Japanese cooking is all about doing simple things really well, and that’s exactly what these recipes are about. From thick, juicy tonkatsu with a crispy panko crust to the konbini style sandos that make every trip to Japan memorable, these are the Japanese dishes I keep coming back to at home.

You’ll find crispy katsu and fried favorites, comforting rice bowls, noodle dishes and the kind of easy, satisfying meals that taste like a little Tokyo corner shop. Every recipe walks you through the techniques that matter most, like how to keep your breading from falling off and how to make sauces from scratch that beat anything from a bottle.