10 Best Hakone Restaurants You Need To Try

The dining out scene here is an absolute treat, with the opportunity to explore everything from an ancient teahouse, to a fine-dining restaurant aligned with a famous eatery in New York (there's even a gelateria that doubles as a wine bar). Find out about all these spots and more in the Uchi team's round-up of Hakone's 10 best restaurants. 

Top of your Hakone hit-list should be this joint venture between chefs Keisuke Itoh and Nobu Matsuhisa (the latter's fine-dining restaurants—also called Nobu and co-owned by none other than Hollywood royalty, Robert de Niro—have more than 50 locations worldwide including a famous flagship in New York). 

Here in Hakone, the Nobu name has been reimagined with a teppanyaki menu that sees seafood, wagyu beef and other local delicacies cooked in a blaze of flame, right before your very eyes. And whilst it seems you can take the chef out of the Big Apple (we repeat: 50-plus restaurants, worldwide!), you can't take the Big Apple out of the chef: we've rarely seen such a chic fit-out for a teppanyaki joint. 

Have yourself a pizza party over at 808 Monsmare, which has become something of an icon here in Hakone thanks to its delicious wood-fired creations, crafted with carefully selected local ingredients and even those from the home of pizza itself aka Italy. Choose from more than 15 different varieties (there's even an apple pie flavoured pizza for dessert), accompanied by Italian-style snacks and starters, plus a wine list curated by the owner—who also happens to be a certified sommelier. No notes.  

We're suckers for a slice of history, which Hakone Amazake Chaya Teahouse has in bucketloads. This traditional teahouse-in-the-mountains, complete with thatched roof and open fireplace, has been operated by the same family for 300 years, with almost as many tales to tell (the famed 47 ronin even have links to it). 

The building and its namesake drink, amazake—a sweet, non-alcoholic version of sake, often served warm like tea—are practically the same as when it first opened, and can be enjoyed alongside grilled mochi, noodles, oden, and shaved ice in the summer. Our favourite spot to sit is outside, amongst the ancient trees. 

Hakone's mountainous backdrop is the perfect spot to indulge in some quality Nepalese cuisine. Circle Hakone offers all the usual dishes associated with this flavoursome fare, including a highly-regarded take on butter chicken, textbook panipuri and of course, plenty of vegetarian options; however, it's also been known to mix things up with fusion-style versions of dumplings and even pasta. The service is as warm and authentic as the food on your plate, making this a spot you'll want to return to time and time again. 

Another spot bringing its teppanyaki A-game is Teppanyaki Zen. Tucked away on a hill above the tranquil Kinnotake Tonosawa hotel, this is where chef Yoshiyuki Shimomura wields flame and fire (gained from his extensive experience in teppanyaki restaurants) to get the best out of local delicacies including premium beef from Ishigaki Island. Seasonal ingredients are of equal importance, with Shimomura sourcing items from all over Japan to create the perfect, in-season plate. Needless to say, the food here is incredible but we also really rate the fit-out (zen, just like the name) and the stunning forest setting. 

If you go down to the woods today, you won't find a teddy bears' picnic—arguably, something even better. We're talking about the lip-smacking Taiwanese cuisine from Hakone Picnic (which isn't technically in the woods, but it does have beaut woodland views). Run by a Taiwanese couple, you know you're getting the real deal here: think Taiwanese chicken soup, tofu pudding, and their best-selling braised pork and rice, which can either be enjoyed onsite, taken away for—you guessed it—a picnic, or even delivered (conditions apply). P.S. If you find it hard to leave this adorable spot, know that it also doubles as a guesthouse. 

No matter where you are in the world, burgers are always a good idea. And Box Burger is here to answer the call, with two eateries in Hakone offering what can only be described as gargantuan versions of the classic treat, stacked to the bready-brim with simple, fresh ingredients. The signature Box Burger with its familiar combination of (locally sourced) beef, melted cheese and crisp salad is hard to beat, however the vegan offering is giving it some stiff competition; there's even a burger named in honour of Hakone, complete with homemade bacon. Don't forget to order some onion rings and one of this spot's famous milkshakes, both also on the larger (read: ginormous) side.

We understand that unagi (freshwater eel) may not be a Westerner’s first choice, but believe us when we say; it’s delicious, so if you’re keen to try this luxurious ingredient, there's nowhere better than Unagi Hasegawa (which is one of Hakone's most popular restaurants and has two locations). Here, the unagi is cooked Kanto-style—that is, split in half, either basted in a sweet-and-savoury sauce or left plain, then carefully grilled before being served on a fluffy bed of rice. Follow up with another noteworthy addition to the menu: the 'dragon's orb' dessert (a gold-tinted take on Japan's famous raindrop cake). 

Gora Brewery Public House is a real class act. This upmarket watering hole will certainly slake your thirst with its selection of booze (including 1L jugs of beer, oh my); however it's the food that's the real star of the show here (hardly surprising, when you learn it's part of the same company as Itoh, above). 

Think pub grub, with a chic shake-up: shrimp cocktails and oysters on the half-shell paired with wood-fired pizzas, super-sized steaks of beef and salmon, and delicately crafted pasta. There's even dessert—think Basque cheesecake, tiramisu, and matcha mochi that look like miniature candy apples (like we said, a real class act).  

From the team behind 808 Monsmare comes one of the best dining experiences you've never heard of—a gelateria-cum-wine bar. Yes, that's right, you can smash back scoops of Hakone's finest frozen confections AND a cheeky vino or two all in the one location at Hakone Dolce Studio Stella. 

The flavours here are as unique as the premise—don't be surprised to find strawberry and cheese, and even quattro formaggi (that means four cheeses in English), in the cabinet, which the friendly staff will help you pair with the perfect drop. You can also enjoy a small selection of Italian pastries, including cannoli and sfogliatella, along with prosciutto and other snacky bits. 

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