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: 2,446
Tokyo · Casual Dining
An acclaimed Taiwanese restaurant in Daizawa, known for its exceptionally tender pork kakuni and seasonal Shanghai crab. A local favorite for its handmade small plates and authentic, high-quality cooking.
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Nara · Fine Dining
Savour expertly prepared Edo-style unagi in a historic Meiji-era building in Nara's Takabatakecho district. Known for its fluffy, charcoal-grilled eel, this restaurant offers a memorable dining experience combining classic technique with a unique…
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Kyoto · Bakery
A destination bakery in Kizugawa, Kyoto, famed for its viennoiserie. Visitors travel for the unique texture of its dough—a crisp, buttery crust with a moist, chewy crumb, best experienced in the signature buttery sweet crescent.
Nagano · Casual Dining
Dine in a century-old cultural property at the Manpei Hotel in Karuizawa. This grand dining room is celebrated for its classic Western hotel cuisine, elegant atmosphere, and views of a manicured garden.
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Osaka · Fine Dining
A long-running specialist in whale cuisine in Osaka's Sonezakishinchi district. Doozono offers a rare opportunity to try expertly prepared whale dishes, from sashimi of unusual cuts to its signature *hari-shabu* hot pot.
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Tokyo · Take-out / Takeaway
A small, highly regarded shop in Setagaya specializing in charcoal-grilled fish bento. It's celebrated for its masterfully cooked fish, which is grilled to order for a pronounced smoky flavour, crisp skin, and exceptionally moist flesh.
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Hyōgo · Casual Dining
An acclaimed teppanyaki spot in Kobe's Nada ward, famous for its signature grilled wagyu cheek with green onions and exceptional seafood. Reservations are essential at this bustling, award-winning local favourite.
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Nagano · Delicatessen (Deli)
A celebrated takeout-only deli in Karuizawa, applying German master techniques and direct-fire smoking to create exceptional hams, sausages, and pâtés. It's a perfect stop for picnic supplies or gourmet gifts.
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Fukuoka · Bistro
A lively, Paris-style brasserie in Fukuoka's Yakuin district. Go for hearty French classics, especially the signature truffle omelette and pork katsu sandwich, and choose your own bottle from the walk-in wine cellar.
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Okinawa · Steakhouse
A compact teppanyaki counter in Nago, Okinawa, known for serving exceptionally tender Chateaubriand steak at a great value. Watch the chef cook your meal live, finishing with the house-specialty garlic rice.
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Fukuoka · Casual Dining
A specialist omurice restaurant in Kitakyushu's Asano district, a short walk from Kokura Station. It's famous for a build-your-own concept, letting you pair famously fluffy, half-runny eggs with creative rice fillings and sauces.
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Hyōgo · Fine Dining
A small, acclaimed restaurant in Kobe's Nada ward, where a Hong Kong-trained chef applies intricate dim sum techniques to creative Cantonese and spicy Sichuan dishes. Known for its handmade dumplings and standout signature chicken.
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Fukuoka · Casual Dining
A lively, 12-seat burger shop in Fukuoka's Tani district, known for its juicy 100% beef patties and the wildly creative 'Elvis' burger with banana and peanut butter. A top choice for inventive burger fans.
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Okinawa · Fine Dining
Kura Zushi (カナ) serves a home-style Okinawan set course built around irabu-jiru, smoked sea-snake soup once eaten at the Ryukyu court, in a converted family house in Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa.
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