Kanazawa (Ishikawa)
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From authentic Kanazawa-style Japanese cuisine to exquisite Western dishes. 7 recommended lunch spots for your Kanazawa sightseeing trip.

Kanazawa is a gathering place for delicious Hokuriku specialties, such as fresh seafood and Kaga vegetables. There are many restaurants that focus on local ingredients, and it is home to famous establishments you will want to visit at least once. Here, we introduce recommended lunch spots ranging from kaiseki cuisine to Western food.

A dream seafood bowl featuring a collection of seasonal local fish

Ikiiki-tei Don World (includes miso soup) 3,500 yen. You can enjoy around 14 different types of toppings.
Ikiiki-tei Don World (with miso soup) 3,500 yen. You can enjoy around 14 different types of toppings

Opened by a chef who trained at Nadaman. The main branch in the Katamachi entertainment district is a seafood izakaya, while the Omicho branch is a sushi restaurant famous for its seafood bowls. The most popular item, the "Iki-Iki-Tei Don," is a special dish featuring around 14 types of seasonal seafood, and on this day, it was topped with luxurious ingredients like sweet shrimp, Japanese tiger prawn, and red snow crab. Following the chef's philosophy of "cold toppings, slightly warm rice," the toppings are served on a separate plate. You can enjoy them even more by using wasabi soy sauce or rock salt depending on the topping.
It is also recommended to enjoy the seafood bowl combined with sushi that can be ordered by the piece.

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Not only is the seafood bowl delicious, but the staff's thoughtful attention to detail, such as checking the amount of rice and any food preferences, is delightful.

A traveler-friendly reservation system that lets you wait without standing in line

The restaurant has 10 counter seats. There is often a line, but the turnover is fast.
The restaurant has 10 counter seats. There is often a line, but the turnover is fast

The restaurant is located inside the Omicho Market. The ingredients purchased at the morning auction appear around 11:00 AM, and you can enjoy fresh local fish with the "Today's Morning Auction Bowl" or the "Today's Fresh Nigiri Assortment."
During busy periods such as Obon, the year-end and New Year holidays, and long weekends, there may be a 1 to 2-hour wait, but there is a system where you can write your contact information on a reservation sheet and receive a call when a table becomes available. You can make effective use of your time by shopping at "Omicho Market" or strolling through "Kanazawa Castle Park" or "Kenrokuen Garden." There are also hand-rolled sushi options for takeout, so those short on time should take advantage of them.

Ikiikitei Omicho Branch
  • Address1F Omicho Ichiba-kan, 88 Aokusa-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus accessApprox. 5 minutes by the "Left Loop Route" of the Castle Town Kanazawa Loop Bus from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit; get off at "Musashigatsuji/Omicho Market" and it is right there.
  • Business hoursMon-Fri 7:00-13:00 (ends when sold out), Sat, Sun, and Holidays 7:00-14:30 (ends when sold out)
  • ClosedIrregular holidays
  • TEL076-222-2621

Hospitality featuring chewy udon noodles and kamameshi (kettle rice)

Gyu-Gyu Udon Nabe set, Ima-mori (half portion of noodles) 4,000 yen (front) and Western-style pot rice 3,300 yen (back).
Gyugyu Udon Nabe set, current serving (half portion of noodles) 4,000 yen (front) and Western-style pot rice 3,300 yen (back)

A sister restaurant of "Kobashi Otafuku," a long-established Kanazawa udon and soba shop dating back to 1930 (Showa 5). You can enjoy "Udon Nabe," where hand-kneaded udon is served in an individual pot, and "Kama Gohan," which is cooked from raw rice. Both are served as a course, starting with matcha and sweets; the Udon Nabe comes with ojiya (rice porridge), and the Kama Gohan comes with soup and pickles. The udon is also available in an "Imamori" portion, which is half the amount of noodles, and is popular with women. Since every menu item takes around 20 minutes to prepare after ordering, please allow yourself plenty of time when visiting.

