SEINO REGION'S GASTRONOMY
大垣市 Ogaki City
The best approach to finding the hidden gems is to simply explore; don’t be afraid to walk into a bar or restaurant. The locals really get a kick out of seeing foreigners in small establishments (usually since they want to try out the few English words they know). Routes 21 and 258 are fairly long roads, so some places are best reached by car. However, if you don’t mind cycling, the city is your oyster.
Along Route 258
Running north-south of Ogaki, there are many places to grab a bite. At the northern end, towards Route 21, you can find several noodle shops. However, most of the restaurants on this road are south of Aeon Town
The road running east next to Aeon Town has a few treats too.
Along the 31
Ogaki Station & High Street
Walk straight out of Ogaki Station and down the main street for a large selection of cute and delicious small restaurants.
Along Route 258
Running north-south of Ogaki, there are many places to grab a bite. At the northern end, towards Route 21, you can find several noodle shops. However, most of the restaurants on this road are south of Aeon Town
- Coco Ichiban: Japanese curry chain that allows you to choose the level of spiciness
- Staminataro: A buffet (buffets are called “Vikings” in Japanese) restaurant. Tabehodia (all-you-can-eat) for ¥2000 over a ninety-minute period. Choose from yakiniku, curry and rice, agemono (fried foods), sushi and desserts
- Running east-west through northern Ogaki, you can find
- Amiyaki-tei: yakiniku grilled barbecue restaurant
- Brazilian supermarket ‘Amigos’: at the intersection of Route 18 and Route 21. As well as being good for cheap meat, cheese, and products imported from Brazil, which are great for Spanish cooking, upstairs there is a buffet café, which also serves large burgers and other delicious foods.
- Bronco Billy: a slightly expensive but good American-style steakhouse
- Coco Ichiban: Japanese curry chain that allows you to choose the level of spiciness
- Gachibuta Ramen: large bowls of ramen garnished with kim chi and lots of garlic.
- Kaikai Ramen: pirate-themed ramen restaurant
- KFC: the store is slightly run down, but good for everyone’s Christmas chicken desires
- Kunekune Ramen: ramen restaurant open late; serves black squid ink noodles
- Kurazushi: a kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) restaurant
- Saizeria: a family Italian restaurant with a diverse menu Sushiro: a kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) place. Dishes are mostly ¥100 for a plate of sushi (some are more expensive). Of all the kaitenzushi chains, Sushiro is often thought of as the best and is very busy for dinner on weekends
The road running east next to Aeon Town has a few treats too.
- Marinos: an Italian restaurant with English menus. They specialize in set meals to share (appetizer, salad/soup, pasta, pizza, drinks and dessert), which are very reasonably priced. The pizzas are thin and crispy, and cooked in a stone oven. Marino’s also does takeout (pizzas only). You can choose “half&half” for an additional ¥100. You’ll have to pick your order up, but you can place your order on the phone.Mos Burger: popular, healthier-than-McDonald’s fast-food burger chain in Japan. Soy patties are available for substitute. Also, you can try burgers that have bread buns replaced with rice cakes!
- Men-wei: noodle restaurant
- Look for Ramen and Yakitori shops as well.
- Chorkys: A perennial favourite with JETs, Chorky’s is a 50’s style American diner serving up the best hamburgers in the area (argued best in Gifu-ken; when you go up to Takayama check out Center 4 Burgers and decide for yourself). There are also the most glorious milkshakes in a variety of different flavors. The menu is in English and in Japanese, and they stay open fairly late on weekends. To reach Chorky’s, head south on Route 258 and turn left when you see Ogaki hospital on the right (Route 18). Go down two blocks, and you’ll see it on the left (north side) of the street.
- Gyukaku: a reasonable yakiniku restaurant. The all-you-can-eat course here is especially good.
- Masala Master: an excellent Indian/Nepalese restaurant. It has a yellow sign, with a sun motif. The owners are Nepalese and fluent in English, as well as Japanese. The food is delicious, and they have a beast of a set meal for dinner. There is a limited menu at lunchtime, but they offer lunch sets that include salad, curry and your choice of naan or rice. Masala Master does takeout. The restaurant is located on Route 18, just west of the Municipal Hospital. If you are coming from Ogaki station, go down the main street in front of the station, take a right once you hit a T-intersection. The shop with be on the right-hand side of the street, but it’s quite far down, so bicycle/bus is recommended.
- Nakamuraya: A ramen shop. Look for a big yellow sign, and the queue waiting outside. Rain, snow or shine, people will wait a long time for this ramen, and justifiably so. The fatty-meat pork broth soup, abura-soba is highly recommended.
- Pastel: an ‘Italian’ restaurant. This shop is well-known for its pudding, and all-you-can-eat pizza.
Along the 31
- Riyoi: A nice Chinese restaurant. Going down Route 258, south from the station and taking a left onto Route 30 for about 2 blocks, or if you’re walking then go straight down south from Aeon Town along the canal until you come to the intersection and see a big red and yellow sign. It’s about a 10 minute walk.
