From Authentic Kanazawa-Style Japanese Cuisine to Exquisite Western Dishes: 7 Recommended Lunch Spots for Your Kanazawa Trip
Kanazawa is a hub for the Hokuriku region’s finest delicacies, including fresh seafood and Kaga vegetables. The city is home to many restaurants that pride themselves on using local ingredients, featuring a lineup of renowned establishments you’ll want to visit at least once. From kaiseki cuisine to Western-style dishes, here are our recommended lunch spots.
1Iki Iki Tei Omimachi Branch
A dream seafood bowl with seasonal local fish all in one place.
Opened by the owner who trained at Nadaman. The main restaurant in downtown Katamachi is a seafood tavern, and the Omimachi branch is a sushi restaurant that specializes in seafood rice bowls. The most popular dish, "Iki Iki Tei Don," is a special dish with around 14 kinds of seasonal seafood, and on this particular day, it included such delicacies as sweet shrimp, kuruma-dai, and red snow crab. The owner's motto is "keep the neta cold and the rice a little warm," so the neta is served on a separate plate. The Wasabi soy sauce and Iwashio (rock salt) can be used according to the type of fish, making the dish even tastier.
We also recommend that you enjoy a combination of Kaisendon and sushi, which can be ordered in batches of one or more pieces.
Local Guide
Supporters
In addition to the delicious kaisendon, you will be pleased with the attention to detail of the waitress who will check the amount of rice and any dislikes you may have.
Tourist-friendly reservation system that allows you to wait in line without standing in line
The restaurant is located in the Omemachi Market. The items purchased at the morning auction appear around 11:00 a.m. You can enjoy fresh local fish with "Today's morning seri donburi" and "Today's freshly caught nigiri assortment".
During busy periods such as Obon holidays, year-end and New Year holidays, and major holidays, you may have to wait 1-2 hours for a table, but if you write down your contact information on the reservation form, you will receive a call as soon as it is available. You can make good use of your time by shopping at the Omimachi Market, strolling around Kanazawa Castle Park or Kenrokuen Garden, and so on. There are also hand-rolled sushi for take-out, so if you are short on time, make the most of it.
- Iki Iki Tei Omimachi Branch
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88 Aokusa-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan Omi-machi Ichiba-kan 1F MAP
5 min. ride on the Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus from the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, and get off at Musashigatsuji/Omi-machi Ichiba.
Monday-Friday 7:00-13:00 (close when sold out), Saturday, Sunday and holidays 7:00-14:30 (close when sold out)
Closed on weekends and holidays
076-222-2621
2Udon place (udon place) kamagohan (rice cooked in a pot) Fukuwa-uchiya (Happy Hour)
Udon noodles and rice served in a kama gohan (rice pot) for your enjoyment
This is a sister restaurant of "Kobashi Otafuku," a long-established udon and soba restaurant in Kanazawa that has been in business since 1930. You can enjoy "Udon-nabe," which is handmade udon served in a single pot, and "Kamagohan," which is rice cooked from raw rice. Both courses start with green tea and sweets, followed by ojiya (rice gruel) for udon nabe, and soup and pickles for kama gohan. Udon nabe comes with ojiya (rice topping), and kama gohan comes with soup nabe and pickles. It takes about 20 minutes from the time you order to the time it is ready, so please allow plenty of time for your visit.
Local Guide
Supporters
The udon nabe, a dish that can be enjoyed twice, from udon to rice porridge, is a must-try! It is an exquisite dish! Starting with green tea and ending with dessert, you can enjoy it to the fullest.
At-home Dining Area with a Famous Proprietress
The renovated old private house gives the restaurant a stately appearance, but once inside, you will feel relaxed by the cheerful and energetic staff/staff members, including the famous proprietress, who will welcome you with open arms. The restaurant's interior is a relaxed space that emphasizes the warmth of wood, providing the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a course meal.
The kamagohan (rice cooked in a pot) includes ayu (sweetfish) and eel in summer, lotus root leaf in autumn, and kobako kamagohan (rice cooked in a pot) every year in early November, when the season for kobako crabs opens. When the crab season is over in early November, the "kobako kamagohan" (rice cooked in a kobako pot) becomes a seasonal treat.
- Udon Restaurant "Kama Gohan" (Udon Noodles) Fukuwachiya
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- 1-9-31 Hikosan-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 11 min. ride on Kanazawa Flat Bus "Konohana Route" from East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, and get off at "Hikosan-kita" bus stop.
- 11:30 - 14:00 (L.O.), 17:30 - 19:30 (L.O.), Saturday, Sunday and holidays 11:00 - 19:30 (L.O.)
