Itaru Honten

My partner and I came to Kanazawa and found a truly unforgettable experience at this Izakaya. This spot struck the ideal balance between sophistication and informality, and we couldn't have asked for a better first night in the city. We sat at the counter, which allowed us to watch the chef at work. Every small plate we ordered was executed with incredible care and boasted subtle flavors that felt worthy of a Michelin star. The style of having shareable, tapas-style dishes was perfect for trying everything. The Food Highlights: We especially loved the following dishes: • The Sashimi was impeccable, proving the freshness and quality of the seafood. • The Spicy Omelette: An unexpected, flavorful kick that was comforting and exciting at the same time. • The Grilled Fish: Perfectly cooked and seasoned, highlighting the freshness of the ingredients. • We finished with the seasonal Pumpkin Ice Cream, a delightful and unique dessert. The Experience: The food was so good that my partner and I barely spoke, only pausing to acknowledge the deliciousness and close our eyes in culinary pleasure! What truly elevated the night was the atmosphere and the chef. The chef was incredibly kind and humble, and his genuine appreciation for our compliments made us feel so welcome. We honestly felt like we were guests in his home. If you are in Kanazawa, do yourself a favor and visit this Izakaya for a delicious meal and true Japanese hospitality.

Coming here on a winter day 21rd Jan, the service and staff are super kind.. the food really good, i personally recomend fried set like on a picture, and bowl of sashimi..

We were very lucky to find this place on our walk back from the castle. The food was absolutely incredible and such good value. We had the sashimi, grilled chicken, plum fried chicken (excellent!) and the Japanese omelette. After finishing the mackerel sashimi they brought us back the deep fried bones of the rest of the fish to eat - and it was absolutely delicious. The chefs are incredibly skilled and friendly, and the waiting staff are really helpful. This place is 10/10 and I cannot recommend it enough. Great taste and great value. We spent about 4000Y each here but we had dessert and drinks and half the menu.

Itaru is a highlight Izakaya in a trip full of Izakayas. A lovely place with excellent vibes and delicious food, I wish I lived here so I could visit more often. Among my favourites were the sashimi platter, with very generous portions of good fish, the sweet potato fries which were addictive and the olive oil ice cream, which was very good.

Definitely the best dinner that I had in Kanazawa. Every dish was very well made with top quality ingredients. Lively atmosphere at dinner, this place is exactly what I’m looking for when eating at an izakaya.

A real sushi place, representing very well the japanese traditional cuisine. Fast service. You sit at the counter and see the chefs cooking live in front of you. Approved!

The atmosphere here is priceless, even if it means waiting outside for 30 minutes plus. Food is fresh, people friendly. It’s popular among tourists as well.

Amazing experience! The deep fried tofu in broth and rice porridge with fish were splendid! One of our best meal in Kanazawa!

This Izakaya feels lively and energetic with its staff and atmosphere. The place was filled with locals and tourists when I came in, But to my surprise I did not find the food very good after eating my 7 course dinner. I want to be clear the food didn't taste bad it was just rather boring and simple dishes. This establishment seems better to sit down and enjoy casual dining with some drinks rather then have a truly nice dinner. After eating in Tokyo this place really fell short of my hopes and expectations. Disappointed

Very tasty and vibrant Izakaya. It was busy when we arrived but we were seated at the bar right away. The food was excellent. We had a seasonal pork belly with soft boiled egg which was the best dish of our trip so far. The staff speak some English and have an English menu. The interior was very interesting. Would recommend to all

Book a week in advance. Or maybe it was just because I am foreign because there were many empty seats.

we had to wait for more than an hour after the staff angrily and very rudely told us to not enter and wait. in the meantime, japanese clients kept entering in the izakaya without having to wait. a terrible experience we hadn't had in japan until now. would not recommend foreigners to come here. also: the sign that told us to wait was only written in english and not in japanese. some japanese customers openly laughed at us when saw us seating outside.