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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Food & Drink

Sukiyaki

Sukiyaki is a Japanese hot pot dish prepared in a shallow pot at the table.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Sukiyaki is a Japanese hot pot dish cooked at the table, featuring thinly sliced beef, vegetables, and tofu in a sweet-savory soy sauce broth. It is widely available in Canadian Japanese restaurants and home kitchens.

What it is

Sukiyaki belongs to the nabemono (hot pot) tradition and is prepared communally in a shallow iron pot. The dish is known for its sweet-salty seasoning, typically made from soy sauce, sugar, and mirin, and for the custom of dipping cooked ingredients in raw beaten egg.

Key details

The main ingredients are thinly sliced beef, tofu, vegetables like leeks and mushrooms, and sometimes noodles. These are simmered briefly in the pot at the table, allowing diners to cook and serve themselves. The sauce’s sweet-savory balance defines the flavor.

Why it matters

In Japan, sukiyaki is especially associated with winter and year-end gatherings, reflecting a tradition of shared meals. In Canada, it is a common menu item in Japanese restaurants and easy to prepare at home, as key ingredients like sliced beef, tofu, and mirin are widely available in major grocery stores.

In short

  • Sukiyaki is a Japanese hot pot cooked in a shallow pot at the table.
  • It uses thinly sliced beef, vegetables, tofu, and a soy sauce–mirin broth.
  • Cooked pieces are often dipped in raw beaten egg before eating.
  • It is a popular winter dish in Japan and common in Canadian Japanese cuisine.
Canadian angle

Sukiyaki is widely recognized in Canadian Japanese restaurants and home cooking, and ingredients such as thinly sliced beef, tofu, mushrooms, and mirin are readily available in major Canadian grocery and Asian food retailers.

Quick questions

What is sukiyaki?
A Japanese hot pot dish cooked at the table, usually with thinly sliced beef, vegetables, tofu, and a soy sauce-based seasoning.
What does sukiyaki taste like?
It is typically sweet and savoury, because the sauce usually combines soy sauce, sugar, and mirin.
Is sukiyaki eaten with raw egg?
Often, yes. In many servings, the cooked ingredients are dipped into a small bowl of raw beaten egg before eating.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukiyaki
    Supports: Overview, ingredients, serving style, winter association, nabemono classification
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/sukiyaki
    Supports: Japanese cuisine context, beef and vegetables, table preparation
  3. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/sukiyaki
    Supports: Definition, table cooking, ingredients, raw egg, late 19th-century origin
  4. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sukiyaki
    Supports: Definition and core ingredients
  5. Food in Japan — https://www.foodinjapan.org/kansai/hyougo/sukiyaki/
    Supports: Nabemono description, ingredients, raw egg, etymology