Dining out in Japan: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Tokyo

TasJacks on 18/04/2023 - 11:17

This post's slightly different from the sightseeing posts. I'm after dining out recommendations while in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. I'm keen to know from OzB community places which are must-visits, themed cafes and also the ones which have set-course menus. Happy to pay $75pp if extra special.

For reference - I'll be visiting Shibuya Sky Rooftop bar, Pokemon Cafe, Ninja Cafe, Shiro-Hige Cafe (Ghibli themed), Rikuro Cheesecake, Starbucks Kyoto, Okomura Hiroshima, Kura Sushi, Shibuya gyoza.

Travel Asia Japan

Comments

  • payless69 on 18/04/2023 - 11:32
    +3

    3 x Fugu every day if your travel insurance covers it!

    • bobbified on 18/04/2023 - 14:03
      +4

      …if your travel insurance covers it!

      Yes, every policy I've seen covers the cost of bringing the insured's body back to Australia! 😋

      • FloatingPoint on 18/04/2023 - 16:07
        +1

        No rushing back to Australia when your insurer will also pay for an "insider tour" at local crematorium.

  • ForkSnorter on 18/04/2023 - 11:34
    +3

    Honestly, the quality of food in Japan is so good, I just pick anywhere that looks decent. Even places that don't look decent are often surprisingly good.

    I remember a few years ago I paid $90/night to stay in an onset resort/hotel, and it was only $25 extra for a 5-course meal that consisted largely of fresh seafood.

    • soan papdi on 18/04/2023 - 11:58

      I remember a few years ago I paid $90/night to stay in an onset resort/hotel, and it was only $25 extra for a 5-course meal that consisted largely of fresh seafood.

      If this is in Tokyo, can you share the name please?

    • Wiede on 18/04/2023 - 14:00
      +10

      Even their 7-11 is better than a lot of our japanese restaurant

      • mrtin on 18/04/2023 - 15:53

        The fried chicken yumyum

        • jollibot on 19/04/2023 - 14:45

          Famichiki with a roll, from FamilyMart, is the way to go!

  • Archi on 18/04/2023 - 11:55
    +1

    zauo fishing restaurant

    catch your own dinner.

    • jv on 18/04/2023 - 14:02
      -1

      catch your own dinner.

      Can you order wagyu there?

      • Archi on 18/04/2023 - 14:06

        dont know, did you read the menu.

        • jv on 18/04/2023 - 14:08

          I can't read Japanese.

          • Archi on 18/04/2023 - 14:08
            +1

            @jv: well i guess that's a maybe then

          • jollibot on 19/04/2023 - 14:47

            @jv: Don't know how to use Google Translate?

            • jv on 19/04/2023 - 14:55

              @jollibot: I use Bing

              • jollibot on 21/04/2023 - 11:07

                @jv: Sounds like a skill issue to me, then.

    • DeepPocketsShortArms on 24/04/2023 - 21:06

      I took my 6 year old son to the Shibuya one. He loved it. Great fun for everyone, except the fish.

  • bmxr on 18/04/2023 - 12:06
    +6

    Just try any old hole in the wall that looks popular with the locals! Literally every street in every city you will visit will be lined with restaurants, such is the density of the cities that supports this level of activity (with the exception of the outer parts of Kyoto, it may only be every second street lined with restaurants).

    If you really want something special in Osaka, Tempura at Ippoh Honten is a must. We were there 4 years ago and still reminisce about it almost weekly.
    It's $130/pp for lunch and $250+pp for dinner, but worth every tempura battered cent! Which is reasonable when considered against high-end restaurants in Australia.

    https://myconciergejapan.com/famous-tempura-restaurant-in-os…

    • donbot on 18/04/2023 - 13:21
      +1

      This. We went to this place and had a counter seat - it was bloody brilliant!

      Also, just seek out to eat fresh wasabi. In Hiroshima, we went to a highly rated place and had the chefs menu.. I cant recall what it was called, but I would genuinely reminisce about the course of rice bowl with freshly grated wasabi through it multiple times a week - and this trip was Sept 2019.

      God it was sooo bloody good.

