The essential Yokohama dishes
| Dish | What it is | Best setting |
|---|---|---|
| Chinatown Cantonese 中華街の広東料理 | Dim sum, roast meats, seafood and noodle dishes from Japan's largest Chinatown. | One booked sit-down meal, with street snacks as extras. |
| Gyunabe 牛鍋 | The Meiji-era beef hotpot that came before sukiyaki. At Ota Nawanoren it is cubed beef in a miso-based sauce with scallions. | A reserved dinner. |
| Sanmamen サンマーメン | Soy ramen topped with stir-fried vegetables in a thickened sauce. Yokohama's own noodle soup. | A plain lunch at a town Chinese diner. |
| Iekei ramen 家系ラーメン | A rich pork-and-soy broth with thick noodles, spinach and nori, first made in Yokohama in 1974. You usually choose firmness, richness and oil level. | A counter lunch; order from the ticket machine. |
| Shiumai シウマイ | Kiyoken's small pork-and-dried-scallop dumplings, created in 1928 to taste good even cold. | A train snack, a boxed lunch or a souvenir. |
| Doria, Napolitan & pudding à la mode ドリア・ナポリタン・プリンアラモード | Three Japanese yoshoku classics that Hotel New Grand says it created: a rice gratin, ketchup-style spaghetti and a custard pudding dessert with fruit and cream. | Lunch or tea at the hotel's ground-floor café. |
| Aisukurin あいすくりん | Japan's first commercial ice cream was sold on Bashamichi in 1869. Shops there sell recreations of the light, eggy original. | A walking snack between Kannai and the harbor. |
Chinatown and Motomachi
One sit-down meal, then walk
Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街) Lunch or booked dinner
About 630 shops fill roughly 500 meters square, including around 200 Chinese restaurants, according to the Chinatown association. That scale is the problem as well as the attraction: the famous street is crowded, many shops look alike, and grazing on steamed buns and xiaolongbao can crowd out a proper meal.
Decide on one restaurant first. Manchinro (萬珍樓), founded in 1892, is the long-established Cantonese name for a full lunch or banquet; its set lunches are the easier way in. Then walk the side lanes and the colorful Kanteibyo temple (関帝廟) with room for one snack.
Motomachi and Yamate Coffee, bakeries, a slower hour
Across the canal from Chinatown, Motomachi (元町) is an old shopping street built for the foreign settlement, with bakeries and cafés. Above it, the Yamate (山手) bluff has Western-style residences and harbor views. It is the natural walk after a heavy Chinatown lunch — and a better choice than a second meal.
The harbor: Hotel New Grand and Minato Mirai
Yamashita Park to the Red Brick Warehouses
Hotel New Grand, The Café Yoshoku history at the table
Opposite Yamashita Park, the historic Hotel New Grand says three Japanese comfort foods started in its kitchen: seafood doria, created for a guest who needed something gentle to eat; spaghetti Napolitan, from the post-war years; and pudding à la mode, made to please American officers' wives during the occupation. All three are still served at The Café on the ground floor of the main building. Order one savory dish and share the pudding; that is plenty.
Minato Mirai and the Cup Noodles Museum Family-friendly, not fine dining
Minato Mirai (みなとみらい) is modern waterfront: shopping, the Red Brick Warehouses and big-window restaurants. The Cup Noodles Museum is the food stop worth planning. Entry is ¥500 for adults, while high-school-age visitors and younger enter free. The My CUPNOODLES Factory costs ¥500 per cup. Museum schedules can change, so check the official calendar before visiting. The My CUPNOODLES Factory uses same-day numbered tickets and can fill up, so arrive with enough time. Treat it as an activity rather than a meal.
Kannai, Bashamichi, Isezakicho and Noge
Old Yokohama, on foot
Gyunabe at Ota Nawanoren (太田なわのれん) A dinner worth reserving
Founded in 1868, Ota Nawanoren serves the gyunabe that Yokohama gave Japan when beef-eating arrived with foreign traders. Its founder cooked cubes of beef in a shallow iron pot with miso and scallions, borrowing from wild-boar hotpot to hide the unfamiliar smell of beef, and the restaurant still does it that way. It is a short walk from Hinodecho Station on the Keikyu line. Book, budget for a full dinner, and do not stack it on a Chinatown lunch.
