Top Restaurants in Nara
Top 10 restaurants in Nara, Japan
Thirteen hundred years ago, Nara (then Heiju-kyu) was the imperial capital of Japan. "Old Japan" is still easy to spot here, from Great Buddha Hall to traditional ryokans and the serene Isuien garden. Travelers rave about walking tours of Nara, particularly in the historic Naramachi merchant area.
Things to do in Nara
1. Mellow Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 127 reviews
Reviewed By Anna2946 - London
Fabulous restaurant that was incredibly easy for English speakers. Really impressed with food - great pizza and pasta and amazing Deserts. Free wifi and very nice ambiance.
2. Tonkatsu Ganko
Overall Ratings
4 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By JanHana - Honolulu, Hawaii
I'm glad we waited (about 15 minutes) to eat at Tonkatsu Ganko in the shopping area near the Kintetsu Nara station. We were attracted to the realistic window display. We were seated in the back near the garden with flowering cherry blossoms. It felt as if we were in a nice restaurant and not a chain. The service was excellent---quick! The food was exactly what we were craving for. We ordered the combination with pork tonkatsu, shrimp tempura and 2 fried oysters. My husband ordered a small saucer of curry on the side for an additional 180 yen. You can substitute pork miso soup (tonjiru) instead of the regular miso soup. It is heartier with potatoes, pork, carrots and other vegetables in it and a nice change from the regular miso soup you get in most restaurants. Everything was freshly made and hot---- the tonkatsu was juicy with a crispy panko coating and the shrimp and oysters were perfect! The shredded cabbage salad was refreshing with nice dressing selections.
We gave a thumbs up to the chefs and cooks that you could see through a glass as we were leaving and told the hostess how much we enjoyed the meal and experience. The hostess was very appreciative and friendly and to our great surprise, when she found out that we were from Hawaii, we were thrilled that we knew her uncle!! Small world!
3. Main Dining Room Mikasa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 89 reviews
Mikasa, the Main Dining Room, has proudly served French cuisine since the hotel started. Its splendid traditional flavors can be enjoyed along with the extensive selection of wines in the room surrounded by masterpieces of art.
Reviewed By LaBu - San Francisco, California
Mikasa has two dining sections.
The large, high-ceilinged main dining room is a striking mix of Japanese and western. The coffered wood ceiling, hanging lamps, and wood framing of the walls, doors, and windows are all Japanese. The tables, chairs, table settings are all western. The space is elegantly beautiful, a harmony of browns and greens, but sometimes overrun by Japanese tour groups.
On the west and north sides of the main dining room is an L-shaped Terrace with a single line of tables set against window walls. These tables overlook a maple forest, and beyond that the celebrated Five-Storey Pagoda of Kofukuji Temple. If you eat at Mikasa, try to snag one of these tables. You’ll spend your meal looking at the Japan of your dreams.
The food doesn’t live up to the view. It’s billed as French, but it’s really more like Basic Western: fried fish, chicken cutlet, steak. It’s well-cooked and artfully presented – is food ever really bad in Japan? – but Mikasa’s cuisine isn’t going to expand your culinary horizons. On the other hand, with a view like that, who cares?
4. Parco
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 152 reviews
Reviewed By Cal_Travel_Lover - San Francisco, California
Modest restaurant with good service near our Nara Hotel. This was our last night of 3 weeks in Japan and we were ready for ordinary Japanese food so this was perfect. Price is reasonable, with good service. I got the pork and my husband got the mixed seafood, along with a tomato salad. Just right. The hours on tripadvisor are wrong - they close at 8:30 and sometimes 8:00 so go early to dinner. I tried to update the hours on tripadvisor but it didn't work ( we learned the hard way, having gone there at 8:20 the previous night thinking that they were open until 9pm and they were well closed). Worth a visit.
5. Edogawa Naramachi
Overall Ratings
4 based on 152 reviews
Reviewed By NatureGuyDECH - Weil am Rhein
We had dinner here and expected an excellent eels. Not really. We had much much better in Osaka and Tokyo. However, the price was decent. Service was fast and friendly. I would not go back.
6. Nino
Overall Ratings
5 based on 310 reviews
Reviewed By Anita L
We were really keen to try Nino because of the great reviews and it did not disappoint! The service was spectacular here. Nino and his team takes good care of you making sure that you’ll walk out satisfied.
The margarita pizza was good. The base was nice and thin with a crispy crust. The pasta felt like a homemade pasta (we tried carbonara and seafood with creamy tomato).
We received a nice gift as well. We got our names written in Japanese and also free dessert and lucky coin. Simply I was blown away by the service and walked out with a massive smile on my face.
7. Maguro Koya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 324 reviews
Reviewed By B_rendayy
Restaurant was a little out of the way from Nara Park but it was all worth the walk. Be sure to order the bluefin tuna as it is really delicious and worth it. One of the more memorable meals we had this trip to Japan.
8. Kamaiki
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
It was published in the Michelin Guide 2017 Nara Edition. Our shop is fully homemade noodles. Every morning, freshly cut noodles are boiled and you can enjoy it with fried tempura. Please enjoy Sanuki and the new udon of Nara that weaves with Kansai style soup stock.
Reviewed By yeoc468 - Singapore
This is a value for money place. For the money you are paying, you can get a very decent meal. When come the quality, it is lacking behind others.
9. Wa Yamamura
Overall Ratings
5 based on 41 reviews
Reviewed By yoidan - Singapore, Singapore
We're there for lunch on a Saturday. We made the Reservations via Gurunavi Restaurant Guide. So happy that we're given counter seats. From here we could see all the actions that went into preparing each dish. We're surprised by the hand written menu in English listing every ingredient that go into each dish. At the end of lunch we're more surprised when Chef Yamamura took the menu away....he then took out his brushes and wrote words of blessings in Japanese and handed it back to us with a bow. Wow! He is truly an artist! Every dish that was served to us was too pretty to eat! Each dish is unique in its taste and we enjoyed every morsel that was served. We're so full after eating the rice wrapped in yuba; yet when Chef Yamamura offered us his signature dish of white rice topped with young sardines, we couldn't refuse! That shows how good his food is. For sure we will come again should we be in Nara! The service is exceptional too, very friendly. The wait staff took time to tell us about each dish she was serving by pointing to the food and then to the menu. Thank you once again for an great dining experience, Wa Yamamura!
10. Sakura Burger
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By BrianRooney - Chicago, Illinois
These burgers were juicy and delicious. The buns were substantial, yet light and airy. There was a great selection of craft beer and even some very local choices. I had the Sakura burger with a nice slice of "homemade" thick sliced bacon. I added cheese and the whole thing was around ¥1400. Another ¥600 for the bottle of Nara stout beer. My friend had the avocado burger and raved about it as well.
English friendly and real close to train stations and Nara Park. Worth looking up on Google maps. Check out the hours as they close between lunch and dinner.
