Small Forest — Restaurant in Takayama

We came upon this absolute gem of a place on our trip to Takayama, and we are so so happy we did! This is a hole-in-the-wall, unassuming restaurant that serves delicious homemade Japanese comfort food. If you want authentic Japanese flavors, definitely stop by. I was truly shocked by how affordable every dish is — if you are on a budget, you simply have to try this. You cannot beat these prices.

We ordered the yakisoba, yakiudon, and karaage (Japanese fried chicken bites). Everything was so delicious!!! The owner personally prepares all dishes, and he was so kind and welcoming. We weren’t too hungry when we walked in so when we asked, he kindly prepared us our meal to-go, so that we could enjoy some there and take the rest to eat later. The noodles were so flavorful especially with the accompanying sauces, and the chicken was crispy and juicy. The whole thing came out to under $12 USD.

This is my new obsession and I’m sad I won’t always have this incredible little spot near me....

Worthy of standing ovation. Utterly remarkable soba & udon dishes in this tiny restaurant run by a single gentleman. Foods are affordable as well.

Hida soba (hot) is very delightful. The dashi soup is rich and delish, and the soba is surprisingly still firm and perfectly cooked!!! Chicken karaage (4 pcs), yaki udon, yaki soba, and Hida beef curry are really delicious as well.

I shall not describe how each of the dishes taste as that will take forever. I will just say all of them are really well made, and I will confuse myself on my next visit as to which one to order. Everything was proper and equally delightful.

English menu is not available, however the owner is friendly and speaks good English. 11/10...

Very conveniently located, only a very short walk from the station. This small restaurant is very unassuming and can easily be overlooked. The food menu was simple but included the basic japanese meals that we craved - at super affordable prices! The friendly and welcoming owner/chef even took the time to explain and translate the menu to us, such a great service! We tried the Yakisoba with fried-egg as an additional topping & the Udon noodle soup with tempura as an additional topping (served separately upon our request). Both meals were delicious - and I can't stress this too much - at really great prices. Perfect for travelers on...