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Udon hot pot that can be enjoyed twice, first as udon and then as rice porridge. It's exquisite! You can enjoy everything from matcha to dessert.

A cozy restaurant with a famous landlady

The seats are spaced widely apart, allowing you to dine in a relaxed atmosphere.
The seats are spaced widely apart, allowing you to dine in comfort

While the building, a renovated traditional folk house, has an imposing storefront, once you step inside, you will be put at ease by the relaxed hospitality of the staff, led by the energetic and cheerful proprietress. The interior is a calm space that values the warmth of wood, creating the perfect atmosphere for leisurely enjoying a course meal.
Incidentally, the pot-cooked rice features sweetfish and eel in summer, lotus root wrapped in leaves in autumn, and when the season for Kobako crab opens in early November each year, the "Kobako pot-cooked rice" makes its appearance. It is a restaurant that offers the pleasure of visiting in every season.

Udon-dokoro Kamagohan Fukuwauchi
  • Address1-9-31 Hikoso-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus accessApprox. 11 minutes by Kanazawa Flat Bus "Konohana Route" from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, get off at "Hikoso-kita" and it is right there
  • Business hours11:30–14:00 (L.O.), 17:30–19:30 (L.O.); Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00–19:30 (L.O.)
  • ClosedWednesdays, 2nd and 4th Thursdays
  • TEL076-264-8780
  • ParkingFree

One of the few renowned Edomae soba restaurants in Kanazawa

Kakiage tempura soba for 2,000 yen. The kakiage made with sweet shrimp and seasonal vegetables is exquisite.
Kakiage Tempura Soba 2,000 yen. The kakiage made with sweet shrimp and seasonal vegetables is exquisite

This Edomae-style soba restaurant was started in his hometown of Kanazawa by a chef who trained for seven years at Sarashina Honten in Azabu-Juban. He makes thin, two-eight soba noodles in the restaurant's own noodle-making room.
The crispy tempura also has a good reputation, and the kakiage (mixed vegetable tempura) in particular is very satisfying, packed with sweet shrimp and seasonal vegetables.
In summer, cold grated daikon soba, such as "Oni-oroshi soba" made with spicy daikon radish and "Sudachi-oroshi soba," are also popular for the refreshing feeling they provide.

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The aroma of the soba is wonderful, and it goes down perfectly! There are also soba dishes using seasonal ingredients, so you can enjoy them depending on the season.

A soba restaurant with an extensive menu of à la carte dishes and alcoholic beverages

Table seating for up to 6 people. Counter seating is also available.
Table seating for up to 6 people. Counter seats are also available

The high ceiling in the restaurant is said to be a remnant of when this building was a public bathhouse. Hearing such an episode makes the steam rising from the large pot used to boil the noodles feel all the more charming.
In addition to soba, there is a wide variety of à la carte dishes, so you can also enjoy alcohol. It is also recommended to have soba at the end of your meal. The "Soba Tenshin" on the evening menu is a great set that includes a three-item seasonal vegetable platter, your choice of one item from bite-sized tamagoyaki, bite-sized sobagaki, or vegetable kakiage, and soba. It can be ordered from 5:00 PM on Sundays and holidays, making it perfect for an early dinner on the day you return from Kanazawa.

Sarashina Fujii
  • Address3-3 Kakinokibatake, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus accessApprox. 10 minutes by Hokutetsu Bus "Kanazawa Loop Bus (Left Loop)" from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, get off at "Korinbo (Atrio-mae)" and walk for about 3 minutes
  • Business hours11:30–14:00, 17:30–20:00; Sundays and holidays 11:30–14:00, 17:00–20:00 *Closes when sold out
  • ClosedMondays (open if it is a holiday, closed the following day)
  • TEL076-265-6870
  • ParkingNone

An Italian restaurant with great value for money, featuring a delightful variety of appetizers

Lunch starts from 2,500 yen. The photo shows an assortment of appetizers and pasta.
Lunch starts from 2,500 yen. The photo shows an assortment of appetizers and pasta

Opened by a chef who trained at hotels and restaurants in Tokyo and served as head chef at an Italian government-certified restaurant in Hiroo. The restaurant is well-regarded for its simple dishes that bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients, based on traditional Italian cuisine.
The lunch course features pasta as the main dish, with a choice of two from five varieties, including tomato and cream-based options. The appetizer platter, inspired by a buffet, is so rich in variety—featuring Italian omelets, prosciutto, and marinated vegetables and fish—that it's hard to decide where to start, and many people say they visit just for this.

