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Restaurants in Tsuruoka

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Al-che-cciano is an Italian-Local fusion type of restaurant owned by Chef Okuda Masayuki, one of the 1000 best chefs in the world, according to Terra Madre in 2006. Chef Okuda Masayuki also values the diversity of options for everyone. He can cater to vegetarians and vegans on reservations. In 2016, Chef Okuda ranked 3rd at The Vegetarian Chance's contest.
The food at Al-che-cciano aims to blend Italian recipes with the strong taste of local vegetables.

Al-che-cciano

アル・ケ・チャーノ

A gourmet experience offered by Chef Okuda Masayuki, one of the 1000 best chefs in the world.

Average price

6000

Vegetarian

Vegan

Pescetarian

yen

Asahiya is famous among the people of Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures for being one of the best sushi places in the region.
Chef Sato loves cutting local fish into delicious slices of sashimi, but you will not find salmon in his restaurant! Instead, he will offer you to eat sushi topped with sakuramasu: a local trout that tastes delicious and is a much healthier alternative to salmon.

Asahiya

朝日屋

One of the best places to eat fresh sushi in Tsuruoka.

Average price

3500

Pescetarian

yen

This small farm-food type of restaurant is owned by a kind Japanese woman: Mrs. Chonan Mitsu. Mitsu has been chosen in the "100 Best Farmer-Lodge Okaasan ("mother," "lady")" by the Japanese government in 2009 for her philosophical approach to food. Mitsu grows herself the vegetables and the rice she serves to her customers because she believes it is the only way to be sure of the quality of her food. She refuses to use additives and relies on natural ingredients to sublime the taste of local cuisine.
By only cooking local dishes relying on local vegetables, Mitsu wants to convey to her customers all the charms of Tsuruoka's rustic customs.

PS: Mitsu can easily adapt her meals for vegans and vegetarians. However, you need to inform her when making a reservation that you can't eat animal products (dôbutsusei-shokuhin 動物性食品), including bonito powder (katsuodashi 鰹出汁).

Chikeiken

知憩軒

A farmer restaurant that proposes traditional local food.

Average price

1200

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

yen

Naa is a small restaurant located behind a farm. The owners use organic vegetables that are mainly grown inside the farm. The inside of the restaurant is typical of the 80s in Japan, and the view from the interior offers a panoramic view on Mt. Gassan and Mt. Kinbo. Those who wish to taste Tsuruoka's delicious vegetables cuisine just as if they were eating with a Japanese family definitely should make a stop at Naa.
The lunch menus start at 970 yen, and the dinner menus start at 2500 yen.

Naa

菜ぁ

A farmer restaurant that focuses on local products and serves its own vegetables.

Average price

1300

Vegetarian

Vegan

Pescetarian

yen

Nanakamado is the restaurant held by the owners of the inn above called Tamugiso. It specializes in soba noodles boiled in Gassan's pristine water. Traditionally served with an assortment of sansai (wild mountain vegetables) and local tsukemono pickles, the noodles provide enough energy to continue walking the Rokujurigoe-Kaido pilgrim route nearby or the visit of Mt. Yudono, just 15 minutes away from the restaurant by car.
In winter, Nanakamado also serves Asahi region's local delicacy: duck soup.

Nanakamado-tei

ななかまど亭

A soba restaurant on the first floor of a small inn called Tamugiso.

Average price

1600

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

yen

Okimizuki is the name of the restaurant located inside Kamo Aquarium (the biggest jellyfish-themed aquarium in the world).
It is held by Suda Takeshi, a seafood chef that is mainly known for his cutting techniques of sole sashimi and his mastery of the fugu fish (blowfish).
Rest assured: Chef Suda owns the national diploma that allows cooking fugu fish for customers, and there is no risk for customers who will be tempted by the famous fish.
Chef Suda's fugu sashimi arranged into the shape of a crane is one of his most famous dishes. But he is also known for reinventing Tsuruoka's historical dishes in modern menus. For example, in 2021, he designed the Kitamaebune Gozen menu. This menu pays tribute to all the culinary discoveries and inventions the merchants brought to Tsuruoka when sailing across the Kitamae maritime road from the 18th century to the early 20th.

