Furikake is a pre-made seasoning blend with ingredients ranging from seaweed to salmon. You can use them just about anywhere—pasta, rice, noodles, you name it. It's a handy way to enjoy Japanese flavors no matter where you are! Come mealtimes, we Filipinos are notorious for our ever-ready supply of condiments.
Whether it's to add a tangy kick or a little saltiness to enhance the taste, you can be sure no meal is complete without it. In this article, we'll guide you through the varieties of furikake seasoning and a list of the best furikake available online. To know more about how to choose a furikake seasoning, don't miss out on our buying guide—fact-checked by nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales!
Quick List - Top Furikake Seasonings
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Furikake seasonings aren’t one-size-fits-all. It is not as uniform as say, salt, and pepper. What’s great about them is that you could select the contents of your seasoning depending on your preference!
Of all the elements in Japanese seasonings, nori is probably one that is the most recognized. It is made of dried seaweed, which lends a rather briny and umami flavor to your dish. Some variations also include bonito flakes and sesame seeds, which is what usually comes to mind when referring to furikake seasoning.
It is compatible with most dishes, as it does not have an overpowering taste, making it an all-purpose seasoning as you can use it from rice to pasta dishes!
If you’re not sure about where to start with furikake seasonings, then you can’t go wrong with nori or its other variations of noritama, which includes powdered egg if you want a bit more oomph.
For the truly adventurous foodie at heart, try the wasabi furikake. Its prominent ingredient is dried wasabi or horseradish and it provides a satisfying kick to your taste buds.
Its spice is different than that of chili peppers as it is rather fleeting. And it does not linger on the tongue but rather, releases through your nose.
This makes for a great condiment in clearing up your sinuses. Why not add it to broth when you have a cold or pair it with fish to cut through the lansa.
If you want to add a richer flavor to your dishes, then try going for salmon furikake. It consists of dried flakes of salmon along with dried seaweed or wakame.
This results in a deeper and more umami taste, great for dishes that require a little more boost. Just be mindful of how much you put in, you wouldn’t want it to become too tasty.
Made from dried roe or the egg masses of codfish or Pollack and dried green tea powder, tarako furikake is an excellent accompaniment to plain rice.
But, if you want to really take things to the next level, you could use tarako furikake on pasta! The seasoning provides a rather salty and slightly fishy flavor to brighten up your pasta or even enhance your sushi bake!
For those who want a more prominent meat flavor, then you might want to try yakiniku furikake. Yakiniku means grilled meat or simply put, barbecue.
It is great for pairing with meat dishes, especially if you don’t have a lot of beef at home as it can enhance the taste. There are even chicken variations of this type for those who want a lighter flavor.
This type of seasoning is ideal for pairing with rich and heavy dishes. Made from shiso or perilla leaves, its taste bears resemblance to mint leaves, which can offset the linamnam of your ulam. It can also be paired with onigiri as shiso is often used to cover its outer part.
On the other hand, umeboshi is made from plum, which is noted for its acidic and tart taste. Together, with shisho, both are great ingredients to balance out any heavy dish.
Tasty as these seasonings maybe, some but not all, are notorious for containing MSG, which is not beneficial in large servings. It is also the reason why these are so irresistible!
Do take note of the serving size of these seasonings, which is about 30 calories per 9 grams. And resist the urge to serve them by the spoonful onto your plate.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marumiya Noritama Furikake | ![]() | Great Flavor and Well-Balanced Taste | |
2 | Hagoromo Katsuo Furikake | ![]() | Furikake Seasoning That's Easy on Your Taste Buds | |
3 | Marumiya Salmon Furikake Rice Seasoning | ![]() | An Instant, Tender, and Flaky Salmon Fix | |
4 | Mishima Katsuo Wasabi Furikake | ![]() | Add Zing to Your Meals With Wasabi | |
5 | Nagatanien Furikake Sushi Bake Kids | ![]() | A Furikake Perfect for Young Picky Eaters | |
6 | Nagatanien Tarako Furikake Rice Seasoning | ![]() | Enjoy the Taste of the Seas With Roe and Seaweed | |
7 | Nichifuri Eel Flavor Unagi Kabayaki Furikake | ![]() | Level Up Plain Rice With Unagi's Umami Taste | |
8 | Tanaka Foods Japanese Rice Topping Furikake Umeboshi and Green Leaves | ![]() | Tangy and Tart Flavors to Balance Your Palate | |
9 | Nichifuri Yakiniku Sprinkle Flavor Furikake Rice Toppings | ![]() | Savor Barbecue At Home With a Few Dashes | |
10 | Oishi Delights Classic Chicken Furikake | ![]() | A Classic Chicken Seasoning to Easily Enhance Dishes |
Some days, you'll find yourself too tired to whip up a meal. Here to the rescue is Marumiya's Noritama Furikake! Add a burst of flavor to plain old rice or noodles by sprinkling this delicious seasoning. It's guaranteed to elevate the taste of any dish tenfold.
Marumiya is an industry leader in furikake seasoning, so it should come as no surprise that their products are delicious. This wildly popular variant is made from seaweed or nori and egg or tamago, hence the name "noritama."
The well-balanced combination of sweet and savory flavors is easily enjoyable for people of all ages. The mix of flavors complements each other excellently, making it a must-try seasoning and a great way to spice up a number of your usual home dinners!