A hidden-away restaurant nestled along the river

A warm interior with a yellow color scheme. The view along the river is also soothing.
A warm interior with a yellow color scheme. The view along the river is also soothing

The restaurant is located at the foot of the Shinbashi Bridge over the Sai River, and because it is slightly removed from the bustling downtown area, time seems to pass more slowly here. The walls inside are covered with messages written in various languages, conveying the joy and excitement each guest has felt toward the restaurant.
Lunch is very popular, so it is best to make a reservation at least a week in advance. In the evening, they offer charcoal-grilled dishes and an à la carte menu of about 40 items. It is a renowned Kanazawa establishment that you must visit at least once, having been selected for the Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Toyama-Ishikawa (Kanazawa).

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The colorful assortment of appetizers enjoyed in a pleasant location goes perfectly with wine!

Bottega di Takamazzo
  • Address2-32-10 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus accessApprox. 11 minutes by Hokutetsu Bus "Kanazawa Loop Bus (Left Loop)" from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, then a 6-minute walk from the "Katamachi (Pasion-mae)" stop
  • Business hours12:00–14:00, 18:00–22:00
  • ClosedSundays, 2nd Mondays *Lunch is closed the day after a regular holiday
  • TEL076-225-8676
  • ParkingNone

Japanese-French fusion cuisine blending Kanazawa, Kyoto, and French influences

4,104 yen lunch. Consists of 6 courses from appetizers to dessert.
A 4,104 yen lunch. It consists of 6 courses from appetizers to dessert.

The restaurant offers French cuisine that incorporates Japanese essences, from the ingredients to the tableware. The chef honed his Japanese culinary skills at a restaurant in Kanazawa, then spent three years at a prestigious restaurant in France and about four years at a kaiseki-style French restaurant in Kyoto, before opening his own establishment in his hometown of Kanazawa in 2012.
He carefully selects ingredients primarily from the Hokuriku region as well as Kyoto, and treats guests to a course meal with many small dishes. He uses tableware by local artists for his dishes, changing them whenever the menu changes to evoke a sense of the season.

Enchanting counter seating where you can be captivated by the chef's skills

Counter seating surrounding the kitchen. Two table seats are also available.
Counter seats surrounding the kitchen. Two table seats are also available.

Located on the Nagamachi Samurai District street, the restaurant offers a view of the historic townscape through its large glass windows.
The chef's thoughtful decision to use an open kitchen to time the serving of dishes is also reflected in the cuisine, which is both creative and gentle. At the counter seats, you can enjoy the lively scene of the chef cooking along with your meal. On the other hand, there are also table seats with a calm atmosphere separated by a cabinet.
Since it is by reservation only for both lunch and dinner, be sure to book in advance.

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You can enjoy a delicious seasonal course meal right in front of the chef as they skillfully prepare it. The canelé is also exquisite!

tawara
  • AddressRoyal Plaza Katamachi 1F, 2-10-19 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus accessApprox. 11 minutes by Hokutetsu Bus "Kanazawa Loop Bus (Left Loop)" from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, then a 7-minute walk from the "Katamachi (Pasion-mae)" stop
  • Business hours12:00–15:00 (L.O. 13:00), 18:00–23:00 (L.O. 20:00)
  • ClosedMonday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday lunch, and Sundays
  • TEL076-210-5570
  • ParkingNone

A Kanazawa-machiya French restaurant offering locally sourced ingredients, proposed by an urban winery

Lunch starts from 5,500 yen. "Assorted appetizers using seasonal ingredients from Noto and Kanazawa"
Lunch starts from 5,500 yen. "Assorted appetizers using seasonal ingredients from Noto and Kanazawa"

A French restaurant directly managed by Kanazawa Winery, which owns three vineyards in Ishikawa Prefecture. The dishes make abundant use of seasonal ingredients from Ishikawa Prefecture, such as Noto beef, Noto pork, and fresh fish shipped directly from fishing portsare used.Chef-made bread using organic wheat from their own farm and other visually delightful dishes that reflect the rich soil of Ishikawa Prefecture can be enjoyed.

