Just a Two-Minute Walk from Kanazawa Station! Discover Ishikawa’s Flavors and Must-Try Restaurants at CROSS GATE KANAZAWA

It’s about a two-minute walk from the Kanazawa Port Gate (West Gate) of Kanazawa Station.
The location makes it easy to stop by before or after taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) or the airport express bus connecting Komatsu Airport and Kanazawa Station.
It’s handy for lunch between sightseeing stops or a quick visit before your next journey.

The complex brings together around 30 shops and eateries, from long-standing local favorites to businesses that drew attention when they opened their first locations in Ishikawa Prefecture.
You can sample a wide range of local flavors, including sushi, Noto beef, Noto pork, and Japanese-style sweets.

Whether you’re sitting down for a full meal, taking a break at a cafe, or browsing for souvenirs, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the complex.
You can tailor your visit to your travel style.

SUSHI-KUINEe! has its main restaurant in Ishikawa Prefecture.
This conveyor-belt sushi restaurant has long been a local favorite for fresh fish sourced directly from Kanazawa Port and fishing ports across Japan.

The branch at CROSS GATE KANAZAWA offers a larger selection of locally landed fish than the other branches, giving visitors more opportunities to savor Ishikawa’s flavors. Complementing the toppings is sushi rice shaped by hand, one piece at a time, by skilled chefs.
The rice is pressed gently to achieve just the right balance with the topping, showcasing the skill behind each piece of hand-pressed sushi.
A must-try is the Kirameki Five-Piece Sushi Assortment, available only at the Kanazawa Station branch.
It features five local seafood specialties: nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), yellowtail, crab leg, white shrimp, and bai whelk (a type of sea snail) kept alive until preparation.
An entire wall of glass gives the dining room an open, airy feel.
With counter seats and tables for two or eight, it’s a welcoming choice for solo travelers, families, and groups.
A large team of sushi chefs works in the kitchen, so orders also arrive surprisingly quickly.
The bounty of Kanazawa Port comes straight to each piece of sushi in front of you. Taste the difference that freshness makes.

Wagyu-Steak Kappo Daisuke welcomes you into a contemporary Japanese interior accented in red.
Here, you can savor wagyu beef carefully grilled over charcoal in a relaxed setting.

After working with a wide range of meats, including chicken and pork, the chef settled on a style combining wagyu steak with kappo (Japanese fine dining). The wagyu is aged until it is at its best, then cooked to your preferred doneness.
The Noto Beef Premium Steak Kappo Course is a must-try.
From Noto beef tenderloin steak to a platter of house-made roast beef and lightly blanched wagyu carpaccio, the course lets you explore wagyu’s varied textures and flavors.
The use of locally grown vegetables from Kanazawa in the appetizers reflects a commitment to regional ingredients.
The chef has also qualified as a sommelier, driven by a desire to help guests enjoy the meat at its best.
Settle in for an indulgent meal with wines carefully selected to complement the dishes.

Tonkatsu Hakusan is an upscale offshoot of a tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) restaurant that has been a local favorite for more than 30 years. On this visit, we tried the Noto Pork Loin Cutlet Set. Tonkatsu often brings to mind a hearty, substantial dish. But one bite overturned that expectation.
The coarse panko breadcrumbs were surprisingly light.
Beneath the crisp coating was the delicate, savory flavor of Noto pork. The pork comes from a designated farm, where the pigs are raised with plenty of room and given feed produced in Noto.
The cutlets retain a little extra fat so you can fully appreciate the pork’s flavor.
Start simply, with a little salt. It brings out the meat’s fine texture and the sweetness of the fat, which is light on the palate.
Fragrant truffle salt adds another layer of flavor.
The same attention to detail extends to every part of the set, from rice made entirely with Koshihikari grown in Ishikawa Prefecture to miso soup made with carefully prepared dashi (Japanese soup stock).
This meal reveals a new side of tonkatsu while letting you savor the depth of Noto pork’s flavor.

Notomeguri serves fresh seafood from Noto alongside local sake.
Its relaxed interior, with counter seats and booths, is an inviting place to enjoy the flavors of Noto at your own pace.

