Recommended by Okayama residents! 10 lunch spots in the area where The Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama

1. LIFE Cafe & Western Cuisine (Tsuyama City)

[LIFE Cafe & Western Cuisine]

Address: 14-15 Kitazonocho , Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0868-23-5853

Business hours: 9:00-10:30, 11:00-20:00

Closed: Mondays

Parking: Available

LIFE Cafe & Western Food | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●If you want to eat Western-style lunch in Tsuyama, this is the place to go. Shrimp fry, hamburger steak, tonkatsu, pork cutlet, all of them are hearty. The side dishes are also great, with vegetables, potato salad, and spaghetti, which is the ultimate Western food. I often have trouble deciding what to eat, but I always end up ordering shrimp cutlet! (30s/female/office worker)

2. Hokkai (Tsuyama City)

【North Sea】

Address: 40-7 Sange, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0868-24-1780

Business hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:30-22:15

Closed: Wednesdays and Sundays

Parking: Available

North Sea | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●Hokkai's lunch is really the best! Whether it's the seafood bowl, steak bowl, or tempura bowl, everything is delicious! It's the only restaurant I'm willing to wait in line in the heat to eat at. (30s/female/office worker)

3. Thyme (Niimi City)

[Time (Inter Store)]

Address: 2217-1 Takao , Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-72-1221

Business hours: 8:00-20:00

Closed: Thursdays (or the following day if Thursday is a public holiday)

Parking: Available

Time Inter Store | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●A coffee shop that I always want to stop by when I'm in the Niimi City. They have a lot of menu items like pasta and fried shrimp, so it's more like a Western restaurant than a coffee shop. I always go for the katsu curry. It's not that spicy, but the unique aroma of spices whets the appetite. It's a famous shop and often crowded, but I don't feel like going out of my way to visit it. (Male, 50s, office worker)

4. JA Sunny Country Okayama Yakiniku Restaurant Chiyagyu (Niimi City)

[JA Sunny Country Okayama Yakiniku Restaurant Chiya Beef]

Address: 397-2 Shoda , Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-72-6605

Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-14:30 (LO 14:00), 16:30-21:00 (LO 20:30) / Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11:00-21:00 (LO 20:30)

Closed: Tuesdays (open on public holidays, Golden Week, Obon, and Golden Week holidays)

Parking: Available

JA Sunny Country Okayama Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●This is a yakiniku restaurant located on the grounds of "JA Harenokuni Okayama Asin Hiroba." The lunch menu includes Chiya beef yakiniku set meals, Chiya beef steak set meals, Chiya beef curry, beef bowls, kalbi bowls, and more, allowing you to enjoy Chiya beef at a relatively low price. (40s/female/office worker) ●You can taste Okayama Prefecture's brand beef, Chiya beef! (30s/female/office worker)

5. Soba Cafe Kiraku (Nagi Town)

[Soba Cafe Kiraku]

Address: 1962-1 Takamado, Nagi-cho, Katsuta-gun, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0868-36-5850

Business hours: 11:00-16:00 (last orders for meals are 14:00, and for cafeterias are 15:00)

Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, and the second Sunday of every month

Parking: Available

Soba Cafe Kiraku Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The soba noodles are thin and have no particular flavor, making them easy to eat. The dipping sauce is particularly excellent. I like the thick dipping sauce called walnut dipping sauce. You can also eat the roast beef bowl made with Nagi beef, so it's a great choice for first-time visitors to Nagi. The inside of the restaurant is a log cabin, and local ladies will warmly welcome you. I recommend sitting by the window, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the large pond on a nice day. (Female, 20s, civil servant)

6. Chinese Cuisine Beijing (Maniwa City)

[Chinese Cuisine Beijing]

Address: 145 Yubara Onsen, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-62-2257

Business hours: 11:30~14:00, 18:00~23:00

Closed: Irregular

Closed Parking: Tourist parking lot available

Chinese Cuisine Beijing | Maniwa Tourism WEB

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●One of the few Chinese restaurants in the north of the prefecture. The portions are plentiful, the prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious. (Male, 50s, company employee)

●It's a small restaurant on a side street. The owner works alone. There is a counter and a tatami room, so it's easy to eat even with small children. (50s/female/civil servant)

7. Genroku Inn Aburaya (Maniwa City)

[Genroku Inn Aburaya]

Address: 27 Yubara Onsen, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-62-2006

Opening hours: Restaurant Monday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday, public holidays, and the day before public holidays 11:30 to 15:00 (last orders for food 14:00, drinks 14:30) / 18:00 to 22:00 (last orders for food 20:00, drinks 21:30)

Closed: Thursday

Parking: Available

Genroku Inn Aburaya Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The restaurant is quiet and you can dine in a relaxed atmosphere. The Italian lunch is delicious and more filling than I expected. The salad, carbonara, main meat dish, and dessert were all delicious. (Male, 60s, office worker)

8. Okamoto Japanese-style Inn (Maniwa City)

[Okamoto Japanese-style Inn]

