Local Guide
Beppu's local gourmet and seafood: 6 recommended restaurants for lunch

Beppu is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts, surrounded by the sea and mountains. It is a treasure trove of a wide variety of food, including seafood such as Sekiaji and Sekisaba, branded Oita Wagyu beef, and local delicacies such as Toriten and Dangojiru. Here we introduce six delicious lunch options from famous restaurants in Beppu that are loved by locals as well as tourists from outside the prefecture.

A former fishmonger with a keen eye for quality. "Seafood bowl" filled with plenty of fresh seafood

"Seafood bowl" (1,100 yen). "Seafood bowl set meal" (1,250 yen) comes with soup and a small side dish.
"Seafood bowl" (1,100 yen). "Seafood bowl set meal" (1,250 yen) comes with soup and a small side dish.

This restaurant started out as a fresh fish store and is now operating as an izakaya. Customers from inside and outside the prefecture visit for their "seafood bowl," which always has about 10 different kinds of seafood, mainly from Oita and Kyushu. The wild Sekiburi yellowtail, which is served almost all year round, is particularly recommended for its firm and chewy texture. You can also enjoy fresh seasonal seafood such as sea bream, salmon, squid, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, and bonito.
The refreshing vinegared rice and the restaurant's original blend of soy sauce, made from Miho soy sauce, a long-established soy sauce maker in Beppu, enhance the flavor of the sashimi, making it hard to stop eating.

A relaxed and unpretentious space

The charm of this place is its old-fashioned, homey atmosphere that will make you feel at ease.
The charm of this place is its old-fashioned, homey atmosphere that will make you feel at ease.

Another must-try dish is the "Ryukyu Donburi" which is available in limited quantities and sells out quickly. It is characterized by the fact that the sashimi fillets are not marinated but are instead tossed in soy sauce. The light sauce coats the fish, allowing you to enjoy the natural flavor of the fish. The "Tori Ten Ryukyu Set Meal" which allows you to try all Oita specialties at once is very popular with customers from outside the prefecture.
At night, it operates as an izakaya, and the menu is the same day and night, so the wide variety is a nice plus. Dishes such as "fried chicken kama" and "seafood fried rice" are each quite filling, so it's recommended to share with a large group.

Comments Local Guide
This popular restaurant has long lines of people waiting to get in. As it used to be a fishmonger, the variety and freshness of the fish is second to none. If you want to try some special seafood, it's a good idea to ask, "What's today's recommendation?"
Seafood Izutsu
  • 住所5-5 Kusunokicho, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 8 minutes walk from JR Beppu Station
  • 営業時間11:00-15:00 (LO14:30), 18:00-21:30 (LO21:00)
  • 定休日Monday
  • TEL0977-22-2449
  • 駐車場none

A delicacy of crispy and fragrant tempura with a special sweet and spicy sauce.

"Special Tendon" (950 yen) comes with miso soup and pickles
"Special Tendon" (950 yen) comes with miso soup and pickles

The most popular dish at this famous restaurant, which always has a constant line, is the "Special Tendon." It is topped with two plump and extra-large shrimp tempura and vegetable tempura such as eggplant and carrots, and is so big that it overflows from the bowl.
Its main feature is the crispy, fragrant, and chewy batter, which goes perfectly with the special sweet and spicy sauce. We recommend eating it as soon as it's fresh. You can also add shrimp tempura for an additional 360 yen. The miso soup that comes with it is made with miso from Sakamoto Chohei Shoten, a long-established shop in Beppu. The red miso soup brings out the overall flavor.

A beloved restaurant that sees 200-300 visitors even on weekdays

The store, which relocated and reopened in 2019, is spacious and relaxing.
The store, which relocated and reopened in 2019, is spacious and relaxing.

The "Conger eel bowl" is a popular dish that will surprise you with its volume, featuring thick and large conger eel tempura. Enjoy the harmony between the crunchy batter and fluffy conger eel.
In addition to tempura, the restaurant is also proud of its fresh fish from the Bungo Channel. You can taste local fresh fish such as Sekiaji. The Oita specialty "Ryukyu-don" is a bowl of chopped sashimi of various kinds, seasoned with a strong sesame base. It is served with a hot spring egg, which is a slightly unusual style.

