Cover Singapore-based foodie Leon Chua (@uncle_lim_chiak) shares his top spots to visit in Kanazawa, Japan
Singapore-based foodie Leon Chua (@uncle_lim_chiak) shares his top spots to visit in Kanazawa, Japan
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Singapore foodie and Instagram personality Leon Chua (@uncle_lim_chiak) makes the case for Kanazawa—Japan’s underrated culinary capital—with five essential eating experiences
Nicknamed “Little Kyoto”, Kanazawa may not top the itinerary of first-time visitors to Japan, but seasoned travellers will tell you it’s a gem worth keeping under wraps. A true foodie capital, it offers all the excitement of a great dining city—without Tokyo’s neon distractions, Kyoto’s fussiness or Osaka’s rough edges. With access to exceptional produce, particularly seafood from the Sea of Japan, and passionate culinary talent at every turn, Kanazawa rewards those in the know.
Leon Chua is a Singapore-based food lover known to his followers as @uncle_lim_chiak, where he documents his eating adventures around the world with sharp photography and tongue-in-cheek storytelling. In this installment of Pocket List—a series in which our community shares five essential recommendations from a destination of their choice—he takes us straight to the table.
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Be mesmerised by Spanish restaurant Respiración
Leon Chua with the Respiración chefs
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Enjoy modern Spanish cuisine by chefs Tatsuro Ume, Keisuke Yagi and Yusuke Kitagawa—three childhood friends—in a beautifully preserved 140-year-old townhouse that you might mistake for an art gallery. Yes, Spanish cuisine in Kanazawa—it isn’t a mistake. Imagine a refined and elegant version of Spanish tapas culture, elevated with access to Japan’s finest ingredients. Simplicity with quality is exactly what Respiración is. Only set menus are available, but expect courses that are light, absolutely delicious and presented with real pride. If you can, convince the chefs to upsize your paella.
Respiración, 67 Bakuromachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0903
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Be awed by Kanazawa’s hidden gem, Makinoncî
Above French-trained chef Hirokazu Makino helms this extremely hard to book restaurant in Kanazawa
Above Leon Chua was lucky enough to try the special crab menu on his visit to Makinoncî
French-trained chef Hirokazu Makino helms this extremely hard to book restaurant in Kanazawa
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If there’s one restaurant worth planning your entire Kanazawa trip around, it's Makinoncî. French-trained chef Hirokazu Makino helms this impossibly hard-to-book, 10-seater counter, where guests are treated less like diners and more like friends. The menu shifts daily; Makino supports local farmers, catches his own fish and occasionally hunts his own game. Leon was lucky enough to experience the special crab menu, which he describes as life-changing and now his benchmark for every crab dish since.
Makinoncî, 25-18 Yamanouemachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0816
Be charmed by local izakaya hospitality at Koide
Above Koide isn’t a members-only joint but it certainly feels like one
Above The seasonal menu is complemented by a formidable sake list
Koide isn’t a members-only joint but it certainly feels like one
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A well-kept local secret, Koide isn’t a members-only joint, but it certainly feels like one. Regulars pack the place nightly, making it near-impossible for newcomers to secure a seat. The sake list alone is formidable, with limited-edition bottles of Juyondai, Aramasa and Kokuryu. No English is spoken, but expect classic izakaya energy, with communication carried out through finger gestures and the help of online photos. So how did Leon get in? That remains a mystery…
Koide, 5-6 Kasaichimachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0851
Become a local for a morning at 300-year-old Omicho Market
Above A visit to Omicho Market is a non-negotiable when you’re in Kanazawa
A visit to Omicho Market is a non-negotiable when you’re in Kanazawa
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What Tsukiji is to Tokyo, Omicho Market is to Kanazawa—a visit is non-negotiable. With over 170 stalls, the market is best experienced early in the morning before the tourist crowds arrive and while the rhythm of daily life is still in full swing. Graze on croquettes, fresh oysters, sea urchin and snow crab (particularly special in winter), but don’t leave without a bowl of Kanazawa oden—the scent of kombu and bonito flakes combined is unmistakable, even locals queue for it.
Omicho Market, 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0905
Go ‘fishing’ at a kaiten sushi spot, Morimori Sushi
Above Fresh seafood is at the heart of this kaiten sushi spot
Above Morimori Sushi offers an extensive menu at accessible prices
Fresh seafood is at the heart of this kaiten sushi spot
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Kanazawa is famous for its quality seafood because of its proximity to the Sea of Japan and the easy access to fresh produce. One way to enjoy the range of delicacies—sometimes not available in other parts of Japan—is at a kaiten sushi spot, no kidding. The quality of kaiten sushi in Kanazawa is exceptional, and the variety is a major plus.
The most popular kaiten sushi in Kanazawa is Morimori Sushi, which has outlets at Omicho Market and Kanazawa Station. The wait can be excruciatingly long, but once you see what’s available—and at such accessible prices—all will be forgotten. Leon recommends going all in on the seafood found in the region and promises you won’t be leaving with an empty arm.
Morimori Sushi, outlets at Omicho Market and Kanazawa Station
Credits
Images: Leon Chua
