Matsumoto Food Guide: French Cuisine, Izakaya Dishes & Three-Way Soba

 Dinner at Matsumoto 萬来 Banrai, Matsumoto

For dinner in Matsumoto, we visited Banrai, a very popular local restaurant known for its extensive menu and unique Japanese delicacies.

One of the signature dishes we tried was the Zuku Karaage (fried chicken). The meat was quite thick and on the drier side, with a flavour profile that reminded me of lemon chicken. It had a peppery, slightly tangy taste that was enjoyable, although the texture wasn't my favourite. The skin, however, was excellent, crispy and savoury, with a flavour that oddly reminded me of agedashi tofu.

Speaking of tofu, the agedashi tofu was one of the highlights of the meal. Lightly crisp on the outside and silky inside, it was comforting and well-executed.

We also ordered the egg with whitebait. The egg was soft, fluffy, and slightly runny, giving it a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. The seasoning was delicate, allowing the natural flavours of the whitebait to come through.

For sashimi, both the maguro (tuna) and salmon were fresh and satisfying. Sometimes simple dishes are the best way to appreciate good-quality ingredients.

What makes Banrai particularly interesting is its adventurous menu. Beyond the usual izakaya offerings, there are more unusual items such as insect pupae and other exotic local delicacies, making it a fun place for diners who enjoy trying something different.

Overall, while not every dish was a standout, Banrai offered a memorable dining experience with its wide variety of food, lively atmosphere, and unique menu. If you're looking for a popular local restaurant in Matsumoto and are feeling adventurous, it's worth adding to your list.

Tea at 竹風堂 松本中町店  (Chikufudo Matsumoto Nakamachi)

After spending the afternoon exploring the historic streets of Matsumoto, we were looking for somewhere warm to escape the cold and rest our feet. That's when we came across 竹風堂 松本中町店.

What first caught our attention was the beautiful pastry display. Everything looked so attractive that we couldn't resist stopping for tea. Unfortunately, the pastry didn't quite live up to expectations. While it looked delicious, the taste was rather average and ended up being one of those desserts that looked better than it tasted.

Thankfully, the latte was good and exactly what we needed after being out in the cold. Smooth, comforting, and perfect for a leisurely afternoon break.

While I wouldn't personally return just for the pastries, the café's cosy atmosphere makes it a lovely place to sit down, warm up, and take a break from sightseeing. Sometimes, it's not about having the best food, but finding a comfortable spot to slow down and enjoy the moment. For that, 竹風堂 松本中町店 was a pleasant stop during our time in Matsumoto

Quick Stop atとろり天使のわらびもち 松本店 Torori Tenshi no Warabi-mochi

While walking around Matsumoto, we made a quick stop at とろり天使のわらびもち 松本店 for a taste of their famous warabi mochi.

The highlight was definitely the texture. The warabi mochi was incredibly soft, smooth, and almost melt-in-your-mouth, living up to the shop's "torori" (creamy and silky) name. It was light, refreshing, and made for a nice snack between sightseeing stops.

The only downside is that seating is quite limited, so it's not really a place to linger for long. Most visitors seem to grab their treats and go, especially during busier periods.
Overall, if you're in Matsumoto and looking for a quick sweet treat, Torori Tenshi no Warabi-mochi is worth trying for its wonderfully soft warabi mochi texture alone.

A Surprise French Lunch in Matsumoto: Restaurant Aquri

After exploring Matsumoto Castle and strolling through the charming old shopping streets, we started looking for lunch around 1:30 PM. We had a few restaurants bookmarked, but to our surprise, several were closed despite Google showing they were open. Hungry and running out of options, we decided to walk into Restaurant Aquri (Agrie), a cosy French-style restaurant in the city centre. 

What started as a backup plan turned into one of the most memorable meals of our trip.

I ordered the spaghetti, which was drizzled with pumpkin sauce. It sounded like an unusual combination at first, but it worked beautifully. The pumpkin added a subtle sweetness and creaminess that complemented the pasta perfectly. The dish was simple, comforting, and surprisingly refined.

The real standout, however, was the sourdough bread. The crust was wonderfully crisp, while the inside was soft and fluffy, almost like a freshly baked bun. It was the kind of bread that keeps you reaching for another bite.

The experience was made even better by the warm hospitality. The staff were attentive and welcoming, and the relaxed atmosphere provided a much-needed break after a busy morning of sightseeing. It was easy to see why diners would linger over coffee and dessert.

Restaurant Aquri wasn't part of our original itinerary, but sometimes the best travel experiences are the unplanned ones. If you're visiting Matsumoto, don't be afraid to step into a restaurant on a whim. You might just discover a hidden gem like we did.

Dinner at Miyota: A Unique Soba Experience Worth the Wait

One of our most memorable meals in the Matsumoto area was at Miyota, a highly popular soba restaurant known for its unique three-way soba experience.

We arrived at around 6:30 PM and joined the queue, finally getting a table about an hour later at 7:30 PM. The wait was long, but judging by the steady stream of customers, it's clearly a favourite among both locals and visitors. A word of warning: the restaurant closes early, and shortly after we were seated, no more diners were admitted.

Originally, we planned to order different dishes. I wanted to try the restaurant's signature three-way soba, while my husband was interested in the ebi tempura soba. However, we were told that if we wanted the three-way experience, both of us would need to order the same set. Since it was their specialty, we decided to go for it.

Three Ways to Enjoy Soba

The meal begins with a hot pot of broth and fresh soba noodles.

First way: Place the soba into a ladle, dip it into the hot broth for about three seconds, then remove it and enjoy it together with a spoonful of the soup. This lightly cooks the noodles while allowing their texture and flavour to shine.

Second way: This was my favourite. Tiny soba grains, almost the size of rice, are added into the remaining broth to create a soba porridge. An egg is then stirred in, creating something closer to a soft scrambled egg than an egg drop soup. The result is comforting, silky, and packed with flavour from the broth.

Third way: Enjoy the soba traditionally by dipping it into the accompanying sauce. At the end of the meal, hot water is added to the dipping sauce and served like a light tea, allowing you to savour every last bit of flavour.

Side Dishes

Besides the soba set, we ordered several side dishes, including the kakiage vegetable fritters and a mixed tempura platter. Everything was well-executed, with light and crispy batter that complemented rather than overwhelmed the ingredients.

Besides the soba set, we ordered several side dishes, including the kakiage vegetable fritters and a mixed tempura platter. Everything was well-executed, with light and crispy batter that complemented rather than overwhelmed the ingredients.

What surprised us most was how filling the meal was. At first glance, it didn't seem like a particularly large dinner, but by the end we were absolutely stuffed.

The one-hour wait may not be for everyone, but for us, it was worth it. If you're visiting the Matsumoto area, arrive early, as queues form quickly and the restaurant stops admitting diners once it's full.