Breakfast: Ogura Red Bean Toast (小倉トースト)
Many cafes serve this delightful dish, often included as part of a drink set. During breakfast hours, you can enjoy red bean toast for free (or at a small additional charge) when you purchase a drink. Warm, crispy toast topped with sweet red bean paste made in-house by each cafe, paired with a cup of coffee or tea, guarantees a pleasant morning and energizes you for the day ahead.
Lunch: Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし)
In many regions, traditional unagi (grilled eel) rice features a whole eel fillet placed atop white rice. However, in Nagoya, the popular style is sliced eel served over rice, known as hitsumabushi. This dish allows you to enjoy it in three ways: savoring the eel and rice as-is, mixing it with condiments like wasabi or green onions, or pouring broth over it to create a flavorful ochazuke (rice soup). Whichever method you choose, you’ll relish the rich flavor of the eel, and the sliced presentation makes it even easier to enjoy. For the best value, try it during lunchtime when prices are typically lower than in the evening.
Dinner: Miso Oden (みそどて煮)
Nagoya locals love miso, especially dark miso, which is often used in their cuisine. One iconic dish made with miso is miso oden. Ingredients such as beef tendon, beef or pork offal, and daikon radish are simmered for a long time in a special miso-based sauce, allowing the sweet and savory flavors to fully infuse into the ingredients. While the dish may taste slightly salty on its own, pairing it with white rice will have you polishing off bowl after bowl! If you’re not in the mood for rice, it also makes an excellent accompaniment to alcoholic drinks.
Enjoy these must-try Nagoya specialties and make the most of your culinary journey!