Japanese restaurants in Japan
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A
Yosso
People have been coming to eat variations on the chawanmushi teishoku (Japanese egg custard set meal, with soboro – chopped meat and julienned egg over rice) since 1866. Look for the traditional shopfront festooned with red lanterns.
reviewed
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B
Ume no Hana
This is part of an upscale chain that serves a variety of tofu-based dishes. The elevator is on the southeast side of the building (entry from the street – look for the sign reading 'OPA Restaurant & Cafe').
reviewed
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C
Yabuya Honten
A much-loved soba (buckwheat noodles) specialist, Yabuya Honten has been around since 1847 - more than enough time to perfect its craft. The kamo-zaru soba variation, served with duck, is terrific.
reviewed
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D
Aji Tasuke
Try gyūtan cooked over charcoal, or the set menu (teishoku) featuring the famous dish accompanied by oxtail soup and rice with boiled barley. It's right next to the small torii shrine gate.
reviewed
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Ebi-kani Gassen
Most people come here for crab, one of Hokkaidō's best-known specialities, but the restaurant serves other items as well. Try to sit by a window if you get the chance, to enjoy the view.
reviewed
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Ryōuntei
Not far from the new Goryōkaku tower, this place has fresh seafood and a choice of counter or tatami seating. No English, but a picture menu makes ordering a straightforward affair.
reviewed
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E
Kagetsu
A shippoku restaurant that dates back to 1642 when it was a high-class brothel; today it's a rabbit warren of private and pricy dining rooms and tiny gardens.
reviewed
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Soup Curry Kōbō Hirihiri-dō
On the opposite end of the scale to the upmarket offerings of other restaurants, this casual but clean place has fiery curry soup, in a variety of spices and options.
reviewed
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F
Tonkatsu Ganko
This tonkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork cutlet) specialist in the Higashi-muki arcade is around the corner from Kintetsu Nara and has an English menu.
reviewed
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G
Wakana Honten
Come early to avoid the wait at this popular eatery specialising in miso-oden (around ¥650), sashimi and black pork that you cook at your table.
reviewed
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Nishi Hatoba Restaurants
A new, fairly trendy place to dine is Nishi Hatoba waterfront district, which has a variety of eateries in converted warehouses and English-style buildings.
reviewed
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Umai Sushikan
This popular restaurant, spotlessly clean and featuring lots of natural wood and friendly smiles, is known for the freshness of its dishes.
reviewed
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Yamamotoya-Sōhonke
Since 1925 Yamamotoya has been dishing out miso-nikomi udon. The branch near Sakae is open good and late.
reviewed
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H
Gorosaya
Elegant, understated ambience and fantastic seafood. Try the simmered fish, usually a whole red snapper (kinmedai) in a delicate, sweet and salty broth. The Isōjiru soup is made from over a dozen varieties of shellfish and looks like a tide pool in a bowl. Look for the wooden fish decorating the entrance and come early for lunch.
reviewed
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I
Umami Tasuke
Serves excellent gyūtan in salted (shioyaki) and fatty variants.
reviewed
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Oyaki Kōbō
Oyaki (filled wheat buns) with tasty flavours like pumpkin, mushroom and eggplant.
reviewed
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J
Amu Plaza
Beside JR Nagasaki station Amu Plaza has a surprisingly varied restaurant arcade.
reviewed
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Kagota
Serving mainly local specialities of Aizu Wakamatsu.
reviewed
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Sugitaya
Walk straight out of the station for 400m to this spot under a sign reading 'Tachibana'. Try the generous speciality, toriten (¥800) and dangojiru teishoku for ¥1200. Set meals are great value.
reviewed
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Shinanoya
A few minutes from the station's west exit and dating back to 1926, this kindly kissaten also serves a renowned dango-jiru loaded with veggies and best enjoyed while viewing the piney garden. It's the traditional building just before Family Mart.
reviewed
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Sanzoku-Tabiji
Cute shop known for dangojiru (miso soup with thick-cut noodles) and takana ryōri (dishes using mustard greens). It's on Hwy 57, opposite the Villa Park Hotel, 10 minutes' walk from JR Aso Station.
reviewed
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K
Ogura Honten
Chicken nanban was invented here half a century ago, and crowds continue to flock to Ogura's red and white awning in the alley behind Yamakataya department store. For shorter queues, try the larger, kitsch-filled crosstown branch
reviewed
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L
Nikumaki Honpō
Corner stand that invented nikumaki onigiri.
reviewed
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Nikōdōshiten
At Naikū there are plenty of good restaurants in the Okage-yokochō Arcade, just outside the shrine (to find this place, look to your left as you cross Uji-bashi bridge to enter the shrine). In the arcade, Nikōdōshiten is a good place to try some of the local dishes in a rough, roadhouse atmosphere. Ise-udon (thick noodles in a dark broth; small/large bowl ¥450/600) is the speciality. For a bigger meal, try the ume-chiri gohan setto (ise-udon with rice and side dishes; ¥800). The restaurant is 100m up from the southern (shrine) end of the arcade, on the right. There is no English sign; Ichishina, the shop just before it, has an English sign.
reviewed
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M
Naniwa
Next to Matsue-ōhashi bridge, this bright, wood-themed restaurant is a tranquil spot for unameshi (eel and rice; ¥2625). Courses featuring the local specialities start at ¥4200 for a Shinji-ko course.
reviewed