The Art of Food Samples in Japan
Plastic food displays: cute, realistic, and ridiculously helpful. Why don’t we have these everywhere?
Did you know one of Japan’s specialty crafts is food samples? In front of restaurants, there are glass cases displaying life-sized menu items made entirely out of plastic. In the U.S. or Europe, you can usually tell what ingredients are in a dish from the menu, but you have no idea what it actually looks like, right? But in Japan, you can see these food samples right outside, get a vibe for what the food will be like, and decide whether to go in. I think it’s super helpful and really kind.
My personal favorite kind of food samples are the ones designed with chopsticks or ladles lifting up noodles or soup—like they’ve got this sizzling energy and movement that’s just so fun!
If you go to Kappabashi (河童橋) in Asakusa, there are shops that sell food samples, and you can also find small ones like sushi or mini parfaits at souvenir shops—so definitely check them out if you’re curious!