Oden to try in Niigata Prefecture! 10 popular picks by area, including Niigata City

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Otsuru is a popular restaurant on Furumachi-dori in Chuo Ward, Niigata City, where you can enjoy good oden and seasonal dishes.

The clean and calm interior has counter and table seating. Reviews also say it is a place where you can relax and enjoy a drink on your own.

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The oden (Japanese hot pot items simmered in broth) here is prepared with ingredients that change with the season, and it gets good reviews for its gentle flavors and the extra care put into each item.

It seems each type is served on a separate plate, which is a nice touch since the flavors do not mix and you can fully enjoy each piece of oden on its own.

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They also offer a full lineup of a la carte dishes beyond oden, including sumibiyaki (charcoal grilled) dishes, sashimi, and fried items.

The drink lineup is also extensive, and they seem to have a wide selection of Japanese sake as well. You will want to enjoy it along with dishes that pair perfectly as snacks with drinks.

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Jun-chan Niigata Ekimae Ten is a popular izakaya just a 3-minute walk from the Bandai Exit of JR Niigata Station, making it easy to get to. It is known for its Homemade dishes, including its signature oden (Japanese hot pot items simmered in broth) and menu items made with local ingredients.

The cozy, homey interior is said to have a variety of seating, including counter seats and koagari (raised tatami seating).

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The oden (Japanese hotpot items simmered in broth), which gets great reviews, is said to be excellent, with a fragrant and flavorful dashi broth soaked into each piece.

There is a very wide variety of oden, including shellfish options such as scallops and tsubugai (whelk). If you enjoy drinking, it is recommended to fully enjoy the oden with Niigata local sake.

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They also offer a full menu beyond oden (Japanese hot pot with various ingredients), including grilled dishes, fried dishes, and salads, so ordering a la carte is also a great option.

If you are not sure what to order, a course with 2 hours of All you can drink is a perfect choice. Along with their popular oden, you can enjoy dishes made with plenty of seasonal ingredients.

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Located about a 2-minute walk from the Bandai Hiroba Exit of JR Niigata Station, Otoshi Oden Tabehodai Hitokuchi Tebasaki Tebayaro Niigata Ekimae Ten is a popular spot where you can enjoy tasty oden (Japanese hot pot dish with various ingredients) simmered in chicken broth.

The interior has a striking Japanese modern feel, and besides table seating, it also comes with fully private rooms for groups of all sizes, from small to large.

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Above all, the big draw of this place is that the otoshi (small appetizer) oden is All you can eat. They first serve a basic assortment with items like daikon radish and chikuwa (tube-shaped fish cake).

Every ingredient is tender, and the broth flavor soaks in well. There were also reviews saying the chicken wing oden, with its fall-apart texture, is especially good.

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The specialty here is bite-sized chicken wings seasoned with a secret sauce and spices. They say you can enjoy the crisp skin and the springy, juicy meat.

You can choose from 11 kinds of chicken wings, including the classic "Teiban Salt," "Curry," and "Tomato Cheese." The "Tebayaro Zenryoku assortment" with all varieties is also recommended.

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Komachi Taji is a popular izakaya where you can enjoy Kanazawa oden (Kanazawa-style oden) and a wide variety of dishes along with local Niigata sake.

The interior has the warm, approachable feel you would expect from a Japanese izakaya. It also has raised Semi-private room seating separated by roll-up curtains, which makes it a nice place to relax and spend time.

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The oden (Japanese one pot dish) made by the owner has an overwhelming number of menu items, which seems to be a big draw for oden lovers. The daikon radish is said to be as large as 7cm.

The rich aroma of the dashi (Japanese soup stock), something only this place can offer, is sure to whet your appetite.

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Not only oden, but the fresh sashimi assortment also seems to be well received. Reviews also said it looks great and brightens up the table.

They use tasty fish from different regions, such as ma-aji (horse mackerel) from Niigata, kan-buri (winter yellowtail) from Ishikawa, and nanban ebi (sweet shrimp) from Sado.

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"Robata to Oden Koronagirai Niigata Ten," about a 4-minute walk from JR Niigata Station, is a Japanese izakaya where you can enjoy oden (Japanese hot pot dishes simmered in broth) and robatayaki (fireside grilling) dishes.

The bright and open interior is fully equipped with a variety of seating, including table seats, zashiki (tatami seating), and Private room options, creating a setting that is easy to use for any occasion.

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One recommended point of this place is that you can enjoy All you can eat otoshi oden (Japanese hot pot items served as an appetizer) for just one coin.

First, they serve an oden assortment, and after that you go pick the items you like yourself. They also have the unusual shumai oden, which is said to be juicy and tasty.

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They also offer creative Japanese dishes made with seasonal ingredients, with a full lineup for both à la carte and course meals.

If you want to pair your meal with Special local sake from around Japan, the robatayaki (fireside grill) is also recommended. The wide selection of vegetables, seafood, and meat is also said to be popular.

