[Wakayama Prefecture] Recommended izakaya! 17 picks centered around Wakayama City

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Iroha Gekijo is an izakaya where you can enjoy tasty Wakayama cuisine and local sake, and it is located in one corner of the well-known Burakuri-cho Shotengai (Burakuri-cho shopping street) in Wakayama City.

This local favorite sits in a back alley and is said to have an irresistible nostalgic feel. The 1st floor has counter seating, while the 2nd and 3rd floors are fully equipped with seats that can accommodate large groups.

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The seasonal sashimi menu, centered on fish from the waters off Wakayama, is popular. Many customers even come from outside the prefecture for the fish at this restaurant.

Along with 18 kinds of local sake from Wakayama, they also offer premium drinks from all over Japan, which you can enjoy with the food.

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One of the big draws is that you can enjoy seasonal fish not just as sashimi, but also grilled, simmered, and prepared in many other ways.

Many reviews also praise the tempura. They use a wide range of seasonal ingredients, including seafood and vegetables, and the batter is said to be light with a perfect finish.

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Tadaya is an izakaya run by a liquor store with a 90-year history, conveniently located a 1-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station.

Its old-school retro atmosphere is part of the charm, and it seems to be a popular place for locals to relax. Private rooms for groups of 2 or more are also available.

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The menu is so extensive, with ozukuri (sashimi), fried dishes, and other a la carte items, that it is hard to choose.

The oden (Japanese stew) is said to be popular with regulars, and people say the ingredients are thick-cut yet still nicely soaked with dashi broth and very tasty. There is also a wide variety to choose from.

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True to its roots as a liquor shop, it offers a wide range of drinks to enjoy, including local sake from across Japan and around the world, wine, and cocktails.

There are many dishes that pair well with alcohol, and the white miso based doteyaki-kushi (skewered beef tendon stew) is also recommended. It is known for its gentle flavor and is said to be well worth trying.

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Sohonke Mehariya Wakayama Ten is an izakaya with more than 60 years of history, located a 3-minute walk from Wakayama Station, and is popular for dishes made with ingredients from Wakayama and mehari-zushi (local rice ball specialty), a regional dish.

At lunch, many people order set meals, while at night many stop by for drinks and small plates. There is a good range of seating options, with counter seats, table seats, and Private room seating.

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The menu ranges from a wide variety of Wakayama (Wakayama Prefecture) specialties served à la carte to courses that let you fully enjoy local flavors.

The kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) are just right as a casual snack with drinks, and every skewer is Homemade in-house. They fry them in rice oil, so they are said to taste light and healthy without feeling greasy afterward.

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The restaurant’s signature item, mehari-zushi (a local rice ball from Kishu), is a unique kind of onigiri. It is made by wrapping rice in pickled takana mustard greens, and they also offer versions with tenmusu (rice ball with tempura shrimp) inside and spicy types.

They do not make them in advance, and instead carefully prepare each one after an order comes in. It is also recommended as a finishing dish after drinks.

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Sumiyakisaisai Himonomeshi Kishu no Shizuku is an izakaya where you can enjoy a range of luxurious signature dishes made with Wakayama specialties, and it is said to offer a comfortable mix of Japanese modern style and cheerful service from the staff.

The spacious interior can accommodate up to 100 people, and it also has Sunken kotatsu seating partitioned with shoji (paper sliding screens) as well as Private rooms.

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The menu focuses on local farm to table ingredients, and one of its big draws is the wide range of seasonal vegetables and fresh seafood from Kishu (the old name for Wakayama) and Wakayama that you can enjoy.

They also recommend the charcoal grilled Kumano-gyu (Kumano beef), which has long been raised in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture. It is said to have a fine texture and tender meat.

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Sashimi made with fresh fish caught that day in the Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea) is also popular. The "osashimi assortment" is a well liked menu item that almost every guest orders.

They also offer a wide selection of local sake that pairs perfectly with the fish, which you can enjoy with a tasting set or All you can drink.

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Ginnan is an izakaya where you can enjoy dishes made with local ingredients and a wide range of drinks, including Wakayama (Wakayama Prefecture) local sake.

Inside, the restaurant features standout seating such as Wakayama’s first aqua room and a Japanese-style room with Ryukyu tatami (Okinawan-style tatami). The atmosphere is great and sure to lift your spirits. It is said to be a place where you can relax and fully enjoy your meal and conversation.

