The 14 Best Restaurants In Madarao As Chosen By The Uchi Team

From traditional okonomiyaki and hot pots to burgers, tacos, and even crepes in the snow, foodies have a lot to be happy about here in Madarao. So without further ado, here are 14 of the best restaurants in town, according to the Uchi team. 

Snowy log cabin vibes, fine wine, and plenty of delicious grub to get amongst—there's a lot to love about Madarao's Village. Indeed, Chef Atsushi—whose credentials include running the famous Hungry Heaven burger joint in Tokyo for 15 years—has taken the utmost care with this menu, crafting simple yet beautifully presented dishes from seasonal Japanese ingredients (for real—the signature apple pie is made with fruit from a staff member's orchard!). Open winter only. 

Sometimes you just want a big, fat okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancake). When that craving comes calling, there's only one place in Madarao you wanna go to and that's Sakura. Originally run by a Japanese couple, then passed on to a friend—along with their many years of expert knowledge—you know you're getting the real deal here. Think thick, juicy, Hiroshima-style pancakes flavoured with pork, shrimp, and other deliciousness, washed down with a glass of wine, beer, or even a shot of sake (and you thought pancakes were just for breakfast). Open winter only.

Allow us to introduce you to the inimitable Mister Daruma—home to bangin' Japanese tapas and what some say are the best (and strongest!) cocktails in Madarao. Inhale Apple Pie-flavoured tipples and gorge on gyoza while taking in the cool old-school aesthetic, complete with vinyl soundtrack. Despite this one's bar-ish vibes, it's actually a great spot for families and they can pull together a great kid's plate, with a little notice. Open winter only. 

Unjaune is famous for its behemoth burgers (they're literally the size of your face) and this is in fact the second iteration of the restaurant, which started in Hakuba about a decade ago. Suffice to say, the team here know their way around two buns, which you can have them stuff with KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), panko-crumbed blue cod or 15-hour slow cooked pulled pork, amongst other offerings. Tag on a cocktail and a bowl of wedges for a truly monstrous feed. 

You won't find any red-nosed reindeer at this Madarao fave, but you will find glasses of red wine and delicious fare. Rudolf is an Italian-style eatery you see, so it kinda goes with the territory. You'll also discover a truly delicious line-up of pizzas (including novelty versions topped with teriyaki chicken, pork curry, and even apple), pasta, and glorious shaved ice desserts, plus a few Japanese dishes thrown in for good measure. This spot also passes the vibe check, thanks to its cute, fairy-lit courtyard. Open winter only. 

If tacos, cocktails, and a fat slab of burnt Basque cheesecake (or fried Oreos with caramel sauce, or yuzu pie!) sounds like a bit of you, best get on your—ahem—bike, and head on over to Red Tricycle. Each season you'll be treated to a different interpretation of the classic taco thanks to their chef-in-residence—currently Roque Iglesias Molezun from Spain who is giving us a saucy little Birria number and even a plant-based Al Pastor, all from this vibey spot in the Japanese alps. Open winter only. 

Disclaimer: this spot gets pretty slammed, but if you're a fan of blistered-crust pizzas with molten toppings, you'll find a way to make it work. Especially if you're a powderhound, as this one is located right on the Madarao mountainside and offers perfect ski-in/ski-out dining. We're big fans of Aki's Japanese mushroom and bacon pizza, which achieves dream-dinner status when paired with a frosty glass of Sapporo (however, let it also be known that they make a mean cup of coffee using beans from Kiwi brand, Allpress Espresso). 

You'll find one of Madarao's best dining experiences hidden away inside the Madarao Kogen Hotel. The main restaurant here, Furusato, is brought to us by the same crew behind another spot on this list, Rudolf, only here they’re swapping out the largely Italian fare for authentic Japanese dishes. Ramen, curry, udon and hot pots are all on the menu but what gets us really excited is the goken—an elaborate, Japanese-style degustation served for dinner. The mountain views ain't half bad, either…

This humble spot should be dropping onto—not off—your radar, with its delicious line-up of comfort food dishes, perfect for warming up after a day of jumping about the japow. Piping hot curries, big bowls of pasta and even Aussie meat pies (the owner hails from Down Under) meet with gyoza, yakitori and other izakaya-style bites, for a fair dinkum feed. Drop Off Bar also makes a mean panini (remember those?); and don't you dare leave without treating yourself to an ice-cold beer. 

Donguritei's cosy, fire-lit dining room provides a perfect escape from the snow, and not least because it's home to a dedicated wagyu course (we can practically hear you meat-eaters growling through the screen). You can also feast on yakiniku-style bites and steaming hot shabu shabu (a kind of DIY hot pot)—both reservation only—or take a departure from the carnivore vibe altogether, and try one of their tasty vegetarian options. 

Where else can you eat baked curry while listening to jazz? Exactly. This might seem like an oddball combo but that's exactly what we dig about Jazzy, a much-loved spot in the middle of town. It's giving dinner and a show, with a side of warm hospitality and incredibly charming décor (jazz-themed, of course). The aforementioned curry is an absolute must but you might like to also dabble in the assorted yakitori and a cheeky glass of whiskey, wine, or beer, all for a price that will leave you feeling positively... jazzed. 

Not to be confused with Madarao, this tranquil spot is serving up some of the area's tastiest grub. Step into a traditionally-decorated dining room with food to match, in the form of their wildly popular sukiyaki (a kind of Japanese hot pot), handmade soba noodles, and even a sort of roll-your-own sushi. This is delicious, unpretentious food for the whole family and we are here for it. Open winter only. 

We're having a hard time keeping our cool about this, the onsite restaurant at Chill Madarao. Mostly thanks to its incredible handmade gyoza, which you can enjoy in a handful of mouthwatering flavours, some steamed and others flattened into a crispy wreath, skirt style. Other notable inclusions to the menu include the New Year's Eve tart, made from kumquats, bourbon, pecan and almonds, and the entire range of cocktails. You can also opt for a wine- or sake-matched feast, if you're feeling extra fancy (or you know, just really hungry). Open winter only. 

Restaurant purists may turn up their noses at a spot that predominantly serves dessert—and furthermore, one that closes at 5pm—but we've never claimed to be anything of the sort, so. Enter Madarao Crepe House, where paper-thin sheets of pancake-y goodness made from local flour are topped with juicy seasonal fruit and pillows of fluffy fresh cream (and sometimes savoury goodies, as it turns out). Save room for their home-baked cakes and galettes, if you dare. 

Interested in making Madarao your second (or first!) home? Check out Uchi's list of premium real-estate listings for the area.