Local Guide
5 Recommended Dinner Spots in the Tsuchiura and Tsukuba Area

One of the joys of traveling is, without a doubt, dinner. If you're going to a place, you want to enjoy a meal in a relaxed atmosphere, savoring the local cuisine. Here we've picked out the best restaurants for dinner, from Restaurant that will evoke the spirit of travel, to famous places where you can taste Ibaraki Prefecture's agricultural and seafood delicacies, to places where you can enjoy a quick meal even when you're short on time, to suit any occasion or purpose.

Basque cuisine with a unique twist

The price of the "Bongoo Appetizer Platter" varies depending on the day. (The photo is an example. 1,400 yen per person x 3 servings)
The price of the "Bongoo Appetizer Platter" varies depending on the day. (The photo is an example. 1,400 yen per person x 3 servings)

This is a famous restaurant in Tsukuba City that is known only to those in the know, where you can enjoy the local cuisine of the Basque region, which spans Spain and France. The first thing many people order is the "Bongu Appetizer Platter." It is a visually stunning dish that includes about nine types of appetizers, such as finger food pinchos, pate de campagne, and marinated sardines. Based on Basque cuisine, it is skillfully combined with locally sourced seasonings and seasonal ingredients from Ibaraki Prefecture to create a flavor that suits Japanese tastes.

An exotic interior that will make you feel like you're on a journey

Although the restaurant is small with only 16 seats, mostly at tables, it is very comfortable thanks to its high ceilings and many windows.
Although the restaurant is small with only 16 seats, mostly at tables, it is very comfortable thanks to its high ceilings and many windows.

The restaurant has a homey atmosphere reminiscent of a small bar on a street corner in the Basque region. While working as a sommelier in Tokyo, the owner felt an affinity with restaurants serving local cuisine from southwestern France, so he returned to his hometown of Ibaraki Prefecture and opened a Basque-themed restaurant with his wife. A wide variety of dishes are available, including tapas, Basque-style bouillabaisse "choro," charcoal grilled dishes, and paella, which is the perfect way to finish off a meal. There is also a wide selection of natural wines carefully selected by the owner, making this a place where you can lose track of time and enjoy a fun evening.

Comments Local Guide
The charcoal-grilled meats on offer are also delicious, including the loin of purebred Basque Quintoa pork, which is rarer than Iberian pork, and pork loin from Yamanishi Farm in Bando City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Bon Goo
  • URLhttps://www.facebook.com/bongout.basque/
  • 住所2-2-22 Ninomiya, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 5 minutes by car from Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express
  • バスアクセスFrom Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express, take the Gakuen Minami Loop Bus for about 5 minutes, get off at "Shirahata Jido Koen" and walk for 2 minutes
  • 営業時間11:30-15:00 (LO14:00), 18:00-22:00 (LO21:00)
  • 定休日Sundays, Monday lunchtimes, New Year holidays
  • TEL029-893-4966
  • 駐車場to exist

Hearty Chinese menu, set meal style

"Yakitori" with unlimited rice, soup, and Ota cucumber for 880 yen
"Yakitori" with unlimited rice, soup, and Ota cucumber for 880 yen

This Chinese food stand is located on the third floor of "Play Atre Tsuchiura," which is directly connected to JR Tsuchiura Station. It serves classic Chinese dishes familiar to Japanese people in a set meal style that includes rice, soup, and Ota cucumbers from Ibaraki Prefecture sprinkled with salt and sesame oil. "Yulinji" is the most popular menu item, and chicken marinated in soy sauce is deep-fried after the order is placed, and then served with a generous amount of special sauce and green onions on top. The crispy skin, moist and juicy chicken inside, the moderately sour sauce, and the crunchy green onions combine to make a delicious trinity that will make you want to eat more rice.

A calm interior that makes it hard to believe it's located right next to the station ticket gates

The interior of the restaurant is eye-catching, with displays of Shaoxing wine bottles. There are counter seats and table seats.
The interior of the restaurant is eye-catching, with displays of Shaoxing wine bottles. There are counter seats and table seats.

Located in a corner of the food court just past the ticket gates at the station, Restaurant features an impressive large paper lantern. It's self-service, so you can drop in easily even when you're short on time, but all the dishes are authentic. In addition to yakitori, the menu has more than eight different dishes at any given time, including mapo tofu, Chinese noodles, dandan noodles, pork rib noodles, and char siu noodles. Noodle dishes come with unlimited rice and Ota cucumbers, so all are very filling. They also offer four types of oolong tea sourced from China and Taiwan, which enhance the flavor of the Chinese cuisine.

