The 10 Best Places to Eat in Shizuoka, Japan

Shizuoka prefecture facing SURUGA Bay is abundant in seafood and famous for tea and oranges. There are also many dishes which are reasonably priced with ingredients unique to the local area. We will introduce 10 such local dishes that we can not taste unless you go to Shizuoka. All are delicious, so please try them when you come to Shizuoka! Have fun!

1. Sakura Shrimp

Shizuoka is very proud of “Sakura Shrimp”. There are only 120 fishing vessels in Shizuoka, and permitted “Sakura ebi” fishing. There are 2 seasons a year from mid-March to early June, and from late October to late December.

“Sakura Shrimp” can’t keep for long, so it is common to eat them as “Kakiage (Mixed Tempura)” or boiled. However, in Shizuoka it is easier to get fresh “Sakura ebi”, so we may eat them raw.

The best choice is at the fishing port. A restaurant called “HAMA no Kakiage-ya” is near the harbor, and of course, the number one dish is “Kakiage-don”, you can enjoy its texture, fluffy and crispy. There is another dish of limited quantity it’s “Yui-Donburi”.

If you order with “Kakiage” and a “Miso soup” set, it is perfect! As they are very popular at lunch time on Saturdays and Sundays, we recommend you visit a bit early or later. Please come to eat delicious “Sakura ebi” in season!

2. Red Bream

In IZU there are many good seafood restaurants. If you go to SHIMODA, how about a delicious restaurant serving “Kinmedai (Red Bream)”. Since opening in SHIMODA Fish Market in 2014, “KINME-TEI” has been crowded with locals and tourists. Since fresh seafood has been purchased directly from the fish market, the freshness is preeminent.

“KINME-TEI” has a lot of red bream dishes, and the most popular is “Kinme 3color-don” which is 3 kinds of “Kinmedai” on rice in a bowl. The restaurant opens early, so it is also possible to go sightseeing after eating breakfast. It is about 15 minutes on foot from SHIMODA station, and there is a bay cruiser platform nearby.

If you are considering traveling to SHIMODA, please try this restaurant by all means.

3. FUJINOMIYA Yakisoba

“FUJINOMIYA Yakisoba” which won the Gold Grand Prix for the second consecutive year in 2006-2007 at the “B-1 Grand Prix” event, a nationwide competition for reasonable local food. In FUJINOMIYA city there are about 140 restaurants on offer.

There are 12 rules of “FUJINOMIYA Yakisoba”, such as using special noodles made exclusively in the city. However, each restaurant has different types of ingredients, sauces, and ways of serving, it may be interesting to compare them. The noodle has a unique texture, because it has less moisture than other noodles.

You can enjoy the strength of the noodle when eating. We recommend “FUJINOMIYA Yakisoba antenna shop”. It is in OMIYA YOKOCHO near FUJISAN HONGU SENGEN TAISHA, and you can also enjoy excellent scenery where Mt. Fuji can be seen beyond WAKUTAMA IKE and the red torii(=entrance gate for the shrine). Please drop in after visiting the shrine!

4. Shizuoka Oden

“Shizuoka Oden” is very famous as Shizuoka’s local soul food. First, the soup is black because they add and stew every day for a long time, and all the foods are spited on sticks and “Kuro-Hanpen(=black pounded fish cake)” is added etc. It is hard to explain, so best way to find out is by eating.

There are two “Oden” spots in Shizuoka. We recommend “MIKAWAYA” in ”Aoba Yokocho”. Their “Shizuoka Oden” uses big “Kuro-Hanpen”, beef tendon and Japanese radish which are stewed for a long time and soaked.

They also have fried horse mackerel, grilled etc. and they are very good to eat with alcohol. Especially mixing “shochu” with green tea called “Shizuoka-wari” is very popular. Please try it with their excellent “Shizuoka Oden”!

5. Green Tea

“Green Tea” is the most famous specialty of Shizuoka. It is said that Green Tea’s Parts are thought to be effective for prevention of cancer and tooth decay. People in Shizuoka drink more than other areas and as a result they have less cancer.

