3 Japanese Breakfasts with Grilled Salmon

Grilled salmon is one of the most popular breakfast foods in Japan. It’s simple, nourishing, and high in protein. In this post, I’ll share 3 Japanese breakfasts with grilled salmon that we actually eat!

Want more breakfast ideas? Check out 3 real Japanese breakfasts!

Meal Prep: The Key to Easy Mornings

To save time in the morning, I prepare a few things the day before:

Salmon:
Grilling takes time, so I cook salmon the night before. I grill enough for about 3 days at once. In Japan, salmon is usually sold in pre-cut portions, which makes it very convenient.
Rice:
Cooking rice takes the longest, so I always make it in advance and freeze it in portions. In the morning, I reheat it in the microwave. If you’d like to learn more, check out my guides on how to cook rice.
Quick Vegetable Side:
I like to have a simple vegetable side ready to make the meal feel complete. One of my go-to options is quick pickled daikon and carrot.

1. Simple Salmon Breakfast

The first one is very simple. Grilled salmon served over rice, with vegetable pickles on the side. It’s a simplified version of a traditional Japanese breakfast.

Rice
Grilled salmon
Tofu miso soup
Quick pickles

Watch how I prepare this breakfast.

2. Salmon Breakfast Bowl

For the second breakfast, I make a simple salmon rice bowl served with egg drop soup. Mixing the salmon with a little sesame oil helps keep it moist and adds extra flavor.

Salmon mixed rice
Egg drop soup
Quick pickles

3. Salmon Ochazuke

By day three, the salmon can start to dry out, so I turn it into a comforting bowl of ochazuke. To change things up, I mix natto with the pickles for a simple side dish.

Salmon ochazuke
Natto vegetable side

Watch How To Prepare

Want more simple meals like these? Take a look at my Vegetarian Cookbook, which includes 80+ easy Japanese vegetarian dishes with step-by-step photos. Click below!