#Japan #Tokyo #Food Trends #Japanese Cuisine #Cookpad

Cookpad's Food Trend Awards 2025

On November 26, 2025, Cookpad Inc. hosted an event at their headquarters in Ikebukuro, where they announced the winners of the "Food Trend Awards 2025" along with predictions for the food trends in 2026. This year’s awards celebrated the most significant cooking trends that will shape Japanese culinary experiences.

The Award-Winning Food Trend

The prestigious title for the Food Trend Awards 2025 went to "One-Piece Steamer (ワンプレートせいろ)". Traditionally viewed as special cooking equipment for steam dumplings, the steamer has evolved throughout the year to symbolize healthy, everyday meals. This new perception allows for the preparation of various dishes including main courses and sides all within the steamer, enabling both cooking and serving in one elegant dish.

The concept has led to a significant rise in dishes being shared on social media under the hashtag #せいろ飯, emphasizing its growing popularity. Following closely behind, the second and third places were awarded to "Spicy Noodle Soup (麻辣湯)" and "Food Stretching Recipes (かさまし料理)" respectively. Other notable mentions included "Custom Tea", "Home Tacos", "Chewy Doughnuts", and "Quick Freezing Cooking".

Predictions for Food Trends 2026

In addition to the awards, Cookpad also shared their predictions for the upcoming year's culinary landscape. They anticipate that the trends of 2026 will be characterized by excitement and variety, featuring items such as "One Soup Three Dishes Bowl (一汁三菜ボウル)", "Biryani", "Fusion Herbal Medicine Cuisine (フュージョン薬膳)", "Non-Cooked Soup (煮込まないスープ)", "Water Spinach (空心菜)", "Sago", and "Seaweed". These predictions promise to enhance dining experiences significantly.

The Thrilling Tasting Event

Following the announcement, guests were treated to a tasting event where they could sample dishes recognized in the awards and the forecast. Attendees enjoyed dishes such as "Stretching Fried Rice (チャーハン)", "Chewy Doughnuts", and "Custom Tea" from the winners, and "Fusion Herbal Medicine Cuisine", "Non-Cooked Soup", and "Sago" from the upcoming trends.

The atmosphere was electric with enthusiasm as culinary critics and media representatives captured the essence of these dishes through photographs. Many of the recipes featured at the tasting event can be found on Cookpad, giving participants and viewers the opportunity to recreate them at home.

Understanding the Trends

The "Food Trend Awards" aim to highlight the most significant culinary trends of the year, while the "Food Trend Predictions" provide insight into ingredients and dishes expected to rise in popularity the following year. Initiated in 2017, this marks the ninth year of this annual showcase. The insights are drawn from Cookpad’s extensive data analytics from their recipe service, media reports, and public interest in various topics.

About Cookpad

Founded in 1997, Cookpad Inc. operates a popular recipe-sharing and search service across 67 countries and regions. With its mission of making everyday cooking enjoyable, Cookpad continues to provide services like AI coaching for cooking via their platform "moment" and online fresh produce marketplace "Cookpad Mart." Their commitment emphasizes not just culinary innovation but also a brighter, sustainable future for individuals and society as a whole.

For more information, visit Cookpad Official Website.