Smoked, dried tuna is then shaved into very tiny flakes. Bonito flakes are used in many Japanese dishes including miso soup, noodle bowls, tofu plates, with natto, chahan, okonomiyaki, and salads. Very rich in flavor, these bonito flakes are also perfect as a simple topping on rice. When added to boiling water, they make a superior fish stock (dashi), that is the base for many Japanese dishes.