Address: 2603 Kuze, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-42-0660

Business hours: 11:30-14:00, 18:00-22:00

Closed: Wednesdays (open by reservation on Sundays)

Parking: Available

Okamoto Ryokan Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●A restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide 2021. There are so many different options on the lunch menu, it's hard to decide what to get. The cutlet is freshly fried, hot and crispy! It's also very filling, with plenty of vegetables and rice. The staff are friendly and it has a homey feel to it, which is nice! (40s/Female/Other)

9. Matakitei (Misaki Town)

[Matakitei]

Location: 562 Minami , Kume District-gun, Okayama Prefecture

TEL: 0867-27-2023

Business hours: Friday to Monday 11:00-15:00 *Lunch 11:00-14:00

Closed: Tuesday to Thursday

Parking: Available

Matakitei Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●You can have lunch in an old house that was renovated from a local doctor's mansion. The food cooked by local mothers is delicious, as are the sweets such as dumplings. (60s/Female/Other)

●It's close to Makiba no Yakata, so the location is great. However, there's no air conditioning, only a fan, so it's difficult to stay in the summer, but it's great in the fall. They use locally grown vegetables, so the food is tasty and reasonably priced. (Over 70s/Female/Self-employed)

10. Village Restaurant (Shinjo Village)

[Village Restaurant]

Location: Okayama Prefecture, Maniwa District, Shinjo Village, 2190-1 Roadside Station Gaisen Sakura Shinjojuku

TEL: 0867-56-2908 Business hours: 10:30-15:00

Closed: December 30th to January 3rd, and Wednesdays from January to March

Parking: Available

Roadside Station Gaisen Sakura Shinjojuku Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

● "Seasonal Curry Rice". A curry made with locally grown, seasonal ingredients. The balance of spices is exquisite, with a complex mix of sweet, spicy, and sour flavors that is addictive, on par with a specialty curry restaurant. I was surprised to find such authentic curry available at a roadside station restaurant. If you come across the limited edition "Beef Tendon Curry" made with rare Shinjo Wagyu beef tendons, it's a must-try! (50s/Female/Other)

There's more! Comments from Okayama residents

[Tsuyama Joto Tofu Teahouse Hayase Tofu Shop]

82 Higashishinmachi, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Tsuyama Joto Tofu Teahouse Hayase Tofu Shop Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●You can eat healthy tofu dishes in a relaxing Japanese-style space. The portions are just right and the food is very satisfying. (30s/female/civil servant)

[The Hills House Tsuyama]

831 Ota , Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

The Hills House Tsuyama Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The location, food, and service are all great. When you eat the food, you can tell that the ingredients used are excellent. The drinks and desserts are also great! (50s/female/office worker)

[Ristorante CIELO]

2230-3 Koyasan Nishi , Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Ristorante CIELO Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Okayama, and it serves a course menu by reservation only. The restaurant has deep ties with people in Okayama beyond just its producers, using stylish chairs from Kita Works in Tsuyama and Bizen Bizen Pottery made by Kimura Hajime in Okayama. The food is carefully prepared using seasonal ingredients. Also, in November it was the only restaurant in Okayama to be selected for Italian Week 100, a nationwide event for high-end restaurants, and you can enjoy a course menu that includes fermented dishes, which is this year's theme. Game dishes are also recommended when in season. The wine pairings selected by the sommelier are also of a high standard. (40s/male/office worker)

[Meat Scissors Shop]

Okayama Prefecture Tsuyama City Sange 46-20

Meat Scissors Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●It's a very filling hamburger, but perhaps because of the high quality of the meat, it doesn't leave you feeling heavy at all. It's a very small shop, so be careful about the time you visit. (Female, 50s, Civil Servant)

[Tamachi Culture Store]

19 Tamachi , Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Tamachi Culture Store Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●Not only the main dish, but also the miso soup and side dishes are all delicious. (50s/female/office worker)

[Mizunoya]

67 Nishishinmachi , Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Mizunoya Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The pizza and pasta are very delicious. The soup and side dishes in the lunch set are also very delicious. The atmosphere of the old house is welcoming, but the food is as delicious as a high-end restaurant, so I've registered this as one of my favorite spots in the north of the prefecture. Please be aware of the opening hours and business days. (50s/Male/Other)

[Sakushu Folk Crafts Museum]

18 Nishiimacho , Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Sakushu Folk Crafts Museum | Okayama Tourism WEB

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●You can eat homemade bento lunches and udon noodles in a cultural property built in the Taisho era. It is also the venue for the Forest Art Festival, so why not take a break after viewing the exhibits? (50s/female/civil servant)

[Con Amore]

Okayama Prefecture Tsuyama City Oshiiri 806

Con Amore Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●Western-style lunches such as omelet rice and croquettes. Fluffy pancakes and bear-shaped shaved ice are all delicious. (50s/female/full-time housewife)

[Okonomiyaki Saegusa]

441-5 Kamikawahara, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Okonomiyaki Saegusa Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

