Food names starting with “ne,” categorized by character count
Do you have any words that immediately come to mind that start with “ne”? In word games like crosswords or shiritori, words beginning with “ne” seem few and rather tricky.
Here, we’ll introduce a curated list limited specifically to food names that start with “ne.” They’re organized by character count, so you’re sure to find something useful for the right situation.
Some entries may even make you think, “I didn’t know that was a food name!” Add these to your knowledge and try using them in word games!
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4 letters (1–10)
Negiyaki (green onion pancake)
It’s a dish said to be the origin of okonomiyaki—popular mainly in the Kinki region—that uses green onions instead of cabbage.
Ground sesame paste (nerigoma)
Sesame that’s ground into a smooth paste is a seasoning whose appeal lies in the rich depth of flavor it adds when incorporated into sauces and dressings.
navel orange
It’s a type of orange that’s strongly associated with being imported from overseas, but it’s also produced domestically.
Its name comes from the “navel,” and it’s characterized by a dimple at the base.
5 characters (1–10)
cat rice
It is a general term for homemade dishes where ingredients are mixed into rice and eaten.
The ingredients used vary by region, and nowadays it is considered not good to feed it to cats.
Rat pufferfish
It is said to be one of the largest species among porcupinefish.
Unlike pufferfish, it is considered non-toxic, and in Okinawa it is fondly known as abasa.
prepared mustard (Japanese karashi mustard paste)
It’s mustard whose spiciness has been stabilized by making it into a paste with fats, oils, thickeners, and the like.
When people think of mustard, they often picture it in a tube, so most of the mustard used at home is probably this paste-type mustard.
6 characters (1–10)
nemagari-take (dwarf bamboo shoots / crooked bamboo)
It’s a type of bamboo shoot, also known as “hosodake,” that is popular in the San’in and Shin’etsu regions.
Its appeal lies in its thin, small size and crisp, crunchy texture.