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Ishikawa Kanazawa Must-Eat! 5 Food Selections at Omicho Market, a Paradise for Seafood Lovers

Update-Date: Oct 21, 2025

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Sushi Sweets Oden

Ishikawa Kanazawa Must-Eat! 5 Food Selections at Omicho Market, a Paradise for Seafood Lovers

When traveling to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, you absolutely cannot miss the Omicho Market, known as the "Kitchen of Kanazawa." Here, over 180 shops gather, offering not only the freshest seafood but also a variety of local snacks, desserts, and beef dishes. This article will introduce you to five must-try restaurants that will satisfy seafood lovers, dessert enthusiasts, and beef aficionados alike!

Xiaolu

Travel creator from Taiwan based in Japan

Xiaolu | Taiwan native living in Japan
Author of the travel book “搭地鐵玩遍東京 (Exploring Tokyo by Subway)”
A passionate Japan traveler, sharing on Instagram, Facebook and more:
Travel tips × Accommodation recommendations × Self-drive itineraries

How to get to Omicho Market? Transportation methods and business hours

Omicho Market is located in the center of Kanazawa City, about a 15-minute walk from Kanazawa Station, or you can take the Hokutetsu Bus and get off at "Musashigatsuji - Omicho Market" station. Most shops in the market operate from around 08:00 to 17:00, and it is recommended to visit in the morning or before noon when it is the busiest. Many popular shops may have long lines during lunchtime.

Must-eat Food 1 | Omicho Croquette

Ishikawa Kanazawa Must-Eat! Five Food Selections at Omicho Market, a Paradise for Seafood Lovers

Speaking of the representative snacks at Omicho Market, the Omicho Croquette is definitely famous. This shop specializes in various freshly fried croquettes, which are a must-buy snack for both locals and tourists when visiting the market. Although the stall is not large, there is often a long line, especially during holidays and lunch hours. I happened to visit around 1 PM on a Japanese holiday, and I also had to wait in line to buy one, but it only took about 15 minutes in total, as the shop's efficiency is quite fast.
A special reminder is that only cash is accepted here; credit cards cannot be used!

The variety of croquette flavors here is huge, with the most popular being crab cream croquettes and potato croquettes. Each one is freshly made and fried to order, with a beautiful golden-brown exterior. When they are freshly fried, the steam wafts up, and you can smell the aroma of the batter and seafood blending together. This shop has its signature dishes written in small Chinese characters along with numbers, making it very convenient when ordering!

When bitten down, the outer layer is crispy and crackling, while the filling is a dense and delicate mashed potato mixed with sweet crab meat. The buttery aroma melts in the mouth, accompanied by a subtle seafood freshness and sweetness, making it irresistible to take one bite after another.

Omicho Croquette
Business Hours: 08:00 am – 5:00 pm (until sold out)
Days Off: Irregular
Average Meal Price: About 200 yen to 500 yen (snacks such as croquettes, crab cream croquettes, etc.)

Must-eat Food 2 | Ippuku Yokocho (Kanazawa Oden)

Here is a dish that I really like, which is Kanazawa Oden, located in Ippuku Yokocho within Omicho Market. This place gathers many food stalls, where you can find shops selling sake, oden, various sashimi, seafood rice bowls, barbecue, and more. If you and your friends want to eat something different at the same time, this shop would be perfect for you.

This time I came mainly to eat the oden in Kanazawa. As soon as I entered the entire alley, the aroma of the steaming broth wafted through the air, attracting passersby to stop in their tracks. The oden here is known for its clear yet layered broth, made by simmering kombu, bonito flakes, and local seafood, which is full of umami but not too salty.

Common ingredients include white radish, chikuwa, eggs, fish balls, shiitake mushrooms, etc., each slowly absorbing the flavor in the boiling broth, with a translucent color. This time I ordered white radish, shellfish, and gluten, and I especially liked the gluten cooked to a soft and tender texture, soaking up the broth so deliciously that I wanted to order another bowl.

Additionally, the "Shellfish" here is also one of the common ingredients in Kanazawa's oden, which, after being simmered for a long time, combines the freshness of the seafood with the aroma of the broth, making it really delicious. Especially since the shop prepares the ingredients in advance, it's very easy to pull them out of the shell when eating. The texture is chewy but not too tough, making it just right.

Next time I have the opportunity to come, I would like to order a cup of sake to pair with the oden, which would definitely be a great match.