● Tsuyama's B-class gourmet horumon udon is delicious, and so is the okonomiyaki. (50s/female/office worker)

[Menya Daisuke]

47-9 Higashiichinomiya, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Menya Daisuke | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●This is a popular ramen shop in Tsuyama, and there is always a line. They offer tonkotsu ramen and shio ramen. Both soups are delicious, and it's a shop you'll want to visit again and again. (40s/female/office worker)

[Now Stylish Tsuyama Store]

705-9 Shidobe, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture

Ima wo Sukiro Tsuyama store | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●Mazesoba is delicious. (Male, 20s, civil servant)

[Italian Restaurant Arca]

Okayama Prefecture Niimi City Niimi 851 Oike Residence

Italian restaurant Arca official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

This Italian restaurant is set in an old house and serves dishes made with locally grown vegetables and Chiya beef. (50s/Female/Other)

[Popai]

318-9 Niimi , Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture

Popai | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●I love the pork cutlet that has absorbed the soup of "Popai Ramen"! The Japanese-style pork cutlet bowl is also recommended with its soft and runny egg! Park your car in the city hall parking lot and enter from the back. (40s/Male/Civil servant)

[Natural Foods & Organic Cafe Pension Noah]

Okayama Prefecture Niimi City City Tetsunishicho Onobe 34-44

Pension Noah Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●It's a wonderful restaurant in the forest. You can enjoy vegetables grown by the husband and wife owners. They also cater to vegans and people on sugar-restricted diets. While you're eating in the restaurant, small birds come to play outside the window. (50s/Female/Other)

[Pizzeria Lajita]

438-1 Toyosawa, Nagi-cho, Katsuta-gun, Okayama Prefecture

Pizzeria Lajita Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●It's great to eat Italian food while looking out at the majestic panorama of Mt.Nagi and the stylish Nagi Museum of Contemporary Art. The Neapolitan pizza, which is certified by the Italian government, is baked in an oven inside the restaurant and is delicious from the first bite to the last, so you never get tired of it. Personally, I also like the salads, gelato, and espresso. (30s/female/civil servant)

[Chinese Restaurant Chu]

Okayama Prefecture, Katsuta District, Nagi Town, Kamimachigawa 1643

Chinese Restaurant Chu | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●There are many menu items, all of which are delicious, and the lunch set comes with coffee. There is a tatami room on the second floor, so if you make a reservation, you can eat leisurely even with children. (50s/female/housewife)

[Tonkatsu Kiraku]

2185-1 Kuze , Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Tonkatsu Kiraku Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The restaurant is very attentive to customer service, and above all, the food is delicious. (Male, 60s, part-time worker)

[ALICE2]

13-5 Tomio , Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

ALICE2 | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●It's an old-fashioned coffee shop with a pirate-style interior that gives it an American feel. There are telephone booths and small nostalgic figures, so you can enjoy your waiting time. The food is delicious, cheap, and plentiful, so it's great value for money. The owner is kind and it's a very comfortable shop. (20s/Female/Other)

[Maniwa Agri Garden]

396-1 Naka , Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Maniwa Agri Garden Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

The menu is gentle on the body, using carefully selected ingredients. The restaurant has been renovated and is now larger, and the menu has become even more extensive. The rice flour pancakes, which are only available during cafe time, were fluffy and delicious. (50s/female/office worker)

[Hishio Cafe]

162-3 Katsuyama, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Hishio Cafe | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●A cafe with a relaxed atmosphere renovated from a storehouse. You can use it as a cafe or for lunch. The beef curry and hash brown are delicious. (40s/male/civil servant)

[Yubara Onsen Hall]

24-1 Shimoyubara, Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Yubara Onsen Himawarikan Official Website

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●A drive-in in the north of the prefecture where you can eat gibier dishes. There is also an open-air bath for pets. Minced venison rice bowl is 800 yen. (Male, 50s, company employee)

[Sakura Cafe] 1514-1 Toyosaka , Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Sakura Cafe Official Instagram

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●Good taste, good charm, good price. (Male, 50s, office worker)

[Yumotoya]

135-1 Yubara Onsen Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Yumotoya | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●This is a long-established teppanyaki restaurant. They serve delicious okonomiyaki, yakisoba, ramen, etc. (50s/male/office worker)

[Cafe Cactus]

135-3 Yubara Onsen Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Cafe Cactus | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The two-item spaghetti is excellent. There's a fried egg inside. (50s/male/office worker)

[Fukuzushi]

43-1 Yubara Onsen Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture

Fukuzushi | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●The only long-established sushi restaurant in Maniwa City. In addition to sushi, everything is delicious, including udon, soba, and rice bowls. (Male, 50s, office worker)

[Cafe Wiener]

Kume District District Kumenan Town Kamiyuge 389-1

Cafe Wiener | Tabelog

Voices of the prefecture's residents

●A coffee shop with a relaxed atmosphere. If you sit on the booth sofa, you can see the rice field scenery outside the window. The homemade lunch menu has a comforting taste. (50s/female/office worker)