Here, I’ve compiled 25 unique gifts for all types of dads at a variety of price points. Ranging from my favorite espresso machine to this super handy rice cooker, there’s something for every person on this list! To narrow down my picks, I started by thinking of gifts my own husband and father might appreciate and that reviewers seem to love! Ahead, check out the 25 best Father’s Day gifts to give to the special dads in your life this year!
1. For the Dad Who Wants to Upgrade Their Knife Skills: Nagomi Japan Santoku Knife
An essential workhorse of the Japanese home kitchen, the Santoku (三徳包丁, or ‘three virtues’ knife) is an excellent all-purpose kitchen knife. (If you’d like to dive deeper into the category, check out my round-up of the best Santoku knives!) However, if you’re simply looking for the best of the best for dad, look no further than this 7-inch option from NAGOMI. Over the past 10 years, this model has become an absolute essential in my kitchen. I love its stunning pakkawood handle and a super sharp blade that makes cutting all sorts of food (including challenging dishes like sashimi) easy and efficient.
2. For the Dad Who Makes Everything From Scratch: Mino Ware Suribachi and Surikogi
If the dad in your life enjoys homemade sauces as much as my husband does, a good Suribachi and Surikogi (mortar and pestle) to crush aromatics like garlic and ginger is a must-have. This one takes on a traditional, rustic Japanese style that can fit beautifully on any kitchen or dining table. The grooves built into its interior help with grinding, allowing Dad to choose just how finely he’d like his ingredients.
3. For the Rice Lover: Zojirushi Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer
In my family, as in most Japanese households, rice is the constant companion to all sorts of meals. This means that few kitchen tools are more important than a reliable rice cooker! If your dad agrees, he’s sure to love this model from Japan, which uses induction, pressure, and artificial intelligence to cook perfect rice every time. It’s my favorite rice cooker, and it features a number of cook settings from brown rice to sushi rice and even quick cook for those in a hurry.
4. For the Outdoorsy Dad: Iwatani Cassette Grill Slim II
For the dad who loves camping or hiking, this portable gas grill from Iwatani may be just the gift he’s hoping for. In my experience with Iwatani gas grills, they tend to be reliable and put out steady, high levels of heat that make cooking over them a pleasure. Plus, thanks to the included electric starter, there’s no need to carry a separate lighter to his next outdoor meal!
5. For the Stew-Loving Dad: Ginpo Touki Donabe
In Japan, particularly during the colder months, there’s no dish quite so satisfying as nabemono (鍋物), or hot pot, stewed in an earthenware pot known as a donabe (土鍋). If that sounds like heaven to a dad on your shopping list, he’s sure to appreciate the gift of a donabe. The high-quality ceramic construction of this model excels at evenly distributing and retaining heat, meaning his hot pot or stew will stay warm long after it is taken off the stove. You can also check out my roundup of the best electric hot pots, too, if he wants something electric.
6. For the Dad Still Using His Old Cutting Board: Shun Hinoki Cypress Cutting Board
Every cook needs a cutting board, and if your dad’s has seen better days, he’s sure to appreciate an upgrade to this Hinoki cypress model. Native to Japan, the Hinoki cypress is a classic choice for constructing top-of-the-line cutting boards due to its natural antimicrobial properties, fresh scent, and the fact it doesn’t need to be oiled. Best of all, the fact that Hinoki wood is relatively soft means it won’t dull knives nearly as quickly as other typical cutting board materials.
7. For the Matcha Connoisseur: Ippodo Tea Sayaka Matcha
Matcha, made from Japanese tea leaves, offers a rich mouthfeel and a bitter flavor that is unique in the world of tea. Whether your dad is new to this tea category or a seasoned matcha connoisseur, this complex yet smooth Sayaka matcha is sure to impress. It goes great with hot water (the traditional Japanese preparation) or in a creamy matcha latte.
8. For the Hot Beverage Enthusiast: Zojirushi Hybrid Water Boiler & Warmer
My husband drinks a lot of tea — several cups worth per day — which means he goes through a lot of hot water. If that sounds like someone on your Father’s Day shopping list, he’ll love the convenience offered by this water boiler and warmer from Zojirushi. With an impressive 4 liter capacity, he’ll likely be able to go for days between refills, since his hot water stays at one of the warmer’s four preset temperatures (which includes 175 degrees F — perfect for matcha!). My family loves how convenient it is to use.
9. For the Home Barista: Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine
There’s no better way to start the day than with an espresso drink freshly brewed by a friendly barista. While the Oracle Touch by Breville may not offer the conversation that his local barista does, it can make espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos just as well in the comfort of his own kitchen. And with its simple touchscreen operation, it’s just as convenient! If Dad loves espresso drinks like lattes and cappuccinos, this machine would make a great splurge gift. Check out my full review here on the machine with my pros and cons.
10. For the Dad Who Packs His Lunch: Zojirushi Mr. Bento Stainless Lunch Jar
For the dad who misses warm home cooked meals while at work (or who is just trying to avoid overpriced sandwiches at the office), the Mr. Bento Stainless Lunch Jar could make a useful and affordable gift. With four inner bowls that stack inside a vacuum-insulated case, this bento box can keep multiple dishes warm (or cold) for hours on end. It even comes with its own spork and convenient carrying case!
11. For the Dad On-the-Go:
If the father you’re shopping for loves to take coffee or other beverages on the road, this insulated mug from YETI is a great way to let him know you’re thinking of him this Father’s Day. Not only does its double-wall vacuum insulation keep beverages cold or hot for hours, but when he’s done with his drink, he can simply throw it in the dishwasher.
