NICON
Italian, Innovative · Naka, Hiroshima
Restaurant in Hiroshima, Japan
The Read
Setouchi-Inflected Italian Counter
Price
JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
NICON is worth booking for a serious Hiroshima dinner if Italian-innovative cooking and seasonal progression are the point. The JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 price tier makes it a planned-meal choice, but Tabelog Bronze #313 in 2026 and Tabelog 100 #60 in 2025 give it a credible value case for food-focused travelers.
About NICON
Is NICON in Hiroshima worth considering? Yes, if the goal is an Italian and innovative meal in Hiroshima rather than a casual local stop. Its confirmed recognition includes Tabelog Bronze #313 in 2026 with 4.1pts and Tabelog 100 #60 in 2025 with 4.1pts, which gives it a clear signal for diners considering a more serious booking.
The verified details are intentionally narrow: NICON is in Hiroshima, serves Italian and innovative cuisine, sits in the JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 price range, lists smart casual dress. Beyond that, specific address details, menu format, seating, chef information, drinks, service style should be checked directly with the restaurant before planning around them.
Book for Italian and innovative cooking, not a checklist dish
The strongest reason to choose this restaurant is the combination of Italian and innovative cooking at a serious Hiroshima price tier. That makes it a better fit for diners who want a more considered restaurant choice than for anyone simply looking for an everyday meal. The awards profile also helps: Tabelog Bronze #313 in 2026 and a Tabelog 100 #60 ranking in 2025 both point to a restaurant with clear recognition.
Value depends on expectations. At JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999, the meal needs to be judged against other planned restaurant meals, not against everyday Hiroshima eating. For a lower-commitment meal, use our full Hiroshima restaurants guide and save this for when NICON's Italian and innovative category is the point.
Who should choose it over a cheaper Hiroshima meal
Choose this for a higher-spend Hiroshima meal, a food-focused occasion, or a traveler who wants Italian and innovative cooking in the city. Skip it if the priority is a fast, low-spend meal or if you need detailed public information on format, seating, dietary handling, or specific dishes before committing. The safest planning approach is to treat NICON as a higher-spend Hiroshima restaurant and confirm practical details directly before booking.
If the plan is a deeper dining comparison, consider NICON alongside options such as Soraya, Soshi, Teppanyaki Yamaoka, タムスープ, and 中土, or compare it with other dining rooms more generally for a broader view. Keep the comparison focused on what is verified for NICON: Italian and innovative cuisine, JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999 pricing, smart casual dress, its confirmed Tabelog recognition.
Quick reference: pick this for a higher-spend Hiroshima meal centered on Italian and innovative cooking, with confirmed Tabelog Bronze #313 in 2026 and Tabelog 100 #60 in 2025.
The take
The Take
The Vibe
NICON feels like a deliberate hideout: a hushed, tightly focused six-seat counter set on the third floor above Hatchobori’s main artery. The room’s lack of street-level visibility and synchronized seating create an experience that’s concentrated and intimate rather than bustling. The small scale and counter-only layout put the kitchen and its technique front and center, encouraging quiet attention and conversation that stays close to the table. The overall effect is a discreet, cozy environment where the food—the regional Setouchi seafood interpreted through Italian technique—becomes the evening’s chief presence.
Best For
This is a destination for diners seeking a concentrated tasting experience rather than a casual dinner out. The single seating at 18:30 and the six-seat counter suit couples celebrating a special night, food-focused date nights, and serious seafood enthusiasts who want close interaction with the service rhythm and the kitchen’s pacing. It’s not set up for large groups or walk-ins; instead, it rewards guests who value composure, attentiveness, and a quietly intense meal that highlights local Setouchi shellfish and fish prepared with Italian technique.
Ordering Tips
Plan around the restaurant’s structure: there is a single seating time (18:30) and only six counter seats, so availability is extremely limited. Expect a set, synchronized service where everyone begins and moves through the meal together. The kitchen is described as “particular about fish,” so anticipate a seafood-forward Italian tasting menu that reflects proximity to the Seto Inland Sea. Reserve in advance, arrive on time, and be prepared to embrace the fixed, counter-centered format; note any dietary restrictions when booking since the service is tightly choreographed.
