While different regions around Japan are famous for various local specialties, there aren’t many dishes that Tokyo can truly call its own—except for the grilled batter dish called monjayaki, which looks more like something you might spot in a gutter in Shinjuku on a Saturday night.

Featuring the same basic ingredients as okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes), monjayaki also includes dashi (soup stock), which gives it its amorphous blob shape. But don’t let its unappetizing appearance fool you: with tons of varieties like mochi mentaiko, mapo tofu and broccoli cheese risotto, it’s much more delicious than it looks!

Visit Tokyo Girls' Update for the rest of the list—including shirasu, the icky-looking (but tasty!) fish at the top of the page!