Attention Foodies! 5 Amazing Restaurants in Hiroshima for Regional Cuisine

1. Shizuku Hanare

This popular store is only a short walk away from Hatchobori Station. It takes pride in using ingredients produced in Hiroshima, such as the renowned oysters from Etajima and anago (eel) procured directly from the fishermen of Teshima, an island amid the Seto Inland Sea. Among the top picks are the Grilled Oyster in the Shell (950 JPY (incl. tax) for 2 pieces) and Stone Roasted Anago Rice With Special Sauce, Aged for 5 Years (950 JPY (incl. tax)). All the fresh vegetables that they use are directly delivered from the market that they run and even their meats and seasonings are procured from within the prefecture. For those who wish to enjoy the local liquor along with their meal, over 20 varieties of sake made in Hiroshima are available at all times.

2. YamaHinata

This is a popular joint for enjoying dishes made with local ingredients. Every day, they get the freshest seafood directly delivered from the fishermen of Teshima, with the anago - a Hiroshima specialty - being particularly scrumptious. You can enjoy it in a variety of ways here: grilled, tempura, and even as sashimi - a rarity that you usually don’t see outside of Hiroshima - for 1,280 JPY (excl. tax). Their menu features many other traditional local dishes. Another item to try is the Hiroshima Horaku-yaki (1,280 JPY (excl. tax)), where you can sample Takehara beef - a local brand of beef - grilled in a stone bowl. English menus are provided.

3. Shizuku

This popular restaurant serves up delicious dishes made with local ingredients, starting with oysters from Etajima, which are famous for being the most delicious out of all the oysters in Hiroshima. Sample it in their oyster dishes like the Sake Steamed Oysters (980 JPY (excl. tax)). Another popular menu item is their Sake Shabu-Shabu (priced from 1,280 JPY (excl. tax) for 1 person) series, in which diners consume local ingredients like Taoshita beef and anago by cooking them in sake that has had its alcohol content boiled away and then adding a sauce. Savor the rich flavor of each and every ingredient!

4. SUISHIN ekie Branch

This over-60-year-old restaurant specializing in Hiroshima cuisine just opened a new branch on the first floor of ekie - found at the shinkansen (bullet train) gate of Hiroshima Station - this year. They serve up anago dishes, as well as regional cuisine made from local ingredients, such as fresh seafood that was carefully selected and procured from the Seto Inland Sea. One dish you must try is the Kama-meshi (priced from 1,500 JPY (incl. tax) for 1 person) that’s prepared one serving at a time by combining quality ingredients, rice, and dashi (broth) into a clay pot. They also have some items for takeout, such as the One-Bite Anago Meshi (1,500 JPY (incl. tax)) that’s great for taking onto airplane and shinkansen rides and the Oyster Kama-meshi (1,100 JPY (incl. tax)).

5. Momiji

Located near the famous hot spring, Yuki Onsen, this popular spot has the atmosphere of a quaint hide-out. Housed in an old townhouse, they serve up Hiroshima specialties. All the ingredients that they use are locally produced for local consumption: for example, they use organic, pesticide-free rice taken from the rice fields in front of them, as well as vegetables harvested from the fields behind them. You’ll also be able to savor other local ingredients like wild mountain vegetables harvested from around the area. Some recommended dishes are the Boar Steak (2,000 JPY (excl. tax)) that uses local wild boar and the Yamame Gozen (1,500 JPY (excl. tax)) - a set menu featuring river fish.

There is no shortage of charming attractions around Hiroshima. Make sure to include some of the above hot spots in your itinerary, and make the memories of your vacation even more wonderful!