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The menu is packed with dishes that make the most of ingredients unique to Wakayama, such as Kumano-gyu (Kumano beef), inobuta (boar-pig crossbreed), and fresh seafood.

They also offer a wide selection of local sake, shochu, and non-alcoholic drinks, so you can enjoy the food with a favorite drink in hand. The photo shows one of the local specialties, Nanko-ume (Nanko plums) and walnuts dressed with okaka (bonito flakes).

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You can choose from several course menus with All you can drink included. In the cold season, courses that come with a Hot Pot set are also recommended.

They also offer the restaurant's special Domestic beef motsu-nabe (offal hot pot), with a soup known for its rich flavor and mild sweetness, letting you enjoy the offal and vegetables.

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"Toramaru Suisan" is a yatai-style (food stall-style) izakaya where you can enjoy fresh seafood, located a 10-minute walk from JR Wakayama Station.

The interior has a homey and friendly feel, making it a place where you can relax with close friends or family. It seems to be the kind of restaurant that is clearly loved by locals.

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You can enjoy seafood delivered fresh every morning from Kishu Yura-ko (Yura Port in Kishu), served in dishes that pair perfectly with drinks.

The appeal is that you can enjoy seafood in many different styles, from sashimi with a great texture and kaisen hamayaki (seaside grilled seafood) with the scent of the shore to simmered dishes rich with flavor.

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The fried dishes are also popular, including standard tempura and chicken Kara-age.

Kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) is a favorite with a wide range of people, with a full lineup from vegetables to meat. If you are not sure what to order, the assortment is a good choice.

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Izumoya is an izakaya along the Ichihori River in Wakayama City, renovated from a former unagi (eel) restaurant. It is popular not only at night, but also for daytime drinking.

The spacious interior has a bright feel, and the view from the windows and the atmosphere are said to be excellent. On the second floor, there are also two Private rooms.

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The menu features fermented dishes made with local ingredients from Wakayama (production region), which you can enjoy as set meals during the day and in an appetizer style at night.

The carefully Homemade fermented dishes are said to offer rich flavor and health conscious cooking. The "Hakkou Potesara (fermented potato salad)" is made without mayonnaise.

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Since it used to be an unagi (freshwater eel) restaurant, you will definitely want to order one of the unagi dishes, which are rich in nutrients that help support the immune system.

You can enjoy them either as a lunch set meal or from the evening A la carte menu. People also say they are great for nibbling little by little with drinks.

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Chushinya Ashagi Ten, a 5-minute walk from the East Exit of Wakayama Station, is a popular izakaya where you can enjoy great dishes from Kishu (old name for Wakayama) and Wakayama, and many people praise not only the food but also the polite service.

The interior is an elegant space where you can relax, with casual counter seating and loft seats that offer privacy.

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They offer a wide range of à la carte dishes and course menus that combine local kyodo ryori (regional cuisine) with delicious dishes from around Japan.

One of the specialties, tsukune-kushi (chicken meatball skewer), is made by blending fresh chicken with the restaurant’s own mix and deep-frying it without batter. It is said to be crisp on the outside, with the flavor packed inside.

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They also offer a full lineup of seafood, meat dishes, and other casual plates that go great with drinks.

The dashi-maki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet) made by the chefs is the restaurant’s most popular item. They prepare it only after an order comes in, and diners say the bonito dashi flavor and soft texture are irresistible.

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Kitchen Daruma, about a 13-minute walk from Kiwa Station in Wakayama City, is a Western-style izakaya where you can enjoy a wide range of drinks along with à la carte dishes and pizza.

With its casual and stylish atmosphere, it is said to be a great spot for everyday dining. You can choose from counter seats and fully private rooms to suit the occasion.

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The menu focuses mainly on yoshoku (Japanese-style Western food), and the charcoal grilled skewers made with Kishu Binchotan (high-grade white charcoal from Kishu) are also popular. They prepare them every day and carefully grill each skewer one by one.

They offer a wide range from chicken and beef meat skewers to vegetable skewers, and you can enjoy their concentrated umami-rich flavor. They also make a great snack to go with drinks.

