I wanted to eat something delicious while sightseeing in Oya, and I bet you do too. So I put together a list of places I recommend. It includes stylish cafes and restaurants close to Oya Museum, a popular sightseeing spot.
Five lunch spots near Oya Museum
Curry, Italian, Japanese and Thai
Stylish cafes and restaurants
Written by Hanauta
This restaurant is inside Belterrasse Oya, and you can enjoy curry and chicken here. The most popular item is the “Rock Curry BOX,” so I ordered it this time too. It is a set of fried chicken and the curry of the day. On the day I visited, the curry was a healthy tomato curry.
All the curries are called “curry of the day,” and the chef makes them as the mood strikes. You will not know which curry you will meet until that day. The chicken is cooked in a special fryer that reportedly cuts the oil it absorbs by 50%. It is crispy outside and juicy inside, even with fewer calories. It was fantastic! There was also an allergy chart by the register. The vegetables served with the curry rice were crisp and sweet, and the pickles went well with the curry. I finished it all in no time.
Inside, it is set up like a food court. I ordered first, then waited at a seat of my choice for my food. Wet towels and water were available for self-service. There is a hand-washing station and a restroom in the building, so it felt safe to use with a family.
This casual eatery mainly serves creative Italian food. It has a rare exterior, renovated from a gas station, and it looks stylish and catches the eye.
The most popular item is the B Lunch (1,850 yen). You can choose your pasta and dessert from three options each. It comes with a salad and appetizer plate, pasta, dessert, and a drink. The menu seems to change with the seasons, so please check the shop’s information for details. The pasta in my photo was a sausage peperoncino (salt) pasta. The meaty sausage and the perfect saltiness were delicious! The appetizer cup held homemade tofu. Personally, I loved the corn flan (a Western-style steamed egg custard), and it became my favorite.
If you like curry, I hope you will try the P Set Meal (1,500 yen). It comes with a mini salad, the curry of the day, soup, and a drink. The curry on my day was an Omi beef curry. It was a thin, runny style with meat that melted and fell apart, and the spices were wonderful. The soup bowl was full of vegetables, and I could feel the care that went into it. You can add a dessert to the P Set Meal for +350 yen, and I did!
The desserts were the “pudding of the day” and “panna cotta.” The pudding was white inside and a rich, firm pudding. It has caramel on top, which is hard to see in the photo, but it was white inside when I scooped it with a spoon. The panna cotta was rich and went well with the strawberry sauce. I was fully satisfied, right through dessert.
This is a Japanese tea cafe in an Oya stone storehouse, where you can enjoy Japanese tea chosen for each season. I recommend it if you want to enjoy Japanese food and sweets.
I tried the Kijihaji Gohan (1,000 yen). It comes with chicken soboro rice, tamagoyaki, tempura, sweet-and-savory simmered konnyaku, miso soup, and a mini Kijihaji pudding. The soboro had a sweet, gentle flavor, and the tempura came with matcha salt. The tamagoyaki goes well with rice when you top it with grated daikon! The miso soup was full of dashi flavor and delicious.
Next was the Kijihaji Mont Blanc (1,100 yen). It is a delicate Mont Blanc made with plenty of Japanese chestnut. Inside are crunchy meringue and soft cream. It is simple, so you can fully enjoy the real taste of the chestnut. There was also a mini size.
I also ordered the Matcha HOT Hina (600 yen), made with the “Wakaba” tea. It was light and the aftertaste was clean. It is carefully chosen Japanese tea whisked with a tea whisk (chasen). Orders are placed with a QR code on your smartphone.
The shop’s name refers to one of the 72 seasonal markers (shichijuni-ko). It points to the time of year when the cold really sets in (around Jan 15 to 19), when the male pheasant starts to call for his mate. As the name suggests, you might hear a pheasant’s “keen” call.
This cafe and select shop is attached to Oya Museum, and the terrace seats have the best location!
The most popular item is the creamy, runny Nasu Goyo egg omelette rice (1,680 yen). The lunch set comes with a drink, salad, and soup. Eating lunch in the best location doubles the feeling of travel! I finished the omelette rice in no time.
You first take a special card to secure the seat you like, then line up at the order and checkout counter, and it goes smoothly. There were table seats inside, counter seats, and terrace seats.
I also ordered gelato for dessert. Strawberry, cream cheese, and amazake are said to be popular. Which flavor do you like? I chose a double of strawberry and framboise (550 yen), as in the photo. It was rich and refreshing, and delicious. They also had hot dogs and pasta. I hope this helps!
Thai carving is a rare treat here! This Asian restaurant, mainly serving Thai food, is in a renovated Oya stone storehouse. Thai carving is a traditional Thai craft of carving vegetables, fruit, and soap.
This time I had the lunch share course. It is Thai food, but I heard they do not use coriander. That may be a shame for coriander fans, but for me, someone who does not like it, it was great news!
The share course is from 1,600 yen per person, and you need at least two people to order. It includes:
The spring roll plate had the carving everyone talks about, and it looked very gorgeous. The shrimp was also plump! For the one-dish meal, I chose grilled marinated horse mackerel and vegetables (+100 yen). It was delicious, and I recommend it. The curry and soup were spicy but not too spicy, and easy to eat.
At OYA PICK ROCK, you order first and then wait at a seat of your choice
At Punto, choose a B Lunch or a P Set Meal, and add dessert.
At Kijihajimetenaku, enjoy a Kijihaji Gohan and a bowl of whisked Japanese tea.
At Zo no Ie, order the share course (two people minimum).Trade your ticket for coffee or tea, and add a strawberry tart.
At ROCKSIDE MARKET, have gelato and look for Oya Rusk, sold only at Oya Museum.
Punto and Kijihajimetenaku both recommend a reservation.
Punto: 028-908-8055
Kijihajimetenaku: 028-612-2023 (or ask through Instagram).
OYA PICK ROCK lets you order first, then take a seat. Kijihajimetenaku uses a QR code on your smartphone. At ROCKSIDE MARKET, take a seat card first, then line up to order.
If you love hard-style bread, try Post de Blé. It is a stylish shop in a converted Oya stone storehouse, with croissants made with carefully chosen fermented butter.