Okayama Restaurants

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This is a relatively new restaurant that has already gained fame as an Okayama specialty. The dish to order is the Butakaba, charred pork covered in sauce served in a bento-style box over rice. There are some set menu options that offer more to go with it. It's a tasty dish and also affordable (most options from 500 yen to 800 yen). The restaurant is laid-back with seating around the counter as well as a few booths and a private room for large parties.

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For those looking for international cuisine, Sundar Mahal is a great place to get Indian food. Unlike many Indian restaurants in Japan, which serve dishes like beef curry, Sundar Mahal stays true to the Indian/Hindu tradition of not eating beef, so they offer curries with chicken, pork, and seafood, as well as vegetarian options. The curry is delicious and like many Japanese Indian restaurants the naan is large so it does not run out before you finish the curry. The restaurant is open until midnight so it's a great late-night option!

Okayama is famous for its fruits, which has naturally made it a great place to get delicious desserts made with local fruits. When they are in season, cakes and pastries here are topped with local fruits. There are of course also other desserts that are equally tasty if you'd rather have them. I was here a little early for most of the local fruits so I had a special strawberry torte cake. It was delicious!

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Maru 5 Deri is a juice and coffee shop. The juices are excellent, fresh-squeezed when you order. Most of the drinks are 400 yen, but some seasonal or special drinks may be 500 yen. Coffee is around 300 yen. Depending on what fruits are in season, they may have some of the famous Okayama fruits for their juice, such as peony juice in September and October. The shop is small with just a few tables, but most people purchase their drinks to go.

The name of the shop is not actually written on the building, but it is easy to spot, even if you don't know Japanese. 'Maru' means 'Circle' in Japanese, so the shop has the number 5 in a circle on the building as the name literally means 'Circle 5 Deli'.

The hours run late, open from 11am to 11pm, so it's a nice place to go in the evening for those who don't really want to go to a bar but want to be out in the evening.

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Okayama is more of a food city than many traveler's realize and Demi-Katsudon is one of the famous dishes of Okayama. Of all the places where you can try it, Ajitsukasa Nomura is considered by many to be the best (although Yamato is also popular).

The Demi-Katsudon served here consists of rice on the bottom followed by a bit of steamed cabbage. Then the katsu (pork cutlet) is layed atop the cabbage and the demigloss sauce is poured over it and topped with a few peas. The demigloss sauce is dark and thick. It's what characterizes the dish and distinguishes it from normal katsudon, but also it really gives it flavor!

The prices are very reasonable. With the demikatsudon, you can get the typical cutlet for 750 yen or hirekatsu cutlet for 850 yen (I got the hirekatsu). It comes with a nice bowl of miso soup.

The restaurant is small but has a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

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Gyouza Yatai is a Chinese restaurant in Okayama. It's pretty spacious and the interior is designed to look like stone with carvings and Chinese motifs. It looks really nice and atmospheric. Some parts look a bit Indian, and the camel (which seems to be the symbol of the restaurant) seems to suggest the design is from Western China, perhaps Xinjiang Province.

The menu features the Chinese foods you expect to see in Japan, like the chao fan, Subuta, dumplings, and of course, gyouza!

The Chinese food here is quite tasty however, the restaurant also features an Okayama specialty: Demi Katsudon. Demi Katsudon is katsu (fried pork cutlets) topped with a demigloss. The demigloss adds a tangy flavor; it tastes quite good! The prices here are very reasonable, too. You can get the Demi Katsudon set for under 700 yen and most of the Chinese meals are also priced nicely.

Alo Alo is a nice Italian restaurant conveniently located on Momotaro-odori, the main street in Okayama City. The restaurant's specialties are their various spaghetti dishes, which you can order individually or as dinner sets with your drink and dessert. The spaghetti is good, and the prices for the meal sets were quite reasonable. It's a great place to dine on your way to or from Korakuen, the castle, or wherever!

The restaurant is connected to a hotel, and they have a breakfast buffet in the mornings.