Comments Local Guide
The special sauce is always available on the table, so you can have as much as you want, which is a nice touch. If you order a bento box, you can take it out with little waiting time.
Toyotsune Main Store
  • 住所2-12-24 Kitahama, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 8 minutes walk from JR Beppu Station
  • 営業時間11:00～21:00（L.O. 20:00）
  • 定休日Wednesday
  • TEL0977-22-3274
  • 駐車場to exist
  • メモNo reservations accepted

Enjoy nostalgic, homemade local cuisine

"Dango-jiru set meal (small)" (1,180 yen). "Dango-jiru set meal (large)" (1,280 yen) has a larger dango-jiru.
"Dango-jiru set meal (small)" (1,180 yen). "Dango-jiru set meal (large)" (1,280 yen) has a larger dango-jiru.

Located along the Yamanami Highway, this restaurant serves carefully prepared local cuisine. The most popular dish is the "Dango Soup Set Meal." The chewy and springy dumplings are handmade every day using only wheat, salt, and water. The soup base is a combination of red, white, and barley miso, and when kabosu fruit is in season, the juice is squeezed into the soup to give it a refreshing taste.
The seasonal rice that comes with the set changes with the seasons, using ingredients such as sweet potatoes, mushrooms, crab, beans, dried sansho pepper, etc. "Yaseuma" is made using dumplings, and the gentle sweetness of soybean flour and sugar will become an addictive taste.

We also recommend the delicious and juicy "agemochi sumashi"

The hearty yet light "Agemochi Sumashiri" (700 yen)
The hearty yet light "Agemochi Sumashiri" (700 yen)

The ever-popular "Agemochi Sumashiru" is a Japanese-style soup made with stewed daikon radish and plenty of grated daikon radish, and contains three crispy fried mochi pieces. The mochi are made fresh every morning in the shop.
All the dishes are handmade, and there are over 100 different types on the menu. By listening to customer feedback, the restaurant has added a wide variety of dishes, such as curry rice and doria. There are also many desserts, including handmade Japanese sweets, puddings, and parfaits. You'll have a happy time deciding what to choose.

Comments Local Guide
Staff/staff member are cheerful and friendly, making this a pleasant shop to visit. The sunlight filtering through the windows is beautiful, and the interior is decorated with many folk crafts, making it a comfortable place where you'll want to stay for a while.
Beppu Sweets Tea House
  • 住所1-4 Jisso-ji, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセス14 minutes by car from JR Beppu Station
  • バスアクセスTake the bus from JR Beppu Station, get off at "Beppu Sogochosha-mae" and walk for about 2 minutes
  • 営業時間10:00～21:00（L.O. 20:30）
  • 定休日Open everyday *May be closed temporarily
  • TEL0977-67-6024
  • 駐車場free

Enjoy "Oita Wagyu beef" cooked right before your eyes

"Bungo Beef Sirloin Steak Course" S-LL (from 7,500 yen), "Bungo Beef Fillet Steak Course" S-LL (from 8,200 yen)
"Bungo Beef Sirloin Steak Course" S-LL (from 7,500 yen), "Bungo Beef Fillet Steak Course" S-LL (from 8,200 yen)

The owner-chef, who has eaten meat all over Japan, is particular about using "Bungo Beef", which he recognizes as the most delicious. The signature dish is the "Bungo Beef Steak", which uses "Oita Wagyu", a type of Bungo beef with a meat quality grade of 4 or higher. Watching the meat being cut thickly from the block and cooked right in front of you stimulates your senses and builds up anticipation.
"Come to the restaurant and try it, and you'll understand," says the owner, with absolute confidence that the meat is finely marbled and has a rich, melt-in-your-mouth flavor. You can enjoy this high-quality meat, which has been highly praised nationwide, to your heart's content.

A carefully designed restaurant to serve the best meat

The interior is chic and carpeted. There is ample seating at the counter and at the tables.
The interior is chic and carpeted. There is ample seating at the counter and at the tables.

The restaurant has been meticulously designed to provide an environment where you can spend a blissful moment cutting your own steak with a knife and bringing it to your mouth. The chic carpeted floor, which is rare for a restaurant, is also heated. The cutlery is sourced from Ryusen Cutlery, a long-established cutlery manufacturer.
The consommé soup and corn potage that accompany the steak course are all made from homemade bouillon, and the ham is also homemade. Although it is located in a bustling restaurant district, the chic and relaxed atmosphere allows you to spend your time leisurely.

