Best Restaurants in Beppu: Where to Eat in Japan's Onsen Capital

Beppu’s culinary identity runs parallel to its geothermal identity. The same volcanic heat that produces eight distinct varieties of hot spring also steam-cooks local produce at the Kannawa jigokumushi workshop. The surrounding Oita Prefecture supplies Japan’s most celebrated chicken (Oita jidori), a distinctive chicken tempura style called toriten, and Bungo beef — a wagyu variety raised in the Oita valley. Here is where to eat well across price ranges.

Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa

The most distinctive eating experience in Beppu is not a restaurant but a DIY geothermal cooking facility. The Jigokumushi workshop in the Kannawa district (open 10:00am–8:00pm, closed Wednesdays) provides wooden baskets, tools, and access to natural steam vents. You select raw ingredients from the market-style counter — sweet potato, corn, eggs, chicken, seafood — place them in the provided steam box over the volcanic vent, set a timer, and collect cooked food 10–20 minutes later.

Prices per item are approximately ¥100–¥500 as of 2026. Corn takes 12 minutes; sweet potato 45 minutes; eggs 10 minutes; shellfish 15–20 minutes. The natural steam produces food that is moister and more intensely flavoured than conventional steaming, with the mineral notes of the water adding subtle character. A meal for two costs approximately ¥1,500–¥2,500 depending on what you choose. Lines can be long on weekends.

Toyotake — Toriten and Oita Chicken

The definitive spot in central Beppu for toriten — Oita’s chicken tempura specialty. Toyotake near the station serves the dish as it is meant to be eaten: crisp light batter, juicy thigh meat, a sharp ponzu dipping sauce on the side. A toriten set (four pieces, rice, miso soup, pickles) costs approximately ¥1,100 as of 2026. The restaurant also serves cold tofu, grilled chicken skewers (Oita jidori), and a chicken hot pot in season. Open for lunch and dinner; no reservation required for lunch.

Mugen

A well-regarded izakaya in the Kitahama area that focuses on Oita Prefecture seafood and local chicken. The sashimi platter features fish from the nearby Seto Inland Sea — often amberjack (hamachi), sea bream (tai), and various shellfish — presented with Oita’s citrus ponzu rather than the standard wasabi-soy combination. A fish sashimi platter for two costs approximately ¥2,800–¥3,500 as of 2026. The grilled chicken skewers with local yuzu kosho (citrus pepper paste) are a strong order alongside drinks.

Rogama

For Bungo beef (Oita’s wagyu variant), Rogama is one of the better options in central Beppu. The lunch set (two slices of wagyu yakiniku, rice, soup, pickles) costs approximately ¥2,800 as of 2026 — the most accessible price point for the local beef. The dinner omakase, featuring multiple cuts grilled over a charcoal fire in the counter kitchen, runs approximately ¥10,000–¥15,000 per person. Reservations required for the omakase.

Suginoi Hotel Dining

The large Suginoi Hotel on the hillside above the city has several restaurants covering the main categories — a kaiseki room focusing on Oita produce, a casual buffet featuring toriten and local vegetables, and a rooftop bar. The kaiseki dinner (approximately ¥8,000–¥12,000) is among the more polished options in town. The buffet lunch (approximately ¥2,200) is a good value option for families or groups who want to try multiple local dishes. Access by taxi from the station (approximately ¥700) or the hotel shuttle bus.

Frog (Kaeru)

A popular casual restaurant near the central shopping arcade specialising in Oita home cooking — toriten, grilled chicken, kakuni (braised pork belly), and seasonal vegetables. The lunch sets run approximately ¥900–¥1,300 as of 2026. In the evening, it operates as an izakaya with a strong selection of Oita craft beer and local shochu. The atmosphere is relaxed and the space fills quickly with local workers at lunchtime.

Onsen Tamago Street Stalls (Kannawa)

Throughout the Kannawa hot spring district, small stalls and roadside vendors sell onsen tamago (hot spring eggs) cooked in the geothermal water at approximately ¥50–¥80 per egg. The eggs come in the shell, slightly runny at the yolk, with a sachet of tsuyu for seasoning. These are the cheapest and most authentically local snack in Beppu and can be combined with a walk between the jigoku (hell) hot spring viewpoints.

Sanraku

A traditional kappo (counter omakase) restaurant in central Beppu where the menu changes with the season and the chef prepares courses at the counter. The seven-course kaiseki menu costs approximately ¥9,000 as of 2026 and draws heavily on Oita seafood and mountain vegetables. The yuzu-marinated mackerel and the dashi-soaked seasonal tofu are consistent highlights. Reservations required; the restaurant has limited English.

Budget Options

Beppu’s covered Ekimae Kochi shopping arcade near the station has multiple casual restaurants serving set lunches for ¥750–¥1,100 including a drink. Convenience stores here stock Oita-brand yuzu juice and toriten bento. A toriten bento from a good supermarket costs approximately ¥600–¥800. For onsen-town atmosphere at low cost, eat at a stall in Kannawa and follow with a visit to one of the public bathhouses (from approximately ¥100–¥250 entry as of 2026).

See Beppu through its food: Food and cultural tours in Beppu often include market visits, tastings, and dishes you’d never find independently.

Getting Around

Beppu’s main restaurant areas are clustered near the station, in the Kitahama waterfront area, and in the Kannawa onsen district approximately 15 minutes by bus from the station (bus routes 16, 24, 26). For full coverage of the hot spring attractions, see the things to do in Beppu guide. For accommodation in the onsen zone or near the station, see where to stay in Beppu.

See also: Beppu travel guide · Food to try in Beppu · Day trips from Beppu · Kyushu region guide · Onsen guide Japan