Cheers with our own wine made from grapes grown in Kanazawa and Noto

In addition to our own wines, we have a selection of domestic and international wines.
In addition to our own wines, we have a selection of domestic and international wines.

The restaurant is located on the second floor of the winery, and you can feel the love for the local area everywhere, from the earthen walls inspired by the lands of Kaga and Noto to the original tableware made from the red clay of Noto's vineyards.
You can also taste "MIEKO Campbell Early" (pictured right), the first Kanazawa wine brewed at their own winery. It has a slightly sparkling finish with a faint acidity, and is reputed to go well with both fish and meat. If you have the wine paired with your meal, you are sure to have a special time.

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You can enjoy the marriage of delicious domestic and international wines, including Kanazawa wine, with dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients.

A la ferme de Shinjiro
  • Address2F, 1-9-9 Owari-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • AccessApprox. 20-minute walk from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit
  • Bus accessApprox. 10 min. ride on the Hokutetsu Bus Kanazawa Loop Bus "Right Loop" from JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, get off at "Hashiba-cho" and walk approx. 5 min.
  • Business hours11:30–15:00 (L.O. 13:30), 18:00–22:00 (L.O. 20:00)
  • ClosedWednesdays, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
  • TEL076-221-8818

French cuisine that lets you feel the four seasons, colored with seasonal ingredients

Lunch consisting of an amuse-bouche, appetizer, soup, main course with both fish and meat, and dessert.
A lunch consisting of an amuse-bouche, appetizer, soup, a main course with both fish and meat, and dessert.

A French restaurant that opened in 1980 in Kanazawa. It is by reservation only for both lunch and dinner, and you can enjoy course meals using seasonal vegetables, local seafood, and Noto beef.
The chef's motto is to follow the seasons rather than trends. For this reason, his passion for ingredients is extraordinary; he even changes suppliers depending on the type of vegetable, visiting markets and local farmers himself.
The "seasonal vegetable mousse" served as an amuse-bouche in the course has a sweetness and umami of the vegetables condensed into it, far beyond what its appearance suggests, allowing you to feel the skill of the chef, who has an established reputation for vegetable dishes.

Spend a moment where you can forget the time in a traditional townhouse standing by the river

When you open the windows, you can enjoy an open-air feeling like a terrace seat.
When you open the windows, you can enjoy an open-air feeling like a terrace seat.

Originally opened in the suburbs of Kanazawa, the restaurant moved to the banks of the Sai River in search of the city's characteristic atmosphere. In a modern space stylishly renovated from a traditional townhouse, you can enjoy a leisurely meal while gazing at the river. During pleasant seasons, the glass doors are opened to create an open-air setting. The soothing sound of the river flows in, inviting relaxation.
The owner's wife, who is in charge of service, has a refined and charming personality and many fans. There are four lunch courses, and with 4 to 5 types of main meat dishes available, the delicious experience begins with choosing your favorite.

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The warm atmosphere allows you to relax and enjoy delicious food. The view of the Sai River flowing by is also exceptional.

La Nene Goose
  • Address1-16 Sennichi-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
  • Bus accessFrom JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Kanazawa Loop Bus" (Left Loop) for approx. 15 minutes, then get off at "Hirokoji" and walk for approx. 3 minutes
  • Business hours17:30–21:00 *Lunch available Fri, Sat, Sun, and holidays 11:30–14:00
  • ClosedMondays *Irregular holidays may occur
  • TEL076-243-6651
  • ParkingNone *Paid parking available nearby

MAP

Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
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