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What to eat in Nagoya

Written by hand, not generated. Dishes, markets, timing and prices for Nagoya.

Eating in Nagoya: a local guide

Nagoya cooks with a lot of red bean miso, which makes its sauces and broths dark and faintly sweet. The local menu is clearly codified as "Nagoya meshi", and the city keeps its morning service habit: order coffee early and toast comes with it.

What people eat here

  • Hitsumabushi

    Grilled eel chopped over rice, eaten in three set stages — plain, with condiments, then with broth poured over.

  • Miso katsu

    Pork cutlet under a red miso sauce, far darker and sweeter than the usual dressing.

  • Tebasaki

    Fried chicken wings glazed sweet-salty and dusted with pepper. Drinking food.

  • Miso nikomi udon

    Udon simmered in miso broth and served in the earthenware pot. The noodles stay firm.

  • Ogura toast

    Toast with butter and sweet red bean paste, usually served alongside morning coffee.

Where the food is

Osu Shopping District

A covered arcade dense with snacks and inexpensive restaurants.

Sakae

The downtown core, with department stores and underground arcades.

Nagoya Station underground

A dining complex linked to the station, gathering the local specialities.

Around Atsuta Shrine

Where the long-running eel restaurants are.

Kakuozan

Quieter lanes of cafes and independent shops.

When to go

  • Morning service generally applies only between about 07:00 and 11:00.
  • Long-running eel restaurants queue heavily at lunch and close early when they run out.
  • The underground arcades are crowded at commuting hours.

Worth knowing

  • The three stages of eating hitsumabushi are usually explained at the table. First time, just follow them.
  • Sauces here are saltier and sweeter than elsewhere. You can ask for the sauce on the side.
  • Chicken wings have a knack to deboning; some shops post a diagram.
  • The underground passages around Nagoya Station are complicated. Note your exit number before you set off.

What it costsHitsumabushi runs JPY 4,000-6,000, miso katsu JPY 1,200-1,800, and miso udon JPY 1,000-1,400.

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What to Eat in Nagoya — Local Food Guide | TastyLog