Nagoya Food Guide: 10 Must-Try Restaurants & Specialties
Discover Nagoya's culinary secrets! From legendary hitsumabushi to hidden izakayas, explore 10 personal recommendations for authentic local flavors. Start your delicious journey!
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Discover Nagoya's culinary secrets! From legendary hitsumabushi to hidden izakayas, explore 10 personal recommendations for authentic local flavors. Start your delicious journey!
Nagoya, Japan 10 Must-Try Nagoya Restaurants (My Own Money, My Own Reviews) Nagoya Restaurants / Cafes / Izakayas |
Making your travels smoother, this is Travel Lube.
Nagoya, often known as a 'boring city,' is actually
so renowned for its food that the term **'Nagoya Meshi'** exists in Japan.
Did you know it's a **famous foodie city**?
Today, I've gathered my top 10 delicious restaurant picks in Nagoya
from my personal visits.
I've categorized them by genre,
from **famous eateries to sushi, ramen, and izakayas.**
Nagoya Specialties
Hitsumabushi Hanaoka
✔ Location: A 5-minute walk from Sakae Station Exit 8
✔ Payment: **Cash** only
✔ Recommendation: Hitsumabushi Jou (Superior) (~$30)
✔ 10% service charge separate
Google's #1 rated Hitsumabushi in Nagoya,
and a top-ranked restaurant on Tabelog.
While waiting times are usually known to be over an hour,
I visited in August at 2:30 PM,
and was seated in just 15 minutes.
Off-peak afternoon hours have shorter waiting times.
Ochazuke green tea is provided free of charge,
so you don't need to order additional drinks.
The aroma of the **charcoal-grilled eel** is absolutely divine,
and the best part is you can enjoy it in various ways!
The **rice portion is quite generous**, so if you plan to visit other restaurants,
I recommend eating a little less here!
Yabaton Yabacho Honten
✔ Location: Next to Osu Shopping Street / A 5-minute walk from Yabacho Station
✔ Reservation: Hot Pepper (An additional ~$6 per person, so waiting is recommended)
✔ Recommendation: Teppan Green Onion Donkatsu / Premium Loin (Be aware of sell-outs)
Yabaton is a must-try when you visit Nagoya,
famous for its sauce made with Japanese miso paste.
If it's your first time, I recommend the **Waraji Teishoku**, which comes with half miso sauce and half regular sauce.
The miso sauce has a savory, slightly sweet flavor that might remind some of a mild black bean sauce, and it surprisingly pairs well with the donkatsu.
There's yellow karashi (mustard) on the table,
and it tastes absolutely heavenly with karashi, so make sure to try them together!
✔ They're also available at the airport, so you can grab some there before you head home.
Tenmusu Senju
✔ Location: Near Osu Shopping Street
✔ Payment: Cash only
✔ Dine-in: Only available from 12:00 to 14:00
✔ Other times: Takeout only
✔ 1 serving: 5 Tenmusu + Braised Burdock Root
On our way to Nagoya Port Aquarium,
we bought them as a bento box to eat.
Even though the fried coating got a bit soggy over time after cooking,
the shrimp inside was incredibly plump.
It was the plumpest shrimp I've had in Nagoya.
It's carefully packaged,
and the generous amount of rice can be a bit dry,
so it's perfect to grab some green tea from a convenience store and enjoy it together.
It gave me that nostalgic feeling of being on a childhood picnic.
✔ You can also find them at the airport, making them a great last treat before you fly home.
Ramen
Nagoya Karamen Shachirin
Spicy Garlic Ramen
✔ Payment: Cash only
✔ System: Purchase meal tickets from the vending machine, then hand them to the staff
✔ Open until late (Perfect for a hangover cure after a night out)
✔ Spice Level: 0-5 stages / 20 JPY extra per stage
In Japan, there's a popular culture of eating ramen as a hangover cure,
and this place is perfectly suited for Korean palates too.
I went with level 1
and it had a spiciness level similar to Jin Ramyun.
If you love a good kick, feel free to level up!
The broth is quite rich and thick, packed with garlic flavor.
If you're feeling adventurous and want a different twist, try adding a splash of vinegar.
It pairs surprisingly well!
This spot is conveniently located near Mutsumi,
so it was the perfect hangover cure after our visit there.
Sushi
Sushiro (Sakae Branch)
✔ Location: On the 1st floor of Muji in Sakae
✔ Payment: Cards are accepted
✔ System: Everything from waiting and entry to ordering and payment is self-service
✔ Korean language support available
While the self-service system might seem a little confusing at first,
don't worry! There's excellent Korean language guidance available,
making it super easy to follow along.
If you're visiting Nagoya, you absolutely *must* try the Tokai region's limited menu.
Specifically, don't miss the Tokai-limited fried shrimp sushi!
The combination of crispy tempura batter and plump, succulent shrimp
was a surprisingly perfect match.
Uotsubaki (Tachinomi Sushi, a Standing Bar Style)
✔ Location: Close to Nagoya Station's West Exit
✔ System: Order via QR code
✔ Tachinomi style – enjoy your sushi while standing!
It's a standing sushi bar,
so you can enjoy it quickly and simply.
I ordered the Omakase 5-piece set and added some shrimp tempura.
There's such a joy in watching them prepare each piece right before your eyes,
and I devoured them as soon as they were served!