Sanmamen at Gyokusentei (玉泉亭) Yokohama's own noodle lunch
Gyokusentei on Isezakicho (伊勢佐木町), between Kannai and Isezakichojamachi, has been open since 1918 and is one of the shops credited with creating sanmamen: soy ramen under a hot, glossy layer of stir-fried bean sprouts, cabbage and pork. (Other shops claim it too.) It is a plain, local lunch, not a destination dining room. It is usually closed on Tuesdays.
Bashamichi (馬車道) Ice cream where it started
Japan's first commercial ice cream, aisukurin, made from milk, eggs and sugar, was sold on Bashamichi in 1869. Shops on the street sell recreations of that original. It is the right-sized snack on the walk from Kannai to the harbor.
Noge (野毛) A casual Yokohama night out
Between Sakuragicho and Hinodecho stations, Noge's narrow lanes are packed with small izakaya, yakitori counters and standing bars, many open from the afternoon. It is Yokohama's answer to Tokyo's yokocho: cheap, noisy and friendly. Pick a place with a short menu and a busy counter, have one or two drinks and a few plates, and move on if the room is full. Some bars charge a seating fee (お通し).
Yokohama Station, Namamugi and Shin-Yokohama
Along the train lines
Yoshimuraya (吉村家) The iekei original
Founded in 1974, Yoshimuraya is where iekei ramen began: thick noodles in a rich pork-bone and soy broth, with spinach, nori and chashu. In 2023 it moved across the Okano intersection into its own two-story, 30-seat building, within walking distance of Yokohama Station. Expect a queue, buy a ticket from the machine, and tell the counter how you want your noodles and broth — firmness, richness and oil — or ask for the standard.
Kiyoken shumai (崎陽軒) Easy takeaway from Yokohama Station
Kiyoken began at the original Yokohama Station in 1908 and launched its shiumai in 1928, designed to taste good cold. Its Shiumai Bento, sold since 1954, is a classic station lunch box. Look for the little gourd-shaped soy-sauce bottles with faces. Kiyoken shops fill Yokohama Station, and there is a sit-down Kiyoken restaurant building at the East Exit. Buy a box on the way home rather than planning a meal around it.
Kirin Beer Yokohama Factory (キリンビール横浜工場) A booked brewery tour
Near Namamugi Station on the Keikyu Main Line — on the way from Haneda — Kirin runs a guided tour of about 90 minutes with a tasting of freshly made beer for adults (soft drinks for everyone else). Reservations are required. The tour takes about 90 minutes and is conducted in Japanese. Adult admission is ¥500 through September 2026 and ¥1,000 for tours from October 1, 2026; visitors under 20 are free. The factory is generally closed on Mondays (with holiday exceptions), so check the reservation calendar. If you tour around lunchtime, Noge later in the day pairs naturally with the route.
Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum (新横浜ラーメン博物館) A ramen half-day
Opened in 1994, the museum recreates a 1958 Tokyo street, lined with ramen shops from around Japan and abroad. Adults pay 450 yen to enter, and everyone aged junior-high or older must order at least one bowl. It is open daily except 31 December and 1 January. Shin-Yokohama is the Shinkansen station, well away from the harbor. Make the museum its own half-day, or pair it with a Shinkansen departure.
A useful way to group the day: the Keikyu Main Line runs Namamugi → Yokohama → Hinodecho, and those three stops cover the brewery, the station food and the Noge and Kannai side. Chinatown and the waterfront are one Minatomirai Line ride from Yokohama Station. Shin-Yokohama is a separate trip. Choose one cluster per half-day.
