Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans. In Japan, it’s most commonly eaten for breakfast, usually served over a bowl of hot steamed rice.
At first glance, natto can look surprising. When you mix it, sticky white strings stretch between the beans, giving it a unique texture that many people notice right away. It’s usually seasoned with soy sauce or a small packet of savory sauce that comes inside the natto package, which gives it a rich, salty flavor.
So… is natto delicious?
For many Japanese people, the answer is yes. Natto is a very common breakfast food, and it’s even served at many hotel breakfast buffets across Japan. But interestingly, not everyone loves it. Some Japanese people don’t enjoy it, and many visitors to Japan are surprised by its strong smell. Because natto is a fermented food, it has a powerful and distinctive aroma that can take some getting used to.
Despite that, natto is considered a nutritional powerhouse in Japan. It’s packed with protein, full of probiotics from fermentation, and many people believe it helps support digestion and healthy gut bacteria. That’s one reason it has been a part of the Japanese diet for generations.
If you’re curious enough to try natto yourself, the first step is learning how to open the package and prepare it properly.
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Natto package
Natto is usually sold in packs of three, and a set typically costs around 100 yen. A seasoning and Japanese spicy mustard are already attached.
First tear off the plastic cover and add the seasoning and the mustard.
The most important point is mix it well. It’s about 100 times so it gets stickier and gooier. The sticky strings that appear when you mix natto make it even more delicious.
How to eat natto
Natto is most commonly eaten over a bowl of hot rice in Japan. The warm rice and sticky beans are a classic combination.
But natto is so healthy and packed with nutrients that you can enjoy it in many different ways. Some people mix it with eggs, green onions, or mustard.
One of my favorite ways to eat natto is on tofu. Since both tofu and natto are made from soybeans, the combination is simple, light, and incredibly healthy.
If you eventually decide to try real natto, you’ll quickly notice something interesting. In Japan, people almost always eat natto with chopsticks.
There’s actually a good reason for that.
Chopsticks make it much easier to mix natto properly. When you stir the beans, long sticky strings and a light foam appear, and many Japanese people believe this is when natto tastes the best.
Chopsticks also make it easier to pick up the sticky beans without making a mess. Using a spoon or fork just doesn’t work the same way.
If you want to experience natto the way people in Japan really eat it, a good pair of chopsticks makes a big difference. Traditional Japanese chopsticks are not only practical but also beautifully designed, and many sets come as elegant pairs that reflect Japanese culture.
Here’s another way to enjoy natto that might surprise you — put it on Japanese curry rice.
It may sound unusual at first, but it’s actually incredibly delicious. The spicy, rich curry becomes a little milder when you add natto, and the sticky beans mix perfectly with the warm rice and thick curry sauce.
Since Japanese curry is always served over hot rice, adding natto creates an amazing combination of flavors and textures.
Personally, whenever I make curry at home, I almost always add natto on top. It might sound strange, but once you try it, you might never go back!
If you’re feeling adventurous, this is definitely one combination worth trying.
If You’re Curious About Natto but Afraid to Try It
So… by now, natto might be starting to sound a little more interesting, right?
But maybe you’re still not quite ready to try it. The smell, the sticky texture, and the unusual look can make that first step a little intimidating.
Or maybe you don’t live in Japan and it’s not easy to find fresh natto where you are.
If that’s the case, there’s actually a great way to try the flavor of natto without the sticky texture.
If you’re curious about natto but not ready for the sticky version yet, this snack is a great place to start.
This freeze-dried natto snack is made in Japan using real natto. The beans are carefully freeze-dried, so you still get the flavor and nutrients of natto — but with a completely different texture.
Instead of sticky beans, you get a light, crispy, crunchy snack.
Here’s why people love it:
Made in Japan
Made from real natto, then freeze-dried
Seasoned with a rich soy sauce flavor
Crispy and not sticky at all
Easy to eat like a snack
Great with beer or as a high-protein snack
Each bag contains 3.3g of protein
You can snack on it anywhere without worrying about the smell
And the best part?
It’s seriously crunchy. Not sticky, not messy — just crunch, crunch.
I actually buy these pretty often. I love eating them with a cold beer, and my kids enjoy them as a snack while watching TV.
If you want to experience natto in the easiest way possible, this snack is definitely worth trying.
The fact that there’s even a natto snack says a lot about how deeply natto is connected to Japanese food culture. People in Japan love the flavor so much that they enjoy it in many different forms — even as a crunchy snack.
This natto snack isn’t just for eating straight from the bag, either. You can sprinkle it over pasta, add it to salads, or use it as a fun topping for different dishes.
And if you ever have the chance to visit Japan, I definitely recommend trying real natto at least once. It might surprise you!
And if you’re feeling adventurous… try it with Japanese curry. Trust me — it’s amazing.
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