Ippuku Yokocho
Business Hours: 09:00 am - 05:00 pm (Food L.O. 04:30 pm / Drink L.O. 04:50 pm)
Closed: Every Tuesday and Wednesday
Average Price: Approximately 1,000 yen - 2,999 yen (varies by item)

Must-eat Food 3 | Kanakan Joy (Gold Leaf Ice Cream)

Kanazawa is famous for its gold leaf, and even ice cream can be covered in gold leaf! At Kanakan Joy in Omicho Market, you can enjoy the eye-catching gold leaf ice cream. There is always a line in front of the stall because it's hard not to be attracted to the sparkling gold leaf ice cream.

The shop uses vanilla ice cream as the base, and carefully lays a whole sheet of gold leaf on top of the ice cream, instantly transforming it into "golden ice cream." Upon entry, the rich vanilla flavor and subtle dairy aroma melt in the mouth, bringing a slightly cool sensation; although the gold leaf is almost tasteless, it has a smooth texture when it dissolves in the mouth. The entire ice cream is not only visually stunning but also refreshing and easy to eat.

Kanakan Joy
Business Hours: 07:30 am – 4:00 pm
Closed: Sunday
Average Price: about 1,300 yen~ (one gold leaf ice cream)

Must-eat Food 4 | Noto Beef Takumi

If you are a meat lover, you absolutely cannot miss Noto Beef Takumi. Noto Beef is the pride of Ishikawa Prefecture, known for its fine marbling and tender meat. In the past, you had to go to high-end restaurants to enjoy Noto Beef, but at the "Takumi" in Omicho Market, you can enjoy it at a reasonable price.

This time I ordered their very popular beef skewers, hot and freshly grilled beef skewers, with tender and juicy meat, the fat melting in the mouth, carrying a slight sweetness and rich beef aroma. I really want to order ten more skewers to eat.

Noto Beef Takumi
Business Hours: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm (or until sold out)
Closed: Wednesday
Average Price: Approximately 1,000 yen (Noto beef steak, rice bowls, skewers, etc.)

Must-eat delicacies 5 | Morimori Sushi Omicho Fureai-kan (Popular Sushi)

Morimori Sushi at the Omi-cho Fureai-kan is a super famous conveyor belt sushi restaurant in the area, known for using the freshest catches from the market. During meal times, there is almost always a line to get in. The variety of sushi here is incredibly rich, featuring everything from Hokuriku sweet shrimp, winter yellowtail, salmon roe, sea urchin, to various seasonal seafood nigiri, all at reasonable prices and top-notch quality. This time, I arrived around 11:40 AM to queue and waited about 15 minutes. I recommend coming a bit earlier to avoid a long wait!

Although the overall prices of the sushi here are slightly higher than typical conveyor belt sushi, the quality is truly exceptional. Each piece of sushi has quite thick fish, and you can really tell the freshness is different. It's so delicious that I wanted to order several more plates! This time, my total expenditure was around 5,000 yen, and I ordered several classic must-tries:

Salmon Roe Gunkan (Ikura): As soon as it is served, it shines brightly, with each pearl plump and crystal clear. Once in the mouth, they burst one by one on the tip of the tongue, rich in salty aroma, carrying the fresh sweetness of the ocean.

Sea Urchin Battleship: Golden in color, with no fishy taste, it melts in your mouth, sweet and smooth, filled with rich sea urchin aroma.

Must-eat in Kanazawa, Ishikawa! Five food selections from Omicho Market, a paradise for seafood lovers.

Chutoro: The marbling is evenly distributed, and when placed in the mouth, it is soft and juicy, with a rich flavor and freshness that unfolds on the tip of the tongue, perfectly complemented by slightly sour vinegared rice.

On the day of white fish (white fish sushi): The meat is delicate, with a faint sweetness. A bite reveals its fresh and delicate flavor, showcasing the characteristics of local fish species from the Hokuriku region.

The sushi is fresh from the market, and each piece allows you to feel its freshness. The sushi rice grains are distinct and carry a slight vinegar aroma, perfectly blending with the fish. Prices range from 250 yen to 1540 yen, allowing you to choose freely according to the quality of the catch, offering a very high cost-performance ratio.

