Eat

Casual Japanese Eats

What do Hiroshima locals normally eat? It’s a lot more than okonomiyaki and oysters. Dig into rich, umami bowls of Japanese curry. Find fresh and affordable yet locally sourced kaiten sushi. Slurp up bowls of Sanuki udon, authentic Hakata ramen and sarashina soba. These choices are just a toe in the water, though. Wade in deeper to find crispy Edomae tempura, juicy Mochibuta tonkatsu, hearty bowls of gyūdon, steaming sukiyaki and more below. Our casual eats selection in Hiroshima is your insider on the local diet.

Mendokoro Sakaeya (めん処　栄屋)

Mendokoro Sakaeya is a long-established noodle restaurant that has been loved for over 40 years since its founding. In addition to the obvious staples of udon and soba, they also have a wide variety of rice bowl dishes such as katsudon (fried pork on rice) and tempuradon (fried seafood and vegetables on rice), and its popularity attracts long lines of Hiroshimarians and tourists alike during lunchtime. Sakaeya is currently in its second generation, with the son of the founder is working in the kitchen, providing the same scrumptious taste that has been available since the restaurant’s founding.

Moment of Joy

The katsudon made with udon broth is undoubtedly the number-one item at Mendokoro Sakaeya. The crispy deep-fried pork cutlet soaked in fragrant udon broth and topped with a runny, soft-boiled egg is a combination that is sure to become addictive after the first bite.