Where to eat in Tokyo

Where to eat in Tokyo

1. EatShinjuku

   Acacia Shinjuku

   アカシア新宿本店

   Specialises in cabbage rolls. Also has a set menu with hashed rice and pork sauté. Has a branch at Haneda Airport.

   Closed · opens 11 am·¥980-1800

2. EatMinato

   Anniversaire Cafe

   アニヴェルセルカフェ

   This is a fashionable cafe of Paris style. You can enjoy elegant mood with seeing a row of houses and street of Omotesando. You can also choose fish or meat for lunch. Has another branch at Minato Mirai in Yokohama.

3. EatShinjuku

   Blumare

   ブルマーレ

   Pizza and pasta restaurant. The building is full of restaurants all run by Sapporo Beer.

   Lunch ¥1300

4. EatSumida

   Chanko Tomoegata

   巴潟

   One of Tokyo's oldest chanko joints, operating for over 100 years, specializing in a slightly unusual miso-flavored soup. Lunch sets at ¥840/1260 weekdays/weekends are just about the cheapest chanko you'll find anywhere and a good option for the solo traveller. Dinner starts from ¥2940/person for the Tomoegata (miso) or Yahazuyama (dashi) set and goes up to ¥8400 for the aptly humongous 9-course Yokozuna.

   Tue-Sun 11:30-14:00, 17:00-23:00

5. EatMinato

   Daigo

   醍醐

   Exquisite vegetarian or vegan "shojin ryori" cuisine. This is the traditional Buddhist spin on kaiseki. Gracefully served by attentive kimono-clad staff. Small private dining rooms look out onto Japanese gardens. Very expensive, but a top-class experience.

   Daily: 11:30-14:00, 17:00-20:00·Lunch ¥10,000, dinner ¥20,000-25,000 per person

6. EatMinato

   Gonpachi

   権八

   This lively and popular izakaya, with a spectacular spacious interior and high-profile location, has served luminaries such as George W. Bush and former Prime Minister Koizumi, and was the model for the battle scene in Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill. (The owner turned down the director's request to use the place itself.) Apart from this, it is a chain, so prices are reasonable food is not special, with all-you-can-drink deals from ¥1500, noodles and rice dishes for under ¥1000 and 6-course menus from ¥3500. Make reservations and expect to see a lot of foreign visitors.

7. EatShibuya

   Gonpachi

   Trendy foreigner-friendly eatery specializing in soba, with a separate sushi bar in the back.

   Main restaurant 11:30-03:30, sushi bar 11:30-14:00, 17:00-02:00

8. EatAkasaka

   Ichiryu Bekkan

   Their speciality (and only dish) is the Seolleongtang soup, a white broth with beef, served with many side dishes including kimchi. Add salt and pepper yourself to the soup at your convenience.

   24 hours·¥1620

9. EatMeguro

   Junkadelic

   ジャンカデリック

   Though the building looks a little old, this Mexican restaurant has some great Tex-Mex cuisine. The menu is not very large, but what it has is worth eating. Portions are reasonably sized, so consider getting an appetizer along with the main dish. For drinks, there are several Mexican beers and Mexican tequila available.

   Closed · opens 6 pm·Main dishes ¥800-1,600

10. EatShinjuku

    Khao San

    カオサン

    A good place for Thai street-stall style food. It's always packed and hectic for lunch, with attendants hollering to attract customers.

    Closed · opens 10 am

11. EatMinato

    Kua'aina

    Hawaiian hamburgers, order-at-the counter from a picture menu with English.

    Daily 10:00-23:00·Meal sets are available for ¥1000, higher after 17:00

12. EatShibuya

    Kujiraya

    くじら屋

    The specialty and only food here is whale meat dishes, which are very rare elsewhere. Human consumption of whale meat is controversial and has been denounced by detractors on grounds of wildlife conservation, toxicity, and animal rights. The restaurant hands out pro-whaling propaganda pamphlets.

    Lunch sets from ¥1300, dinner ¥2000 up

13. EatMeguro

    Mangetsu Korean Cuisine

    韓国料理 満月

    Korean-run establishment with an intimate atmosphere, great for an evening date. Good chijimi!