12. For the Grill Master: Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
For barbecue fans, there are few things more satisfying than biting into perfectly tender beef or pork cooked low and slow. Making a proper barbecue at home can be a long and labor-intensive process, but with this electric wood pellet grill and smoker, Dad can cook up a delicious meal in an afternoon. Unlike other smokers requiring manual fuel management (wood or charcoal) and airflow, this Trager model automatically feeds the fire with wood pellets and air to achieve the perfect cooking temperature and smoke quality. He can even control the cooking process from the next town over using the included app and WiFi compatibility!
13. For the Health Conscious (and Beer-Loving) Dad: Asahi Dry Zero Non-Alcohol Beverage
Asahi Super Dry, known for its uniquely dry yet crisp flavor, has been the best-selling beer in Japan for years. Recently, Asahi has worked to replicate that iconic taste in an alcohol- and calorie-free beverage. At first, I was skeptical, but through the miracles of food science, I think they’ve done a great job! So if Dad loves beer but is avoiding high-calorie beverages (or is simply taking a break from alcohol), Asahi Dry Zero is his Father’s Day gift.
14. For the Spice-Loving Dad: S&B Curry Powder
Should Dad have a taste for spice, this authentic Japanese curry powder is a great cooking gift. It’s made with a blend of turmeric, nutmeg, fennel, fenugreek, anise, cumin, ginger, and black pepper and can be used to make classic Japanese comfort foods like Karē Raisu (カレーライス), also known as Japanese Curry Rice.
15. For the Athlete: Cap Barbell 150-Pound Dumbbell Set with Rack
16. For the Home Chef: Just One Cookbook Essential Japanese Recipes
While he can always check out my website for new recipes, my first cookbook is great for home chefs who want to learn the basics of Japanese cooking. It’s a useful resource since it covers everything from essentials (like how to make dashi stock) to classics like gyudon and tamagoyaki, to more modern dishes like green tea ice cream.
17. For the Pizza Lover: Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven
I write a lot about Japanese cuisine on this site, but in reality I like all sorts of cuisine, and pizza is a personal favorite! If your dad likes pizza and home cooking as much as I do, he’s sure to be inspired by this home pizza oven from Ooni! This efficient gas-fired stove can achieve a remarkable 950 degrees F internal temperature and can cook a pizza in as little as one minute!
18. For the Serious Cook: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
If you need a Father’s Day gift for a serious home cook, it’s hard to go wrong with a simple, versatile cast iron skillet. This pick from Lodge is a classic — it can sear, sauté, bake, broil, braise, and fry. When it comes to heat distribution, retention, and durability, it’s hard to find something better. While it does require hand-washing and regular seasoning, it’ll be a valuable tool in his kitchen arsenal for years to come.
19. For the Bread Baker: Staub Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Dads who bake will love making bread in this high-end Staub Dutch oven from France. The cast iron construction is incredible, especially since it boasts a nonstick interior and is oven-safe up to 900 degrees F. Best of all, its enamel finish means he won’t need to season this cast iron tool and it’s easy to clean.
20. For the Coffee Nerd: Breville Smart Grinder Pro
If the dad in your life is a coffee nerd, he’ll appreciate being able to grind fresh coffee beans with this smart grinder from Breville. It’s a sleek device that takes precision to the max with 60 grind size settings and multiple time intervals. Its stainless steel burrs are durable and also help protect the coffee’s essential oils.
21. For Easy, Breezy Chef: Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker 2.0
Sous vide, which literally means ‘under vacuum’ in French, is how many Michelin-starred restaurants achieve perfectly cooked meat, fish, and vegetables. Essentially, the item is cooked in a vacuum-sealed plastic bag and then cooked in a water bath at a precise (often low) temperature. This 1,000-watt electric sous vide cooker from Anova will allow Dad to replicate that same process in his home kitchen. In fact, when I used this device, I found that it worked really well, especially since it can easily attach to a stock pot or saucepan with the adjustable clamp.
22. For the Dad Who Deserves a Kitchen Workhorse: Cuisinart Food Processor
23. For the Dad Who Could Use A New Grater: Microplane Classic Zester Grater
Every home cook needs a grater, but they don’t last forever. If your dad is in need of a new one, this zester grater from Microplane is a great choice. It’s particularly ideal for zesting citrus fruits for salad dressings or baked goods, but it’s also awesome for finely grating hard cheeses. You can even use it as a ginger grater! As an added bonus, it’s dishwasher-safe so dad won’t have to worry about messy cleanup.
24. For the Tofu Obsessed Dad: Tofuture Tofu Press
My family absolutely loves tofu! Some of our favorite dishes are mapo tofu and ganmodoki, which are a breeze to make when you have a handy tofu press at home. As many recipes require tofu to be drained before cooking, Dad can speed up the process when he receives the press I use in my kitchen. It removes up to half a cup of water in just 30 minutes! It’s easy to operate and I love that I can toss it in the dishwasher when I’m done.
25. For the Cold Brew Fan: Hario Mizudashi Cold Brew Coffee Maker
If Dad loves getting his daily boost from cold brew coffee, this pot from Japanese manufacturer Hario will make brewing it at home a breeze. All he has to do is fill the mesh basket with ground coffee and the glass carafe with water and then leave it in the refrigerator to brew. After the coffee has been brewed to his desired strength, he can pour a cup directly from the built-in spout. He’ll save a ton of cash from skipping daily Starbucks trips. Prices were accurate at time of publishing.
