to prepare and can be enjoyed on its own. You can even use the leftovers for your bento lunch the next day!

17 Easy Japanese Side Dishes For Your Weeknight Dinner

1. Spinach Ohitashi (Japanese Spinach Salad)

This Japanese Spinach Salad uses a simple method called ohitashi to infuse vegetables with umami and subtle flavor. It’s one of the common techniques Japanese people use to prepare vegetable dishes. I love that it helps preserve the nutrients of vegetables at their best. And double yes when you can pair this salad with everything you cook!

2. 3-Ingredient Simple Tamagoyaki (Japanese Rolled Omelette)

Sweet yet savory, Tamagoyaki makes a delightful Japanese breakfast or side dish for your bento lunches. Because it’s a favorite among kids and adults alike, Japanese home cooks make Tamagoyaki regularly. The more you make it, the better you’ll get at it. This easy recipe requires no dashi and is ready in just 15 minutes!

3. Teriyaki Tofu

Need a flavorful plant-based protein side dish to complement your meal? Then you should make Teriyaki Tofu! The homemade savory sauce adds a lot of flavor.

4. Miso Glazed Eggplant

Baked and broiled until nicely caramelized on the edges yet so creamy in the middle, the eggplants are packed with umami flavor. You’ll love how easy it is to make this dish at home.

5. Cucumber and Chicken Marinated in Chili Oil 

Easy steamed chicken mixed with cucumber and dressed in a chili oil (La-yu) marinade. The contrasting texture makes it a perfect way to start a meal.

6. Broccoli Blanched with Sesame Oil

Broccoli is probably the most universal vegetable side dish anyone can count on! To keep it fresh and tasty, the trick is to blanch the broccoli with salt and sesame oil. It’s easy, healthy, and so versatile! You could also change up the flavor by drizzling some hot sesame oil or topping it with your favorite sauce the next day.

7. Ramen Egg (Ajitsuke Tamago)

Trust me, this dreamiest Ramen Egg (Ajitsuke Tamago) is not just for ramen!! It is absolutely delicious as a side for your braised pork belly (kakuni) or bento lunch box. I love preparing the eggs in advance so my family can enjoy the extra protein in their meals any day of the week.

8. Japanese Chilled Tofu (Hiyayakko)

This Japanese Chilled Tofu (Hiyayakko) is usually topped with katsuobushi, green onions, grated ginger and season with a little bit of soy sauce. But feel free to change up the toppings and seasonings. Omit the katsuobushi and use sweet corn, chopped tomatoes, green onions, or wakame for a vegetarian or vegan option. It makes a nutritious side dish anytime!

9. Zucchini Corn Stir-Fry

In this recipe, the vegetables are quick-cooked in a wok or frying pan, and flavored with umami-rich miso, savory soy sauce, and creamy butter to accentuate their sweetness and vibrancy. It cannot be any simpler!

10. Japanese Salted Chicken Wings (Teba Shio)

Three Ingredients—that’s what you need to make some of the best chicken wings! The key is to soak the chicken wings in sake for 15 minutes. If you like it spicy, sprinkle on some shichimi togarashi (Japanese seven spice). After broiling the chicken, the skin gets so crispy, and they are addicting and simply amazing! Wings as a side dish make your weeknight dinner extra special.

11. Japanese Roasted Kabocha Squash

Here, thinly sliced kabocha squash are baked in the oven until slightly charred and fork-tender, and then lightly seasoned with classic Japanese seasonings. Simple yet delicious!

12. Ham Katsu

With crispy panko on the outside and delicious Black Forest ham on the inside, Ham Katsu is the simplest cutlet you can make with easy-to-get ingredients. Inspired by the Japanese drama “Midnight Diner.”

13. Spicy Bean Sprout Salad

Dressed in spicy sesame oil-based sauce, this Spicy Bean Sprout Salad provides extra punch and kick to your meal. It’s fantastic with rice bowls or noodles. I also have a non-spicy version recipe.

14. Miso Butter Mushrooms in Foil

In this simple recipe, we use foil yaki (or hoiru yaki), a popular Japanese home cooking method, to cook a medley of mushrooms with a savory, garlicky, and buttery sauce.

15. Simmered Kabocha Squash 

When kabocha is in season, this recipe is one you’ll want to enjoy regularly. Here, kabocha squash is simmered in savory dashi broth seasoned with soy sauce and sake to absorb all the delicious flavors. It’s chock-full of nutrients and absolutely comforting!

16. Kani Salad

Cooling cucumber, sweet corn, imitation crab, and lettuce in a creamy Japanese mayo and ponzu dressing—what’s not to love? Thanks to its complementing flavors, this Kani Salad not only goes well with Japanese or Asian meals but is also delicious with a Western-style meal.

17. All-Purpose Miso Meat Sauce

This savory-sweet ground meat side dish is seasoned with fermented soybean paste, mirin, and aromatics. It is an easy way to add protein to a meal and can be prepped ahead, so we love it as a meal-prep side dish.

We hope you and your family enjoy these Japanese side dishes! 

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