Nino

Great food and cozy atmosphere. It's a fairly small place. We tried three pasta dishes - Ninosse, Fungi and Carbonara. The first dish was a special appetizer he just created and not on the menu. All were decadent. We also had their specialty homemade soda drinks with made with a Japanese citrus fruit and one with ginger. The special parting gift mentioned in other reviews, complimentary dessert, and amazing conversation even with the help of a translator device put a cap on memorable experience. The chef mentioned they are moving to be a bigger place soon so he said to make sure to follow them on Instagram to find the new location. You won't be disappointed!

Came here for lunch and it was a 10/10 experience. Restaurant is ran by a lovely couple with exceptional service. They are very sincere and highly welcoming of tourists to their restaurant! Food and drinks were excellent too. Highly recommend for anyone who is at nara!

At Nino, you won't just enjoy amazing pasta (I tried the Carbonara fusion, a delightful blend of Italian and Japanese flavors, while my girlfriend opted for the Arrabiata). You'll also experience great human warmth from Nino and Mayu Mi.

We came here for dinner in Nara, and the service was beyond excellent. It’s a homey Italian-style restaurant with Japanese owners who introduced themselves and sincerely wanted to learn our names and our backgrounds. The dish I ordered, small sized tomato and mozzarella pasta, was a perfect blend of savoury and sweet. But don’t be deterred by the size - the portion size is generous and the dish is quite filling!

The owners truly care about your experience and look after tourists well by utilizing translation tools where there was a language barrier.

Definitely the best dining experience we had so far on our Japan trip. The food was unbelievable and the hospitality from Nino and Mayumi was exceptional. They truly deserve the title of best restaurant in Nara.

Coming and having a meal at Nino was the highlight of our 10 day long trip all over Japan.

The service, hospitality, and food were beyond amazing.

Nino and Mayumi are so genuine and kind.

If you get a chance to go to Nino, you must take it! You will not regret it!

We had the margarita pizza and the Americana pizza and they were both delicious! Their dessert is so delicious as well!

Chef Nino is a great chef. Good skill and his service is supper. The Niro signature pizza and pasta must order dishes. Especially the pasta, love it. The best I have ever tasted. The food is individually prepared and cooked, so must be patient to wait for your orders to be served. Chef Niro also gave us some surprise gifts. Thank you

A must for anyone visiting Nara. The teams hospitality is top class, the food was amazing and better than most we’ve eaten in Italy.

A great experience with lovely hosts, even a few free gifts and desert.

For an unforgettable experience visit this place!

Nino and Mayumi are the kindest people! The whole dining experience was heavenly. Everything we ordered tasted like we were actually in Italy. The chef and server were kind and helpful with the history of the area. You just need to make sure you get a reservation and be prepared for a real Italian dinner (each course delivered one at a time). Enjoy!

Nino and her wife were by far the most welcoming and friendly hosts we have met during our four week trip to Japan.
Their restaurant is located right next to the entrance to the station. The interior is very cozy and charming, full of details showing their commitment to the restaurant. Food was very tasty and filling. We already miss you!

Just finished eating our supper here with my girlfriend, our meal here tonight was the most memorable out of all our meals so far here in Japan. It was very delicious (I got the original Nisshino and my girlfriend got the Spicy Penne) and afforable, Mayumie and Nino were so very caring and kind! It is no surprise why this place is rated #1 in all of Nara. I highly highly recommend this place to all our family and friends and to whomever is reading this currently. I do not write much if any at all reviews at places I eat but Nino is an exception, they truly deserve it. If you are reading this right now and you are hungry in Nara and if they are open, please try your best to give them a visit!!! I will never forget this experience…

Best restaurant I have ever been to.
First of all, Nino and Mayumi did everything to make our experience as best as they can. We were surprised to see how nice and caring these two people were. I ordered a Pizza, which was the best Pizza I ever eaten. The dough was amazing, and the vegetables and the cheese was super good. This place has definitely made my experience here in Nara so much better. And I’ll definitely come back.

The owners are some of the kindest people you’ll meet! We had pizzas and pasta and all were delicious. Great vibe and great food, it’s a must visit in Nara for sure!

By far the best experience we've had during our 28 days in Japan. Nino is such a nice and illuminated person that it's even hard to find words to explain the experience of having a meal at his counter. Besides the experience, the food is also delicious and very affordable. Be aware that the lunch time is short (11h30 - 1h30pm) and it might be a good idea to reserve a place at the counter. Couldn't recommend more.

Where to start? Finding Nino has been one the most lovely casualties of my life. If you wonder why, of course, the food was scrumptious without a doubt, but what will remain in your heart are the lovely owners, Nino and Mayumi. They both make sure to go far and beyond with their service and hospitality. I’ll never forget them, and already wish to come back soon and tell everyone to visit Nino at Nara, Japan ❤💕🙌

Nino & Mayumi are such a wonderful hosts. Here the food is amazing and homemade, but the best thing about the restaurant is the experience. They really enjoy talking to their guests, gave us our names written in Kanji and even printed a selfie of us.
They are the best definition of nice Japanese people and hard workers. Always with a smile. Cannot recommend this place more.

First, we were quite unsure about visiting an Italian restaurant during our trip to Japan - but we sure are very glad we did! Not only the food was great - the atmosphere was amazing and we loved how very welcoming you are. We think every single person leaving your restaurant goes with a very big smile on their face. Please stay like this! Thank you for everything :-)

Nino is an amazing Chef … better pasta dishes than I tasted in Italy. Today was our wedding anniversary and it was the best place to spend it. After Nino introduced himself to us, we had the best service. At the end, they gave us cards with our names written in Japanese calligraphy… made our anniversary unforgettable. Thank you Nino and Miame

The owner, Nino, is a very welcoming and outgoing man. He was very warm and spoke English to us whenever he could. The staff are also very kind and welcoming! The food was great. We tried the Fungi spaghetti and margherita pizza and it was amazing! They were also kind enough to provide a free dessert (I loved the hazelnut ice cream and panna cotta). Before we left, Nino gave us a customized Japanese name on a sign and a lucky five yen coin. It was a really sweet and warming gesture! Truly a great place to go while you're in Nara! It would be a shame to miss this place during your visit!

Thank you for a wonderful experience! Nino and his wife showed spectacular hospitality and were so kind and welcoming. The carbonara was delicious and the quality of everything I ate was top tier. I felt like I was in Italy! They were very helpful in accommodating my gluten allergy. Thank you!! 💛