- Wednesdays, 2nd and 4th Thursdays
- 076-264-8780
Free of charge
3Sarashina Fujii
One of the few restaurants in Kanazawa that serves Edomae soba (buckwheat noodles)
The owner, who trained at Sarashina Honten in Azabu Juban for seven years, started this Edo-mae soba restaurant in his hometown of Kanazawa. Thinly pounded nihachi soba noodles are made in the noodle-making room inside the restaurant.
The crispy fried tempura is also well known, especially the kakiage, which is filled with sweet shrimp and seasonal vegetables for added satisfaction.
In summer, cool, cold grated soba noodles with spicy radish, such as "Oni Oroshi Soba" and "Sudachi Oroshi Soba," are also popular.
Local Guide
Supporters
The soba has a great aroma and a wonderful thirst-quenching taste! You can enjoy soba depending on the season, as there are also soba noodles made with seasonal products.
A la carte dishes and a wide variety of alcoholic beverages
The restaurant's high ceiling is said to be a remnant from when this building was a public bathhouse. The steam rising from the large kettle used to boil the noodles also adds a touch of charm to the place.
In addition to soba, the restaurant offers a wide variety of a la carte dishes, so you can enjoy drinking as well. It is also recommended to enjoy Soba after drinking. The "Soba Dim Sum" on the night menu is a set that includes three seasonal vegetables, a choice of one of the following dishes: a bite of fried egg, a bite of buckwheat dumpling, or a vegetable tempura, as well as a bowl of soba. The set can be ordered from 5:00 p.m. on Sundays and holidays, making it perfect for an early dinner on the day you return from Kanazawa.
- Sarashina Fujii
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- 3-3 Kakinokibatake, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Left Turn Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town. 10 minutes from Korinbo (Atrio-mae) Bus Stop, 3 minutes walk from Korinbo Bus Stop.
- 11:30-14:00, 17:30-20:00, Sundays and national holidays 11:30-14:00, 17:00-20:00 *Close when sold out
- Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the next day)
- 076-265-6870
- None
4Bottega di Takamazzo
A variety of appetizers are served at a reasonable price.
The restaurant was opened by a chef who trained at hotels and restaurants in Tokyo and served as Chef de Cuisine at an Italian government-approved Restaurant in Hiroo. He is known for his simple dishes based on traditional Italian cuisine that brings out the best of the ingredients.
The lunch course consists mainly of pasta, with a choice of two types from a selection of five, including tomato and cream. The appetizer platter, inspired by a buffet, is so varied that it is difficult to choose which to eat first, such as Italian omelet, cured ham, or marinated vegetables and fish, and many people come to enjoy it.
A hidden-away Restaurant along the riverside
The restaurant is located at the foot of the "Shinbashi" (new bridge) over the Saigawa River, a little outside of the downtown area, so the flow of time seems to be slowing down. On the walls of the restaurant, messages in various languages are written here and there, which seem to convey the joy and excitement of each person for the restaurant.
Lunch is very popular, so reservations should be made at least one week in advance of the desired date. At night, the restaurant offers charcoal-grilled dishes and an a la carte menu of about 40 different dishes. The restaurant was selected as a Bib Gourmand in the "Michelin Guide Toyama/Ishikawa (Kanazawa)," and is a famous restaurant in Kanazawa that you should visit at least once.
Local Guide
Supporters
The colorful assortment of appetizers served in a pleasant location is sure to be a great accompaniment to a glass of wine!
- Bottega di Takamazzo
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- 2-32-10 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Leftward Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town. 11 minutes by bus, get off at "Katamachi (in front of Pasion)" and walk about 6 minutes.
- 12:00 - 14:00, 18:00 - 22:00
- Sunday, 2nd Monday *Closed for lunch after the regular closing day.
- 076-225-8676
- None
5tawara
Japanese-French cuisine that is a fusion of Kanazawa, Kyoto, and France
The restaurant offers French cuisine with a touch of Japanese essence, from the ingredients to the tableware. The chef honed his Japanese cooking skills at a Japanese restaurant in Kanazawa, then spent three years at a famous French restaurant in France and about four years at a kaiseki-style French restaurant in Kyoto before opening his own restaurant in his hometown of Kanazawa in 2012.
He carefully selects ingredients from the Hokuriku region as well as Kyoto and other regions, and serves small, varied courses. They use dishes served in dishes made by local artists and change them when the menu is changed to create a sense of the season.
Enjoy the chef's skill at the enchanting counter seating.
Located on Naga-machi Buke Yashiki Street, the restaurant's large glass windows offer a view of the historic townscape.
