Tabelog ratingHitoshi Honten (ひとし 本店) is a casual izakaya built around hon-maguro (bluefin tuna), which is unusual for a remote island. Next to the toro and Ishigaki-beef nigiri, the kitchen turns out inventive island dishes. Two of them have a cult following: uni sōmen champurū, thin noodles in a rich sea-urchin cream that eats more like pasta, and a jet-black ikasumi (squid-ink) fried rice. It has been named one of Tabelog's 100 izakaya in 2021 and every year from 2024 to 2026.
Most reviewers rave about the melting ōtoro and chūtoro and the thick-cut sashimi platter with local fish. They also keep recommending the Ishigaki beef nigiri, red-prawn cream stew with baguette, negimamire katsuo (bonito buried in scallions), jīmāmi peanut tofu and fried kuruma prawns. Half portions let a small group work through more of the menu.
The criticism centres on service. Staff are stretched, ordering can be slow, and several reviewers, foreign visitors especially, found staff curt or were refused at the door. One reservation was lost without an apology, and the house rules are rigid. A regular reports rising prices and watery tuna, and a few diners found the uni sōmen too sweet and the place overrated given the wait.
Reviewers in 2025–2026 paid around ¥2,180 for a tuna sushi set, ¥450 per piece of chūtoro nigiri, ¥550 for the special Ishigaki beef nigiri, ¥880 each for the uni sōmen and squid-ink fried rice, ¥680 for a half portion of bonito and about ¥1,800 for the sashimi platter. Dinner typically runs ¥3,000–5,000 per person, and couples paid ¥6,000–10,000 in total. There is no lunch service. Most reviewers call the value exceptional, with generous portions and tuna they say would cost double in Tokyo.
- Getting there: about 1 km (15 minutes on foot) from Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal, and about 15 km from New Ishigaki Airport. The restaurant is in a house.
- Booking: do not count on walking in. Phone bookings open two months ahead on the 1st of the month, but the phone rarely answers. The reliable route is to queue at the door around 16:00–16:30, either for a same-day cancellation or to book a later day. If you leave a mobile number, the restaurant calls you when a seat frees up.
- Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted.
- Time limit: strict, 60–120 minutes.
- Seating: counter and a tatami room with no cushions. Tables may be shared, and there are no private rooms or private hire.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Parking: available, with limited spaces behind the shop.
- Menu: no photos. Leftover fried rice can be taken away.
