What to Eat in Yokohama: Local Dishes, Food Districts, Cafes and Souvenirs

Yokohama food is not one famous dish like sushi in Tokyo or takoyaki in Osaka. What sets it apart is the history of a port that opened to foreigners in the Meiji era, which produced local-style Chinese food, Western bread and sweets, beef dishes and a distinctive ramen style. This guide is split into two parts: lasting local specialties, and the districts and kinds of place worth eating in, without naming individual shops that may have closed or changed.

Famous local foods

• Iekei ramen, a pork-bone and soy-sauce ramen with fairly thick noodles, often topped with nori and spinach, and many shops let you choose the richness of the soup.
• Chinese food in Chinatown such as pork buns, gyoza, dim sum and noodle dishes, in one of the largest Chinese communities in Japan.
• Spaghetti Napolitan, a Western-style dish adapted to Japanese taste, which Yokohama is often credited with originating.
• Meiji-style beef dishes such as beef hot pot and sukiyaki, which grew alongside the opening of the port.
• Shumai associated with Yokohama, sold both as souvenirs and as station food.

Where to eat

Yokohama Chinatown is close to Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minatomirai Line and Ishikawacho Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, and suits grazing as a group or family, with sit-down restaurants and stalls selling food to eat while walking. Around Yokohama Station there are many restaurants inside shopping buildings, handy on a rainy day or when you want to eat near the trains. Minato Mirai has places that sell the view and the waterfront mood. Kannai and Bashamichi are old-town streets with smaller shops of many kinds, and Noge, near Sakuragicho Station, has local eateries and bars that suit the evening.

Dishes and kinds of place to try

To try ramen in the local style, look for shops that advertise iekei ramen and let you choose the richness of the soup and oil; if you are new to it, start with the middle level. In Chinatown, try one or two walk-around snacks first and then choose a sit-down restaurant, since there are many stalls and each restaurant has set meals and group menus. For a taste of the Meiji-era side of the city, old-style Western restaurants and beef specialists are options. Check recent reviews, since some well-known places have long queues at lunch and on holidays.

Cafes and sweets

Yokohama has a Western-style sweets culture tied to its port history. Motomachi and the Yamashita area are full of bakeries, pastry shops and old-style cafes, a good stop between walks along the waterfront. Cafes in Minato Mirai and the Red Brick Warehouse tend to sell the view and the atmosphere, and window seats may involve a wait on holidays. If your schedule is flexible, plan a cafe stop in the afternoon when it is less busy, and check closing times, since some close fairly early.

Shopping and souvenirs

Souvenirs that are truly Yokohama include its shumai, Western-style baked goods and cookies from shops around Motomachi, and goods linked to Chinatown and the port. Drugstores and discount shops near the large stations are good for cosmetics and everyday goods. The rules for tax-free shopping for visitors change, so ask in the shop and check an official source.

Budgeting for meals

Meal prices change with time and party size, so do not rely on figures from old articles. A durable way to budget is in three tiers: quick meals such as ramen or a lunch set near stations, mid-range sit-down meals in Chinatown or Kannai, and a special meal with a view or a beef specialty. A lunch set is often better value than dinner at the same place. Look at the menu outside the shop or on its website before going in, and allow a little for drinks and dessert.

Halal and vegetarian options

Fully halal or vegetarian restaurants are fewer than in Tokyo. If you follow religious dietary rules, find places ahead of time through halal directory apps or sites and contact the restaurant to confirm preparation and ingredients, since ramen broth and many Chinese dishes use pork bones or lard, and some sauces contain alcohol or are not clearly labelled. Vegetarians may find soups made with dried fish stock, so tell the shop before ordering and have a fallback, such as buying from a supermarket or convenience store.

When you hunt for shops from reviews, check opening hours on a map or translate a menu with your camera, steady mobile data makes it much easier. A Japan eSIM is a convenient option for a trip with lots of restaurant searching.

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