The Best Food in Kanazawa: My 7 Favorite Restaurants in Kanazawa I’ve Visited 2026

During my whole time in Japan, the food was definitely one of the things I cared about the most. Honestly, I think finding a good place for dinner was more important to me than actual sightseeing, and I definitely found some amazing spots in Kanazawa.

Kanazawa is much smaller, quieter, and way less touristy than cities like Kyoto or Tokyo, but I was so pleasantly surprised by how good the food scene is here.

I made sure to try a bit of everything, from curry and ramen to sushi and izakayas, and I think I had some of my best food experiences of the whole trip right here.

I know that finding a good place for dinner or lunch in Japan can be a bit of a challenge sometimes. I’m the same way; it’s almost a little stressful trying to figure out which place is actually worth it and which isn’t.

To make it easier for you, I’ve decided to put together this guide on my favorite restaurants in Kanazawa and best food in Kanazawa, so you won’t have to spend ages on Google Maps or Tabelog trying to figure it out yourself.

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The Best Food in Kanazawa: My 7 Favorite Restaurants in Kanazawa I’ve Visited 2026 — This is me having Oysters at Omicho Market in Kanazawa!

Best Food in Kanazawa – My Experience

I was honestly very surprised by the food in Kanazawa. It’s not that I had low expectations, but I just assumed that because it’s a smaller city, there wouldn’t be as many amazing restaurants.

Wow, I was wrong. I went to so many incredible food spots in Kanazawa that I actually became a little obsessed with the food scene here.

I think one reason I loved it so much is that it felt more “real” and authentic to me. In Kyoto and Tokyo, I had to wait in line forever to get a table almost every single time, but that only happened once to me in Kanazawa.

For Ramen Taiga, I actually had to wait for an hour in the rain and hail, which was kind of insane thinking back on it, but more on that later. Other than that, amazing food here was super easily accessible.

I had some of the best ramen I’ve ever had at Ramen Taiga, but then I also had some incredible sushi at Sushi Sukiyaku. It was top-tier sushi made by the owner, a super nice old man, right in front of me. It didn’t feel touristy at all and there was no line to wait in. Like, what else could I want?

I also think Kanazawa is where I really found my love for tonkatsu curry. I had the most amazing curry with a pork cutlet at the Kanazawa Curry Laboratory.

I’d definitely call myself a foodie, and since food is such a massive part of the culture in Japan, I was super into it. If you’re the same, trust me, you’ll find some amazing food here. I also had some amazing food at Omicho Market in Kanazawa. There I had some amazing Noto Beef, Sashimi and I also had the famous ice cream with a gold leaf on top. However I wanted to keep this guide here specificly about the restaurants in Kanazawa that I enjoyed the most.

1. Ramen Taiga (This is One of the Best Ramen I had in my whole time in Japan)

Opening Hours: 11am-2:30pm / 5:30pm-10:30pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

I had some of the best ramen I’ve ever had, for sure, at Ramen Taiga. I think it actually ranks second on my list of best ramen in Japan, right behind Ramen Tatsunoya in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Quick story for Ramen Taiga: it was late the night I arrived in Kanazawa and not many restaurants were open, so we decided to head here. There was a line, and then it started raining, and then it actually started hailing. Like, a full-on hailstorm. It was insane! Luckily we had an umbrella, but I got soaking wet regardless.

Long story short, even though I was drenched, it was totally worth it. The shop is super cute and tiny, and it was full of locals. The broth was so rich, and honestly, ramen was the perfect meal to warm up after waiting in the rain. I washed it all down with my favorite beer, a Suntory Premium Malts, and I couldn’t have been happier.

This is for sure the best ramen in Kanazawa and I highly urge you to come here, even if it means you have to wait in line for a little bit (and maybe get wet).

2. Sushi Sukiyaki ( I absolutely loved the Sushi here!)

Opening Hours: 5pm-10pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Second on my list is my absolute favorite sushi spot in Kanazawa: Sushi Sukiyaki. I just randomly walked in here one night because I was really craving some sushi, and honestly, this turned out to be one of my favorite sushi experiences ever.

When it comes to sushi, I’ll always take an authentic local sushi bar over a fancy restaurant, and Sushi Sukiyaku is exactly that. The owner is an elderly, super friendly Japanese man who is also the sushi chef. He gave us loads of recommendations and then made the sushi right in front of us.

We were almost the only customers there, but I didn’t care because it was some of the best sushi I’ve had in Japan.

The best part was, this was surprisingly some of the cheapest sushi I’ve had, too. It really made me realize how big the price differences are between the major cities and smaller towns. For sure the best “value for money” sushi I found, big thumbs up from me.

3. Taiko Sushi

Opening Hours: 11am-2pm / 4:30pm-10pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

My second favorite sushi spot in Kanazawa is probably Taiko Sushi, but it might as well be on par with Sushi Sukiyaki because it was also incredibly delicious.

My experience here was a little different, though. This sushi restaurant in Kanazawa was actually pretty busy when I turned up around 6 PM for dinner. I think I only managed to get a seat at the bar because I got lucky and it was literally the last seat left!

