The 10 unmissable restaurants in Northern Honshu (Tohoku), February 2019 Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jun 05 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Sendai Aomori Yamagata Miyagi

The 10 unmissable restaurants in Northern Honshu (Tohoku), February 2019

Planning a trip to Northern Honshu (Tohoku) and looking for something specific to eat? There are plenty of restaurants to suit every tastes. Discover the best places to eat here, from traditional meal and quintessentially comfort food to western-style dishes and varied ethnic cuisine.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Sendai, Aomori, Yamagata, and Miyagi.

1. Bisai Dining Yuda

Handmade, refreshing, cold tomato sauce and creamy mozzarella cheese is a perfect combination. This cold pasta is great for summer. You can enjoy the scent of fresh basil in this delicious dish. We bring in seasonal fresh fish from all over Japan, from the "toro hokke" of Hokkaido to the north, to the "toro aji" of Kyushu's Goto Islands to the south, with the main focus on local, fresh Miyagi Prefecture seafood. In addition, we are particular about using fresh and seasonal vegetables. We strive for cooking that gives diners an exciting and satisfying experience, using seasonal fish, carefully selected meat, and seasonal vegetables. The staff are all good-natured people, and we provide prompt customer service with heartfelt smiles. We have chefs that specialize in not only Japanese food but also Italian and French cuisine. The pastas and desserts are popular with women. Private rooms offer areas where you can relax without worrying about what is happening around you, and the daytime is perfect for "mom gatherings" with children. We also have a large room that can accommodate large parties.

Bisai Dining Yuda

Open: Lunch 11:30 - 14:00 / Dinner 17:00 - 23:00 (last order 22:30)
Closed: Sundays
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: Next to Tagajo City Hall.
Address: 2-2-18 Chuo , Tagajo-shi, Miyagi Map
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2. Ajimichi Ippei (Former Ippei Zushi)

Ajimichi Ippei (Former Ippei Zushi) cuisine

Our restaurant, 10 minutes walk from Ishinomaki Station, is on an alley of Tachimachi Shopping Street. At our restaurant, you can enjoy seafood from Kinkasan offshore fishery in Ishinomaki, one of the 3 biggest fisheries in the world, and also from other major fish ports in Japan. Our owner always welcomes you with a nice smile, and no one can imagine from such smile that the Great East Japan Earthquake destroyed all of his restaurants. Our No.1 recommendation is definitely Sushi Kaiseki using high-quality seafood abundantly. Please fully enjoy the best tastes of the season. As counter seats and tatami rooms are available, we are suited for various occasions from a casual meal alone to a big party. Please take your time and enjoy our various sashimi courses and our proud [Dashimaki Tamago (Japanese-style rolled omelette)].

Ajimichi Ippei (Former Ippei Zushi)

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: 10 minutes walk from Ishinomaki Station toward the direction of Tachimachi. Along with Jufukuji Street behind Hotel Hayashiya
Address: 2-1-9, Tachimachi, Ishinomaki, Miyagi (Map)
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3. Sansuien Higashiguchi Second branch

Sansuien Higashiguchi Second branch cuisine

[Sansuien Second branch], a popular yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant is located near the east exit of Sendai Stataion and very close to the main branch. As both restaurants are very popular, reservations are a must especially on weekends. We have counter seats available for couples, and single guests. Our black-based wooden interior with a chic atmosphere is ideal for dates. Many of our repeaters consist mainly of adult couples and single lady guests. You can fully enjoy the savory taste of Japanese beef with our popular [Loin Lightly Grilled for 5 Seconds], [Red Meat Steak], or [Lightly Grilled Fatty Steak] with lightly-grilled sirloin cut served with egg. A wide-selection of wine that we offer perfectly goes well with [matured meat] concentrated by using a dry-aging method. Courses with all-you-can-drink are ideal for various kinds of banquets.

