Introducing the top 10 unmissable local gourmet dishes from the Iwate region.

Wanko Soba

Keep eating—and the bowls keep coming!

When it comes to soba in Iwate Prefecture, Wanko Soba is a local favorite. Bite-sized portions of soba are dipped in hot broth and served in the diner's bowl. Each time the bowl is emptied, a serve...

Morioka Reimen

Addictive chewy noodles with just the right amount of heat.

Morioka Reimen is a cold noodle dish that originated in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. Inspired by traditional Korean cold noodles, it was developed as a local specialty. In 1954, Teruhito Aoki, who op...

Ankake Udon

A beloved winter dish in Esashi, Oshu, Iwate—warming and comforting

Ankake udon, enjoyed in the Esashi area of Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, is a local dish that has been served as a special winter meal since the early Showa period (1926–1989). In the region’s cold ...

Morioka Jajamen

Morioka’s soul food: mix Jajamen to your taste, then finish with a comforting bowl of chitantan.

Jajamen, a local dish from Morioka City in Iwate Prefecture, is known as one of Morioka’s three great noodle dishes. After tasting zhajiangmian in former Manchuria before the war, Kansho Takashina ...

Tōno Jingisukan

The secret is in the special sauce—Tōno’s soul food, Tōno Jingisukan

Tōno Jingisukan, a specialty of Tōno City in Iwate Prefecture, is a local dish made with lamb and beloved by visitors and residents alike. Its story began in 1947, after the war, when Umekichi Abe ...

Maesawa Beef

A signature wagyu of Oshu, known for its beautiful marbling

Maesawa Beef is prized for its fine, high-quality marbling and exceptional texture. Its meat has a distinctive moist feel when cut. The cattle are raised on quality rice straw from Maesawa, hay gro...

Kitakami Croquette

A local favorite and a source of pride in Kitakami.

Kitakami Croquette is a local specialty beloved in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture. Its defining feature is the generous use of locally grown ingredients. The star is Futago taro, known for its sticky t...

Kaisendon

Iwate’s main catches include saury and bonito, and aquaculture is also thriving. Sea urchin, wakame seaweed, oysters, scallops, and sea squirt are among the region’s main seafood products. Seafood ...

Pīman Miso

A traditional Iwate condiment blending green peppers with rice koji

Pīman Miso, a regional specialty of Iwate Prefecture, is a versatile condiment that balances the mild bitterness of green peppers with the sweetness of rice koji. It is said to have emerged around ...

Goemon Ramen

A beloved hidden local specialty of Tono, Iwate

Goemon Ramen is a spicy hidden local specialty of Tono, beloved by the city’s residents. Despite its unusual name, it is served at various restaurants throughout Tono, and the flavor varies somewha...