Maguro Koya: Affordable Bluefin Tuna in Nara, Japan

The simple front of Maguro Koya in Nara, Japan

Maguro Koya is a small mom-and-pop shop serving affordable tuna dishes, tucked away down a side street near Kintetsu-Nara Station. Maguro, the Japanese word for tuna, is the specialty of the house and a delicacy in Japan.

Over the years, this hidden gem has attracted both locals and tourists, who come for its delicious tuna dishes at reasonable prices.

Though off-the-beaten-path for most tourists in Nara, the shop has recently gained popularity with international visitors. Offering English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese menus, Maguro Koya is welcoming to foreigners.

Due to its popularity and limited seating, there’s often a wait. But the wait is worth it at this family-run spot serving some of the best-quality tuna in Nara.

Note: As of 2024, there are reports that new owners have purchased Maguro Koya and have changed the décor and menu. Therefore, this review might be out of date.

Interior of Maguro Koya

Cozy interior of the restaurant, Maguro Koya, Nara, Japan — Cozy interior of the restaurant

After waiting for 30 minutes, I finally snagged a seat at the small counter, giving me a perfect view of the chef. With only a few tables and limited seating at the counter, I understood why there was a wait.

Since the dining room was so small, I would only recommend groups of up to four. There just wasn’t enough space for larger groups.

Because of its open layout and the bright lights hanging from the ceiling, the dining room, while tiny, felt bigger. Due to its small size, the room was loud, with the sounds of the kitchen and a radio playing in the background.

As for the décor, it was basic but somewhat charming and old school. I would describe it best as cozy and homey.

The restaurant could have used a deep cleaning in the kitchen, which was dirty and unkempt. For some, this might be a turn-off.

For me, this was to be expected at a hole-in-the-wall and added to the charm. On the other hand, the dining room was clean.

Maguro Koya reminded me more of visiting someone’s house than dining at a restaurant. These are the restaurant experiences I enjoy and usually remember the most.

Sitting at the Counter

As mentioned before, a friendly elderly couple ran Maguro Koya. They handled everything from preparing food to greeting guests to handling checks.

The gentleman was responsible for preparing tuna dishes, while the woman was responsible for all other tasks. She did it all, from greeting visitors, taking orders, ladling bowls of miso soup, filling up beers and tea, and washing dishes.

If you are visiting alone or with another person, try to get a seat at the counter. From here, you will get a front-row view of the kitchen and a chance to talk with the friendly chef who speaks English.

I enjoyed sitting at the counter and watching the operation unfold before me. It was chaotic but controlled. Unfortunately, with the restaurant so busy, I had limited interaction with the chef at the opposite side of the counter.

Finally, as they were so busy, the service was a bit slow. For me, it was part of the experience.

Maguro Koya Menu

The main menu of Maguro Koya, Nara, Japan — The main menu of Maguro Koya

I was pleasantly surprised by the menu options for such a small shop. There were three menus found at Maguro Koya, with tuna being the common theme. As mentioned, the shop offered English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese menus.

The main menu featured an assortment of affordable tuna dishes starting at 1000 yen (about $6.68) and going all the way up to 1700 yen (about $11.36).

Honmaguro Ootoro (Fatty Bluefin Tuna) menu, Maguro Koya, Nara, Japan — Honmaguro Ootoro (Fatty Bluefin Tuna) menu

The most popular menu was the Honmaguro Ootoro (High Quality Fatty Bluefin Tuna) menu. While these dishes were more expensive than those on the main menu, they were still affordable, especially for pricey bluefin tuna.

Bluefin tuna is the meatiest, fattiest, and most flavorful part of the fish. This highly recommended menu featured dishes ranging between 2200 yen (about $14.70) and 3000 yen (about $20.04).

There was also an a la carte menu with dishes ranging from 800 yen (about $5.34) to 1300 yen (about $8.68). One of the most popular items on this menu was the karaage. Traditionally made with chicken, this dish featured deep-fried tuna.

Just a reminder, Maguro Koya is cash only, so make sure you bring enough yen.

Besides food, you had a few drink options. These options included draft beer (Kirin), bottled beer (Asahi), Japanese sake, and shochu. Drinks ranged from 450 yen ($3.01) to 900 yen (about $6.01).

If beer or sake isn’t your thing, then good news. There was complimentary and refillable tea, perfect on a cold night.

Ootoro Tekkadon

While there were many excellent options on the menu at Maguro Koya, I settled on the Ootoro Tekkadon (2500 yen or about $16.70). The dish featured ootoro (bluefin tuna) sashimi slices topped with wasabi in a bowl of sushi rice. On the side were miso soup and pickles.

With how expensive bluefin tuna can be, I was surprised just how large the pieces of sashimi were. And even better, there was so much tuna that I could barely see the rice hidden below. For the price, I couldn’t complain.

I first noticed the vibrant pink color of each piece of bluefin tuna. It was beautiful. I was hoping it tasted as great as it looked, and it did.

Each piece of the bluefin tuna was meaty yet tender with a fresh, slightly salty flavor. The tuna just about melted in my mouth but still had some texture. I have had bluefin tuna before at conveyor belt restaurants in Japan, but never this quality.

There were no stringy bits, just a smooth and creamy texture. While you can find better quality tuna, the value was outstanding for the price.

Hidden below the tuna was a generous portion of warm, sticky sushi rice. While simple, this rice packed a lot of umami flavor. It was not only sweet but acidic, most likely from adding vinegar.

Mixed into the rice were slices of seaweed, which added a salty taste. The well-balanced combination of flavors elevated an otherwise simple staple of Japanese cuisine.

As for the pickles, they never showed. I don’t know if I was supposed to ask for them, but I never received them.

Miso Soup

In the corner of the kitchen was a large metal pot of miso broth simmering over an open flame. Every few minutes, the lady would walk over to the pot, grab a ladle, and pour the miso broth into a bowl. I knew then that the bowl of miso soup was homemade.

While simple, the clear yet milky miso broth packed a lot of delicious, fresh, umami flavors. The dashi added a salty and intense flavor which intensified as I made my way toward the bottom of the bowl.

Complementing these salty flavors were fresh, crunchy green onions and tender seaweed.

Not only was this miso soup delicious, but it was refreshing and warm on a cold Nara evening.

Service

After about half an hour, I finally got a seat at the bar. For the next ten minutes, I was not acknowledged by the staff or handed a menu.

The husband and wife duo were busy. I knew they were working as fast as possible, and I was in no rush. If you are in a hurry, you might feel differently.

After placing my order, I had no other issues with the service. And my order arrived quicker than expected.

While both workers spoke English, I had limited interaction with them since the chef sat on the opposite side of the bar. Next time, I plan to sit closer to the chef.

Conclusion

Maguro Koya is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a local, hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Nara that serves delicious and affordable food. And since it caters to locals and tourists, you’ll find a welcoming atmosphere.

Sure, the kitchen needed a deep cleaning, and you might have to wait in line. But for me, the experience was worth it.

While you can find higher quality tuna options in Nara, for the price, I would not hesitate to return to Maguro Koya again for their affordable bluefin tuna bowls.