When it comes to a typical Japanese meal in a traditional Japanese restaurant, the first half hour or even an hour of the meal starts with beer or popular Japanese alcoholic drinks like shochu. And those drinks don’t come alone, but with delicious and flavorful small snacks, commonly referred to as Otsumami. In general, Japanese snacks are known for their variety, flavor, and also convenience, and Otsumami are no exception.

The name Otsumami is derived from the verb “tsumamu”, which means “to grab”, and this refers to the convenience factor that Japanese bar snacks are widely known for. Though Sakana happens to be the traditional name used for bar snacks, Otsumami is the more popular name outside of Japan.

For those of you still a bit confused, let’s just say Otsumami are more like Japanese tapas, small plates of food or snacks that go well with alcoholic drinks. Most izakaya restaurants and bars, not just in Japan but also around the world, offer a wide variety of Otsumami with unique flavors. What’s interesting about these snacks is that, in addition to being a nice accompaniment to drinks, these snacks are also known to slow down the rate of absorption of alcohol into your blood, thus preventing you from getting sick.

Visit any izakaya restaurant and you are most likely to find the following most common Otsumami:

• Nankotsu: This is made from chicken cartilage, from the leg or wing, and is an easy to eat Japanese bar snack. Nankotsu is a well-seasoned, floured and deep-fried goodness that pairs amazingly well with any Japanese drink.
• Tsukemono: Simply known as pickles, tsukemono is made from vegetables, and the most commonly used ones are eggplant, white radish, and cucumber.
• Edamame: If you love beer, then this is the best Otsumami combination you can have in any izakaya. This is essentially boiled and salted soybean pods, served in the pods, requiring you to take the beans out for consuming.
• Eihire: This must-try Japanese bar snack is made from the fins of stingrays, which are dried and roasted. This Otsumami is typically eaten with shichimi – a Japanese spice mixture, mayonnaise, or some soy sauce.

In addition to these common Otsumami types, there are also other snacks that come packaged and available in all Japanese stores and markets. These include:

• Ika Ten – Squid tempura
• Roasted green peas, spicy or salted
• Nori Ten – Seaweed tempura
• Saki Ika – Dried spicy squid
• Ika Kun – Dried seasoned calamari rings

The varieties of delicious Otsumami you can find in Japanese izakaya restaurants is almost endless. Each of those snacks come uniquely prepared and flavored, which will certainly get you to order more. If you try Otsumami in Japan, the menu will vary based on the region, giving you even more options to choose from.