Ranking
An editorial ranking of restaurants, cafés and bars: grades from A+ to F, price range, and the Tabelog score where one exists.
Places ranked: 1,522
Tokyo · Izakaya
A famed izakaya in Hirai, Tokyo, known for its towering hot pots of premium seafood like cod milt and monkfish liver. Expect generous portions, strict house rules, and long queues for a unique and powerful umami experience.
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Nara · Casual Dining
A popular ramen shop in Nara, known for its rich and creamy chicken paitan broth balanced with fish dashi and a hint of yuzu. It's a family-friendly spot with ample parking, part of the well-regarded NOROMA group.
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Hyōgo · Pâtisserie
A chef-led chocolaterie in Kobe's Motomachi district, celebrated for its signature chocolate-coated cookies and an extensive, rotating selection of single-origin bonbons. It's a top choice for high-quality take-home treats.
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Hokkaido · Wine Bar
A sophisticated Sapporo yakitori bar pairing precisely grilled Hinai jidori chicken with a vast wine selection. Known for creative skewers and its signature blue-cheese fried rice, it's a top choice for a special night out.
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Osaka · Casual Dining
An intimate 8-seat counter in Dojima serving high-grade chicken from the chef's family farm in Kagoshima. Go for the multi-part chicken sashimi and rich hotpot, a refined experience praised for its value.
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Nara · Pizzeria
Authentic Neapolitan pizza from a wood-fired oven in the Omiyacho district of Nara. A popular spot for its excellent crust and classic toppings, offering a taste of Naples just a short walk from Nara Station.
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Nara · Fine Dining
In Kashihara, Nara, Kappou Risu offers a refined seafood kaiseki experience in a setting of mostly private rooms. It’s sought after for its high-quality ingredients, from natural fugu to expertly prepared unagi, making it ideal for special occasions.
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Tokyo · Diner
A long-standing specialist in Himonya serving mugitoro: grated wild yam over barley rice. Come for expertly prepared set meals featuring grilled fish and a host of traditional side dishes from a kitchen that began as a rice merchant.
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Osaka · Dessert Shop
A beloved, old-fashioned sweet shop in Osaka's Morishoji district, famous for its enormous, inexpensive sundaes and shaved ice. Visitors come for the nostalgic atmosphere and generous portions that offer exceptional value.
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Nara · Dessert Shop
A long-standing sweet shop in Taima, Nara, celebrated for its signature yomogi mochi. Visitors queue for the exceptionally soft rice cakes topped with a smooth, subtly sweet red bean paste, available to eat in or take away.
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Hokkaido · Casual Dining
A popular Sapporo curry house known for its rich, Japanese-style Indian curries and exceptional house-baked bread. Located on the ground floor of the ARK36 Building, it's a one-man operation prized for its quality and value, but be prepared for a…
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Kyoto · Bistro
A lively Franco-Japanese bistro in Kyoto known for its creative cooking and signature dishes like uni pudding and smoked mackerel with potato salad. Popular with locals, it offers generous portions and a vibrant atmosphere.
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Hiroshima · Gelateria
A popular gelateria on the Shimanami Kaido cycling route in Setoda, Onomichi. It's a canonical rest stop known for its gelato made with local Setouchi ingredients like Setoda lemons and Hakata sea salt.
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Osaka · Buffet
A premium buffet on the 29th floor of the Osaka Station Hotel in Umeda. Go for the skyline views and live cooking stations, where chefs prepare everything from nigiri sushi to roast beef and Mont-Blanc desserts to order.
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Nara · Fine Dining
A seven-seat counter serving careful Edo-mae sushi in the historic Naramachi district of Nara. Go for a high-quality omakase experience that reviewers praise as excellent value compared to Tokyo equivalents.
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