If you want to relax, please go to “SAN GRAMS”. They serve you the best condition tea. Besides “Green Tea”, they also have various types of tea, such as English tea, oolong tea and herb tea.

You can find the perfect tea for you. From 11: 00-14: 00, you can enjoy a weekly pasta dish and a Japanese-style lunch set as well. Have a relaxing time while enjoying their excellent “Green Tea”!

 
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6. HAMAMATSU Gyoza

Every year there is interest about which prefecture spent more money for “Gyoza”, HAMAMATSU or UTSUNOMIYA. And HAMAMATSU was number one in January 2017, and this result was the third consecutive title.

”HAMAMATSU Gyoza” is grilled on the pan and boiled bean sprouts are put in the middle. And it is said “ISHIMATSU Gyoza” is the original restaurant. Founded in 1953, they now have a lot of branches and are very popular.

They use carefully selected sweet cabbage, pork and perfectly textured “Gyoza” sheets. There are many specialty restaurants whose main dish is “Gyoza”, so they sell only “Gyoza” or “Gyoza” with rice. There are around 80 specialties “Gyoza” restaurants and more than 300 shops selling them in HAMAMATSU. You are spoilt for choice! Enjoy!

7. Unagi (Eel)

Eel farming began around the HAMANA lake around 1900, so its history is over 100 years. And now Shizuoka has the 4th biggest production of eel and has become famous in Japan. We would like to recommend an eel restaurant is called “UNAGI FUJITA”.

They use Japan domestic eel and soak them in fresh water for a week, that’s why they don’t have any smell. Their eel is grilled without anything first, and after steaming, it is plump and baked with sauce. They repeat this process 3 times and the outside has a crispy and plump texture.

Their sauce is added little by little, and has been matured for more than 50 years. If you want the finest eel, decide here! Access from HAMAMATSU station is also convenient. Please enjoy delicious eel dishes!

8. Crown melon

The king of fruit, melon and its highest type is “Crown melon”. “Crown melon” is very delicate, it takes time to cultivate. Just three fruits are on a tree, and the farmer leaves only one best melon and cuts off the other two to concentrate all the nutrients in the one left.

The grade is decided according to a strict evaluation criteria, size, sugariness and mesh beauty. Many of them are bought as gifts, and it is very luxurious.

However, if you want to have the “Crown melon” at a reasonable price, please go to “MERO Shizuoka” where the owner has experience of melon production for over 40 years.

They sell cheap melons that are perfect for home use, and easy to eat one cut by half. There are also sweets made with melons, melon bread, fresh juice, etc. So, you can stop by while you travel. Please come and visit!

9. Tsuke-Napolitan

The local gourmet dish in FUJI city, started in 2008 to revitalize the town. “Tsuke- Napolitan” is the soup, it should have a tomato base and be mixed with the individual restaurant’s original soup, dipping and usually eating with chopsticks.

It is said “ADONIS” founded in 1947 is the original one. In “ADONIS”, the dish named “Tsuke FUJI Napolitan” uses tomato soup and chicken bones as stock, thick pasta, shrimp oil and melted cheese, and you can add bread and rice too.

“ADONIS” style is “Dipping a lot”, “Eat with cheese” and “Add lemon after you finish half the meal”. So please enjoy the meal trying the dish this way. Please visit when you are in Shizuoka!

10. CHOJIYA

Established in 1596, its history is over 420 years! At that time, it was said to have opened as a tea house.

They use jinenjo(=Japanese yam) from contract farmers in Shizuoka and carefully selected ingredients such as homemade white miso and fresh eggs to keep the traditional taste. The menu usually consists of 6 courses, and some of other single types of dishes.

There are drinks such as local “sake” and beer from Shizuoka, so it also serves as a pub. The historical museum in the restaurant displays various materials actually used in the Edo era. It is very interesting! Serving meals as well, please also visit here.

Enjoy the gourmet food in Shizuoka!

What do you think? Shizuoka is a treasure trove of delicious gourmet dishes, and with easy access from Shinkansen, Airport or Highway. Every restaurant we recommended this time is very popular. But there are also other good restaurants in Shizuoka which have lots of local cuisines to satisfy your appetite depending on the season. Please visit! It’s excellent!!!