Kanazawa: 10 Must-Try Local Food Specialties

Kanazawa Culture and Cuisine

Kanazawa is renowned as a city of refined Japanese culture. The largest city in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa is well known for its history of gold-leaf production, wealthy merchant class, and connection to the high arts associated with the Kaga domain.

Modern Kanazawa combines classical and contemporary culture with a burgeoning art scene and some of the best-kept culinary secrets in Japan. Located about halfway up Ishikawa prefecture’s long stretch of land sandwiched between mountains and sea, Kanazawa has a unique climate and rich history. The area has many winter specialties and is known for its wet, heavy blankets of snow.

Discover the charms of Kanazawa through its specialty cuisine with the ten dishes on this list.

Kanazawa Food Guide

1. Gold-Foil Food
2. Nodoguro Sea Perch
3. Crab
4. Sweet Potato
5. Kanazawa Oden
6. Kabura Sushi
7. Hanton Rice
8. Curry Rice
9. Noto Products
10. Kaga Boucha Tea

1. Gold Foil Food

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Kanazawa has the character for gold in its name. The city is known for its entsuke gold leaf production, introduced in the 1500s by the lords of the Kaga kingdom. This artisan tradition has made its way into the city’s food scene as well! Edible gold is inert and tasteless, making it a safe but eye-catching accent.

Gold-leaf coated soft serve is one of the most popular treats for guests visiting Kanazawa. It’s sold in all the city's major tourist areas and is easy to find. However, those looking for a bit of peace and quiet should try a photogenic snack in the traditional Higashi Chaya district.

Ukokkei serves tea and cake, both in-store and for takeaway as omiyage, Japanese souvenirs. Ukkokei’s gold-dusted castella are simple and beautiful and make a great treat or gift.

Ukokkei Castella
Address: 4-22 Nishinen, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 9:30 - 18:30

2. Nodoguro Sea Perch

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Nodoguro is one of the most famous fish in Kanazawa. It is a black-throated sea perch, sometimes called an akamutsu, that lives in deep ocean water. It is served seared, boiled, sliced, and everything in between.

Nodoguro fish cusine is typically eaten during the winter in Kanazawa, when their high fat content is at its flavorful peak. While there are convenient places to try nodoguro around the city, Kamiyaichibei offers a wide range of regional dishes, including buri – yellowtail – another local fish that visitors shouldn’t leave Kanazawa without trying.

Kamiyaichibei is a seafood-forward bistro serving Kanazawa delicacies in a relaxed setting. The architecture and decorations are traditionally inspired, and diners can enjoy a whole roasted nodoguro.

Bistro Kamiyaichibe
Address: Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa City, Katamachi 1-8-21
Business Hours: 17:00 – 23:00 (Last Order at 22:30), Sun. 15:00 – 22:30, Closed Wed.
Online reservations are available via the homepage.

3. Crab

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Ishikawa prefecture has a famous but brief crab season. In particular, Kanazawa snow crab are highly sought after. Male snow crabs are called Kano crabs, referring to two regions of Ishikawa, Kaga and Noto. In general, they may also be called zwaigani.

Female snow crabs have an even shorter season, just under two months, from November to late December. Female snow crabs are called Kobako, or “treasure box” crabs, because of their delicious roe.

During this brief season, Higashiyama Wakon serves a specialty crab-centric omakase menu that features both male and female crabs. This exquisite course menu introduces diners to the premium quality of Kanazawa’s seafood in a beautiful setting.

Wakon
Address: Ishikawa, Kanazawa, Kannonmachi, 1-chome−5−8
Business Hours: Seatings at 12:00, 18:00, and 19:30

4. Sweet Potato

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Sweet potatoes, particularly the kintoki sweet potato, are a famous product of Ishikawa. Gorojima kintoki potatoes are grown in the sandy soil around Kanazawa. Farmers minimize the use of fertilizers, ensuring this heirloom variety maintains its unique characteristics.

Sweet potatoes are just one example of the region’s Kaga vegetables, which include lotus root and unique cucumber varieties.

Nokaya Cafe in Kanazawa translates to “Farmer’s Cafe” and serves a wide range of kintoki sweet potato foods. From warming soups in winter, to sweet potato ice cream and nostalgic candied sweet potato, this cafe has a locally raised bite for anyone.

Noukaya
Address: 1-4-6 Kannon-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours of Operation: 10:00 – 17:00
Closed on Wedsnedays

5. Kanazawa Oden

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Kanazawa Oden is one of the major regional oden styles. Oden, characterized by a range of skewered or loose ingredients simmered in broth until served hot with mustard or yuzukosho, is a warming, healthy dish. In Kanazawa, the broth is light and clear, made from local seafood.