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Just a 30-second walk from Niigata Station, Tamaya Niigata Ten is an izakaya centered on Japanese and local regional cuisine, and is said to be popular for its oden and Clay Pot dishes.

Private room are available for 2 people or more, making them perfect when you want to enjoy conversation and food without worrying about those around you. It can also accommodate large Banquet groups, with space for up to 50 people.

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You can enjoy Homemade oden (Japanese hot pot dishes simmered in broth), with the rich umami of dashi deeply soaked into the carefully simmered ingredients.

With each bite, it gently warms both body and soul. They also have a good selection of delicious Niigata local sake, so you can take your time and enjoy it with the oden.

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Fresh fish otsukuri (sashimi), salads, grilled dishes, fried dishes, and many other classic izakaya menu items are also part of what makes this place appealing.

There are more than 50 kinds of drinks, and the All you can drink menu is also well stocked. Among the courses that come with All you can drink and let you choose from several options, there is also a menu where you can enjoy both the popular oden (Japanese stew) and Clay Pot dishes.

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Oyasutokoro Sugiyama is a rest area inside a souvenir shop in the Yahiko Jinja (Yahiko Shrine) area of Yahiko Village. It is said to be a spot you will definitely want to stop by when you visit Yahiko Jinja.

Along with the fun of picking out souvenirs, their famous oden (Japanese hot pot) is said to fill both your stomach and your heart.

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The oden (Japanese one pot dish) focuses on classic ingredients such as chikuwa (tube shaped fish cake), daikon radish, and konnyaku (yam cake). They also offer an "oden set" with 5 different items.

The gentle dashi (Japanese soup stock) soaks into the ingredients, and it is said to have a clean taste without any cloying sweetness.

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A recommended item here is the "kikurage (wood ear mushroom)" oden, which also gets great reviews. Its unusual shape, almost like a shiso roll, really stands out.

It uses rare Domestic kikurage carefully grown in the local area of Yahiko, and its thick, crunchy texture is said to be irresistible.

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Located within walking distance of Kita-Nagaoka Station in Nagaoka City, "Oishii Okazu, Tokidoki Oden Local Dining Wadano" is a Japanese restaurant popular for its oden and lunch Washoku Gozen set.

The interior has a warm feel with a touch of nostalgia, making it a relaxing place to enjoy a good meal. The restaurant is equipped with raised tatami seating and counter seats.

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In the evening, they seem to offer a wide range of izakaya dishes that go well with oden and make great snacks to enjoy with drinks.

The mochi inside the oden "mochi kinchaku (toasted rice cake in a tofu pouch)" is said to be soft and fluffy, and the "hanpen (soft fish cake)" lets you enjoy the flavor of the dashi broth. If you have trouble choosing your oden, the "Omakase assortment" is recommended.

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Popular in reviews are the lunch Gozen set meals. They offer three types of Gozen set menus at different price points.

The kobachi (small side dishes), soup, and everything else that weave in seasonal ingredients are said to be lightly seasoned with a refined taste. The texture of the rice used for the seasonal takikomi gohan (seasoned rice cooked with ingredients) also seems to be just right.

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Oden Robata Kamameshi Shoten Nagaoka Ekimae Ten is a Japanese-style izakaya with Private room, located a 4-minute walk from Nagaoka Station. Their oden, available as All you can eat, is said to be especially popular.

The interior, themed after traditional Japanese street stalls, has a lively and comfortable atmosphere. The staff also have a strong reputation for their polite service.

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The oden is served for just the table charge, and you can freely get refills as many times as you like.

The wide variety is part of the appeal, from the classic "daikon radish" to unusual options like corn and "beef tendon." It also pairs very well with Japanese sake and shochu, according to reviews.

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The menu centers on sosaku washoku (creative Japanese cuisine), and every dish is said to pair well with drinks. You will also want to order the house special kama-meshi (rice cooked in a small pot), which you can choose from several kinds.

Inside the pot is fluffy rice cooked to perfection, packed with plenty of ingredients such as meat and seafood, making it very filling.

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Izakaya Ota is an izakaya in a convenient location about a 3-minute walk from Naoetsu Station in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture.

Look for the noren (traditional shop curtain) that says "oden" at the entrance. The retro interior is said to offer a calm place to relax, with counter seating and raised tatami seating available.

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The oden (Japanese hot pot dish with simmered ingredients) comes in a wide lineup, and reviews say everything is tasty. Some also say it is nice to sip on a drink while quietly enjoying some oden.

The “daikon radish” is said to be thoroughly soaked with dashi and soft while still keeping a slight crisp texture. The “beef tendon” is said to come in large pieces.

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As an izakaya (Japanese pub), it offers a great selection of casual small plates, and the yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) are said to be cooked just right.

They seem to have skewers made with a variety of parts, such as motsu (offal), torikawa (chicken skin), and tebasaki (chicken wings). You can also choose between salt or tare (sweet soy glaze) to suit your taste.