14. EatShinjuku

    Martiniburger

    マティーニバーガー

    This restaurant serves hamburgers and martinis. The large juicy hamburgers are made with high quality ground beef, which is very hard to find anywhere in Japan. Though uncommon, the combination of hamburgers and martinis is surprisingly nice.

    Tue-Sat 11:00-22:00·¥1000-2000

15. EatAkihabara

    Marugo tonkatsu

    丸五

    It is a donkatsu shop in Akihabara. It sells high-quality donkatsu even if there is a small amount of money.

    Wed-Sun 11:30-)14:00, 17:00-20:00·¥2000~3000

16. EatShibuya

    Mikore Sushi

    江戸前割烹 三是寿司

    It is a sushi restaurant located in Shibuya, but close to Shinjuku Station. The lunch special features cost-effectiveness.

    11:30 ~ 22:30·from 1000¥

17. EatShibuya

    Murghi

    ムルギー

    Founded in 1951, when the owner decided to serve the kind of curry he had enjoyed in Burma before World War II.

    closed Fridays and Thu evenings·¥1050

18. EatShinjuku

    Nabezo

    鍋ぞう

    An all-you-can-eat Shabu Shabu restaurant with another branch in Shinjuku and many other places. \3850 gets one person 100 minutes, including unlimited meat, veggies, and ice cream. Drinks cost extra, but water and Gobo cha are free. If 100 minutes isn't enough, extend 30 minutes for additional \550.

19. EatMinato

    Narisawa

    Ranked among the world's best restaurants and with two Michelin stars. Expect a blend of classical French techniques with the finest Japanese ingredients. Narisawa also has a commitment to sustainability, which expresses itself at the table.

    Menus from ¥20,000

20. EatAkasaka

    Ninja Akasaka

    The entrance is a little difficult to find, but what do you expect from a restaurant designed like a hidden ninja fortress? Navigate through dark corridors, over bridges and trap doors to your hidden room, where ninja waiters attend to your needs while performing tricks and illusions. The food is delicious as well as being presented in unique ways that are sure to entertain. Pre-set menus (usually 7-10 courses) run anywhere from ¥7,000 up to ¥20,000, but items can also be ordered à-la-carte.

21. EatMinato

    Nodaiwa

    野田岩

    Perhaps the best spot in Japan to be served unagi, or freshwater eel. Famous for always using naturally grown eels, never farmed ones. In the business for more than 200 years, Nodaiwa remains as popular as ever.

    Mon-Sat 11:00-13:30, 17:00-20:00·Around ¥4000 for lunch, ¥6000-10,000 for dinner

22. EatShinjuku

    Onegiya Shinjuku ten

    おねぎや新宿店

    Excellent traditional but modern Japanese restaurant. Plenty of dishes to order but you need to like leeks.

23. EatChuo

    Oshio Honten

    おしお本店

    The original shop of one of the better-known chains here, with half a dozen restaurants. Try the mentaiko-shiso monja with cod roe and perilla, which tastes oh so much better than it looks.

    Monjas from ¥1000 up (serves two)

24. EatChiyoda

    Peter

    Restaurant with amazing views of Imperial Palace and excellent service. Lunch seems the best value. Kobe beef from ¥23,500. Dress code: casual.

    Lunch from ¥4900

25. EatShibuya

    Restaurant Kinoshita

    Kinoshita makes eating French food in Japan justifiable. Some say that with its underpriced menu, dinner courses for ¥3800-¥7000, and weekday lunches for ¥1800, this restaurant is considered one of the best kept secrets in Tokyo. But in fact it is popular, and reservations are mandatory. Menu in French and Japanese.

    12:00-14:00, 18:00-21:00, closed Mondays and the third Tue of each month

26. EatMinato

    Ristorante da Nino

    Within easy walking distance from both Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi crossing, owner chef Antonino Lentini offers fine and fresh Sicilian dishes. Good wine selection.

    Mon–Sat 11:30–14:00, 18:00-23:00·Weekday lunch courses from ¥1400 (Saturday lunch courses from ¥2800); dinner courses from ¥8000

27. EatAkasaka

    Rokuhara

    六波羅

    Specializes in kushiage, counter in a very Japanese cozy atmosphere.

