Sushi's success in France and what it hides
Sushi is everywhere in France, but in Japan it is often an occasional meal, not an everyday dish.
Guide · Hot dishes
What to eat at a Japanese restaurant without raw fish? A guide to hot, cooked dishes
Think Japanese food isn't for you because you don't eat raw fish? In Japan, everyday food is mostly steaming bowls. Here's what to order.
11 min read
In short
The essentials
You can eat at a Japanese restaurant without ever touching raw fish: Japanese cuisine is above all broths, noodles and rice served hot. Ramen is the most complete example. In Marseille, the Iwao ramen-ya on rue Sainte serves five signature ramens, a kids' ramen and Japanese rice bowls, all served hot.
The myth
Japanese doesn't mean raw
"Japanese = sushi = raw fish" keeps many people away: pregnant women, parents of young children, people who dislike the texture.
Yet Japanese cuisine is first a cuisine of simmering broths, noodles and hot rice.
Where it comes from
Why do we link Japanese food with raw fish?
Sushi became the showcase of a whole cuisine. Torn between the two? Read ramen or sushi: which to choose.
What Japanese people really eat every day
Hot rice, soups, noodles in broth, simmered dishes: everyday Japanese food is mostly cooked and warm.
Who
Who avoids raw fish, and why?
Many reasons, all legitimate.
01 During pregnancy
General guidance often advises avoiding raw seafood. This is not medical advice: ask your doctor or midwife.
02 With young children
Noodles in a hot broth or a rice bowl are often their first Japanese favourites.
03 Taste or texture
Some people simply don't like raw fish, and that's fine.
04 Vegetarian diets
Japanese cuisine also has meat-free broths and bowls.
General knowledge
The main families of cooked Japanese dishes
Three landmarks to read any Japanese menu.
Noodle soups
Ramen, udon, soba: noodles usually served in a hot broth.
Rice bowls (donburi)
A big bowl of hot rice topped with a cooked topping and sauce.
Other common cooked dishes
Pan-fried dumplings, grilled skewers, simmered dishes, Japanese curry: every menu differs.
For the full comparison, read ramen, udon, soba: the differences.
The obvious choice
Ramen, the Japanese "no-raw" dish
A broth simmered for hours
A real ramen broth simmers for hours. At Iwao, broths are made in-house, on site.
Everything served hot
Cooked noodles, hot broth, hot toppings: a complete, reassuring meal.
What about seafood?
The asari ramen example
In asari ramen, the clams are served cooked in the broth.
See the asari ramen page or our guide asari clam ramen.
The menu
Choosing a bowl when you avoid raw food: Iwao's menu
Five signature ramens, all served hot. The menu has the exact details.
01 Shoyu
Shoyu means soy sauce: the classic, ideal for a first time.
▸ See the page Shoyu02 Miso
A rounder broth built on fermented soybean paste.
▸ See the page Miso03 Yasai Miso
Yasai means vegetables: the vegetarian option.
▸ See the page Yasai Miso04 Asari
Clams served cooked in the broth.
▸ See the page Asari05 Tantanmen
The spicy bowl of the menu.
▸ See the page Tantanmen
Go further with how to choose your ramen, or see the menu.
Good habits
Asking the right questions at the restaurant
Ingredients, allergy, pregnancy
Simply mention your situation before ordering and follow your health professional’s advice.
The open kitchen
At Iwao the kitchen is open: you see your bowl being cooked.
Learn more about the open kitchen.
Beside the bowl
What to drink?
During pregnancy, choose an alcohol-free drink. Otherwise, Iwao offers a selection of sakes.
Read which sake to drink with ramen? or see our sakes. Drink responsibly.
Summary
A Japanese meal served hot
Avoiding raw fish closes no doors. In Marseille, Iwao is a ramen-ya on rue Sainte where everything is served hot, with a Tokyo-alley décor, a manga library and arcade machines.
Want to try? Book a table.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can you eat at a Japanese restaurant without eating anything raw?
Yes: noodle soups, rice bowls and many cooked dishes. Ask staff if in doubt.
Does ramen contain raw fish?
No. Ramen is a hot dish: simmered broth, cooked noodles, hot toppings.
Is ramen suitable for a child?
Often yes. Iwao offers a kids' ramen; avoid spicy bowls.
Is there a meat-free ramen?
Yes, the Yasai Miso is the vegetarian option at Iwao.
Are the asari ramen clams cooked?
Yes, they are served cooked in the hot broth.
Where to eat Japanese food without sushi in Marseille?
Iwao, a ramen-ya on rue Sainte (1st arrondissement): five signature ramens, a kids' ramen and rice bowls, all served hot.
Explore
Read and taste more
Keep exploring hot Japanese dishes.
Go further
The whole house at a glance
To discover Iwao, your restaurant japonais marseille, visit our dedicated page.
Stage clear — table booked
A hot bowl awaits
Ramen, rice bowls, house-made broths: everything is served hot. Book your table at Iwao.
Continue → book your table
Or by phone: +33 4 91 54 08 27