Japan has a history of shifting its capital city whenever a new king ascends the throne. With the establishment of Japan’s first permanent capital of Heijo in 710 AD, the current city Nara was formed. Nara is home to the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha known as Daibutsu at the Tōdai-ji Temple. For mountain lovers, Mount Wakakusa - which literally translates to “young grass” - offers a spectacular view. It also hosts an annual festival Yamayaki, where on the fourth Saturday of January the dead grass of the mountain is burnt as a tradition. Visitors can also experience the mesmerizing ambience of Kasugataishashinen Manyo Botanical Gardens with a variety of Japanese wisteria in the blooming season. Nara has got a lot to offer when it comes to scenic views and lifestyle. It is the same when it comes to the city’s food culture. Check out our ultimate Nara food guide which clues you in on where to eat in Nara.
1. Shizuka
This Japanese restaurant at Omiyacho, as well as Nara Park, has excellent and modern architecture in the most simplistic manner. The ambience is heartwarming and offers a preference seating on chairs or tatami mats. One of the most sought after items here is the seafood dish kamameshi. The texture is rich and it is served along with a rice pot and stock soup. The red soup has to be the best one offered here. Served in traditional casseroles, Rice Q smells delightful with fresh shrimps, crabs, crispy bamboo shoot and mushrooms. You can relish on eel and oysters as well.
Shizuka
Address: 4-249-4 Omiyacho, Nara, 630-8115
Website: Shizuka
Opening hours: Mon, Wed - Fri: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 8pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 8pm (closed on Tue)
2. Tonkatsu Ganko Nara
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
This restaurant is located in Higashimuki Shopping Street at Nakamachi and is greatly popular among both the locals and travelers. The ambiance is nice and cozy with a courtyard in the center of the place. They have separate private seating spaces as well. They offer the best in town pork and kaki fries with plum and juicy oysters crisp coated in breadcrumbs. The sauces here have an oomph factor highlighting the best flavors of succulent and tender meats. They give free refills on rice, cabbage, miso soup, and salads too.
Tonkatsu Ganko Nara
Address: 19 Higashimuki Nakamachi, Nara, 630-8215
Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)
3. Wakakusa Curry
Wakakusa Curry restaurant at Mochiidonocho is every curry lover’s haven in Nara. They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries with a large variety of styles and spices. The meat dishes are tender and perfectly cooked with a great balance of flavors from tangy to sweet and salt. The baked curry and spinach curry tops their chart along with the curry bread. You can also choose your own custom ingredients with a style of preparation. They also offer an English menu if you haven’t got a taste for curry.
Wakakusa Curry
Address: 38-1 Mochiidonocho, Nara, 630-8222
Opening hours: Thu - Tue: 11am - 7:30pm (closed on Wed)
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4. Kakinoha-Sushi Tanaka
Another restaurant in the Higashimuki Shopping line is this Japanese restaurant with both dine-in and takeout options. The front side has a souvenir shop with a quiet eatery at the back. You can try their mackerel served with vinegar, salmon, sea bream, along with persimmon leaf sushi, Irish sushi and rolled sushi. The eatery is convenient to get to for tourists thanks to its proximity to the station and the affordability of the place is the icing on the cake!
Kakinoha-Sushi Tanaka
Address: 5 Higashimuki Nakamachi, Nara, 630-8215
Opening hours: 9:30am - 7:30pm (daily)
5. Maguro Koya
If you are looking for some tuna love, you should definitely check out the options at Maguro Koya in Hanashibacho. The menu is a delight for tuna lovers, protein-packed with Ootoro or pink fatty tuna as a specialty. Some of the dishes at this place are Tuna teriyaki, deep-fried tuna with onions, sashimi, and fried skewers. Accompanying the main dishes, you can also try the set meals with rice, miso soup, and pickles. The ambiance is friendly with polite staff catering to all your needs.
Maguro Koya
Address: 6, Hanashiba Shopping Street, Hanashibacho, Nara, 630-8266, Japan
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 8pm (closed on Sun)
6. Tou no Chaya
Comfort food served in bowls is best served at Tou no Chaya in Minamijodocho, Nara. The place is known for its one-of-a-kind fresh and flavorful meals in Japan. The kaiseki tradition for lunches and dinners along with authentic tea porridge is a must-try. It is advisable to make prior reservations owing to the small capacity of the restaurant. They also serve bento boxes, unique bowl meals, and tea gruels. You must satiate your taste buds with rice cakes for deserts.
Tou no Chaya
Address: 18 Minamijodocho, Nara, 630-8341
Website: Tou no Chaya
Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 11:30am - 4pm (closed on Tue)
7. Edogawa Naramachi
At Shimomikado Shopping Street, you can try some of the best eel dishes as the name may suggest. The place is known for its great service and soul-warming food at Nara. The ambiance of the place is kept traditional Japanese as its modeled on an old Machiya shop. The grilled eel (unagi) with rice and beef sukiyaki is a great pick at this restaurant. You can also try the tempura, machiya, minka, and sashimi but eel is always their main dish.
Edogawa Naramachi
Address: 43 Shimomikadocho, Nara, 630-8365, Japan
Website: Edogawa Naramachi
Opening hours: 11am - 9:30pm (daily)
8. Kameya
When you’re at the city center, stop by this Japanese restaurant for some great pork or vegetarian okonomiyaki and Yakisoba as well as other traditional cuisines at excellent prices. The ambiance is hospitable with polite staff and the dishes are served in generous portions. You can also try shrimps, squids, cuttlefish, and scallops here. You get the perfect authentic Japanese Yaki House experience with a variety on the menu.
Kameya
Address: 9 Taruicho, Nara, 630-8218
Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 11am - 10pm (closed on Tue)
9. Yoshinohonkuzu Tengyokudo Nara Honten
Tengyokudo is a restaurant known for its kudzu specialization at Nara. Kudzu is a starch made from Japanese arrowroots and this restaurant’s menu has got a variety of it. Nara Yama-no-Sachi Rice bowls are an absolute delight, being highly recommended but limited quantity meals. The tea is served in cute ceramic cups to gorge on with free refills. The surimono soup along with pickled vegetables goes great for lunches. You must also try their hijiki-no-nimono, made of dark edible seaweed.
Yoshinohonkuzu Tengyokudo Nara Honten
Address: 1-6 Oshiagecho, Nara 630-8273 Nara Prefecture
Website: Yoshinohonkuzu Tengyokudo Nara Honten
Opening hours: Wed - Mon: 10am - 7:30pm (closed on Tue)
10. Saika Ramen
Needless to say, this popular ramen restaurant has to be on every foodie’s list when you’re in Nara. This small shop stays operational even after the supermarkets close for business. You can find a variety of ramen here with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The soup served with the ramen feels heartwarming during cold weather. They also offer a variety of spices and ingredients for the soup from garlic-based or meat stocks with the sweetness of vegetables.
Saika Ramen
Address: 91 Iwamurocho, Tenri, Nara 632-0076
Opening hours: 11am - 3am (daily)
Nara - a must-visit city in Japan
Nara is the ideal destination for those looking to experience traditional Japanese culture. An hour’s train trip from Osaka or Kyoto also makes Nara a frequently-visited tourist destination. If you are a food lover then you can’t miss trying traditional Japanese cuisine in this town.
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