A gourmet trip to Nagato, Yamaguchi, taught by locals! Enjoy fresh seafood and local yakitori!

Surrounded by the Sea of Japan and lush greenery, Nagato City has many local delicacies that the locals have long loved.

In this article, we will introduce some of the best restaurants that you should stop by when you visit Nagato so that you can enjoy such local delicacies to your heart's content.

In addition, the article also describes various gourmet foods that can be enjoyed in Nagato City, so why not enjoy a delicious gourmet trip with this article as a reference?

From seafood to chicken! What are the famous gourmet foods unique to Nagato City?

Nagato City is an area characterized by its mild climate and rich nature, so you can enjoy a wide variety of nature's bounty, from seafood to brand-name Jidori-chicken.

Here, we will explain two types of Nagato's representative gourmet foods + α that you should know if you visit Nagato City. It also introduces the charms of Nagato City from various angles, so please refer to it for your trip.

Fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan

Nagato City is a seaside town facing the Sea of Japan, where you can enjoy fresh seafood. Senzaki Squid and Senzaki Toro-aji landed at Senzaki Port are nationally famous, and together with puffer fish, a specialty of Yamaguchi, seasonal seafood can be enjoyed every season.

Many restaurants use seafood landed directly from the fishing port, and the fresh bounty of the sea that can only be found in Nagato is a must-try when visiting Nagato City.

Nagato's specialty #2: Yakitori made with the highest quality Jidori-chicken

In addition to fresh fish, Nagato City has long produced processed marine products such as kamaboko, and has a history of a flourishing poultry industry that used the fish scraps produced in the process as feed.

For this reason, the poultry farming industry still thrives in Nagato City, and there are many yakitori restaurants that use locally raised chicken.

The best thing about eating Jidori-chicken at the place of origin is its freshness. Nagato's yakitori restaurants serve Choshu-dori and Choshu Kurokashiwa which are processed in the morning of the day and carefully grilled over charcoal.

We recommend that you try a series of restaurants, as they all offer their own unique tare (sauce), as well as salt, which allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of the chicken. We also recommend that you try them all together with a glass of Yamaguchi's local sake for a truly blissful local experience.

Also of note: Yamaguchi's visually outstanding gourmet Kawara Soba

One of Yamaguchi Prefecture's most popular local delicacies is the gorgeous-looking Kawara Soba.

Kawara Soba is a gorgeous menu item consisting of tea soba noodles grilled savory on a hot tile and colorfully arranged with broiled egg, beef and grated momiji.

We recommend it because the crispy, savory buckwheat noodles and the sweet and spicy sauce are a perfect match, satisfying both in appearance and taste. There are several restaurants offering this dish in Nagato City, so please try it.

Very popular among locals! 10 famous restaurants you must try if you visit Nagato

Here we introduce 10 famous restaurants where you can enjoy Nagato City's gourmet food, which is very popular among the locals.

The selection ranges from seafood to yakitori, so why not make it one of your goals on your trip?

Tanakaya

Tanakaya is a yakitori restaurant featuring authentic yakitori, local Choshu-dori grilled over charcoal to an aromatic flavor.

The specialty is Grilled chicken skin with sauce made with Choshu Kurokashiwa, which spreads its flavor as it is chewed. The special sauce based on local soy sauce whets the appetite. The restaurant also serves a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, including original chu-hi and sake, and is frequented by local fans.

Kiraku

Japanese Restaurant Kiraku is a seafood Japanese restaurant popular for its lavish meals and bowls of rice topped with fresh raw squid and raw sea urchin.

In addition to the spacious tatami room, there is also counter seating, which can be enjoyed comfortably by individuals or families, and can be utilized for girls' trips or large groups without problems.

The live squid served from the restaurant's fish tank is especially exquisite, and is recommended for travelers and seafood lovers who want to enjoy the local flavor.

Kome Laza, specializing in rice-flour lasagna

Kome Laza, specializing in rice-flour lasagna, offers gluten-free lasagna made with rice flour as its signature dish. In addition to lasagna, the restaurant also offers a variety of menus using local ingredients, such as Choshu-dori/Choshu Kurokashiwa, Choshu Nagato Wagyu beef, Tawarayama gibier, and carpaccio made from local fresh fish.

Many menu items are gluten-free, making them ideal for allergy- and health-conscious diners.