      • bmxr on 18/04/2023 - 18:38

        100000% counter seat at Ippoh Honten.

        It is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good.

        • FSTB on 18/04/2023 - 21:22

          How can I book a counter seat? Can I just turn up?

          • bmxr on 19/04/2023 - 17:25

            @FSTB: We asked our hotel to book for us and get a counter seat. I don't think it's a restaurant you can just turn up to.

    • bobbified on 18/04/2023 - 14:05
      +1

      Just try any old hole in the wall…

      hmmm.. what if it's in a toilet cubicle?

      • JimB on 18/04/2023 - 16:14
        +2

        That shit was tasty!

        • bobbified on 18/04/2023 - 17:24
          +1

          lol! It wasn't too salty?

          • JimB on 18/04/2023 - 23:52
            +1

            @bobbified: It was perfect.

            Props to the ‘chef’.

  • raytriplej on 18/04/2023 - 12:17

    Kura sushi train was great fun. It is a multi franchise restaurant and I found them a little tricky to locate, but our kids and us had a great meal and it was cheap. There are a couple of youtube videos showing it.

    There is one near shibuya crossing, up an elevator in a bland looking building and 3rd floor from memory. not very well signed but worth the search

    • quietsarcasm on 18/04/2023 - 12:38

      Of all the 100 yen sushi places I found Sushiro to be the best overall in terms of quality.

      With kids Kura is fun because you get the chance to win a toy after every 5 plates but otherwise I'd give it a miss.

      At the very least, avoid Kappa Sushi like the plague.

    • Yola on 18/04/2023 - 18:08

      Plus 1 for Kura sushi. Went 3 times in different cities during a 2 week trip to Japan. Returned 1 week ago. Very cheap but also tasty and fresh.

  • raytriplej on 18/04/2023 - 12:25

    Also try and book far enough ahead to get Shibuya Sky at sunset, simply amazing

  • Fergy1987 on 18/04/2023 - 13:15

    As someone who doesnt eat seafood…….Would I be doomed to travel to Japan?

    • Archi on 18/04/2023 - 13:21
      +3

      Yakitori
      Udon
      ramen
      kurobuta pork katsu
      A5 wagyu beef
      hokkaido milk and cream
      vegetable tempura
      somen
      soba

      the list of non seafood famous dishes are endless

    • Yola on 18/04/2023 - 18:09

      Kura sushi had meats on rice and ramen.

  • jv on 18/04/2023 - 13:22

    I'd just go for the sushi.

    • Archi on 18/04/2023 - 13:24
      +1

      sushi is probably the last thing on my mind when it comes to japanese food.

      • jv on 18/04/2023 - 13:59

        Don't go on Family Feud then…

    • FSTB on 18/04/2023 - 13:26

      Don't expect to find chicken avocado roll

  • Pungentia on 18/04/2023 - 13:44

    We love a cheapo meal from the combine (7/11, Lawsons etc) - in particular, setting a budget and buying random awesome things: Sushi, Schnitzel sandwiches, strawberry sandwiches etc.

    EkiBen - if you are catching a Shinkansen, indulge in an ekiben bento box from the station to eat whilst on the train.. yum!

    Also would recommend Peak of Joy experience at the Park Hyatt for a little Lost in Translation type moment with awesome views and good drinks. Cheaper than going to the restaurant/grill but enjoyable.

    • Yola on 18/04/2023 - 18:10
      +1

      Don't forget the egg sandwiches. Chicken schnitzel is better than pork. IMO.

      • DeepPocketsShortArms on 24/04/2023 - 21:19
        +1

        The egg sandwiches are amazing

        • Yola on 26/04/2023 - 06:56

          Yes, I think they are the best of the lot. Does anyone have a recipe for making one? I know Youtube surely does but want a tested one.

  • Godric on 18/04/2023 - 13:58

    The KFC's are fantastic in Japan

    • jv on 18/04/2023 - 14:00
      -1

      Raw chicken?