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With a glass of wine in hand, one thing you'll definitely want to order is the kama-yaki pizza (stone-oven-baked pizza). It's an authentic dish baked at high heat in an Italian-made stone oven.

It seems to have a crisp outside and a chewy inside, with an irresistible toasted aroma that really gets your appetite going. The menu is wide-ranging, from classic tomato sauce pizzas to Japanese-style options.

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Warayaki Wakura Wakayama Ten, about a 3-minute walk from the west exit of JR Wakayama Station, is an izakaya where you can enjoy Kishu (old name for Wakayama) ingredients and dishes that are specialties of Wakayama. Their warayaki (straw-seared) dishes, with several kinds to choose from, are said to be popular.

They have Private rooms for groups of 2 to 60 people, so it looks easy to use for many occasions, from meals with friends and family to company Banquets.

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The menu features plenty of dishes made with Wakayama ingredients, including Kishu-gamo (Kishu duck) and Kishu Umedori (Kishu plum-fed chicken).

Course meals with all-you-can-drink options are also popular, and they say you can fully enjoy the carefully prepared food along with a wide selection of drinks. There are many types of courses as well, which makes it nice that you can choose one to fit your budget.

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They have a full lineup of wara-yaki (straw-grilled) dishes, and the most recommended one seems to be the "katsuo (bonito) wara-yaki."

Grilling it over straw brings out more umami and gives it a crisp, fragrant finish. It also seems to pair well with Japanese sake.

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Shusai Hidariuma, within walking distance of Wakayama Station, is a popular izakaya where you can enjoy a wide variety of seafood and creative dishes.

The interior has the warmth of wood and a retro feel, making it look very comfortable. There is counter seating for a quick stop, as well as Sunken kotatsu seating where you can sit back and relax.

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Fresh seafood shipped directly from Minoshima Gyoko (Minoshima Fishing Port) is available here, and many people order the sashimi assortment. The selection changes with the season, so you can fully enjoy the best flavors of the time.

You can also enjoy a wide variety of seafood dishes prepared in many different ways, including grilled and simmered dishes.

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Dishes made with tachiuo (beltfish) are especially popular, and the "Salt-Grilled Tachiuo" is said to have an irresistibly tender and flaky texture.

Reviews also praise the owner’s Special Japanese sake tasting flight. The selection of labels changes monthly, so each visit seems to bring something new.

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Yakiton Byakko is an izakaya (Japanese pub) located a 5-minute walk from the west exit of Wakayama Station, where you can enjoy snack dishes centered on yakiton (grilled pork skewers) along with local sake from Wakayama.

The interior is fully equipped with counter and table seating, and has a casual atmosphere that makes it easy to drop in whether you are on your own or with a group.

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The yakiton (grilled pork skewers) comes with a wide range of cuts, and one nice point is that you can order from just one skewer. The assortment, available in sets of 5 or 8 skewers, is also popular.

The yakiton is grilled to a fragrant finish and is said to be delicious, with a tender texture that brings out the rich flavor and natural sweetness of pork.

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What you will want to enjoy with the yakiton (grilled pork skewers) is local sake from Wakayama. They seem to have a wide lineup of Japanese sake that pairs well with yakiton.

There was also a review saying that the drinks cleanly wash away the richness of the fat from the yakiton. They also offer plenty of drinks besides Japanese sake, including wine and highballs.

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Nanatsu no Tsuki no Yume, a creative izakaya (Japanese-style pub) called "Shin Washoku Ryori Sosaku Izakaya Nanatsu no Tsuki no Yume," is a five-minute drive from JR Kimiidera Station, where you can enjoy a new style of Japanese cuisine and Special sake.

The restaurant has a calm atmosphere with the feel of a traditional kominka (old Japanese house), and you can relax and enjoy your meal in comfort with Sunken kotatsu seating or zashiki (tatami room) seating.

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The dishes served by the owner, who trained in kappo (traditional Japanese fine dining), are said to be excellent, combining solid technique with ingredients sourced mainly from the local area.

The menu offers a wide range of options, including fresh seafood, Kumano-gyu (Kumano beef), and game, so it seems like a place you can visit again and again without getting tired of it. There is also a full selection of Special sake and other drinks.

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One of the restaurant's signature dishes, dashi dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet with broth), is a blissful dish made with plenty of carefully prepared dashi.