The main ingredients of Kanazawa oden are crab, fish balls, sea snails, and kuruma-fu, a spongey ring similar in texture to bread crusts dipped in soup. Akadama Honten is one of the city’s most popular oden restaurants, conveniently located in Katamachi. Even in the dead of winter, diehard fans line up in Kanazawa’s snowdrifts for a warm bowl.

Yahata Sushiben, a local chain of quick-service restaurants serving takeout and simple meals, also offers inexpensive and delightful Kanazawa Oden.

Akadama Honten
Address: 2-21-2, Kata-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa
Hours of Operation: 12:00 – 22:00, closed at 21:00 on weekends
Closed on Mondays

6. Kabura Sushi

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The Western side of Japan has a long history of preserved sushi. The most iconic of these is pressed and persimmon-leaf-wrapped sushi, which are very popular in Kanazawa. However, one type of preserved sushi is nearly impossible to try outside of this area, making it a must-eat food in Kanazawa.

Kabura sushi is made by preserving slices of buri between slices of salted turnip and pickling them. It is a winter delicacy and is often eaten as part of osechi New Year meal boxes in the Kaga area, which includes Kanazawa. Buy it online, or directly from the producer at the main store or within the train station while visiting Kanazawa.

Shijimaya Honpo
Address: 1-17-28 Yayoi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00
Closed on Sundays

7. Hanton Rice

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Hanton rice is a rib-sticking Kanazawa comfort food that represents a rare local taste of yoshoku. Yoshoku, Western-inspired Japanese food like Napolitan spaghetti and Hamburg rice (Salisbury steak) are less widespread in this region, thanks in part to its strong cultural history.

Grill Otsuka, which is still run by the same family that opened it, is said to have invented hanton rice. The dish consists of buttered rice topped with an omelet and ketchup, similar to omurice, but topped with fried seafood and tartar sauce. It’s a hearty dish, but the bursts of acidity from the ketchup and tartar, paired with the crispy texture of fried shrimp, make it delicious any time of year.

Grill Otsuka
Address: 2-9-15 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: Lunch: 11:00 – 15:00 , Dinner: 17:00 – 20:30
Closed on Wednesdays

8. Curry Rice

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Go Go Curry, the famous Kanazawa black curry, has become a famous restaurant chain that even has stores overseas. It’s particularly notable for its gorilla mascot and thick, rich curry roux that is only subtly spicey, so many people can enjoy it.

Kanazawa’s signature curry is one of the city’s most family-friendly dishes and makes for a satisfying meal. Champion Curry is another well-known brand of Kanazawa curry.

Champion’s curry is lighter in color and has a more complex flavor. Try both during your visit and decide which one is for you!

9. Noto Products

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Recently, the Noto Peninsula has become known around the world due to the earthquake that occurred on January 1, 2024.

However, the region is also home to a wide variety of products that can only be farmed there. Noto-raised livestock are known to be high quality, with pure meat. Noto pork and Noto beef are both famous around the Hokuriku area.

In addition to meat, Noto is also known for producing delicious edible seaweeds and seasonings. Noto salt is some of the best in the nation, and is still made in the traditional way, as you can see above.

The peninsula is also well known for producing sake, wines, and a rustic Japanese fish sauce that is difficult to find in other areas.

This shop shows a wide variety of Noto products, many of which can also be purchased in Kanazawa department stores.

10. Kaga Boucha Tea

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Tea culture is a deeply important element of Japan. From bright green teas in Shizuoka to Kyoto’s earthy matcha, tea lovers often seek out their favorite brews during a trip around the country. In Kanazawa, a special hojicha called Kaga boucha is the tea of choice.

This mild, aromatic roasted tea is named after the elongated tea “twigs” used to make this tea. It is popular with fans of genmaicha and usually served hot, unsweetened.

It’s easy to find in convenience stores and vending machines around Kanazawa. Issho, a stylish hidden cafe in the old tea district is the perfect place to try it if you have some time to spend.

Issho
Address: 26-13 Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Business hours: 12:00 – 17:00
Closed: Monday, Tuesday

Enjoy Kanazawa's Culture and Cuisine

Kanazawa is an increasingly popular choice for travelers who want to experience Japanese culture without the crowds. We hope that this food guide serves as a start for you to enjoy the rich cuisine that this city offers.