11 Best Restaurants in Nakano: From Fine Dining to Casual

Highlights of the Nakano Area

Nakano: A Subculture Hotspot

Renowned for landmarks such as Nakano Broadway and Nakano Sun Plaza, Nakano has established itself as a global hub for subculture. With its eclectic offerings, including iconic stores like Mandarake, Nakano is a treasure trove of unique finds that attract people of all ages to its bustling Sun Mall shopping street. Its vibrant subculture scene offers endless opportunities for exploration, making it a favorite destination for both domestic and international visitors.

A significant part of Nakano's charm lies in its niche specialty shops, where you can find everything from vintage toys to rare secondhand books. The area is also teeming with stores dedicated to anime (Japanese cartoons) and manga (Japanese comics), further cementing its reputation as a one-of-a-kind cultural haven.

Dining in Nakano: A Culinary Exploration

The areas surrounding Nakano Station and Higashi-Nakano are well-known for their casual dining options, such as izakayas (Japanese pubs) and ramen shops, making them popular and convenient spots for young people and students to enjoy a quick meal. At the same time, Nakano is home to several high-end restaurants featured in the Michelin Guide, sure to delight even the most discerning food enthusiasts.

Sun Mall shopping street offers plenty of options for those with a sweet tooth, ranging from traditional Japanese confectionery shops to trendy dessert boutiques. Meanwhile, the Nakano Broadway area, celebrated as a hub of subculture, features a variety of quirky and unique dining establishments. Just a one-minute walk from the station's south exit, Renga-zaka (Brick Hill) is dotted with hidden gem restaurants, offering a refined, adult-oriented atmosphere perfect for a more sophisticated dining experience.

In this article, we’ll explore a wide range of dining options, from Michelin-starred fine dining and Bib Gourmand-recognized affordable eateries to casual, approachable local favorites.

11 Best Restaurants in Nakano: From Fine Dining to Casual

1. Nakano Chinese SAI (なかの中華！SAI) / Chinese

1. Michelin (2018 - 24): Bib Gourmand

Nakano Chinese SAI is a Chinese restaurant recognized with the Bib Gourmand distinction in the Michelin Guide every year from 2018 to 2024. The restaurant is renowned for its fresh Cantonese cuisine, featuring seafood sourced directly from Nagasaki Goto Islands.

Diners can choose from a variety of options, including affordable lunch sets with favorites like Mapo Tofu and Dan Dan Noodles, or indulge in a standard course menu showcasing the restaurant’s signature dishes. With private dining rooms available, Nakano Chinese SAI offers a versatile dining experience, welcoming locals, international visitors, solo diners, and groups alike—making it a perfect choice for any occasion.

2. MATSUKI (松㐂) / French

1. Michelin (2023 - 25): Selected

MATSUKI is a French restaurant recognized in the Michelin Guide as a Selected Restaurant for 2023-2025. This cozy, family-run spot is led by a husband-and-wife chef duo, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Drawing inspiration from their time in southern France, the restaurant offers simple, rustic dishes that evoke the flavors of countryside dining.

Notable dishes include a fragrant basil vegetable soup, perfect as a starter, a classic southern French onion tart, a rich Provençal-style beef stew, and couscous—all served in a laid-back, homey setting. The restaurant also offers a thoughtful selection of natural wines to complement these dishes, enhancing the overall dining experience.

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3. Sushi Yoshino (鮨 与志乃) / Sushi

1. Michelin (2018 - 25): Bib Gourmand

Sushi Yoshino is a sushi restaurant that has been awarded the Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide from 2018 to 2025. The founder, who trained at a sushi shop in Kyobashi, later established his own business, and today, the tradition is carried on by his son, the second-generation owner. The restaurant follows traditional sushi-making techniques, including the use of red vinegar for the vinegared rice, adding a touch of authenticity and craftsmanship.

For a more casual lunch, guests can enjoy chirashi sushi (a dish where various ingredients, typically sashimi, vegetables, and garnishes, are scattered over a bowl of vinegared rice), making it a favorite among locals. The interior is thoughtfully designed, with effective lighting that creates a calm, inviting atmosphere, complemented by a long, elegant zelkova counter that enhances the overall dining experience.

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4. Tensuke (天すけ) / Tempura

1. Michelin (2024 - 25): Bib Gourmand
2. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

Tensuke is a tempura-focused Japanese restaurant that has earned a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide for 2024-2025. Known for its long lunchtime lines, Tensuke is a popular tempura (lightly battered and deep-fried dishes) specialist where guests can enjoy freshly deep-fried, delicious tempura at affordable prices. The signature "Tamago Lunch" features a bowl of tempura topped with a fried egg, with the tempura ingredients served one by one, all while the owner performs a unique presentation that has become part of the experience.

The restaurant draws not only locals but also visitors from across Japan and many international tourists, who come specifically to Koenji to dine at this beloved spot.