Mori Mori Sushi Omicho Fureai-kan
Business Hours: 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Closed: Tuesday
Average Price: Approximately 3,000 yen to 5,000 yen (varies by type of fish and number of orders)

Conclusion | Omicho Market has too many delicious foods, remember to come early to line up!

Omi-cho Market is truly the "Kitchen of Kanazawa". Whether it's freshly fried croquettes, heartwarming Kanazawa oden, sparkling gold leaf ice cream, Noto beef steak, or incredibly fresh conveyor belt sushi, each shop showcases the charm of local ingredients and craftsmanship in Kanazawa. Most shops here open early in the morning, and after noon, popular places are often packed with people. Many popular items are "sold out as soon as they are made", so it's recommended to come early to have a chance to enjoy all the delicious food you want.

Recommended Food near Omicho Market Station

Hikariya & yajimon

Near Kanazawa Omicho Market, "Hikariya & yajimon", offers dishes made with fresh seafood delivered directly from the market every day, allowing you to enjoy the freshest sashimi, Noto oysters, and the restaurant's super popular semi-raw yellowtail fried cutlet, Japanese fried chicken, and stir-fried noodles. The menu is diverse and substantial, paired with local sake from Ishikawa Prefecture or whiskey highballs, it's a complete little happiness.

The spacious interior of the restaurant, designed like a boat cabin, is very unique and suitable for gathering with friends or relaxing during a trip. The owner, Ishihara Hiroshi, was originally a representative team athlete in slalom kayaking. Due to competitions around the world, he fell in love with gourmet food and eventually returned to his hometown to incorporate foreign inspirations into local ingredients from Ishikawa.

Hikariya & yajimon

Open: [Tuesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Monday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,800 JPY
Access: 15-minute walk from Kanazawa Station on JR Line. 2-minute walk from Musashigatsuji/Omicho Market bus stop of Hokutetsu Bus.
Address: 2F, Fruits Murahata Omicho bldg., 26, Shimo-omi-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Map
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ohmicho norichan

In the basement next to the entrance of the Hime Shrine at the Omicho Market in Kanazawa, there is a cute and stylish place decorated with illustrations called "ohmicho norichan". This place specializes in the so-called dream brand beef "Noto Beef Premium," which can be easily enjoyed during lunch hours. The most popular dishes are the "Noto Beef Premium Charcoal Grilled Beef Rice Bowl" and the "Noto Beef Premium Seafood Tamatebako Rice Bowl," which combines Kanazawa's specialties. One bite in, the fat is sweet and melts in your mouth, truly satisfying.

The owner, Maruyama Kishi, has spent many years in the hospitality industry, and was inspired to enter the kitchen by the smiles of guests when they took their first bite. After accumulating years of experience, he opened this restaurant in 2024, showcasing the best cuts, cooking techniques, and seasonings of Noto beef. Whether traveling or dining locally, here you can savor the proud flavors of Hokuriku's wagyu.

ohmicho norichan

Open: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (Food L.O. 3:00 pm, Drink L.O. 3:00 pm) *Closes when sold out
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 18-minute walk from Kanazawa Station
Address: B1F, Murahata Bldg., 26, Shimoomi-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Map
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A la ferme de Shinjiro

Located in Owari-cho, Kanazawa City, in an elegant space renovated from a Taisho-era street-side shop and residence, "A la ferme de Shinjiro" is a French restaurant operated by a Kanazawa sake brewery and an organic farm. The restaurant uses organic vegetables, wheat, and rice cultivated on its own farm, as well as fresh fish delivered directly from Kanazawa Port and Noto Market, skillfully incorporating seasonal ingredients from Kaga and Noto into French cuisine.

Dinner is served in a set menu format, with a carefully arranged sequence that allows one to experience the seasonal flavors of the mountains and the sea, complemented by our homemade wine "MIEKO Campbell Arley" and more, making the entire dining experience even more delightful.
The interior design, themed around the earthen walls representing the Kaga and Noto regions, is understated yet sophisticated, allowing guests to slowly enjoy the charm of the ingredients themselves while also experiencing the unique French flair of Kanazawa.

A la ferme de Shinjiro

Open: [Monday,Thursday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday, Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 13,000 JPY / [Lunch] 7,000 JPY
Access: 20-minute walk from Kanazawa Station on the JR Hokuriku Main Line, 1-minute walk from Owari-cho bus stop, 7-minute walk from Musashigatsuji/Omicho Ichiba bus stop
Address: 1-9-9, Owari-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Map
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