A recommended choice is the Noto Three-Piece Sushi Assortment.
The selection changes with the availability of that day’s catch from Noto, with two or all three pieces featuring seafood from the region.
Each visit brings the chance to discover different seasonal flavors.
Pair your sushi with a choice from the extensive selection of sake from Ishikawa Prefecture.
You can compare different labels that complement Noto’s seafood beautifully.
The soy sauce dishes are Kutani ware (traditional Japanese porcelain), a thoughtful touch that reflects Ishikawa’s craft traditions.
Even gari (pickled ginger), usually a supporting accompaniment, receives special attention at Notomeguri.
The restaurant’s Kombu Gari (pickled ginger infused with kombu kelp) offers a distinctive twist. Curing the ginger with the kelp gives it a savory depth that also makes it a popular snack to enjoy with drinks.
It is also sold at the restaurant, so you can take some home as a souvenir.

Founded in Kyoto, Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu specializes in gyukatsu (breaded beef cutlets).
It is popular for cutlets fried to a medium-rare finish.

At the CROSS GATE KANAZAWA branch, don’t miss the Premium Noto Beef Sirloin Cutlet Set, available only at this location.
Noto beef, Ishikawa Prefecture’s prized local brand, has fine marbling and a refined, savory flavor with a light finish.
With only five servings available each day, this is a special dish worth seeking out.
The thin, light coating is made with Katsugyu’s original combination of panko breadcrumbs, dredging flour, and egg.
A quick fry in hot oil for about a minute gives it a crisp exterior while bringing out the juicy flavor of the medium-rare beef.
Another highlight is the wide choice of condiments and seasonings.
Six options, including sansho pepper salt (salt blended with Japanese pepper) and a Japanese-style curry dipping sauce, let you enjoy a different flavor with every slice.
Find your favorite combinations and savor every bite.

Step inside wine bar vin amour, drawn by its soft lighting, and the pace seems to slow.
Thoughtful details are evident throughout, and the solid wood counter makes time spent here feel special.
A private room with comfortable sofa seating offers another place to unwind.

Drop in for a glass of wine, or try a tasting flight to compare small pours.
On this visit, we tasted QUANESSE from NOTO WINE, one of Ishikawa Prefecture’s oldest wineries.
Made with grapes grown in the winery’s own vineyards, it has a mellow flavor with the rustic character of wild grapes.
Food is also available to enjoy with your wine.
Whether you’re taking an afternoon break or stopping by before or after sightseeing in Kanazawa, a glass paired with a house-made canelé pastry is a lovely way to spend some time.

SHOGUN BURGER is a wagyu burger specialist created by a yakiniku (Japanese barbecue) restaurant determined to make outstanding burgers.
It began in Toyama Prefecture, next to Ishikawa, and has since expanded across Japan.
Only YAKISHI (the brand’s certified grill specialists) who have passed a skills test are allowed to grill the patties made from high-quality Japanese Black wagyu.
The patties’ hearty, meaty texture and abundant juices have won over many burger fans.
At SHOGUN BURGER KANAZAWA CROSSGATE, the branch-exclusive Hanton Burger is a must-try.
Local staff created it with inspiration from Hanton rice, a beloved Kanazawa rice dish.
This generously stacked burger combines fried white fish, scrambled egg, tartar sauce, ketchup, and a 130 g patty.
Despite its impressive size, the fillings and the bun come together in a well-balanced bite.
Open wide and dig in.

Café MURAKAMI is a Japanese-style cafe run by a traditional confectioner with more than 100 years of history.
It offers a relaxed setting for traditional Japanese sweets, along with desserts and drinks made with Japanese ingredients.

The wide selection includes sweets made with freshly prepared shiratama (glutinous rice dumplings), generously sized parfaits blending Japanese and Western flavors, and dorayaki (Japanese pancake sandwiches) filled with ingredients such as sweet bean paste and whipped cream.
There are also original matcha (powdered green tea) drinks, making it easy to stop by for just a drink.
It’s a lovely place to pause during your travels and enjoy sweets with a distinctly Kanazawa character.