It has an irresistibly soft texture that seems to melt in your mouth, and you can also enjoy the fragrant aroma from the cooking process. They also offer versions with cheese or shiokara (salted seafood).

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Kishu no Sake to Kushi Hiyori, about a 9-minute walk from Wakayamashi Station, is a place where you can enjoy the flavors of Kishu, built around the concept of being more than an izakaya and just short of a kappo (traditional Japanese dining) restaurant.

The space is clean and upscale, and many guests say the service is polite and attentive. It offers a wide range of seating, including counter seats, table seating made from single slabs of natural wood, and Private rooms.

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The menu featuring fresh seafood from Wakayama Prefecture is popular, and above all, they say the "wara-yaki (straw-seared) bonito no shio tataki (lightly seared bonito with salt)" is a must try.

You can top the bonito with yakumi (condiments) and enjoy it with ponzu sauce for a light taste. It is something you will want to pair with their Special Japanese sake brought in from all over Japan.

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Skewered dishes, carefully grilled over Kishu Binchotan (high-grade Japanese white charcoal from Kishu), are also popular. Along with yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) you can enjoy casually, they also offer Special charcoal grilled skewers such as "Kumano Gyu (Kumano beef) Sirloin cap" and "Kyo-gamo (Kyoto duck) thigh skewer."

The yakitori selection also covers a wide range of cuts, and for thigh and sasami (chicken tenderloin), they use the branded jidori (premium local chicken) Tamba Kurodori (Tamba Black Chicken).

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Tori Sho Yoshimatsu, about a 10-minute walk from Wakayama Station, is an izakaya (Japanese pub) where you can enjoy charcoal-grilled skewers made with brand-name chicken and creative dishes.

The interior is a calm Japanese-style space where you can relax and enjoy your meal. There are counter and table seats available, and it is said to work well for a variety of occasions.

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The yakitori menu made with Kishu Umedori (chicken raised on feed containing Japanese plum) is popular. It is grilled over Kishu Binchotan (high-grade white charcoal from Kishu).

It is known for its moist texture and refined sweetness, and it pairs perfectly with Japanese sake brought in from around the country.

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They also offer a full lineup of playful a la carte dishes, and reviews praise the vividly green Midoridama, which really catches the eye.

It is made by wrapping a soft-boiled egg in potato salad and coating the outside with aosa nori (green laver). It is perfect as a casual snack to enjoy with a drink.

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Umi Tsubame is an izakaya inside Nanki Katsuura Hotel Urashima in Higashimuro-gun Nachikatsuura-cho, where you can enjoy 100 dishes and 100 kinds of Wakayama local sake.

The interior is said to have the spacious, relaxing feel you would expect from a hotel. There is a wide range of seating options, including counter seats, table seats, and a koagari (raised tatami seating area) zashiki.

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One of the big draws is that you can enjoy local seafood unique to this area, the kind that is hard to find in the city.

The recommended toppings change daily depending on the season and the day’s catch. They offer unusual items like iruka (dolphin) and manbo (ocean sunfish), and reviews say everything is fresh and tasty.

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A wide selection of local sake personally chosen by the owner’s own palate is a nice touch, and they also have a Japanese sake advisor on site.

They also offer a full lineup of easy to drink fruit liqueurs that are unique to Wakayama (a prefecture known as the fruit kingdom). You can also compare different Japanese sake and umeshu (plum wine). It’s perfect when you’re not sure what to order.

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Kaisen Resutoran Kanpachiya in Shinjocho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, is a Japanese izakaya that is known for serving fresh, hearty seafood dishes.

The bright and open interior offers a wide range of seating options, including Private room seating where you can relax and Sunken kotatsu seating that works well for larger groups.

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The menu features carefully selected dishes centered on locally caught seafood. The photo shows the most popular item on the sashimi menu, “kanpachi assortment (amberjack assortment).”

This dish is an On-the-Day selection with the chef’s recommended catches, and is said to be full of the natural goodness of each ingredient, from plump shrimp to translucent shirasu (whitebait).

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The hamayaki (grilled seafood) menu, featuring seafood shipped direct from the production region and grilled over a wire mesh, is also popular. Among the many options, the "Oban Hotate (large scallop)" is the most popular.

It is best enjoyed slowly grilling it right at your table together with Special local sake from Wakayama.