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The Nobel Foodie guide
Top 12 locations in Japan
byNobel Vale
Live update: Updated December 21, 2021Copy link
Copy link1. Sushi Zanmai Yurakucho shop
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
Nobel ValeOne of the more famous chain sushi restaurants in Japan, this establishment originated in the famous Tsukiji Market. Many are open late, sometimes 24 hours, so if you have a sushi craving even at the latest hour, you can come here. Oh and yes the sushi is delish!
2. Tonkatsu Marugo
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeSo on this trip to Tokyo, this was the one restaurant i decided to return to! The pork Tonkatsu here is just so so good! Still one of the best I have ever had! The breading stayed crisp throughout my meal to the very last piece. If you can, I would get here 20 to 30 minutes before opening so you can get into the first wave of seats! You will not regret it! Make sure you add the sauce for more flavor and other complementary toppings on the table as you like!
3. Nishiki Market
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeI was fortunate to check out Nishiki Market while I was over in Kyoto for a short time. I got to go around and try a few of their street food. I saw this little octopus that has a quail egg inside a few times.. so I had to end up trying it. A nice little snack!
4. 麺屋 さん田
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeThe last bowl of ramen I got to try in Kyoto was this Tori Paitan Tsukemen. Apparently the broth does not have much added other than the chicken, which is amazing considering the immense flavor and thickness of this broth. With no additives or MSG added, the ramen chef here definitely puts a lot of tender love and care in his dishes. He makes all the ramen by himself, and that is detectable by the taste. As you see from when I lifted the noodles, that broth sticks right to them in a perfect way to get that great taste and concentrated flavor of chicken in that small amount of broth!
5. Yakiniku Hiro (Kyoto-ekimae branch)
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeWhen you do not know what to get, just the the platter and have a little of everything! This Japanese style BBQ, Yakiniku was great here. So much delicious meat, and we even got some "beef sushi". The meat just kept on coming!
6. Ginjo Ramen Kubota
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeThanks to a person I met through IG @mrramen4 who loves trying all the ramen in this area , I was able to meet him in person and try his favorite ramen shop in Kyoto! I tried their Miso Tsukemen and wow this was sooooooo good! The flavor of the broth was excellent and it just sticks on those noodles! Even after the meal they made me a small bowl of their "experimental ramen" which also was another style of miso ramen. So so good and you can take a little walk from Kyoto station to get there. I recommend it!
7. Sushi bar Naritaya すし成田屋
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeOne of the first times I had sushi during this trip to Japan. Just a nice little platter with some options like fatty tuna, salmon, eel, uni, and salmon roe. It is great that good sushi in general is all around!
8. Ramen Toritani
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeThe first meal I had when getting to Kyoto was simple, yet awesome ramen! It had some char siu chicken and pork with noodles that had a buttery taste to it. I really enjoyed the noodles here and overall taste. I felt you also get a generous portion for the price. I also got a small side dish, a buttered rice dish with chicken and roast beef. SO delish too! The menu is written down on the table (in Japanese), but I knew which one I wanted ahead of time. With the light broth, that made me slurp every last bit of soup without any regrets!
9. Oretachi No Curry Ya
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeWow, I have to say this Pork Katsu Curry was SO delish! You order the parts of this dish separately and they make suggestions on how to put them together, so it was separate orders for the curry rice, pork katsu, egg, and cheese. Oh and the cheese is melted with a blowtorch! I could see the steaming coming out of my food through my entire meal!
10. JUZA
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeHere is their beef sukiyaki with fried noodles. Oh man.. this was sooooo good! The beef was cooked so nice and tender and the egg that I dipped the beef in complemented the dish so well. It is a small place and you sit around a bar-like area and you see the chefs making the food in front of you. I got a small beef soup as well that also hit the spot!!
11. Dotombori Kukuru
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeI was finally able to get takoyaki from where it is famous at!! I decided to try both their styles in the "museum set". On this picture, one person is making the classic takoyaki, and the other is making the classic with pork and cheese added! Both were delicious and worth trying out for sure!
ALSO FEATURED IN:Top 12 Japanese Food locations in Japan
12. Yakiyakiteppan Bonkuraya Sennichimae
PEOPLE ARE SAYING:Nobel ValeSo I have to say, my first meal in Osaka was a success! Got to visit this nice spot and get some Tonpeiyaki and Okonomiyaki! Both contained pork, and both contained that deliciousness I was waiting to have in Osaka! For food to come! Osaka is a short trip and got spots on the radar, BUT, if anyone has recommendations in Kyoto, I will go there next!
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