28. EatMinato

    Sarashina

    麻布永坂 更科本店

    One of the most famous restaurants for soba (buckwheat noodle). Try the various noodles they have, for instance egg noodles, with different colors. Their factory is still across the road despite sky-rocketing real estate prices.

    ¥2000 for lunch

29. EatToshima

    Souten

    蒼天

    High-end yakitori. Five stick set from around ¥1,600. Do try the chicken sashimi--outside the comfort zone for many visitors, but you may be pleasantly surprised. Extensive selection of nihonshu featuring Kozaemon. Its website has some English info.

    From ¥5,000

30. EatGinza

    Sushi Kanesaka

    鮨かねさか

    The main branch of one of Japan's premier sushi restaurants with two Michelin stars, with another branch at the Palace Hotel, as well as two outposts in Singapore. Sushi is prepared fresh for you at the counter while you watch. Ordering dishes individually is not allowed, and the chef would select what he thinks are the best seasonal ingredients for customers. The restaurant is very small with limited seating, so reservations are essential well in advance. Limited English is spoken by the head chef.

    Closed · opens 11:30 am·¥5,000 (lunch), ¥20,000 (dinner)

31. EatChuo

    Sushisay Main Store

    寿司清本店

    Over 120 years old, this is now a large chain, but the head shop is in Tsukiji and it is well-reputed.

    Mon-Fri 08:30-14:30 & 17:00-20:00, Sat 08:30–20:00, Sun 09:30–20:00, closed Wed

32. EatChuo

    Sushizanmai

    すしざんまい

    The self-proclaimed "King Of Tuna", this is now a large chain but they originate from here in Tsukiji, where they have at least 7 locations and this three-story Honten. Prices are per roll and range from ¥100-500, or order a set meal for ¥3000. They have an excellent English menu.

    24 hr

33. EatShinjuku

    Suzuya

    すずや

    This tonkatsu restaurant is famous for its green tea tonkatsu, which is salty and filling. It also serves other types of tonkatsu and katsudon.

    ¥1000-2000

34. EatChuo

    Tamahide

    玉ひで

    In business since 1760, perhaps the oldest in Tokyo. This restaurant specialises in Oyakodon, literally "parent-child bowl", made from spiced chicken with scrambled eggs (hence the name) and sweet sauce on rice. A popular comfort food with surprising complexity. Expect long queues.

35. EatShibuya

    Tokyu Food Show

    東急フードショー

    A superb food section in the basement with enough free samples to make a full lunch, if you don't mind not having a place to sit.

36. EatMinato

    Tony Roma's

    Step out of Japan and into the United States; the bilingual staff and English-only menu might make you forget you are in Tokyo. The restaurant features their trademark ribs, worth the price which starts at ¥1880. The Texas Mud Pie is the cure for tiny Japanese desserts.

37. EatShinjuku

    Torafugu-Tei

    とらふぐ亭

    Specializing in the infamous fugu (blowfish), it's one of the huge number of seafood restaurants in Kabukichō (see below). Set dinners go for around ¥5000, featuring fugu prepared five or six ways, fresh from the tank. Has another branch nearby (at 1-3-15 Kabukicho).

38. EatChuo

    Tsujihan

    日本橋海鮮丼 つじ半 日本橋本店

    It is a Kaisen-dong store located near Tokyo Station. It is characterized by pouring stock with a little rice left.

    10:00 ~ 22:00·from 2000¥

39. EatShibuya

    Udon Shin

    うどん 慎

    Although it is Shibuya in terms of address, it is a udon store closer to Shinjuku. It is cost-effective and features homemade udon noodles.

    11:00 ~ 22:00·from 1000¥

40. EatMinato

    Worldstar Cafe

    Popular with business people or singles during lunchtime. Meal sets are ¥980–1200, comes w/ main, salad, drink; main being spaghetti, etc. Useful for a late night spot to hang around, since they're open until 06:00.

    Daily 11:00-06:00 daily

Browse all 366 places in Tokyo

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Tokyo (CC BY-SA 4.0).