Location: Matsue
Top Restaurants in Matsue
Where to Eat in Matsue: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Matsue (松江市, Matsue-shi) is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture located in Chūgoku region of the main island of Honshu. As of March, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 205,402, following its most recent merging with the town of Higashiizumo (from Yatsuka District).
Things to do in Matsue
1. Kamiyosoba
Overall Ratings
4 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By B-inMatsue - Matsue, Japan
Kamiyo soba is one of the more frequented soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant in Matsue, of which there are many, thanks to its convenient location and good reputation. The methods used for making the noodles and tsuyu (watery-sauce?) remain the same since the Edo Era.
This really is an old, traditional food of the average person in Matsue/and surrounding countryside since long ago.
I visiting during the summer, meaning that the chilled warigo-soba (noodles stacked in three containers) was perfect for lunch to cool down.
The noodles have a mild flavour, but if you're used to soba from eastern Japan, you might find them even more flavoursome, as Matsue and the Izumo region tends to use the whole buckwheat grain.
The warigo soba came with a couple of condiments, nori, wasabi, and dried fish shavings
We were also served with the water that the soba was boiled in, as it is meant to have whatever nutrients may have been lost during the boiling process. A tasty and nutritious drink! Add tsuyu to your preference or drink straight.
This all for about 600yen.
2. Ippuku Matsueichibata
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By setotravel - Tokyo, Japan
Very good "warigo" soba and nice view of Matsue city from the 6th floor.
Better than expected sob noodles with numerous toppings "Sanpo warigo" at a reasonable price. Much to my surprise was Matsue city view from the 6th floor of Ichibata department building near Matsue train station.
3. Teien Saryo Minami
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By malpir - Hamburg, Germany
We stayed my wife and i for one night in Matsue at the "new urban hotel " ( pretty negative experience,absolutely not to recommend) On our way back to the city center after having admired the wonderful sunset over Yomegashima island and lake Shinji, we considered to have dinner as soon as possible.
Arrived on the Shinijiko Ohashi bridge, our attention was attracted in the distance by a bright lightened beautiful typical and rather big japanese house with a zen garden along the Ohashi river.
So we decided to see more and try to get there, which was finally not very difficult because we always kept the premises (or it's direction) in sight from the bridge where we first noticed it. (500m from the bird perspective ?)
We finally came in front of a restaurant named "minamikan" and as we were very hungry decided not to go further and apply for a table..
We had of course no reservation, but fortunately got the last free table.
We were first very delighted by the typical japanese premises themselves, and above all by the view on the wonderful zen garten, which we could even see from our remote table. i would nevertheless strongly recommend, by an advance reservation, to ask for a table with a direct view on the garden, which is definitely a plus. There are also a limited seats on high stools available in front of the kitchen (japanese style) with direct view on the garden which should be also very pleasant.. they were all occupied that night!
We were from the very first minute up to the last one, accompanied and counselled by a first class and highly friendly and competent person, speaking a very good english, (i guess the chief of the the restaurant team himself) who took the time to explain us personally the secrets of the Kaiseki Menu which we had choosen, and some interesting information about the city of Matsue.
What to say about the dishes. It was in all respects:presentation, colours, tastes, variety the Kaiseki cooking at it's best.
We were the week before by Kikunoi (3 Michelin stars) in Kyoto and could hardly find, what the fundamentals concerned, a big difference in the quality between the 2 houses.
I expressed, this opinion to our host, but as a polite japanese, respectful of hierarchy, he denied my judgement as nearly a lese -majesty crime against master Yoshihiro Murata! I'm quite sure however, that he took it inside as he should have.
We paid 19.294,00 Yens for 2, with a mix of beer and wines, which i find a very attractive price considered the quality we got.
A real place to discover and strongly rtecommend.
4. Ohakaya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By iriishin - Matsue, Japan
法事の後のランチに兄弟等で初めて行きました。上うなぎ丼が２６００円とビックリする様な値段でしたが柔らかくて美味しかったです。
5. Fireside Kaba Matsue
Overall Ratings
4 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By lostintransportation - London, United Kingdom
Think we first came here in 2008 (I thought it was earlier but was over-ruled) .
I love a noisy izakaya - where folk can relax, eat great food, drink to excess, smoke, get a little bit rowdy and generally have a brilliant time.
And this is a wonderful example of how to do an izakaya properly.
We must return - but not with another eight year wait.
6. Ajimina Fujinatei
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By 旅人 - 島根
宍道湖を一望しながら、美味しい食事が出来るお店です。コース料理は、島根和牛や茸のすき鍋、焼きナスやお浸し、秋鮭のサラダ、仁多米や吸い物、シャーベット、珈琲などがついていて、お手頃価格で食べられます。
7. Yamaichi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By Valerie C - Chicago, Illinois
We loved our dinner here. They don’t have an English menu but looking at Tabelog I knew they served oden and we wanted to try that. So we ordered oden, sashimi & eel (we heard someone else order it) and then told the chef (who spoke a little English) to just bring us whatever he wanted (omakase). Everything was excellent. In addition to the oden, sashimi & eel we had a fried whole fish, fried whole shrimp, seafood & potato croquette and sukiyaki. We also got some octopus & squid sashimi that was supposed to go to the guys sitting next to us but was served to us on accident but they told us to go ahead & eat it. The two older ladies who waited on us didn’t speak any English (and one was hard of hearing) but they were just lovely. At the end of the night my husband ordered a large beer for us to share (after a couple of rounds of sake) and they must have thought he wasn’t going to share with me because a small beer showed up for me. Lucky for us the guy sitting next to us spoke some English and he ended up chatting with us and translating for the older women (they wanted to know where we were from). Everyone was just so friendly and helpful, it really made our night. We paid about 9000 yen for everything which was a great value considering how much we ate (and drank)! We sat at the counter which had about 6-8 seats and they have three Japanese style tables behind (where you sit on the floor). We were there on a Friday night and all of the seats were full. We were the only tourists. Highly recommended! Just be prepared to eat whatever comes your way!
8. Yagumoan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Voodew - Victoria, Canada
There is one major reason to come here. The duck soba. It is a nice sized serving and tasty (uniquely duck oily) broth. The sweets looked good as well, but we were stuffed from tea a sweets in the castle town.
A different spin on soba, it's worth the walk here to try something which is very different.
9. Naniwa Ajidokoro Main Store
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Reviewed By 旅人 - 島根
橋のたもとにある老舗店です。私は、何度か懇親会で利用したことがあります。畳敷きの大広間で、会席膳の料理を食べました。昼食もあるようですが、今度ぜひ食べたいと思います。
10. Akishima
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Lem0ine - Epernay, France
The Akishima was a super find. Great place for the local food! The start with sashimi was super. The main event was the local super size raw oyster, a very delicious treat, but a bit pricy at 1,500 yen per oyster. The mushroom tempura and Anago tempura were both great, the mountain potato, cooked eggplant were also terrific and sake fantastic. This place is not to be missed