Okimizuki

沖海月

Taste Chef Suda Takeshi's exceptional fugu cuisine!

Average price

1600

Pescetarian

yen

Saikan is a Shinto pilgrim lodge & lunch restaurant inside a former Buddhist temple called Shôon'in built in 1697. Following the religious separation between Shinto and Buddhism in 1868 (1869 in Haguro), the building was converted to Shintoism and had its name changed for Saikan.
Saikan is an obligatory step for the Shinto yamabushi during their retreat training. For example, it is where the yamabushi closes the Shoreisai ceremony by eating the Nishi sushi.
Every day, Chef Ito Shinkichi serves his version of the Dewa Sanzan shojin-ryori: a Shinto version of the originally Buddhist dish that aims to pay tribute to the greatness of nature.
The shojin-ryori can be made vegan, but you need to warn the chef that you are vegan 3 days in advance.

Saikan

斎館

Discover Chef Ito Shinkichi's version of Dewa Sanzan's Shojin-ryori.

Average price

2200

Vegetarian

Vegan

Pescetarian

yen

Shinchaya is a well-established traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant. The emblematic dish of the house is "tamagoyaki" (rolled omelet). Shinchaya's tamagoyaki's uniqueness resides in its glossy shine, and its soft and jelly-like texture. Shinchaya can accomodate to pescetarian, vegetarian and vegan meals on reservation, up to 2 days prior to your visit.

Shinchaya

新茶屋

The must-visit gourmet destination in Tsuruoka

Average price

3000

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

yen

Takitaro serves traditional local cuisine for lunch and dinner. Lunch menus start at 1200 yen per person and center around local seafood. Depending on the season, Takitaro also serves typical seasonal cuisine such as Yamagata's imoni potato soup (in autumn) or the kandara-jiru black cod soup (in winter).
Those interested in tasting Tsuruoka's soul food for affordable prices around the station (8min. on foot) must make a stop at Takitaro!

Takitaro

滝太郎

A local food restaurant that serves tempura, grilled fish, mountain vegetables soups...

Average price

1600

Vegetarian

Pescetarian

yen

Vegetime Doyouknow is a vegetarian restaurant that relies on local vegetables and spices in its cuisine. Before accessing the restaurant, you will have to cross the owners' greenhouse, where they grow their own greens (and also raise their cats, who act as natural rodent repellents).
They can cater to vegans, but you need to remind them you can not eat bonito powder (katsuo-dashi 鰹出汁) before ordering.
The food is crunchy and juicy, with lots of raw salads and stuffed vegetables.

Vegetime DOYOUKNOW

ベジタイム土遊農

A vegetarian restaurant that produces its own vegetables.

Average price

2000

Vegetarian

Vegan

Pescetarian

yen

Yudonosan Sanrojo is a pilgrim lodge and a lunch restaurant in Mt. Yudono. It is located next to the giant torii gate in Yudonosan Senninzawa. Mt. Yudono being the last mountain traditionally visited by pilgrims in Dewa Sanzan, the food served in Mt. Yudono symbolizes the end of the Dewa Sanzan Pilgrimage: it is called "shojin-otoshi" ("the relief of the training") as opposed to "shojin-ryori" ("the food for spiritual elevation").
Because shojin-otoshi food releases the pilgrim from the dietary restrictions he has to follow during his training, you will find fish in large quantities in Yudono's meals.
For vegan options, please specify your dietary restrictions to Yudonosan Sanrojo 3 days in advance.

Yudonosan Sanrojo

湯殿山参篭所

Have a "Shojin-otoshi" lunch in Mt. Yudono.

Average price

1800

Vegetarian

Vegan

Pescetarian

yen