Food Journalist’s Top Gourmet Destinations: Kamakura & Enoshima Edition

Hello! I’m Hantsu Endo, a food journalist.

Due to my job, I visit various parts of Japan every year. Over the past twenty-plus years, I’ve visited over 10,000 eateries. In recent times, great restaurants are everywhere, and often when traveling or on business, it’s hard to know where to go. That’s a common sentiment I hear.

This time, for the 10th edition of Hantsu Endo’s Serious Gourmet across Japan, we are in Kanagawa Prefecture’s Kamakura & Enoshima!

Pacific DRIVE-IN（パシフィック ドライブイン）

Managed by TRANSIT GENERAL OFFICE, this drive-in cafe, with a concept of Hawaiian plate lunch, is famous for bringing the relaxed atmosphere of Hawaii’s drive-ins to Shichirigahama. The Garlic Shrimp Plate, a specialty from Kahuku, Hawaii, features shrimp with a rich yet refreshing garlic soy taste, and the chili made from beans and vegetables serves as a great side. Enjoying lemonade while admiring the sea is a blissful experience.

Address: 2-1-12 Higashi Shichirigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone: 0467-32-9777

bills Shichirigahama (ビルズ しちりがはま)

bills, the first Japanese outlet of the brand from Sydney, features a “beach-house dining room” concept. Enjoy relaxed dining and views of the sea and sky in two distinct spaces. Try the “Full Aussie Breakfast.” Described by The New York Times as “the world’s best egg dish,” it includes organic scrambled eggs, bacon, roast tomato, fennel sausage, mushroom, and toast. Don’t miss the traditional Australian sweet, Pavlova.

Address: 1-1-1 WEEKEND HOUSE ALLEY 2F, Shichirigahama, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone: 0467-39-2244

Caraway

A retro standalone house near Komachi Street in Kamakura. Established in 1977, this curry specialty restaurant offers beef, chicken, and pork (and also hayashi rice), but for me, the beef is the first choice. Based on chicken broth, the curry sauce composed of flour, lard, and 14 types of spices is a rich blend of sweetness, saltiness, sourness, and umami, packed with flavors and textures. Enjoy with a generous serving of rice and a fresh salad.

Address: 2-12-20 Komachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone: 0467-25-0927

Enoshima Yagura (江ノ島小屋)

With a cozy, hideaway atmosphere, this place is designed after a fisherman’s hut. Committed to quality ingredients through connections with producers, the top recommendation is the “Makunouchi Bowl,” featuring various kinds of fresh fish tataki (minced with miso) topped with a secret sesame sauce. Covered with a sheet of nori, it also offers a fun visual element. Also, try the “Fisherman’s Soup Set,” inspired by the rich seafood broth “Soup de Poisson” commonly found in southern France bistro menus.

Address: 2-20-12 Katasekaigan, Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Enoshima Yagura 1F
Phone: 0466-29-5875

Shirasu Wholesaler Tobiccho

Located on the main street of Enoshima, this place is famous for its shirasu (young sardine) dishes. The specialty is “Shirasu Kakiage,” made from shirasu sourced from Yui-ga-hama and others, boiled without additives and with a low salt concentration, offering a crispy texture and savory flavor. The “Kama-age Shirasu Don” with soft and flavorful boiled shirasu on hot rice, further enriched with egg yolk and ponzu, is also a must-try. Another recommendation is the bowl topped with boiled shirasu, negitoro (minced tuna with green onion), and ikura (salmon roe).

Address: 1-6-7 Enoshima, Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone: 0466-23-0041

■Profile
Hantsu Endo
Born in Tokyo in 1966, graduated from Waseda University. After leaving a job in a real estate company, became a writer for an overseas travel magazine, then a food journalist & grade-C hotel critic. Has visited over 10,000 restaurants for work. Regular columns in “Shukan Taishu” and “Toyo Keizai Online” among others. Author of 27 books, including “The Unapproachable Delicious Ramen Shops” (Kosaido Publishing).