Location: Otaru
Top Restaurants in Otaru
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Where to Eat in Otaru: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Otaru in Japan, from Asia region, is best know for Private Dining. Discover best restaurants in Otaru with beautiful photos and great reviews from traveller around the world here!
Things to do in Otaru
1. Masazushi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 195 reviews
Reviewed By bsuchai - Bangkok, Thailand
Heard from many positive reviews that this restaurant is a "must" in Otaru, so I decided to give it a try. I and my wife arrived here around noon, expecting there would be a very long waiting line as we can see from other tourists-attracted restaurants. To our surprise, the waiting line was not long at all....we were informed by a staff that the waiting time was around 30-45 minutes. There was a waiting room provided to customers where you could watch the menu and took your time to decide which menu you gonna order. Actual waiting time was only about 15 minutes, then we were taken to our seats which was at the counter bar where you could see the chef working on your sushi live! I ordered the recommended signature, "Takumi" set (around 5,000+ yen) and a rice bowl topped with salmon sashimi (around 2,000+ yen) for my wife. Hot green tea was served free of charge. The great thing about edo-mae sushi restaurant is that you get to enjoy watching the chef prepare every single piece of sushi closely. Usually the chef will have a lot of conversation with the customer, explaining what fish he uses to make sushi, where he gets the raw materials from, how to eat each particular sushi properly, etc...but our chef didn't talk much (maybe because he couldn't speak English). I was impressed by overall quality of food and service, especially the freshness of the ingredients. The sushi rice was also well cooked and tasted good. They have English menu and some staffs can speak English. Only negative point might be the lack of rare selections in the set or menu as those are mostly typical sushi you can have anywhere in Japan. Unlike some sushi restaurant I have tried in Fukuoka, there were several extraordinary sushi selections included in the set (e.g. live squid or abalone).
2. Kamaei
Overall Ratings
4 based on 325 reviews
Reviewed By IVegas - Nevada
We walked from Otaru station along canal heading towards Minami-Otaru station, Kamaei is along the way.
Great place for rest stop even if you don't buy anything. Their specialties are fish cakes of all kinds, but they also have other stuff.
Free hot/cold water/tea and fish cake samples. Clean toilets, a must stop in Otaru.
3. Kitaichi Glass Sangokan Cafe Bar Kyubankura
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 90 reviews
Reviewed By SG_Travelbugs - Singapore
Disclaimer: we didn't actually dine here as we arrived just when they were closing. The rating is for the ambiance, and romantic setting of the place. We managed to take a few quick pictures before leaving but we regretted not finding it earlier. Seemed like a very romantic place. However, the neither the menu nor the pictures seemed interesting. Would have had coffee to while away some time here.
4. Isezushi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 183 reviews
Reviewed By Angkola Indrade... H
A bit difficult to find this place without maps. Again. Similar to other restaurant here, the signage in Kanji and no window to look inside the restaurant. I barely can recognize its store front, if not seeing from Trip Advisor member's photo.
We order 1 set of sushi, consist of 10 assorted sushi. This set is the least expensive among 3 set option. We can go with ala carte menu, but the price wasnt cheap. 1 piece sushi price ranging from JPY 200 - JPY 800.
The restaurant ambiance a little bit formal, but cozy. The room was very clean and neat. I love the waitress, they are very helpful and kind. Menu in English also available if you ask.
For me, the downside is only the price. But if you are sushi lover with deep pocket, this will pleased your tongue.
5. Wakadori Jidai Naruto Honten
Overall Ratings
4 based on 279 reviews
Reviewed By RolaCT
Was planning to go to isezushi but it was fully booked. Stumbled into this place. Very good fried chicken - juicy n fresh... worth a visit if u r tired of the sushi n tempura.
6. Minshuku Aozukashokudo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By Suannkhor - Singapore, Singapore
I am allergic to seafood that is farmed. I swell instantly and require antihistamines.
However Japan is a place I love to enjoy my seafood but still with caution.
This place is unique. It closes at 7pm. The people running the restaurant are also in the fishing trade and hence the food is extremely fresh. Yup.. no reaction and I ate a lot!!
We were introduced to this place by local friends. They helped us with Reservations too since we had trouble with the language.
We wanted something authentic and it was certainly what we got.
The lady host Honma Junko gave us a warm welcome and she helm the grill.
We had sashimi from the catch of the day, uni, ikura, shellfish, abalone as well as a huge grill from squid to clams. The food is so fresh that you could taste pure sweetness and no smell... something you hardly can find in Spore unless you pay loads for wild caught produce.
They also sell seaweed or kombu which we purchased home to cook.
Would love to be there more frequent. Highly recommended.
7. LeTAO Le chocoLat
Overall Ratings
4 based on 166 reviews
Reviewed By Don P - Dallas, Texas, United States
We visited on a hot August day so we went for a cold chocolate iced drink, it was great. You could drink inside in the AC or take it out to continue wandering the street. There was also lots of chocolate items to buy although having the chocolate melt on the hot day stopped us from getting too much. This is a small outpost of the larger store across the street.
8. Ramen Tokaiya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
Reviewed By fwlim - Singapore
If you are a Ramen fan you must try this place. Order either the clear (¥750) or Japanese style (¥950) BBQ ramen. Oishi to the max ! We also tried the small bonito rice (real tuna pieces) & gyoza which is done unlike anywhere I've seen. About 10 pax Seating capacity hence be prepared to wait. 2 blocks east of JR Otaru station. Travel down the main thoroughfare past Dormy Inn, turn left at next block where you'll see a small parking lot & Playland Happy building. You'll see a small hostel & this wonderful ramen place is tucked right there.
9. Uomasa
Overall Ratings
4 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By GMV-GotMyVote - Sydney, Australia
By recommendation we stumbled into this hidden sushi restaurant. The special sushi set was super fresh and delicious, the lightly air-battered tempura was addictive; and the sea urchin potato bake was insanely moreish.
My surprise was the Dobinmushi （土瓶蒸し）, which was a seafood and mushroom soup steam-boiled in an earthenware teapot.
壽司只能說是好吃到爆！鮮，甜又美。附加了茶碗湯，真的好好喝。天婦羅也超級的酥脆，但麵衣卻非常的薄。
也點了它們的招牌菜魚真燒。簡單來說就是焗烤甘甜馬鈴薯加海膽。味道濃郁，也只有在北海道才能那麼奢侈的隨便加海膽來提味。
如果不是吃了太飽，我還想叫かに雑炊 (螃蟹雜炊) ¥750! 這間美味度超高的。
10. Yabuhan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 107 reviews
Reviewed By poopshooter - Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
This restaurant is located a bit out of the touristy area. Quite a big restaurant with multiple types of Seating. Authentic, charming & cosy decor. Service is friendly & attentive. They have an English menu. Specializing in soba (buckwheat noodles). Does get crowded during peak hours. Prices are reasonable.
We settled on the tempura zaru (cold) soba & the chicken soup soba. Portions were decent. The noodles had a nice bite to it. They gave spring onions, wasabi & ginger on the side to mix with the dipping sauce so it was a delight playing around with the flavors. Tempura was slightly above average. The chicken soup was rich yet light. They used old village chickens so the meat was a bit tough. Once you are done with your noodles don't forget to try the sobayu (the water that the soba noodles were cooked in). Pour it into your leftover dipping sauce or soup & enjoy.
Overall a great meal. Would definitely return when in Otaru. Highly recommended.
