Kanazawa Restaurants

The plus side, an incredible selection of coffee. All drinks are just 400 yen. Every cup is freshly brewed. they have real cream... quite rare in Japan.

the negative side, they don't speak any English, the menu is all in Japanese

all that being said, its well worth your while to make it out to this great coffee shop. I would rate it best in Japan (see my plus side)

opened from 10am - 8pm

Hand made udon (thick noodles) full of herbs and spices, which is quite unique. They serve out huge wooden bowls with local seafood, dumplings and chicken.

This places is local family run affair, so their days off are random.

they don't speak english and the menu is only in Japanese, but they are quite nice there. there is section on the menu with 4 items that are priced around 1,500 yen. order any of those 4 deluxe udon sets. you won't regret. they come loaded with everything including real gold flakes.

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Chopsticks is a cool place to get drinks or dinner. the owner is really nice guy to boot. the prices are pretty good and food is tasty as well. the decor is also pleasant. as well, you'll most likely get a kick out of their English menu.

Favorite Dish: If you wanna see a good show, get the fish served on ice. they will come to your table and cook it right in front of you. very cool!

Not the best place to chow down in Kanazawa and not even the best Chinese restaurant in Kanazawa, but if you’re in Forus shopping center and really want a cheap Chinese meal that is decent than you stop on by. Lunch is pretty good, with lots of variety.

They have an English menu.

If you’re on your way to or from Ninja-dera you should stop by this nice little coffee shop called Hiyori. The menu is in English and the owner speaks some English as well. The coffee and food is of the highest quality and well to be honest, isn’t better than going to a lame Starbucks? Yes, it is! Try the pudding, it's to die for!

11am-7pm

Favorite Dish: The pudding is awesome.

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If you find yourself on the West side of Kanazawa you should check out the Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant, Cannery Row. Cannery Row lies fairly close to the Government Building (check out my off the beaten path tips) and makes a particularly great stop for lunch. Price will range from 1,100 yen to about 1,500 for their lunch specials, which includes some kind of pasta or pizza, all you can eat salad bar (with all kinds of fixings like potatoes and pasta dishes) and all you can drink (juices, teas, and coffees but no soda). I recommend going all out and splurging the extra 300 yen for the ala cart cake option. For this scant fee you will able to choose 3 pieces of their delicious cakes. Well worth the price and usually my main reason for going.

Décor is nice and very laid back. There is some English on the Pizza menu as well as pictures but the pasta menu is all Japanese. The staff speaks some English which is quite helpful. Lots of fish on the menu as well.

Better come very hungry because they follow the Italian rule of stuffing you full of food until you can’t walk.

Lunch runs from 11am to 3:30pm (last order is at 3pm).

Dinner is from 5pm to 11pm.

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Great Indian lunch special will be found at Hot House. Unfortunately its located quite some distance from the city center. Walking is right out, bikes will take you about 15 minutes and car about 8 minutes. The portions are huge so come hungry and best of all very cheap. The lunch special will set you back 1,050 yen and usually comes with 3 types of curry, rice, nann, salad, yogurt and drink.

The restaurant has great ambiance as well as English speaking staff and an English menu.

Kanazawa has many traditional teahouses where you could enjoy green tea and sweet in a tatami room. Inside Kenroku-en, the Higashi chaya and Nishi chaya district are good places with easy access to these teahouses.

The Japanese confectionary served is beautifully shaped and usually made with red bean fillings. It is on the sweeter side as it is meant to complement the slightly bitter green tea (matcha). You can also choose between powdered matcha or tea leaves. The former is more powdery, thicker and more bitter. I prefer the former with the sweet.

The costs - between ¥800 to ¥1,000