Japanese keto guide

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389 dishes155 keto as served129 with a photo

Keto friendliness

Requires careful menu selection and explicit modification requests to avoid significant carb traps.

Top ingredients

Sashimi, grilled fish/meat (yakitori without tare, shioyaki), edamame, seaweed salads, shabu-shabu, and certain vegetables are excellent keto options.

Danger zones

Avoid sushi rice, ramen noodles, tempura, gyoza, breaded items, and beware of hidden sugars in teriyaki, ponzu, mirin-based sauces, and certain miso soups.

Best for

Best for experienced keto dieters who prioritize high-protein meals and are adept at navigating hidden sugars and starch-based dishes.

What to drink

Drinks you will see at Japanese restaurants, cafés and stalls, rated the same way as the food.

Order these

KetoJapanese Green Tea ryokucha / sencha (緑茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
KetoBarley Tea mugicha (麦茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
KetoRoasted Green Tea hōjicha (ほうじ茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
KetoBrown Rice Tea genmaicha (玄米茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
KetoJasmine Tea sanpin-cha (さんぴん茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
KetoWhisked Matcha usucha (薄茶) · 1g net carbs as usually served
KetoKelp Tea kobucha (昆布茶) · 1g net carbs as usually served
Ask firstUnsweetened Soy Milk muchōsei tōnyū (無調整豆乳) · 4g net carbs as usually servedPick 'muchōsei' (無調整). 'Chōsei' (調製) soy milk is sweetened.
Ask firstJapanese Iced Coffee aisu kōhī (アイスコーヒー) · 8g net carbs as usually servedLeave the syrup. The small creamer cup is fine.

Skip these

SkipSweetened Canned Coffee kan kōhī (缶コーヒー) · 13g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order canned black coffee ('burakku', ブラック) instead.
SkipMarble Soda ramune (ラムネ) · 17g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order sparkling water ('tansan-sui') instead.
SkipRoyal Milk Tea roiyaru miruku tī (ロイヤルミルクティー) · 24g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order hot green tea instead.
SkipCultured Milk Soda nyūsankin inryō (乳酸菌飲料) · 30g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order barley tea instead.
SkipSweet Rice Drink amazake (甘酒) · 30g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order hot green tea instead.
SkipMelon Soda meron sōda (メロンソーダ) · 40g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order sparkling water ('tansan-sui') instead.