When trying out new food, it's sometimes best to at least start with flavors you're not entirely unfamiliar with. This furikake is made from bonito, a fish coming from the tuna and mackerel family. It's packed with that wonderful umami flavor that we all know and love.
It also has a much richer flavor than nori furikake since bonito is naturally salty and savory. Thus, you can use it to turn a humble bowl of rice into a tasty meal with ease. However, note that too much might ruin the balance of flavor, so make sure to check out the suggested serving amount to enjoy it as best as possible!
Enjoy the classic taste of spicy salmon rolls and onigiris from the comfort of your own home with this Salmon and Nori furikake from Marumiya! This seasoning mix is made out of real dried salmon and nori bits, ensuring taste and quality in every bite.
Looking to add a bit of kick to your meals? Mishima's Katsuo Wasabi Furikake is a guaranteed must-try. This fish and wasabi seasoning deliver a delicious and delicate blend of salty, savory, spicy, and umami. It's simply the perfect combination of heat and flavor!
This particular flavor can also be used for your baked sushi to balance all that linamnam which can sometimes be too rich and intense. Just sprinkle a dash of this amazing furikake on top, and you're all set! You can even add it to plain rice for those nights when you feel extra lazy to cook something up.
If you're like most parents, then you've probably had to deal with your children being picky eaters. Introduce your kids to new flavors and textures with this adorable and delicious furikake. It features beloved cartoon characters from the Sumikko Gurashi franchise. Other varieties include Snoopy, Detective Conan, and Pokémon.
Each pack contains four different flavors: egg, salmon, smoked tuna, and small fish bits. You can easily add variety and help open up your kid's palate by adding it to their meals. Rest assured that the familiar faces are perfect for getting the kids eating and eating right!
Tarako, or salted pollack roe, is a delicacy loved in many cultures across Asia. It's mildly salty and savory, capturing the taste of great seafood without the usual fishy aftertaste. With this furikake, you can enjoy the exquisite taste of tarako for cheap!
Did we mention that tarako also pairs excellently with liquor? That's right! Aside from the usual noodle and rice dishes, you can use it to spruce up bar snacks. It's perfect for serving to curious guests at a party or enjoying at home with an ice-cold brew in your hand!
Don’t let its name intimidate you, unagi simply means eel. It's a local Japanese delicacy enjoyed by many, especially when grilled! If you’re an adventurous foodie or just a curious buyer, Nichifuri’s Unagi Furikake will surely satisfy you.
Derived from eel extract and a smoky and savory sauce blend, this furikake is sure to resemble the flavor and consistency that unagi has. The rich umami taste is perfect for giving any rice dish an immediate upgrade. It's also a great tester if you aren't quite ready for the real thing just yet!
Furikake isn't only a way to add flavor to a dish—you can also use it to balance those heavy and intense dishes. Cut some of the sweet and the savory with some tartness and saltiness with this umeboshi and green leaf furikake!
This furikake is made with salt-cured toasted black sesame seeds, green nori flakes, dried salt-cured ume plum, and salt-cured shiso flakes. It's sure to add an interesting pop of flavor to your dishes. If you want to add depth of flavor and complexity to your dish, then this is undoubtedly the way to go.
Miss going out for a barbecue? Worry not, as Nichifuri's Yakiniku furikake is going to take your taste buds on a trip! Make up for postponed lakad with the robust, smoky, and mouth-watering flavor of this yakiniku furikake.
This versatile seasoning can be used for onigiris or rice balls, fried rice, noodles, and even grilled meat itself! It's perfect for sprucing up meals on a budget, as only a few pinches can turn them into a restaurant-quality spread. For ulam bursting with meaty flavor, this one's got you covered.
Chicken is one of the most versatile meats that anyone can eat. It makes perfect sense, therefore, that this Chicken Furikake from Oishi Delights is an all-rounder seasoning. Whether you buy it spicy or not, we guarantee that you'll enjoy it down to the last crumb!
It adds just the right amount of flavor to your dish, so rest assured that it won't overpower anything. It's also made from real chicken meat and premium seasonings. The cherry on top is that it comes in a sturdy plastic bottle, meaning you won't have to worry about storage if you don't finish it.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Furikake is a ready-made Japanese spice blend made of sesame seeds, dried seaweed, spices, bonito flakes, and an assortment of other ingredients. It was originally used as a solution to address calcium deficiency. Today, it's used primarily as a garnish or topping to noodle and rice dishes to lend them some texture, flavor, and color.
Furikake is easily available for cheap online on e-commerce sites such as Lazada and Shopee. There, you can get furikake seasonings from the best brands like Marumiya, Hagoromo, Mishima, and Nagatenien! What's more, is that they have endless variants you can choose from!
While furikake does last a while when stored correctly, it will eventually go bad. Left open, some varieties can spoil in as soon as a month, others longer. As a general rule of thumb, make sure to check your packet or bottle of furikake for its best-consumed-by and expiration date.
Good food doesn't always have to stop with furikake. Cooking at home, especially in these trying times, is both a skill and a fun hobby. To ensure that you're always ready to whip up a restaurant-quality meal or a snack, make sure to check out our other articles below.
Author: J. Cuizon
Re-editor: Joaquin Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Marumiya|Noritama Furikake
No. 2: Hagoromo|Katsuo Furikake
No. 3: Marumiya|Salmon Furikake Rice Seasoning
No. 4: Mishima|Katsuo Wasabi Furikake
No. 5: Nagatanien|Furikake Sushi Bake Kids
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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