Comments Local Guide
"BEB5 Tsuchiura by Hoshino Resorts" and "Haotsu" are just around the corner. You can quickly recharge your energy with delicious Chinese food that is full of volume.
HaoTsu
  • URLhttps://stationlobby.jp/restaurant/hao2/
  • 住所1-30 Ariake-cho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture Play Atre Tsuchiura Station Lobby 3rd floorMAP
  • アクセスDirectly connected to JR Tsuchiura Station
  • 営業時間11:30-15:00 (LO 14:30), 17:00-21:00 (LO 20:30), Fridays, Saturdays, and days before holidays - 22:00 (LO 21:30)
  • 定休日Irregular holidays (same as PLAY Atre Tsuchiura)
  • TEL029-825-0802
  • 駐車場*Atre affiliated Parking (200 yen per hour) are free for 1 hour for purchases of 500 yen or more, with a maximum of 2 hours of parking available

Enjoy fragrant soba noodles made by a famous restaurant in Hitachiota city and sturgeon from Tsukuba.

"Seiro soba" (front), "Grilled sturgeon with miso and saikyo sauce" 900 yen each (left), "Sturgeon sashimi" 1,000 yen (back)
"Seiro soba" (front), "Grilled sturgeon with miso and saikyo sauce" 900 yen each (left), "Sturgeon sashimi" 1,000 yen (back)

This Japanese restaurant offers a taste of the deliciousness of Ibaraki Prefecture in its entirety, including regional dishes that represent Ibaraki Prefecture and a la carte dishes that use an abundance of local ingredients. The experienced head chef trained at Jikuan, a famous soba restaurant in Hitachiota City, and has been awarded the prestigious title of branch of the restaurant. The Hitachi Aki Soba grown in the owner's fields is coarsely ground in a stone mill and cut into thin strips to create a superb dish that has the perfect combination of aroma, firmness, and smoothness. In addition, dishes made with fresh sturgeon farmed in underground water at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba are a specialty unique to Tsukuba City.

The interior of the restaurant is reminiscent of a traditional Japanese house with a tiled roof.

There are private tables where you can dine leisurely without having to worry about anyone else. Private rooms are also available.
There are private tables where you can dine leisurely without having to worry about anyone else. Private rooms are also available.

The restaurant's interior, with its tiled roof and Japanese-style house feel, creates a relaxed atmosphere. In the private rooms, there are panels displaying local producers connected to the restaurant, showing that it is a restaurant with strong connections to the community. Many dishes make the most of the delicious ingredients, such as Bagna Cauda, which uses vegetables sourced from contracted farmers. There is also a wide selection of local Ibaraki sake sourced from 28 sake breweries, which can be enjoyed paired with the exquisite cuisine. The restaurant can be used for a wide range of occasions, from a full-fledged dinner to a light drink with a wide selection of snacks.

Comments Local Guide
In addition to soba noodles and fish, the meat dishes are also highly satisfying, including grilled Ibaraki brand beef "Hitachi beef", grilled steaks, and beef stew.
Jikuan Tsukuba-so Handmade soba izakaya Shushu
  • URLhttps://syusyu-tsukubaten.owst.jp/
  • 住所MYU-MYU Building 203, 5-13-11 Kenkyu Gakuen, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 3 minutes walk from Tsukuba Express Kenkyu-gakuen Station
  • 営業時間11:30~14:30 (LO14:00), 17:00~20:00 (LO19:30)
  • 定休日Tuesdays, New Year's holidays *Please contact us for details
  • TEL029-875-7373
  • 駐車場None (there is a paid parking lot next door)

A Japanese restaurant with artisanal cuisine that appeals to adults

Seasonal "clay pot rice" from 2,000 yen per cup, "clam soup" 660 yen (front right), "assorted sashimi" 1,980 yen per person (back)
Seasonal "clay pot rice" from 2,000 yen per cup, "clam soup" 660 yen (front right), "assorted sashimi" 1,980 yen per person (back)

The owner, who is originally from Tsuchiura City, trained at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo before opening his restaurant in his hometown in 2015. The dishes, which highlight the owner's delicate techniques, all have a seasonal feel to them. His parents run a sushi restaurant in Tsuchiura City, and he is able to source fresh, high-quality seafood, so the restaurant is particularly renowned for its fish dishes. The "Assorted Sashimi" includes small portions of seasonal seafood, mainly caught locally. The "Clay Pot Rice" changes with the seasons, and on this day it was crab. You can enjoy the plump crab meat. The soup made with large "Kashimanada clams" is also very nutritious.