How to choose the right restaurant
| If you want... | Choose... | Avoid... |
|---|---|---|
| One complete Yokohama day | Ramen or sanmamen for lunch, Hotel New Grand's café, and one dinner | A Chinatown feast and gyunabe on the same day |
| Chinatown done well | One booked restaurant such as Manchinro, then a walk | Grazing street stalls until you have no room for a real meal |
| Something only Yokohama has | Gyunabe at Ota Nawanoren, or sanmamen at Gyokusentei | Going on a Tuesday without checking the closing day |
| A ramen pilgrimage | Yoshimuraya, or the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum as a half-day | Both, plus Chinatown, in one afternoon |
| Family predictability | Cup Noodles Museum, Hotel New Grand's café, Kiyoken shumai | A tiny Noge bar at peak time with children |
| A local evening | Noge, near Sakuragicho and Hinodecho | Waterfront chain restaurants that could be anywhere |
| Vegetarian food | A Chinatown restaurant booked with precise requests | Assuming a noodle soup or vegetable dish is free of meat stock |
Three ready-made eating days
The harbor and Chinatown day
- Take the Keikyu line from Anamori-inari to Yokohama (check whether your train needs a change at Keikyu Kamata), then the Minatomirai Line to Motomachi-Chukagai.
- A booked lunch in Chinatown, such as a Manchinro set lunch, then Kanteibyo and one snack.
- Walk up to Yamate or along Motomachi, then down to Yamashita Park.
- Pudding à la mode at Hotel New Grand's The Café; skip dinner-sized food.
- Walk the waterfront to the Red Brick Warehouses and head home, buying Kiyoken shumai for tomorrow.
Best for: first-time visitors and families.
The old Yokohama day
- Keikyu line to Yokohama; walk to Yoshimuraya for an early iekei lunch, or head to Isezakicho for sanmamen at Gyokusentei.
- Walk Kannai and Bashamichi; an aisukurin on the way.
- Coffee at Hotel New Grand or a rest by the harbor.
- Dinner: gyunabe at Ota Nawanoren (book ahead), a short walk from Hinodecho.
- One drink in Noge only if the table still wants it, then Keikyu home from Hinodecho.
Best for: travelers who want Yokohama's history rather than its skyline. Check Tuesday closures.
The beer and ramen day
- Keikyu Main Line to Namamugi for a booked morning or early-afternoon Kirin tour (not Mondays).
- On to Yokohama for ramen at Yoshimuraya — or, if ramen is the whole point, the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum instead.
- Rest, shop or walk Minato Mirai.
- Evening in Noge for small plates and a drink.
- Back from Hinodecho or Sakuragicho. Check the last train.
Best for: adults on a second Yokohama day. Do not drive after a tasting.
Reservations, trains and dietary realities
Prices and access details in this guide were checked against official sources in September 2026. Always use the linked official pages for the latest information.
- Check key stops the morning you go. Closing days, last orders, reservation systems and sell-outs change. Several places on this page close on Mondays or Tuesdays.
- Keep your backup in the same neighborhood. A second restaurant 10 minutes on foot is useful; a famous alternative on another train line is not.
- Book what needs booking. Gyunabe, large Chinatown dinners and the brewery tour need reservations. Ramen shops and Noge bars do not take them.
- Use the ticket machine. Many ramen and noodle shops take your order and payment at a machine by the door. Photos or numbers usually help; staff will help if you hesitate.
- Explain allergies in Japanese. Ask about pork and chicken stock, dashi (出汁), oyster sauce, soy, wheat, shellfish and shared fryers.
- Carry some cash. Card and IC-card payment is common in Minato Mirai but uneven at old diners and small bars.
- Settle the ride home before the drinks. Decide which train you will take, check the last Keikyu train, and do not drive after the brewery or Noge.
Using Stark House Haneda as your food base
Stark House Haneda sits a short walk from Anamori-inari Station on the Keikyu Airport Line, two stops from Haneda Airport Terminal 3. The Keikyu line that serves it also reaches Namamugi, Yokohama and Hinodecho, so a Yokohama food day starts and ends on one railway, with Kawasaki on the way. Room 202 and Room 401 are private, self-contained residences of about 20 m², with kitchens and in-unit laundry — useful when Yokohama is one day of a longer Tokyo stay.