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5. Sushi Seizan (鮨 せいざん) / Sushi

Sushi Seizan is a sushi and Japanese cuisine restaurant renowned for its fresh ingredients, carefully sourced from direct shipments from Hokkaido and Fukuoka. The new branch in Nakano is an extension of the popular Seizan in Aoyama and is quickly gaining a reputation for offering exceptional sushi and comforting Japanese dishes. Here, you can enjoy a wide variety of incredibly fresh sushi that practically melts in your mouth, along with the delicate flavors of traditional Japanese cuisine. With meticulously selected ingredients and the chef's outstanding skills, the restaurant promises a truly memorable dining experience for every guest.

6. Honma Katsui (ほんまかつい) / Sushi

Honma Katsui is a sushi restaurant just a 5-minute walk from Nakano Nogata Station, offering convenient access. The chef, skilled in traditional Japanese culinary techniques, crafts delicate and exceptional sushi. Inside, the spacious, modern, and soothing atmosphere is complemented by jazz music and warm, welcoming decor. The sushi, made with seasonal ingredients, is paired with an extensive selection of sake. It's no wonder that visitors from across Japan and abroad flock here, drawn by the inviting ambiance and outstanding sushi.

7. Sushi Kunimitsu (鮨くにみつ) / Sushi

Sushi Kunimitsu is a popular sushi restaurant just a 30-second walk from Higashi-Nakano Station, making it incredibly convenient. The restaurant prides itself on being a "local favorite offering unbeatable value," focusing on perfecting its flavors with a special blend of rice and traditional sushi vinegar. They serve seasonal seafood sourced from carefully selected regions across Japan, allowing guests to enjoy a variety of fish depending on the time of year. The "Top 20-piece" omakase course features a selection of exceptional dishes that will satisfy any sushi lover. The restaurant also stands out for its rare, premium sake and expertly curated teas.

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8. Horumon Jinsei Taro Chan (ホルモン人生タロちゃん) / Yakiniku

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2024)

Horumon Jinsei Taro Chan is a yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant that was named one of Japan's top 100 restaurants by a major gourmet review site in 2024. Just a 2-minute walk from Nakano Station, it’s known for serving premium Kobe and Tajima beef, with a special focus on female cattle, and for offering a casual yet delicious way to enjoy offal. The restaurant’s mission is to provide authentic Wagyu beef and offal, challenging the common perception of greasy meats. With a dedication to selecting only the finest cuts, they pair their meats with signature homemade sauces. The inviting aroma of smoke rising from the roasters completes the experience, making it the perfect spot to enjoy yakiniku without a care in the world.

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9. Kashiwagi (かしわぎ) / Ramen

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2018 - 23)

Kashiwagi is a ramen restaurant just a 3-minute walk from Higashi-Nakano Station, and it has been recognized as one of Japan's top 100 restaurants by a major gourmet review site from 2018 to 2023. While the ramen may appear simple at first, one taste reveals its exceptional, cutting-edge quality. With flavors like salt and soy sauce that appeal to all palates, the kaedama option allows you to adjust the noodle portion with extra servings, letting you customize your meal. Popular toppings such as ajitama (seasoned eggs) and the option to add fried rice make it a place where you can truly enjoy a satisfying meal.

10. Jun Teuchi Daruma (純手打ち だるま) / Ramen

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2019 - 23)

Jun Teuchi Daruma is a ramen restaurant just a short walk from Tokyo Metro Nakano-Fujimicho Station and has been recognized as one of Japan's top 100 restaurants by a major gourmet review site from 2019 to 2023. The chef, who previously worked at the renowned Menya Shichisai, famous for its hand-pulled noodles, kneads and cuts the dough by hand for each order, serving freshly made noodles in every bowl. The soup features a delicate, comforting blend of chicken, seafood, and dried ingredients. The noodles, with their chewy texture and rich wheat flavor, perfectly complement the soup. The restaurant also offers both rare, low-temperature-cooked chashu (braised pork belly) and simmered chashu, allowing you to customize your meal to your liking.

11. Sanuki no Udon Hana wa Saku Shinnakano Honten (讃岐のおうどん 花は咲く) / Udon

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2018 - 20, 22, 24)

Sanuki no Udon Hana wa Saku Shinnakano Honten is an udon (wheat flour noodles) specialty restaurant that has been recognized as one of Japan's top 100 restaurants by a major gourmet review site for several years. With a focus on the theme of "smiles and health," the restaurant is known for its carefully selected ingredients and offers a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes it easy for everyone, including women, to enjoy. The restaurant's most popular dish is beef udon made with premium A5 Kuroge Wagyu, providing a luxurious udon experience like no other. Their homemade noodles, made from a blend of four types of domestic wheat, are thin, easy to eat, and have a glossy, chewy texture. The dashi broth is crafted from five carefully selected ingredients, with dried small sardines as the base.