You can order easily with a QR code,
so ordering is a breeze.
They even gave me a coupon when I left, which was a nice touch!
Café
Nishihara Coffee
✔ Location: Near Sakae Station / Multiple branches
✔ Payment: Cash only
✔ Recommended Menu: Drip Coffee + Nishihara Pudding
The line at the main branch was long,
so I visited the branch across the street.
The semi-basement's retro vibe perfectly captures the Nagoya café aesthetic.
I ordered the drip coffee based on the staff's recommendation,
though most people tend to choose the blended coffee.
The Nishihara Pudding comes topped with vanilla ice cream,
and its sweet, smooth combination paired wonderfully with the coffee.
With many branches throughout Sakae and Nagoya,
you can simply pick one that fits your itinerary.
Bucyo Coffee
✔ Location: Near Sakae Station
✔ Payment: Cash only
✔ Morning Set: Last order 7:15~10:30
✔ 10% service charge separate
✔ One coffee refill available
There are many rules for entry,
making it feel a bit strict.
Especially if your perfume is strong, you might be denied entry,
so it's safer to visit without any.
I had the Ogura & Kinako W Toast
with a warm blend coffee.
The coffee had a subtle aroma and a smooth finish,
so I highly recommend trying it warm.
In Nagoya, eating red bean paste with toast
is a unique morning coffee culture,
so it's definitely worth experiencing.
Izakaya & Sake
Tebasaki Mutsumi (Main Branch)
✔ Reservation: Available via Hot Pepper
✔ Payment: Cards accepted
✔ Recommendation: Salt flavor + Spicy flavor / Jasmine Shochu on the rocks
✔ Cannot order half-and-half (order each type separately)
The salt-flavored chicken wings are crispy and intensely seasoned, typical izakaya style.
The spicy flavor isn't gochujang-style,
but a sharp, peppery style based on ichimi (chili powder).
This one surprisingly split opinions.
The jasmine shochu surprisingly pairs well with tebasaki,
they're a perfect match.
Definitely order white rice with it.
Salty chicken wings with rice is pure bliss.
Otake
✔ Location: Sakae Station Central Park B1F
✔ Hours: Weekdays & Sat 10:00~21:00 / Sun ~20:00
✔ Features: Sake Bar & Sake Shop / Specializing in Nito Sake
It's a unique spot that combines a sake shop and a sake bar,
where you can enjoy a glass for about 400 yen.
Prices vary by color,
and I recommend starting with red (330 yen).
They also have specially procured sake that you can only buy here.
You'll find it right underground, following the Sakae route,
making it perfect for souvenir shopping,
and with a wide range of prices, you can visit without any pressure.
My Top 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Nagoya,
covering everything from iconic Nagoya specialties to that perfect izakaya nightcap –
you can easily plan a whole day's itinerary with just this list.
Every single one of these spots is a personal favorite,
tried and tested, and highly recommended!
In my next post, I'll be sharing a fantastic 2-night, 3-day Nagoya itinerary,
so if you're curious to discover more,
make sure to 'follow Travel Lubricant'!
According to the article, there's usually a wait of over an hour, but visiting during off-peak afternoon hours might shorten it. For example, one person entered in just 15 minutes by visiting at 2:30 PM in August.
'Tenmusu Senju' offers in-store dining only from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM; at other times, only takeout is available. Please note that only cash payments are accepted.
You can choose from spice levels 0 to 5, and there is an additional charge of 20 JPY per level. The article's author mentioned that level 1 had a spiciness similar to Jin Ramen.
Yes, if your perfume is too strong, you might be denied entry at 'Butcho Coffee', so it's safer to visit without perfume. Also, the last order for the morning set is from 7:15 AM to 10:30 AM, and a 10% service charge is applied separately.
No, you cannot order half-and-half flavors for chicken wings; you need to order the salt and spicy flavors separately by type. It's recommended to order jasmine shochu on the rocks and white rice together, as they pair well with the strongly seasoned chicken wings.
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Hitsumabushi Hanaoka · 4.6★(2177) · Unagi restaurant
Misokatsu Yabaton Yabachō Honten · 3 Chome-6-18 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011, Japan
Senju Osu · 4 Chome-10-82 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0011, Japan
Shachirin · Japan, 〒460-0008 Aichi, Nagoya, Naka Ward, Sakae, 3 Chome−11−15 LRDビル 1F B
Sushiro Sakae · Japan, 〒460-0008 Aichi, Nagoya, Naka Ward, Sakae, 3 Chome−3−1 マルエイガレリア 1
Stand-up Sushi Izakaya UOTSUBAKI Nagoya Station west exit Store · 8-6 Tsubakicho, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 453-0015, Japan
Nishihara Coffee · Japan, 〒460-0003 Aichi, Nagoya, Naka Ward, Nishiki, 3 Chome−15−23 1F
Bucyo Coffee · Japan, 〒450-0003 Aichi, Nagoya, Nakamura Ward, Meiekiminami, 1 Chome−10−9 山善ビル 1F
Tebasaki Mutsumi Honten · 3 Chome-8-125 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008, Japan
Otake · Japan, 〒460-0003 Aichi, Nagoya, Naka Ward, Nishiki, 3 Chome−15−13 セントラルパーク B1F