The advantage is a calm base near the airport with Yokohama, Kawasaki and central Tokyo all in reach. If your trip is several nights in Yokohama alone, or late nights in Noge every evening, a hotel in Yokohama itself will be simpler.
Frequently asked questions
What food is Yokohama known for?
Yokohama's food comes from its history as an open port. Look for Chinatown's Cantonese cooking, gyunabe beef hotpot from 1868, sanmamen noodles, Kiyoken's shumai, iekei ramen, and the doria, spaghetti Napolitan and pudding à la mode created at Hotel New Grand. Choose two or three of them for a day, not all of them.
How do I choose a restaurant in Yokohama Chinatown?
Chinatown has around 630 shops, including about 200 Chinese restaurants, so decide before you arrive. Book one sit-down restaurant for a proper meal, such as the long-established Manchinro, and treat street snacks as extras. Read the menu and the price rules posted outside before you sit down, especially at all-you-can-order restaurants.
What is sanmamen?
Sanmamen is Yokohama's local noodle soup: soy-based ramen topped with crisp stir-fried vegetables in a thickened, glossy sauce. Gyokusentei, open since 1918 near Isezakicho, is one of the shops credited with creating it, though other shops claim it too. You will find it at ordinary Chinese diners across Kanagawa.
Do I need reservations in Yokohama?
Book gyunabe at Ota Nawanoren, larger Chinatown restaurants for dinner and any brewery tour. Ramen shops, noodle diners and most Noge bars work on queues rather than bookings. Always confirm the current closing day: several places on this page close on Mondays or Tuesdays.
Is the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum worth visiting?
It is a good half-day if ramen is the point of the trip. A replica of a 1958 Tokyo street holds ramen shops from around Japan and abroad; adults pay a small entry fee, and each visitor aged junior-high or older must order at least one bowl. Shin-Yokohama is away from the harbor, so do not try to fit it into a Chinatown day.
Can I visit a brewery in Yokohama?
Yes. The Kirin Beer Yokohama Factory, close to Namamugi Station on the Keikyu line, runs guided tours of about 90 minutes with a tasting for adults. Reservations are required, the tour is conducted in Japanese, and the adult fee changes from ¥500 to ¥1,000 for tours from October 1, 2026. The factory is generally closed on Mondays, with holiday exceptions. Check the official reservation calendar before you plan around it.
Is Yokohama food suitable for vegetarians?
It is harder than it looks. Ramen, sanmamen and most Chinese soups use pork or chicken stock, and gyunabe and shumai are meat dishes. Some Chinatown restaurants offer vegetable dishes or vegetarian courses on request; explain restrictions precisely when you book, and do not assume a vegetable dish is made without meat stock.
How do I get from Haneda to Yokohama without a car?
Use the Keikyu line. From Anamori-inari, Yokohama Station is typically around 20–30 minutes by Keikyu, depending on the service; some trips require a change at Keikyu Kamata. Namamugi, Yokohama and Hinodecho are all on the Keikyu Main Line. For Chinatown and the waterfront, change at Yokohama to the Minatomirai Line. Always double-check the current timetable and operation status before departure.
Official planning links
- Yokohama official visitor guide — sights, neighborhoods and events
- Yokohama Chinatown official site — shop directory and events
- Manchinro — current menus, hours and reservations
- Hotel New Grand — the dishes created at the hotel
- Ota Nawanoren — gyunabe menu and history
- Kiyoken — shiumai, bento and shop locations
- Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum — admission and current shops
- Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama — admission, hours and tickets
- Kirin Beer Yokohama Factory — tours and reservations
- Keikyu official site — routes and timetables from Haneda
Related guides
Build the day around one good meal
Choose one meal you really want, keep one nearby backup, and let the rest of the neighborhood stay flexible. Yokohama works especially well this way because Chinatown, the historic port, Noge and the ramen stops each have enough around them to fill several hours without rushing.