Planning details
Location
3階, 12-5 Hatchobori, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, 730-0013, Japan · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
For a lower-spend alternative, choose Soraya; the price tier is much easier to justify for a casual plan. For a special-occasion meal with a more familiar format and lower spend, Teppanyaki Yamaoka is the cleaner cross-shop.
Restaurant context
How NICON compares in Hiroshima
Against Soraya, NICON is the splurge choice: Soraya sits at JPY 2,000 to JPY 2,999, so it is the easier value pick for a casual meal, while NICON is better for diners who want a more composed Italian-innovative experience and are comfortable paying JPY 15,000 to JPY 19,999. For a trip with only one higher-spend dinner, NICON makes the stronger special-occasion case; for a relaxed low-cost meal, Soraya is the safer move.
Teppanyaki Yamaoka is the middle-price alternative at JPY 8,000 to JPY 9,999, it is the better fit when the group wants a more familiar special-occasion format. NICON is more compelling for diners looking for seasonal Italian-innovative cooking rather than the theater of teppanyaki. If booking effort matters, the assigned booking difficulty here is easy, which makes NICON less stressful than its awards profile might suggest.
Use 中土, タムスープ, and Soshi as comparison checks when deciding whether the night should be formal, casual, or exploratory. NICON is the clearer pick for a food-focused traveler who wants recognition-backed dining in Hatchobori; the others make more sense when price, group flexibility, or a less structured evening matter more.
Explore Hiroshima
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full NICON guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare NICON
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NICON | Hiroshima | Italian, Innovative | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #313Tabelog 100 - Italian - WEST - 2025 · #60 | JPY 15,000 - JPY 19,999 |
| 中土 | Hiroshima | No published awards | , | , |
| Soraya | Hiroshima | No published awards | , | JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 View spending breakdown |
| Teppanyaki Yamaoka | Hiroshima | No published awards | , | JPY 8,000 - JPY 9,999 |
| タムスープ | Hiroshima | No published awards | , | , |
| Soshi | Hiroshima | 2026 Tabelog Bronze · #419Tabelog 100 - Sushi - WEST - 2025 · #122025 Tabelog Bronze | , | , |
How NICON Hiroshima compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NICON handle dietary restrictions?
Check directly before you go, because dietary-restriction details are not verified here. The confirmed information is that NICON is in Hiroshima, serves Italian and innovative cuisine, is priced at JPY 15,000–19,999, lists smart casual dress. Check the venue's official channels for the latest details.
Is NICON good for a special occasion?
Yes, it is a sensible option to consider for a special meal in Hiroshima if you want Italian and innovative cooking in the JPY 15,000–19,999 range. The Tabelog Bronze #313 (2026) and Tabelog 100 #60 (2025) signals help justify considering it over an ordinary meal out. Teppanyaki Yamaoka is another option to compare when planning a different style of meal.
What should I order at NICON?
Specific dishes and menu format are not verified here. The grounded reason to book is NICON's Italian and innovative cuisine at JPY 15,000–19,999 in Hiroshima. If you want to compare it with another option before deciding, Soshi is a useful reference point. Check the venue's official channels for the latest details.
Can NICON accommodate groups?
Group accommodation details are not verified here, so do not assume large-party flexibility without checking directly. The confirmed details are the Hiroshima location, Italian and innovative cuisine, JPY 15,000–19,999 pricing, smart casual dress. For comparison while planning, 中土 or Soraya may be worth considering as other options.
What are alternatives to NICON?
For dining comparisons, consider 中土, Teppanyaki Yamaoka, Soraya, タムスープ, and Soshi. The most important confirmed distinctions for NICON are its Italian and innovative cuisine, JPY 15,000–19,999 price range, smart casual dress code, confirmed Tabelog Bronze #313 (2026) and Tabelog 100 #60 (2025) recognition.
Is the menu worth it at NICON?
It is worth considering if you are comfortable with JPY 15,000–19,999 and want Italian and innovative cooking in Hiroshima. Specific menu format and dishes are not verified here, so confirm current details directly before booking. Soraya is another option to compare if you are still deciding.
Is NICON worth the price?
It is worth considering at this price if you want a more serious Hiroshima meal centered on Italian and innovative cooking. The combination of JPY 15,000–19,999 pricing and two confirmed Tabelog signals gives it enough credibility to justify a closer look. For the same planning conversation, 中土 and タムスープ are other options to compare.
