A whole new way to enjoy your favorite Italian foods—inspired by the flavors of Japan
Wafu Italian is one of the latest food trends that’s sweeping the nation. And if you haven’t heard of it yet, trust us—you will soon.
So, what’s it all about? “Wafu” is a Japanese word meaning “Japanese-style,” and Wafu Italian is a kind of restaurant cooking popularized by chefs in Japan who reimagine Italian dishes through a Japanese lens. They use Japanese cooking techniques and ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, ponzu, mirin and miso to add flavor, umami and mouthwatering appeal to traditional Italian dishes.
The goal of Wafu Italian is to seamlessly blend flavors and ideas so that you simply can’t tell if the dish is Italian or Japanese — it’s truly the best of both worlds.
These days, American chefs like Robbie Felice of PastaRamen in New Jersey are spreading the word about the wonders of Wafu, and Japanese-Italian dishes are showing up on restaurant menus across America.
But the trend isn’t just for chefs. It’s easy to enjoy at home—especially with a little help from Kikkoman. We’ve put together a collection of easy Wafu Italian recipes to get you started and inspire your next meal.
Give any of them a try and you’ll discover this delicious umami secret: Used in just the right proportions, ingredients like Kikkoman® Soy Sauce, Less Sodium Soy Sauce, Sriracha and Rice Vinegar can make Italian food way more delizioso.
Ready to Wafu your way? Here’s a preview of a few of the recipes in our new collection:
