Discover Nagasaki’s unique local dishes, from wagyu beef and seafood, to noodle specialties, shaped by rich nature and a history of international trade.
Regional Specialties to Try Across Nagasaki
Nagasaki has long been an international trading hub, resulting in unique fusion foods influenced by Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese cultures.
Additionally, the prefecture is blessed with ingredients from both the sea and mountains, including Nagasaki wagyu beef and delicious local fish. This article introduces specialty dishes from across Nagasaki.
Nagasaki Prefecture is promoting the introduction of multilingual menus at restaurants to better serve international visitors. You can view the list of participating restaurants below. Please be sure to check them out.
Nagasaki Prefecture Discover Nagasaki: Find restaurants with multilingual menus here.

1. Nagasaki Wagyu Beef
Nagasaki Wagyu BeefNagasaki has long been known as a renowned producer of beef. Its signature brand, Nagasaki Wagyu, has an exquisite balance of flavorful red meat and smooth, buttery fat. The tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth texture is simply irresistible.
You’ll find many restaurants in the prefecture specializing in Nagasaki Wagyu, including Nagasaki Wagyu Yakiniku Pure, where you can enjoy the highest quality meat prepared in a variety of styles.
In Nagasaki Prefecture, restaurants that serve Nagasaki Wagyu are designated as “Nagasaki Wagyu Certified Restaurants and Shops”. If you’re looking for a place serving Nagasaki Wagyu, then use this website as references!
Recommended Restaurant: Nagasaki Wagyu Yakiniku Pure
A popular Yakiniku restaurant specializing in Nagasaki Wagyu, offering safe, high-quality meat and guaranteed delicious taste. Conveniently located near Shinchi Chinatown in Nagasaki City, it is easily accessible.
Address: Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Shinchi-machi 12-7
Hours: 11:00 – 14:30, 17:00 – 21:30 (closed during the New Year holidays)

2. Anago Cuisine
Tsushima AnagoTsushima is a popular outlying island near the Korean Peninsula and has long thrived in anago (saltwater eel) fishing. Anago eels raised in its nutrient-rich waters are thick and meaty with rich, flavorful fat.
On Tsushima, there are many restaurants where you can enjoy anago. One such restaurant is Sushi Dokoro Shinichi, designated by Nagasaki Prefecture as a “Nagasaki Prefectural Favorite Fish Restaurant”. Here, you can savor anago caught by the owner himself on a boat, prepared in a variety of ways, including sashimi, tempura, and shirayaki (grilled over direct heat without sauce).
Recommended Restaurant: Sushi Dokoro Shinichi
This restaurant exclusively uses anago caught in the west of Tsushima. Known for its rich fat and exquisite quality, anago here is exceptional. Whether served simmered, plain grilled (shirayaki), glazed with sauce (kabayaki), or as sashimi, every dish offers a truly impressive culinary experience.
Address: Nagasaki, Tsushima, Kamitsushimacho Furusato 13-3
Hours: 11:00 – 14:00, 18:00 – 22:00 (closed on Wednesdays)

3. Nagasaki Tawaramono
Japanese Fish CakesNagasaki Tawaramono originally referred to seafood exported from Nagasaki Port to China during the Edo period (1603-1867). Building on this history, the modern title of Nagasaki Tawaramono is granted only to processed products made from seasonal seafood from Nagasaki Prefecture that meet strict quality standards.
Nagasaki Tawaramono includes a wide selection of products such as processed karasumi (dried mullet roe), horse mackerel, Japanese amberjack, and squid.
Recommended Restaurant: Sumiya (Kamome Market Branch)
Located in Kamome Market, one of the city’s largest souvenir shopping zones situated right in front of the JR Nagasaki Station ticket gates. This shop offers a wide selection of Nagasaki products, ranging from popular souvenirs and local favorites to specialties from the Nagasaki islands.
Address: Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Onoue-machi 1-67
Hours: 8:30 – 20:00

4. Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Shinkamigoto Fresh Tuna Bowl | Picture courtesy of the Nagasaki Prefecture Tourism AssociationNagasaki Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading producers of Pacific bluefin tuna. Farmed under strict regulations, the tuna is exceptionally delicious, with lean meat packed with flavor and rich, buttery fat that creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture for you to savor.
In Nagasaki Prefecture, there are numerous restaurants that serve Pacific bluefin tuna. A standout is Umi to Sora Maru to Hoshi, located on the Goto Islands, where you can enjoy the highest quality tuna in sushi, sashimi, seafood bowls, and more.
Moreover, Nagasaki Prefecture is promoting its recommended local fish varieties through the Oshiuo Project. Pacific bluefin tuna is one of these.
Recommended Restaurant: Umi to Sora Maru to Hoshi
This restaurant offers dishes centered around Japanese cuisine, featuring delicious ingredients from the Goto Islands such as bluefin tuna, Goto beef, and fresh seafood.
Address: Nagasaki, Minamimatsuura, Shinkamigotocho, Narao-go 712-3
Hours: 11:30 – 14:30, 18:00 – 22:00

5. Sasebo Burger
Sasebo Burger (Bell Beach)This burger originated with US Navy influences and evolved into a Sasebo specialty. Each restaurant creates its own version of the Sasebo burger, but they all share a few key traits: they are made to order, committed to using fresh vegetables, and use a special sauce.
You’ll find this burger at various shops in Sasebo, including Sasebo Burger Bell Beach, which is known for its soft, fluffy buns and original mayonnaise.
Recommended Restaurant: Sasebo Burger Bell Beach
This is an iconic Sasebo Burger shop that represents the city. The buns are baked fresh in their in-house bakery, and the patties are handmade. Enjoy the perfect balance of flavors with fresh vegetables.
Address: Nagasaki, Sasebo, Kashimaecho 942-3
Hours: 11:00 – 17:00, closed on Wednesdays (except holidays)

6. Nagasaki Champon
Champon and Sara Udon | Picture courtesy of Nagasaki Prefecture Tourism AssociationNagasaki Champon is a nutrient-rich noodle dish made by stir-frying generous amounts of vegetables, seafood, and pork, then adding them to a rich broth.
As an iconic Nagasaki dish, it can be enjoyed at many restaurants across the prefecture. Why not give it a try?
Recommended Restaurant: Chinese Restaurant Kouzanrou (Nagasaki Chinatown New Wing)
Established in 1946, this long-standing restaurant boasts over 80 years of history and continues to preserve its secret traditional flavors. Their popular Champon features a rich chicken broth blended with savory seafood stock. Be sure to experience this authentic taste when visiting Nagasaki.
Address: Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Shinchi-machi 13-13
Hours: Wed / Thu / Fri: 11:30 – 15:00, 17:00 – 20:30
Sat / Sun / Holidays: 11:00 – 15:00, 17:00 – 20:30
Closed: Mondays & Tuesdays

7. Casdoce
CasdoceCastella is a popular confection in Japan. This dessert was independently developed in Japan, originating from a food introduced to Nagasaki from Portugal in the late 16th century and is now enjoyed throughout the country.
Meanwhile, in Hirado, Nagasaki, there is a famous sweet called “Casdoce” that has been cherished for over 400 years. It is made by dipping castella in egg yolk and frying it in molasses. During the Edo period, it was a mythical treat enjoyed only by the feudal lords of Hirado.
Visit Hirado, a city that has served as a bridge to foreign cultures since the first Portuguese trading ship arrived in 1550. We invite you to enjoy the taste of Casdoce while immersing yourself in this rich history.
Recommended Restaurant: Hirado Tsutaya
This long-established confectionery has been making Casdoce for over 400 years and continues to carefully handcraft each piece using the same traditional method passed down since their founding.
Address: Nagasaki, Hirado, Kihikida-cho 431
Hours: 9:00 – 18:30

8. Goto Udon
Goto UdonGoto Udon is a traditional noodle dish said to have over 1,000 years of history on the Goto Islands. Made with a unique recipe using camellia seed oil, a local Goto specialty, the noodles are thin yet firm and springy, with a smooth texture.
There are many restaurants in Nagasaki Prefecture where you can enjoy delicious Goto udon. Even in the Goto Islands, where the dish originated, a famous shop called Ottdontei offers many variations of Goto udon.
Recommended Restaurant: Ottdontei
Operated by a local noodle factory, this restaurant features noodles made with camellia oil, known for their firm, chewy texture. With an extensive menu and a spacious interior, you can enjoy your meal in a relaxing atmosphere.
Address: Nagasaki, Goto, Yoshikugicho 831-1
Hours: 11:00 – 14:30, closed on Tuesdays and during the New Year’s holiday

Perfect for Souvenir Hunting! Stores Carrying Nagasaki Products
Inside Nagasaki Bussankan | Picture courtesy of Nagasaki BussankanIn Nagasaki Prefecture, the “Try It! Nagasaki” program was established to promote the use of locally produced products through participating stores.
You can purchase products made with locally produced ingredients at shops certified under this program. If you’re looking for souvenirs in Nagasaki, be sure to check them out.
Recommended Shop: Nagasaki Bussankan
Conveniently located on the 2nd floor of the Nagasaki Prefectural Bus Terminal in front of JR Nagasaki Station, where the airport limousine buses depart, the restaurant is the perfect place to drop by for some quick shopping before you travel.
Address: Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Daikokumachi 3-1 Kenei Bus Terminal 2F
Hours: 9:00 – 18:00 (until 19:00 in July and August), open year-round (closed December 29 – January 3)

Restaurants Using Nagasaki Ingredients
Unzen Haikara Omuhayashi | Picture courtesy of Yama Cafe RICKYRestaurants and shops that serve dishes made with Nagasaki ingredients are certified under the “Nagasaki Locally Sourced Specialty Stores” certification system. At these establishments, you can enjoy meals that focus on vegetables, meat, and seafood produced in Nagasaki.
The following website is only in Japanese, but it does introduce recommended shops in each area, so feel free to reference it when looking for places to try in Nagasaki.
Check out the recommended shop here (Japanese).
Recommended Shop: Yama Cafe RICKY
Located on the 3rd floor of the hotel “Unzen Fukudaya Yamaterrace Bettei,” this cafe restaurant features an open terrace. It is open to the public, not just hotel guests. Be sure to try their original dishes made with local ingredients. The stylish, relaxed interior evokes the feeling of visiting a secluded mountain retreat.
Address: Nagasaki, Unzen, Obamacho Unzen 380-2
Hours: 11:00 – 14:30 (closed irregularly)

A Trove of Local Specialties in Nagasaki
Nagasaki Prefecture is a treasure trove of food not found anywhere else, combining a unique food culture shaped by its history as an international city with fresh ingredients nurtured in its abundant nature.
For more detailed sightseeing information on Nagasaki Prefecture, check out Discover Nagasaki website here.