The chef's meticulous attention to detail, which is reflected in the open kitchen in order to time the dishes to be served, can be felt through the creative yet gentle dishes. At the counter, you can enjoy the live chef's cooking scene as well as the food. On the other hand, there is also table seating in a relaxed atmosphere, separated by cabinets.
Reservations are required for both day and evening dining, so be sure to make your reservations as early as possible.
Local Guide
Supporters
You can enjoy a delicious seasonal course in front of the chef who skillfully prepares the dishes. The canelés are also exquisite!
- tawara
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- 1F Royal Plaza Katamachi, 2-10-19 Katamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
- 11 min. ride on the Hokutetsu Bus "Left Turn Route" from the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station. 7 min. walk from Katamachi (Passion-mae) Bus Stop.
- 12:00-15:00 (L.O.13:00), 18:00-23:00 (L.O.20:00)
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday lunch, Sunday
- 076-210-5570
- None
6A la ferme de Shinjiro
Urban Winery's Kanazawa Machiya French Restaurant for Local Production for Local Consumption
This French Restaurant is under the direct management of Kanazawa Winery, which has three vineyards in Ishikawa Prefecture. The cuisine uses a variety of seasonal ingredients from Ishikawa, such as Noto beef, Noto pork, and fresh fish directly from the fishing port. The chef's homemade bread made from organic wheat from the winery's own farm and other dishes that reflect the rich soil of Ishikawa Prefecture are also pleasing to the eye.
Toast with our own wine made from Kanazawa and Noto grapes.
The Restaurant is located on the second floor of the winery, and the love of the local area can be felt everywhere, from the earthen walls inspired by the land of Kaga and Noto to the original tableware made from the red clay of Noto's vineyards.
You can also taste "MIEKO Campbell Early" (right photo), the first Kanazawa wine brewed in the company's own winery. It has a slightly effervescent finish with a hint of acidity, and has a reputation for going well with both fish and meat. Having the food and wine paired together will make for a special time.
Local Guide
Supporters
You can enjoy the marriage of delicious domestic and international wines, including Kanazawa wines, and dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients.
- A la ferme de Shinjiro
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- 1-9-9, Owari-cho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan MAP
Approx. 20 min. walk from East Exit of JR Kanazawa Sta.- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Circular Bus "clockwise route"). 10 min. ride, 5 min. walk from Hashiba-machi Bus Stop.
- 11:30 - 15:00 (L.O. 13:30), 18:00 - 22:00 (L.O. 20:00)
- Wednesdays, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
- 076-221-8818
7La Nene Goose
French cuisine with seasonal ingredients and a sense of the four seasons
A French restaurant that opened in Kanazawa in 1980. It operates on a reservation-only basis for both lunch and dinner, offering course meals featuring seasonal vegetables, locally sourced seafood, and Noto beef.
The chef’s motto is to follow the seasons rather than trends. As a result, his passion for ingredients is extraordinary; when it comes to vegetables in particular, he visits markets and farms throughout the prefecture, even changing suppliers depending on the variety.
The “Seasonal Vegetable Mousse” served as an amuse-bouche in the course menu is packed with a concentrated sweetness and umami that you wouldn’t expect from its appearance alone—a true testament to the skill of this chef, who is renowned for his vegetable dishes.
A time to forget about time in a machiya house by the river
Originally opened on the outskirts of Kanazawa, the restaurant relocated to the banks of the Sai River in search of a more authentic Kanazawa atmosphere. In this modern space—a tastefully renovated traditional townhouse—you can enjoy a leisurely meal while gazing out at the river. During pleasant seasons, the glass doors are thrown open to create an open-air dining experience.The soothing murmur of the river creates a relaxing atmosphere.
The owner’s wife, who oversees the service, has a refined and charming personality and has garnered a large following. The lunch menu features four courses, with four to five types of meat available for the main course, so the delightful experience begins the moment you start choosing your favorites.
Local Guide
Supporters
The warm atmosphere allows you to relax and enjoy delicious food. The view of the flowing Saigawa River is also exceptional.
- La Neneguse
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- 1-16 Sennichimachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Left Turn Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town. 15 min. on the bus. 3 min. walk from Hirokoji Bus Stop.
- 5:30 PM–9:00 PM *Lunch is served Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 11:30 AM–2:00 PM
- Mondays *Closed on irregular days
- 076-243-6651
- None *Paid parking available nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Yumi HoriyasuCurious city walker!
OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi
Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Katamachi is Kanazawa's best gourmet town. The hotel is also conveniently located for Direction to Kanazawa's representative tourist attractions.
Access by bus Approx. 4 minutes walk from Korinbo bus stop
- Example of Accommodation Rates
- 1 person per night From ³ ,200