Hondashi is a popular Japanese seasoning that is used to make dashi stock, a broth commonly used as a base for soups, stews, and other Japanese dishes. It is made from dried bonito flakes, which are flakes of dried, smoked, and fermented skipjack tuna. Hondashi is known for its strong umami flavor and is a convenient and easy-to-use substitute for traditional dashi, which can be time-consuming to prepare from scratch. It is commonly sold in granulated or powdered form and is a staple ingredient in Japanese cuisine.