- Shinbatai: A small, houselike ramen shop serving excellent tsuke-men. If you are in the mood for soft noodles, rich broth, and a TV with the vibe of your grandparents’ house, go here!
Ogaki Station & High Street
Walk straight out of Ogaki Station and down the main street for a large selection of cute and delicious small restaurants.
- Italian café: Small, but they serves perhaps the only lasagna in the city.
- Kankoku-Mura: Look for the Korean flags outside. They serve excellent home-made kimchi. They also do a limited takeout menu.
- Fujiya Okonomiyaki: Small mom and pop Okonomiyaki restaurant. The prices are quite reasonable, and the owners are super friendly and great.
- Sushi and noodle shops: just a short walk down the high street too. These places do some handsome fresh takeout bentos. They also do eat-in set meals (including tofu made from Ogaki water, sushi, noodles, rice and tsukemono), which make for a nice Japanese-style dinner, or a pretty lavish lunch.
Other Places - QuicheQuiche: near the police station.
- The city has many other treats, and these can often be uncovered by picking up a copy of Wao! Magazine (delivered free to most homes in the city).
揖斐川町 Ibigawa-cho
Ban Rai Ramen
From the main road at the station, turn right and walk north. Look for a big yellow sign with red kanji.
From the main road at the station, turn right and walk north. Look for a big yellow sign with red kanji.
池田町 Ikeda-cho
Bali High
This is a great restaurant for pasta, pizza, Chinese, and other cuisines. It is a little expensive. Located very close to the Mega Mart / Max Value shopping complex in Ikeda, on the south side of route 53, just before getting to the onsen. You really can't miss it. The owner, Mr. Takahashi, or "A-Chan" as most people know him as, is a really cool guy.
Ibi-cha Green Tea.
The tea is found in the areas of Ibigawa and Tanigumi as well as Ikeda. In town, you can pretty much hit any local tea shop to buy some.
Jyumanryou.
An Izakaya on the north side of Route 53, Eneos gas station but before you reach the bridge crossing the Ibi-gawa.
Marugen Yakiniku.
Reasonably priced yakiniku located behind Jyumanryou. Look for a bright orange sign.
Ogiya Yakitori
Izakaya chain located right next door to Bali High. It is a great place to go for cheap yakitori and an amazing assortment of other ‘bar foods’, drinks, or just to hang out.
This is a great restaurant for pasta, pizza, Chinese, and other cuisines. It is a little expensive. Located very close to the Mega Mart / Max Value shopping complex in Ikeda, on the south side of route 53, just before getting to the onsen. You really can't miss it. The owner, Mr. Takahashi, or "A-Chan" as most people know him as, is a really cool guy.
Ibi-cha Green Tea.
The tea is found in the areas of Ibigawa and Tanigumi as well as Ikeda. In town, you can pretty much hit any local tea shop to buy some.
Jyumanryou.
An Izakaya on the north side of Route 53, Eneos gas station but before you reach the bridge crossing the Ibi-gawa.
Marugen Yakiniku.
Reasonably priced yakiniku located behind Jyumanryou. Look for a bright orange sign.
Ogiya Yakitori
Izakaya chain located right next door to Bali High. It is a great place to go for cheap yakitori and an amazing assortment of other ‘bar foods’, drinks, or just to hang out.
関ヶ原町 Sekigahara-cho
Ibuki
Located just off of the IC ramp, this restaurant is a nice stop on your way to see the Battle Sites.
Uoshige
Famous for its unagi (eel), this restaurant is one of few in Sekigahara and well-enjoyed by its town.
Located just off of the IC ramp, this restaurant is a nice stop on your way to see the Battle Sites.
Uoshige
Famous for its unagi (eel), this restaurant is one of few in Sekigahara and well-enjoyed by its town.
養老町 Yoro-cho
Tomidaya Yoro
Grocery store
Yoro Meat
Meat shop near the Tomidaya Yoro grocery store
Supermarket Baro Yoro
Another supermarket in town.
Seiko Ramen
A Chinese food restaurant with ramen as its specialty.
Yoro Yakiniku Town Road
養老焼肉街道 A long road down which you will find many delicious yakiniku grilled barbeque restaurants, such as:
Grocery store
Yoro Meat
Meat shop near the Tomidaya Yoro grocery store
Supermarket Baro Yoro
Another supermarket in town.
Seiko Ramen
A Chinese food restaurant with ramen as its specialty.
Yoro Yakiniku Town Road
養老焼肉街道 A long road down which you will find many delicious yakiniku grilled barbeque restaurants, such as:
- Yakiniku Fujita 藤太
- Yakiniku Kachan勝ちゃん – number one for quality and price
- Yamabiko or Sanbiko山びこ
- Yakiniku Doyo Royal 焼肉道陽ローヤル
輪之内町 Wanouchi-cho
Katsumi
A yakiniku grilled barbecue restaurant with a good reputation.
A yakiniku grilled barbecue restaurant with a good reputation.