The sushi here was a little pricier and the staff weren’t quite as chatty as the owner at the other spot, but the overall atmosphere and the food were amazing. I really do prefer these small sushi restaurants with only about 10 bar seats over a bigger restaurant any day of the week.

4. Kanazawa Curry Laboratory

Opening Hours: 10am-3:30pm / 6pm-10pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

I’ve had tonkatsu curry plenty of times before, but I’ll be honest, this was the best katsu curry I’ve ever had.

Like a lot of the best places in Japan, this spot is tiny with only about 10 seats at a bar, so I actually had to wait in line for almost an hour. But again, it was worth it. The food was so incredible that I’d easily wait another hour all over again just to have that curry.

The tonkatsu (the pork cutlet) was so tender I actually thought it was chicken at first, and the curry itself was just perfect.

They only have one dish, just in different sizes: small, medium, and large. I had the medium, which was already way too big for me, but the guy next to us had the large and it was a humongous portion so keep that in mind when ordering.

5. Fuwari

Opening Hours: 5pm-11pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Before I came to Japan, I had never even heard of an izakaya, but now it’s one of my favorite types of restaurants. My favorite izakaya restaurant in Kanazawa is definitely Fuwari.

In case you don’t know, an izakaya is basically a Japanese bar and restaurant where they serve small plates, often featuring seafood and meats grilled over charcoal.

I like to call it “Japanese tapas,” but I’m sure both Japanese and Spanish people would kill me for that! While some izakayas can be fairly basic and low-key, Fuwari was a much more upscale and amazing experience.

I had quite a few beers here, to be honest, along with some delicious wagyu steak and grilled fish. We came here with a group of friends, shared multiple plates, and just had a proper chat. That’s what I love about this style of dining; you can actually hang out. Other spots, like ramen shops, usually want you to leave fairly quickly because the turnover is so fast, but izakayas are specifically made for drinks and long conversations.

6. Kourin Sushi // Some of the Best Sushi in Kanazawa

Opening Hours: 11:30am-1:30pm / 5:30pm-9:30pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

Yes, I had to put another sushi restaurant on this list. Since Kanazawa is right on the coast, the seafood is naturally amazing.

I came to Kourin Sushi for their lunch set menu one day, and one thing I’ve learned in Japan is that it’s usually much easier to get a table at sushi restaurants during lunch than for dinner.

Out of the three sushi spots I tried in Kanazawa, Kourin Sushi felt the most “local.” The interior and the whole atmosphere were very rustic and cozy. I could just tell this was a proper neighborhood spot; no one spoke English and the menu wasn’t in English either, but I came prepared with my translate app, so it was no issue at all.

The quality of the fish was on the same level as the other places I’ve tried here, which means it was incredible. I definitely recommend this spot if you want a more unique, traditional Japanese vibe.

7. Ramen Uguisu // Some of the Best Ramen in Kanazawa

Opening Hours: 11:30am-2:30pm / 6pm-2am
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Lastly on my list is Ramen Uguisu, and I’ll be honest, I actually have NOT visited this one myself, and I am heartbroken about it.

A friend I met while traveling, who used to live in Kanazawa, recommended this place to me as the absolute best ramen in town. I had it tagged on my Google Maps, but I somehow managed to forget about it while I was actually there.

I’ve looked at the photos since, and the ramen looks absolutely delicious and super authentic. So, I’m asking you to please go there and tell me how it was! It’s definitely at the top of my list for when I eventually make it back to Kanazawa.

FAQs About the Best Restaurants in Kanazawa

What are the best Kanazawa Restaurants?

Kanazawa has loads of authentic, locally-run restaurants, but my favorite ones are definitely Ramen Taiga and Sushi Sukiyaki. I had amazing dinners at both of them and left feeling super happy.

Is Kanazawa Worth Visiting?

100%! Kanazawa is actually one of my favorite places in Japan just because it feels so much more authentic and real than many other cities. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tokyo and Kyoto, but Kanazawa definitely felt more like stepping off the beaten path.

What is the best sushi in Kanazawa?

Wow, that’s so hard to answer because I had so much amazing sushi here! But if I have to choose, my three favorite sushi restaurants in Kanazawa are Sushi Sukiyaki, Kourin Sushi, and Taiko Sushi. All of them are cute, tiny local sushi bars that serve incredibly fresh fish.

What is the best ramen in Kanazawa?

This one is a little easier to answer: my favorite ramen in Kanazawa was definitely Ramen Taiga. The broth was rich and super tasty; it’s actually one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve had in all of Japan, not just in Kanazawa.

Final Thoughts on What to Eat in Kanazawa

Again, I can only say that Kanazawa surprised me so much as a foodie city. I knew that Tokyo and Kyoto would be amazing when it came to the food scene, but I didn’t really have any expectations before I arrived here, which is why I’m so positively surprised now.

Overall, the restaurants here felt less touristy and way more local and authentic. The best parts were that the food was generally cheaper than in the bigger cities, and I barely had to deal with long lines out the door (most of the time!). That’s really all I want when I’m traveling.

I hope my list gives you some great inspiration for your next trip to Kanazawa. I especially recommend making a stop at Ramen Taiga, it truly is some of my favorite ramen in Japan!