Be enveloped in a warm, modern Japanese atmosphere

The table seats on the second floor are clean and perfect for business dinners. They can also be divided into private rooms.
The table seats on the second floor are clean and perfect for business dinners. They can also be divided into private rooms.

Located in a quiet, relaxed area just a few steps away from the downtown area, the restaurant is easy to drop into even by yourself. Originally, the restaurant was a temporary location for the owner's family restaurant, "Danbei," which was damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the owner was familiar with the area, which is why he decided on this location. In addition to counter seats where you can see the owner's masterful skills right before your eyes, there are also raised seats and private rooms on the second floor. Not only can you come just for a meal, but they also have a selection of local sake, making it a great place to stop by for a drink and some snacks.

Comments Local Guide
It's very popular with locals, and although all the dishes are high quality, they also offer excellent value for money. No matter how many times you visit, you'll be surprised by the new experiences.
Waso Shun Kobee
  • URLhttp://koubee.info/
  • 住所1-8-11 Kawaguchi, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 7 minutes walk from JR Tsuchiura Station
  • 営業時間12:00-14:00 (LO13:30), 17:00-23:00 (LO22:30)
  • 定休日Wednesdays, New Year's holiday, Obon *Please check the website for details
  • TEL029-875-5800
  • 駐車場Free (4 cars) *A service coupon will be issued to those who have a parking ticket for Musashiya Kawaguchi paid Parking

Enjoy delicious a la carte dishes at a buffet Restaurant directly connected to the station

From the front, "Assorted Ham" 930 yen, "Siciliana" pizza 1,320 yen, etc.
From the front, "Assorted Ham" 930 yen, "Siciliana" pizza 1,320 yen, etc.

A stylish large restaurant on the second floor of "Play Atre Tsuchiura" inside Tsuchiura Station. In addition to the popular buffet of prepared dishes, you can enjoy a la carte dishes such as an assortment of "Napoli Salami" and "24-month aged Parma ham", "fresh wild fish carpaccio" delivered daily from Fukuoka, and "Siciliana", a crispy pizza with tomato sauce and anchovy aroma. Drinks include a wide variety of wines, including craft beer from Ibaraki Prefecture. The manager's recommended "homemade ginger lemonade" is an "adult lemonade" that has been repeatedly prototyped to match the food.

A sophisticated dining space offering a variety of enjoyment

The table tennis space at the back of the "Ribayon" tatami room is available for free use to everyone.
The table tennis space at the back of the "Ribayon" tatami room is available for free use to everyone.

The open floor with atrium is divided into areas such as table seating for large groups, tatami seating where you can stretch your legs and relax, and counter seating where you can casually drink alone, making it suitable for a variety of occasions. At the "Drinks & Soup Bar", you can customize your drink using a carbonated water maker, hand-squeezed juicer, and flavored syrup. There is also a ping pong table permanently installed in the tatami seating area, so you can enjoy playing against friends. This is a popular station Restaurant with all the elements to liven up dinner time.

Comments Local Guide
The "Salad and Side Dish Buffet" comes with a drink and soup bar and offers eight types of side dishes, such as "Steamed Chicken and Broccoli with Aurora Sauce" and "Grilled Vegetables," as well as two types of soup, ensuring plenty of satisfaction.
NANAIRO Eat at Home!
  • URLhttps://stationlobby.jp/restaurant/nanairo/
  • 住所1-30 Ariake-cho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture Play Atre Tsuchiura Station Lobby 2nd floorMAP
  • アクセスDirectly connected to JR Tsuchiura Station
  • 営業時間11:00-21:00 (LO 20:00, drink LO 20:30), Friday and Saturday until 22:00 (LO 21:00, drink LO 21:30) *Lunchtime is 11:30-14:30 every day (LO 14:00)
  • 定休日Irregular holidays (same as PLAY Atre Tsuchiura)
  • TEL029-825-7716
  • 駐車場Paid * There is Parking affiliated with Play Atre Tsuchiura. 1 hour free for purchases of 500 yen or more, 2 hours free for purchases of 3,000 yen or more (some areas have different rates)
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