Comments Local Guide
Our proud steak is brought to you by a chef who is full of love for Bungo beef. The owner chef himself carefully cooks it. It gets busy on weekends, so we recommend making a reservation.
Bungo Beef Steak Restaurant Somuri Beppu Main Branch
  • 住所2nd floor, Kasaoka Shoten Building, 1-4-28 Kitahama, Beppu City, Oita PrefectureMAP
  • アクセスApproximately 6 minutes walk from JR Beppu Station
  • 営業時間11:30-14:00 (LO 13:30), 17:30-21:30 (LO 20:30)
  • 定休日Dinner time on Mondays and Wednesdays
  • TEL0977-24-6830
  • 駐車場none

Fluffy chicken tempura served with homemade sauce

"Toriten (single item)" (1,280 yen). "Toriten set meal" (1,380 yen) comes with rice, red miso soup, and pickles.
"Toriten (single item)" (1,280 yen). "Toriten set meal" (1,380 yen) comes with rice, red miso soup, and pickles.

This is a long-established Western restaurant that has been in business since 1953. Since its establishment, it has maintained the same taste using the same recipe. The "Toriten" chicken tempura, served with a homemade sweet sauce instead of vinegar soy sauce or ponzu sauce, is an irresistible dish with its fluffy batter and juicy meat.
Not only chicken breast but also various other parts are deep-fried. One of the pleasures is watching the sauce soak in and the flavor change over time. The red miso soup that comes with the set meal is made with red miso from Sakamoto Chohei Shoten, a long-established store in Beppu. The traditional, strong miso soup balances the entire set meal.

The carefully simmered homemade demi-glace sauce is exquisite

"Beef cutlet" (2,050 yen) with delicious homemade demi-glace sauce
"Beef cutlet" (2,050 yen) with delicious homemade demi-glace sauce

Another must-try dish is the beef cutlet. It is covered in homemade bread crumbs from the long-established Tomonaga Pan bread store and deep-fried in 100% lard until crispy. It is topped with a homemade demi-glace sauce made from Bungo beef tendons and aromatic vegetables simmered for 10 days. The crispy, fragrant batter, concentrated beef flavor, and gentle sauce blend together to create a special taste.
We have a wide range of menu items, including teppanyaki Bungo beef steak and Chinese cuisine with gentle flavors.

Comments Local Guide
The restaurant is run by a friendly third-generation owner who shows off his skills. It's a relaxed and casual place, with some customers even becoming regulars for three generations.
Grilled Mitsuba
  • 住所1-4-31 Kitahama, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスAbout 5 minutes walk from JR Beppu Station
  • 営業時間11:30-14:00 (L.0.13:30), 18:00-21:00 (LO20:00)
  • 定休日Tuesday and Monday dinner
  • TEL0977-23-2887
  • 駐車場無料（3台）

A popular restaurant with a constant line of people waiting for their specialty, "Toriten"

"Honke Toriten Single Item" (1,224 yen), "Honke Toriten Set Meal" (1,531 yen)
"Honke Toriten Single Item" (1,224 yen), "Honke Toriten Set Meal" (1,531 yen)

Currently run by the third generation, this long-established restaurant was founded in 1926 (Taisho 15). It started as a Western-style restaurant and has been serving its specialty "Toriten" since around 1937 (Showa 12), and it continues to be popular to this day.
The domestic chicken thigh meat is marinated in a secret sauce made from original soy sauce and aromatic vegetables, giving it a well-seasoned, punchy flavor. The batter is made only from wheat flour, potato starch, and eggs, and does not contain water, so it remains soft and juicy even when cooled. Enjoy with the original kabosu vinegar soy sauce and plenty of mustard.

The hearty Chinese noodles are also appealing.

The store is bright, clean, and full of energy. Autographs of famous people are displayed throughout the store.
The store is bright, clean, and full of energy. Autographs of famous people are displayed throughout the store.

The "Beef and Chili Noodles" are popular among regular customers. The noodles are firm and chewy and are imported from Taiwan. Other popular Chinese noodle dishes include the "Kakuni Ramen" with chunks of pork, the hearty and reasonably priced "Shark Fin Ramen," and the "Dandan Noodles" with their deep, rich, and spicy flavor.
This extremely popular restaurant is visited by over 15,000 people a month. It has been featured on television and in magazines, and has been visited by many celebrities and famous people. Reservations are not accepted, so it is recommended that you go there with plenty of time.

Comments Local Guide
The restaurant is very clean and the seats are spacious. Staff/staff member are very polite. They also sell their original vinegar soy sauce and chicken tempura as souvenirs.
Restaurant Toyoken
  • 住所7-8-22 Ishigaki Higashi, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 8 minutes by car from JR Beppu Station
  • バスアクセスBoard at JR Beppu Station, get off at "Funakoji" and walk for about 5 minutes
  • 営業時間11:00-15:30 (LO15:00), 17:00-22:00 (LO21:00)
  • 定休日2nd Tuesday
  • TEL0977-23-3333
  • 駐車場free

MAP

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