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
Kanagawa · Ice Cream Parlor
A beloved soft-serve shop in Zushi, known for its light, milky ice cream made from fresh morning milk. A local favourite for its classic milk flavour and inventive weekly specials. Note: The shop has announced it will close permanently on October…
No bookingView details
Hyōgo · Fine Dining
A traditional house restaurant in Tamba-Sasayama, famous for its unique wild boar hotpot (botan nabe) made with a sweet-savory chestnut-miso broth. A regional specialty worth the trip.
Book days aheadView details
Kanagawa · Pizzeria
A seaside pizzeria in Hayama serving authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Go for the excellent local seafood toppings and the stunning views over Sagami Bay from its terrace seats.
Book days aheadView details
Nara · Casual Dining
A takeaway specialist on Mount Yoshino, famous for its kakinoha-zushi. This traditional persimmon-leaf-wrapped sushi, with cured mackerel or salmon, is designed to be eaten the next day for the best flavour.
No bookingView details
Osaka · Fine Dining
A specialist restaurant in Osaka's Tenjinbashi district dedicated entirely to anago (conger eel). It offers multi-course tasting menus exploring the fish in myriad ways, from sashimi to sukiyaki, paired with a curated sake list.
Book months aheadView details
Hokkaido · Izakaya
Specialising in individual lamb shabu-shabu, this moody basement restaurant in Sapporo's Susukino district offers a refined experience. Diners praise the high-quality lamb cuts and the house-made udon served to finish the meal.
Book days aheadView details
Fukuoka · Bar
An all-you-can-eat restaurant in Fukuoka's Daimyo district, built around produce from its own organic farm. Go for the high-quality vegetables, theatrical presentations, and creative cocktails in a stylish setting.
Book days aheadView details
Osaka · Steakhouse
A lively izakaya in Osaka's Shinmachi district where Japanese technique elevates Mexican classics. It's celebrated for its signature dish, a perfectly cooked red-meat steak plate served with house-made tortillas.
Book days aheadView details
Kyoto · Steakhouse
In Kyoto's historic Pontocho alley, this restaurant offers a refined take on Korean cuisine using Japanese ingredients. Go for the theatrical tableside service—like wagyu grilled on hot stone—and the coveted seats overlooking the Kamo River.
Book days aheadView details
Kyoto · Fine Dining
In a traditional Gion machiya, Mizudaki Manjiro (水だき 萬治郎) serves two distinct seasonal menus: a rich, slow-cooked mizutaki chicken hotpot in winter, and a highly sought-after oyakodon for lunch in summer.
Book days aheadView details
Hokkaido · Fine Dining
A dedicated fugu specialist in Sapporo, serving multi-course meals centred on live tiger pufferfish. Located on the 7th floor of the Sanjo Bisho Building, it offers an authentic fugu experience in private rooms for a surprisingly reasonable price.
Book days aheadView details
Fukuoka · Izakaya
A rare specialist for fresh, unfrozen horse sashimi (basashi) in Fukuoka's Takasago district. Go for the wide variety of cuts, from tender red meat to rare liver, and the excellent value, especially during the long happy hour.
No bookingView details
Osaka · Izakaya
A family-run izakaya in Osaka's Nishinari ward, famed for its exceptionally fresh chicken sashimi. Visit for the weekend-only special raw chicken bowl, a rare treat sourced directly from their own butchery.
Book days aheadView details
Fukuoka · Bar
An intimate counter bar in Fukuoka's Nishinakasu district, Bera Jr. specializes in Spanish-inspired dishes cooked over a live wood fire. It's a prime spot for watching a chef at work and enjoying deeply smoky steaks and creative tapas.
Book days aheadView details
Fukuoka · Fine Dining
Experience a two-part sukiyaki ritual at this counter-only spot in Fukuoka's Gion district. Staff prepare A5 Miyazaki beef first seared, then simmered, right before your eyes, for a rich, layered flavour.
Book days aheadView details
Aichi Prefecture · Fine Dining
In Nagoya's Izumi district, this kappo restaurant offers a masterclass in Nagoya Cochin chicken. Guests watch as the chef breaks down a whole bird at the counter, serving it in preparations from sashimi to charcoal-grilled skewers.
Book days aheadView details
Hiroshima · Casual Dining
In Hiroshima's Misasa district, this unique restaurant applies traditional nukazuke (rice-bran fermentation) to Western dishes. Expect creative combinations like uni cream pasta with nukazuke roast beef.
No bookingView details
Hokkaido · Casual Dining
A specialist restaurant in Sapporo's Susukino district dedicated to mu gata, the Thai combination grill and hotpot. Guests praise the hands-on experience and authentic flavours, making it a favourite for a taste of home.
Book days aheadView details
Hyōgo · Fine Dining
Experience modern Sichuan cuisine in Ashiya, where authentic numbing spice and creative plating meet in a multi-course format. This intimate 12-seat restaurant is known for its signature brush-shaped pastry.
Book months aheadView details
Hiroshima · Fine Dining
A formal kaiseki restaurant in Onomichi, showcasing rare ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea. It's a destination for its precisely crafted, course-only menus and excellent sake pairings. Reservations are essential.
Book months aheadView details