Sansuien Higashiguchi Second branch

Open: [Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: Depart from the west exit of Sendai Station, go under the overpass, go straight along with the one way street, then on your right.
Address: 1-3-17, Shintera, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi (Map)
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4. Hotaru Kokubun-cho branch

[Hotaru Kokubun-cho branch] is an izakaya (Japanese pub) where you can fully enjoy dishes made with the ingredients of Tohoku, and local sake also from Tohoku. Enjoy them with our high-quality service in sophisticated private rooms for 2-50 people. Our recommendations are [Assorted Sashimi] gorgeously decorated with local fish caught in Sanriku, Tohoku, and [Sirloin Steak of Sendai Beef] melting in your mouth. Also, enjoy as many as 30 kinds of tasty sake (Japanese alcohol) from all over Japan, but mainly from Tohoku. Various types of seats are available for various occasions; table seats, sofas, and counter couple seats with a night view. To entertain your clients, our kaiseki (banquet course) cuisine, individually serving, is popular.

Hotaru Kokubun-cho branch

Open: 4:00 pm - 3:00 am (Food L.O. 2:15 am / Drink L.O. 2:30 am)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from the west 5 exit of [Hirosedori Station] on Sendai Municipal Subway Namboku Line
Address: 5F, Eraku Frendia Bldg., 2-1-3 Kokubun-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Miyagi

5. Datenari

The moment you step into this classy restaurant located about 3 minutes on foot from Sendai Station, you will feel the anticipation of the feast you are about to enjoy. The restaurant offers seats at a jet-black counter on which rare cuts of Sendai beef are displayed, as well as rooms with zashiki seating that are affixed with white wood fixtures and are recommended for business dinners and parties. Officially, only outstanding beef ranked between A5 and B5 is called "Sendai beef," but Datenari applies even higher standards to its Sendai beef. While Sendai beef can have a BMS (Beef Marble Score) between 8 - 12, only the highest quality A5-grade meats with a BMS between 10 and 12 that have been raised four months longer than normally raised are served here. Its meat is produced as the premium Sendai beef brand, Goku Sendai Beef Datenokuro. The restaurant's dedication to quality is not limited to the meat. The seafood, vegetables, salt, and even the ingredients that go into sauces are all made in Miyagi Prefecture. It also serves 20 brands of sake made by 17 local breweries. This is the ultimate yakiniku restaurant that represents all and the best of the excellent local taste.

Datenari

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm *Closed on the fourth Monday of the month [Sunday, National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Closed:
Average price: [Dinner] 7,500 JPY
Access: Around a 2-minute walk from the East Exit of [Sendai Station]
Address: 7F, F Town Bldg., 4-5-12, Tsutsujigaoka, Miyagino-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi

6. Ryotei Hamaya Asuto Nagamachi branch

Ryotei Hamaya Asuto Nagamachi branch cuisine

As our restaurant is in the Yuriage area with rich fisheries, you can enjoy seasonal seafood and various sake (Japanese alcohol). Please visit us for various occasions, as various types of seats are available, such as a Japanese room with horigotatsu (sunken kotatsu table) suited for a party with many people, and counter seats suited for single guests. Our No.1 popular menu is [Sendai Seri Nabe (hot pot with Japanese parsley)], a specialty of Sendai. The savory odor of fresh Japanese parsley, harvested that day will stimulate your appetite. Also, do not miss our [Sashimi of Ark Shell] with an exquisite texture of the thick meat and delicious smell. We also offer a wide variety of sake, including renowned brands from Miyagi prefecture. Not only for banquets, but we are also ideal for a date or entertaining your companies. Please also visit us on your way home from a concert or shopping, to simply enjoy our dishes and alcohol.

Ryotei Hamaya Asuto Nagamachi branch

Open: [Monday - Sunday] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm [Monday - Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) [Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from Nagamachi Station on Sendai Municipal Subway, or 3 minutes walk from the east exit of Nagamachi Station on JR Tohoku Line
Address: S306, 1-4-30, Asuto Nagamachi, Taihaku-ku, Sendai city, Miyagi

7. Shiogama Shirahata

[Shiogama Shirahata] has a good reputation for serving high-quality sushi topped with local ingredients from Shiogama, and carefully-selected local sake (Japanese alcohol) from Miyagi. There is a showcase in our restaurant with a gorgeous Japanese atmosphere, showing various local seafood caught in Shiogama. Enjoy our colorful dishes with these local ingredients, whole-heartedly created by our chef. Our No.1 recommendation is [Sushi] topped with high-quality ingredients including fresh tuna. For busy people during lunchtime, chirashi sushi (scattered sushi) is ideal as it can be taken out. Please visit us to fully enjoy our dishes using fresh ingredients from Shiogama.

