10 Places to Eat in Hiroshima

Located a short 1.5-hour flight from Tokyo is Hiroshima, a coastal prefecture with a storied history and vibrant culture. The lively city and prefecture of the same name are home to a flourishing nightlife and foodie scene that everyone should experience once in their lifetime. 

So, if you’re planning a trip to Hiroshima, here are 10 restaurants you should check out for a premium dining experience on the coast!

1. Nagomitei Tanakaya
2. Sumiyaki Kaminari Main Store
3. Hondori Sasa
4. Teppanryori Mimitei
5. Wagyu Amiyaki Kaiseki Sizzler
6. Yagumo Nagarekawa
7. Tosho
8. cafe SPROUTS
9. Momiji-so
10. Onomichi Ramen Tani

If you want to try out everything a restaurant has to offer without wasting food, kappo cuisine — the high-end a la carte cuisine of Japan — is the way to go. Luckily, Nagomitei Tanakaya is ready to give you the full Hiroshima-style kappo experience. 

Complete with an all-you-can-drink plan (90 minutes on weekends and 150 minutes on weekdays), the menu consists of six courses. Additionally, there are 25 dishes you can add a la carte, should something else pique your interest. 

Nagomitei Tanakaya’s specialties include Bikkuri Dashimaki Tamago, a jumbo omelet, oyster tempura, fried ginkgo nut tempura and conger eel hotspot, which is available in individual portions for solo travelers.

With a name translating to “thunder chicken,” Sumiyaki Kaminari’s yakitori is nothing short of life-changing. What makes it so special? First, the high-quality chicken sourced from across the country. 

Second is the toubi grilling method, which places the skewers at a distance from the burning charcoal so that the chicken is crispy on the outside and has a delightful umami flavor on the inside. 

The final component is the thick sauce, which — rather than changing the batch each time — is continually added to, so you can taste the history of the restaurant with each bite! 

Located just off the iconic Hondori Shotengai shopping street, Hondori Sasa aims to create a luxury dining experience in a place that feels like home. 

At this cozy restaurant, every dish on its course menu is grilled over an irori — a central fireplace that was used for cooking in every Japanese home until size constraints and modern cooking methods took over. 

Taste the deep, unique flavors of dishes such as dried seafood and irori-grilled fish caught fresh each day at Hondori Sasa. 

Hiroshima beef may be overshadowed by the more popular Kobe beef, but trust us when we say that Hiroshima beef is just as worthy of the hype. 

Known for its high oleic acid content which causes an extremely low melting point, Hiroshima beef literally melts in your mouth, making for a multi-sensory dining experience. 

And for those who aren’t fans of beef, Teppanyori Mimitei also grills abalone and live lobster, which are just as delicious! 

For the best of both worlds, why not try Hiroshima-sourced wagyu beef? Revered by yakiniku lovers across the country, Wagyu Amiyaki Kaiseki Sizzler has been serving 25 different cuts of cow since it first opened in 1972. 

We recommend the kuroge wagyu black beef, sourced from local Hiroshima markets for the ultimate freshness. 

Not a grilling expert? Don’t worry — this wagyu restaurant has grilling instructions for each cut in both English and Japanese so you can enjoy your beef to the fullest.

Calling all hot pot lovers! One of the first restaurants in the country to serve shabu-shabu, Yagumo Nagarekawa eventually coined the term “susugi-nabe” after the term was trademarked elsewhere. The name comes from the swishing of meat and vegetables in the pot as they cook. 

Known for its folk art interior and delectably thin slices of kuroge wagyu black beef, Yagumo Nagarekawa is the spot to go when you’re craving a dish that will warm you up from the inside out. 

For a taste of traditional Japan with an excellent Zen garden view, Tosho offers a kaiseki course menu that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. 

Changing throughout the seasons, Tosho’s immaculate course menu features local ingredients such as tofu, Hiroshima wagyu beef, sake, and, of course, the refreshing notes of Asahi beer. 

Given the stunning scenery and delicious food, it’s no wonder that Tosho is frequently used for special occasions — even hosting Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Rishi Sunak before the 2023 G7 Summit! 

Considering its popularity, we recommend reserving your table so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to dine at this historic restaurant.

If you want a plant-based dish that makes you feel good from the inside out, be sure to visit cafe SPROUTS, a vegan and vegetarian-friendly cafe that offers delicious, balanced meals every weekend. 

Popular items include the vegetable curry set and their organic beverages, including grain coffee and fresh fruit juice. For those with a sweet tooth, vegan desserts like raw chocolate cake and cheesecake will be waiting for you. 

Located on the gorgeous Miyajima island, Momiji-so is the ultimate island destination for fresh seafood and cold noodle dishes on a hot summer day. 

Its oyster curry rice is among the most popular teishoku dishes, though they also serve vegetarian options like wakame seaweed udon and tofu noodles, too! 

Stay the night: This hotel restaurant is only open to the general public for lunch, but a one-night stay will include breakfast and dinner, which is a great option for those wanting to stay overnight on Miyajima!

Onomichi Ramen is Hiroshima’s regional take on ramen, complete with dried sardines that add a rich, full-bodied flavor to this unique bowl of noodles. 

Although you can find plenty of onomichi ramen restaurants in Hiroshima, we recommend Onomichi Ramen Tani for their simple, tasty and budget-friendly ramen. 

One way to see this beautiful and historically rich city is to join a relaxed Hiroshima bike tour. In two hours, you'll cycle to many of Hiroshima's must-see landmarks, including Hiroshima Castle and Peace Park, all while your English-speaking guide tells you about Hiroshima’s peace initiatives and impressive postwar reconstruction efforts.

Something else you can only find here is the regional specialty: Hiroshima-yaki. This is a local take on the beloved okonomiyaki (savory cabbage pancake) you may already know and love, made by preparing batter and leaving it to chill for a smooth texture. Then, as usual, it's filled with mouthwatering ingredients and grilled to perfection.

Looking to add more sights to your Hiroshima itinerary? Check out these things to do in Hiroshima, Hiroshima specialties to try, Hiroshima food tours to participate in and an okonomiyaki village to visit! 

Both Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima City make for a peaceful destination, especially considering the area’s rebirth from travesty and the beautiful water surrounding it.

That being said, there’s plenty to do while you’re here, including walking through Peace Memorial Park, riding the ferry to Miyajima Island for a day trip and sampling local sake at Saijo.

For more ideas on what to do while in Hiroshima, check out this list of activities to add to your Hiroshima itinerary.

Hiroshima is located in the Chugoku region of Japan and faces the Seto Inland Sea. Sandwiched between Yamaguchi Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima’s capital is the largest in the region. 

With plenty of small islands connected by waterways, Hiroshima, once an important military destination, is now a popular coastal vacation destination.

Hiroshima is so much more than its fateful history. There are all kinds of great food and sights to enjoy on your trip. For signature foods, try Hiroshima-yaki, or Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki with fried soba noodles on the bottom. Hiroshima is also known for its lemons and fresh oysters, so you’ll have to give those a try, too.

Also worth a visit are Hiroshima’s many temples and shrines, including Senkoji Temple, Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine, Daishoin Temple and Itsukushima Jinja — the famous floating shrine!