Hikobae: Modern Spanish Seafood Cookery

Hikobae offers a modern Spanish tasting menu built around two pillars: premium seafood and the chef's masterful control of a wood fire. Sourcing fish from the renowned Sasue Maeda Uoten in Yaizu, the kitchen transforms these ingredients with precise heat into standout dishes. The restaurant is small and intimate, with courses starting at a set time for all guests.

Reviewers consistently praise the seafood plates, particularly the wood-fired bonito (katsuo no maki-yaki) and the seasonal paellas, which might feature horsehair crab or spiny lobster. Other highlights include various fideuà (a short noodle dish similar to paella), the house-baked 'Nina brioche', and thoughtful wine pairings. The meal often concludes with a showpiece parfait, with flavours like peach, fig, or Shine Muscat grape earning repeated raves.

A minority of diners note occasional service inconsistencies, such as brusque explanations or trainee mistakes, and a few have found a meat course to be less successful than the seafood. The set menu is also quite long, typically lasting two to three hours.

Most guests find the pricing to be excellent value. Reviewers in 2024–2026 reported paying around ¥15,000 for the dinner course and ¥7,500–¥8,250 for lunch. Wine pairings were available for ¥6,600 (5 glasses) or ¥8,800 (7 glasses), plus a 10% service charge. The high quality of the ingredients and cooking makes the cost feel fair.

• Booking: Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance, as seats are limited and in high demand. Bookings for the following month open on the 1st of the current month.
• Getting There: The restaurant is an 8-minute walk from Exit 2 of Takaoka Station (Sakuradori Line) or a 10-minute walk from Exit 1 of Shin-Sakae Station (Higashiyama Line).
• Payment: Credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB, Amex, Diners) are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not.
• Age Restriction: Children under 12 are not permitted in the main dining area but are welcome in the private rooms. Please specify when booking if you are bringing children.
• Seating: The restaurant has 12 seats, with private rooms available for parties of 2, 4, or 6.
• Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
• Parking: No dedicated parking is available, but there are paid public lots nearby.