Shiogama Shirahata

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm [Everyday] 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from JR Sendai Station. At [Date-no-Komichi] in S-PAL Sendai East Bldg.
Address: Date-no-Komichi, 2F, S-PAL Sendai East Bldg., 1-1-1, Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Miyagi (Map)
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8. WA SHURA - churrasco restaurant

Churrasco is a traditional Brazilian BBQ. At each table, our staff slices a meat block on a metal skewer which is grilled in a dynamic way in the restaurant. At [WA SHURA], a Brazilian chef who has been transferred from a Churrasco restaurant in Tokyo grills meat with a BBQ grill directly imported from Brasil. Enjoy the authentic taste of meat and good Latin vibes with us. With meat, you can also enjoy various Japanese dishes served all-you-can-eat. Enjoy the experience of the collaboration of [Brazil & Japan] with local sake from Miyagi, including [Ichinoura] and [Urakasumi]. Our compact hideaway restaurant with 35 seats is recommended for relaxing parties for adults, dates, and girl's parties. Banquets up to approximately 30 people are also accepted.

WA SHURA - churrasco restaurant

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: Entrance side of Ichibancho Sun-mall Arcade / diagonally across Office 24
Address: 3F, 7th Marusho Kogyo Bldg., 2-7-9, Ichiban-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi

9. Japanese cuisine, Teppanyaki Mogamitei

Japanese cuisine, Teppanyaki Mogamitei cuisine

Mogamitei is located in Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata, which is directly connected to Yamagata Station. It is a restaurant where you can savor outstanding foods from Yamagata Prefecture in a sophisticated environment. It has a variety of seating to suit any occasion, such as counter seating where you can enjoy watching teppanyaki (ingredients grilled on an iron griddle), private rooms, as well as a banquet hall. A recommended dish at this restaurant is the [Yamagata Beef Steak]. Yamagata beef is also available as [Shabu-shabu] (sliced meat parboiled with vegetables) and [Sukiyaki] (hot pot stew). They have a luxurious lunch menu that widely features different seasonal ingredients cultivated in Yamagata Prefecture. One such dish is [Yamagata Mankitsu Gozen]. Mogamitei also offer a wide selection of wines and ji-zake (Japanese local alcohol). It is a perfect place for special occasions, such as family celebrations and important business dinners.

Japanese cuisine, Teppanyaki Mogamitei

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 1 minute walk from Yamagata Station. Located in Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata.
Address: 1-1-1, Kasumi-cho, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata (Map)
More Details Reservation

10. Shunsaiwashoku Hitosaji

[Shunsai Washoku Hitosaji] opened at the east exit of Yamagata Station in September 2018. This Japanese restaurant was opened by the owner who accumulated experiences at a sushi restaurant and izakaya (Japanese pubs), wishing [to offer exquisite dishes, even without Hitosaji (one spoon) amount of compromise]. Enjoy our proud exquisite dishes, such as home-made smoked, fresh sashimi, and grilled fish. All of them go well with alcohol. We offer a wide variety of dishes carefully-cooked to bring out the original savory tastes of the ingredients. Also, we always offer 12-15 different local sake (Japanese alcohol) from inside and outside Yamagata prefecture. [Ocha-wari], mixing various kinds of tea and local sake freely, is also popular. Our Japanese-modern space with a warm atmosphere has a relaxing tatami room also. Please casually visit us to enjoy drinking on your way home from work, etc.

Shunsaiwashoku Hitosaji

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:00 pm, Drink L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the east exit of [Yamagata Station] on JR Line. Next to the restaurant [Yamagata Banya]
Address: 1F, Daiichi Bldg., 1-8-8 Kasumi-cho, Yamagata city, Yamagata (Map)
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.