Country Kitchen

Located at the Senjojiki observatory, a scenic spot in the Heki district of Nagato City, Country Kitchen is a café where you can enjoy sweets, sandwiches made with natural yeast bread, soft-serve ice cream, and other items along with a spectacular view.

Sandwiches and gelato-style soft creams, enjoyed while gazing at the panoramic view from 333 meters above sea level, offer exceptional tastes coupled with the spectacular view.

Surrounded by casual sundries, the interior is warm and inviting, making it the perfect café for a break during sightseeing or a drive lunch.

Kawara Soba Yanagiya Nagato Yumoto Onsen

Kawara Soba Yanagiya is a restaurant specializing in Yamaguchi's local dish, Kawara Soba.

Located in a corner of Nagato Yumoto Onsen Town, the store is housed in an old private house called Daigo Nagaya, where you can enjoy Kawara Soba in the unique atmosphere of an old private house. A take-out menu is available at the specialty counter, and Mitarashi dumplings are a popular accompaniment for strolling through the hot spring resort area.

Senzaki Honmaru

Senzaki Honmaru, located in Roadside Station Senzakitchen, is a Japanese-style restaurant that serves dishes made from a wide variety of local ingredients under the theme of "Eating Nagato."

The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes that will satisfy both the eye and the palate, including seafood bowls and chirashi sushi made with plenty of local seafood, sea urchin bowls, squid sea urchin bowls, and sea urchin roast beef bowls.

Recommended for those who want to enjoy the authentic taste of local production for local consumption in a relaxed atmosphere.

Yakitori Koumori

Yakitori Koumori is a long-established yakitori restaurant that has been in business for over 77 years.

The restaurant features a simple style of fresh chicken skewered in a unique way and grilled over charcoal, and the interior is a cozy space centered around a counter. Open from 2:00 p.m., it is the perfect place for an early drink.

Soba Izakaya Tabeyama

Soba Izakaya Tabeyama offers handmade soba noodles made from the pure water of Tawarayama Onsen and a variety of dishes using local ingredients.

The famous Kemono Nanban Soba and gibier dishes made with venison and wild boar meat are unique to this place. Not only can it be utilized for a break from traveling since it is located in the center of the hot spring resort area, but it is also recommended for those who want to take the time to enjoy the local flavors and for gourmet travel enthusiasts.

Sakura Shokudou

Sakura Shokudou is a popular restaurant in Nagato Yumoto Onsen where you can enjoy set meals during the day and yakitori at night.

The juicy yakitori can be taken out and enjoyed while strolling through the hot spring resort area. The stylish atmosphere, renovated from a former sushi restaurant, makes it easy for even a single woman to enter, and the restaurant is equipped with everything from a counter to a tatami room, making it suitable for a wide range of customers.

365+1 BEER

365+1 BEER (Sanrokuroku Beer) is a craft beer brewery located in Nagato Yumoto Onsen Town, which will be a taproom where you can enjoy the beer made directly on weekends.

Renovated from a former pharmacy, the store has a retro and relaxed atmosphere, making it an easy stopover during a stroll. Beer lovers and those who want to enjoy a taste of their hometown as a memory of their trip should definitely stop by.

Frequently asked questions about Nagato Gourmet

Here are some frequently asked questions about Nagato Gourmet in a Q format.

What is the soul food of Nagato City?

The soul food of Nagato City is yakitori.

In addition to the deliciousness of the chicken itself, the freshness of the chicken, which is prepared in the morning and served on the same day, cannot be experienced unless you come to Nagato. Also, you can enjoy the bounty of the sea, such as seafood and dried fish, at yakitori restaurants in Nagato, so be sure to visit a variety of restaurants.

▽Related Links

・Feature Article: "Yakitori no Machi, Nagato" (Town of Yakitori, Nagato)

・Special Feature Article: "Gourmet Fan Poll: If You've Come All the Way to Nagato, You've Got to Eat This!"

What is Nagato City famous for?

Nagato City is famous for fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan.

Especially at Senzaki Port, Senzaki Toro-aji (in season from June to August) and Senzaki Squid (in season from October to December) are representative of its own brand, and can be enjoyed as sashimi, tempura, or in a bowl. Puffer fish grown in the beautiful sea is also recommended.

Summary

In this article, we have introduced some of the best restaurants that you should try if you visit Nagato.

Nagato City is home to a wide variety of exquisite gourmet foods, from seafood to Jidori-chicken.

You can enjoy the new charm of Nagato City through local gourmet food, so why not visit a famous restaurant loved by the locals when you stop by for sightseeing?