      • Godric on 18/04/2023 - 14:03

        KFC not Red Rooster :P

  • sss333 on 18/04/2023 - 14:34

    themed cafe

    Kirby cafe

  • sumyungguy on 18/04/2023 - 14:36

    Visit the top-rated ramen joint in each place you stay (like Honke Daiichi Asahi in Kyoto); enjoy a Shake Shack fix

  • Elision on 18/04/2023 - 15:15
    +2

    My friend is currently in Tokyo, he has been to the Pokémon cafe and just went to the Kirby cafe, he said the experience of Pokémon was fun but the food at the Kirby cafe was much better.

    For restaurants, I recommend using Tabelog and not just google review etc, as Tabelog is used by Japanese people and thus you are likely to find the more authentic and less overrated touristy places.

    https://s.tabelog.com/en/

    Highly highly recommend Gyūkatsu Motomura in Tokyo. There’s many branches but it’s delicious beef katsu cooked over a hot stone, very well priced for the quality of beef. We went three times in our last trip.

    May also be worth watching the YouTube videos set in Japan from Mark Wiens and Simply Dumpling, they tend do find a lot of gems.

  • Clear on 18/04/2023 - 15:24

    If you don't mind spending the big bucks, Kobe Beef Steak Ken in Osaka is recommending for trying high grade kobe beef and quite the experience with the chefs. They'll even give you the cow's birth certificate.

    • Archi on 18/04/2023 - 15:55
      +1

      if you like that kind of stuff
      kagoshima wagyu beef is excellent,

      a few years ago i had the privilege of doing a wagyu tasting in japan, across many types of wagyu,

      and the kagoshima wagyu was absolutely dvine.

      • Clear on 18/04/2023 - 15:59

        I skipped the low grade cheap food stalls in Dotonbori and went straight for the best.

        I had Kagoshima wagyu recently and will be travelling near Kagoshima later in the year. I'm definitely going to be getting some.

      • Elision on 18/04/2023 - 17:09
        +1

        Yep, i've heard that Japanese find Kobe beef overrated and don't even consider it the best Wagyu, it's just the most known by tourists.

    • mrtin on 19/04/2023 - 14:54

      If you have access to a stove google some butchers and cook yourself. Try a few different cuts, different grades etc. Fun and delicious and cheaper.

  • gabbasan on 18/04/2023 - 15:53
    +1

    Enjoy the abroadinjapan youtube channel, here's his website. Check out the food section plenty of videos in there to browse through. https://www.abroadinjapan.com/

  • Duckie2hh on 18/04/2023 - 16:10
    -3

    Will you be taking anti-radiation tablets?

  • jjjaar on 18/04/2023 - 17:02
    +1

    Okonomiyaki in Osaka and Hiroshima. Two different styles, both delicious.

  • Mechz on 18/04/2023 - 17:27
    -1

    Nobu and Family Mart. The only 2 places you need to go really.

  • Yola on 18/04/2023 - 18:16

    Enjoyed Katsukura. It's a chain but I went to one in Tokyo Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store Shop. Although specializing in Pork cutlet I had chicken and others agreed it was better.
    https://www.katsukura.jp/en/#here

  • rambutann on 18/04/2023 - 22:20

    OKO - Fun Okonomiyaki Bar

    Best Okonomiyaki in Osaka. Probably try it during an off time (e.g. 2pm-5pm)

  • stan86 on 18/04/2023 - 22:51

    Ichiran Ramen and Gyukatsu Motomura

  • josh909 on 19/04/2023 - 09:17
    +1

    I was in Osaka about a month ago and visited Toyo Izakaya as seen on the Netflix series. Lovely, friendly guy and delicious cheap no frills food.

    Also if you’re visiting Tsukuji Outer Fish Markets in Tokyo and just want some delicious and very reasonably priced food that you don’t have to line up for and isn’t overrun by Instagrammers, I recommend Tsukuji Donburi Ichiban. Try the unagi - it was so good.

  • DeepPocketsShortArms on 24/04/2023 - 21:17
    +1

    Marugame seimen- great Udon noodle chain, cheap but awesome.
    Ippudo-ramen.
    Family mart fried chicken
    Family mart steamed pork bun
    Torikizoku- yakitori restaurant, everything is around 300 yen. Unlimited refills of cabbage. Large beer also 300yen.

    I spend a lot of time in Japan and these are my staples. I'm pretty basic.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join