Must-see restaurants in Tokyo

  • Cafe Tsumugi

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    Chain-cafe-operator Pronto is, remarkably, the manager of this stylish all-day cafe in a visitors centre added to the compound of Tsukiji Hongwan-ji in…

  • Hōnen Manpuku

    Tokyo

    This restaurant is a showcase for Nihombashi's gourmet retailers, such as Ninben (maker of katsuobushi – dried bonito flakes – since 1699) and Yamamoto …

  • Higashiya Man

    Harajuku & Aoyama

    Manjū (まんじゅう) – that's where the shop's name comes from; it's not just for men! – are hot buns stuffed with sweetened red-bean paste. They're steamed…

  • Tokyo Rāmen Street

    Tokyo

    Eight hand-picked rāmen-ya operate branches in this basement arcade on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station. All the major styles are covered – from shōyu (soy…

  • Kinkume

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    Both a counter restaurant and take-away shop, Kinkume specialises in seiro meshi, food steamed in bamboo baskets – in this case rice topped with seafood…

  • Apollo

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    We know you didn't come to Tokyo to eat Greek food but hear us out: this Sydney import nails dishes like grilled octopus and fennel salad, taramasalata,…

  • Brown Rice by Neal's Yard Remedies

    Harajuku & Aoyama

    Yes, this is Neal's Yard Remedies, as in the British health and beauty company, but for some reason they decided to open a restaurant, just one, here in…

  • Drawing House of Hibiya

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    Specialising in produce from Hokkaidō and Kanagawa, this farm-to-table operation is one of the star restaurant players within Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, with a…

  • Jōmon

    Roppongi, Akasaka & Around

    This cosy kitchen has bar seating, rows of ornate shōchū (liquor) jugs lining the wall and hundreds of freshly prepared skewers splayed in front of the…

  • Tadokoro Shokuhin

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    Specialising in fish roe, this sparkling clean stall has a few counter seats and also does takeaway rice bowls and noodle dishes covered with generous…

  • Bills

    Odaiba & Tokyo Bay

    Australian chef Bill Granger has had a big hit with his restaurant chain in Japan – unsurprising given how inviting and spacious a place this is. The menu…

  • Le Bretagne

    Kōrakuen & Akihabara

    This French-owned cafe, hidden on a cobblestone lane in Kagurazaka, is credited with starting the Japanese rage for crêpes back in 1996 when it opened…

  • MoonFlower Sagaya Ginza

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    Digital-art supremos teamLab provide the mesmerising visual effects at this restaurant specialising in premium grade Saga beef. There are only eight seats…

  • Misojyu

    Asakusa & Sumida River

    When you just want something simple, filling and delicious: choose a soup (say, mushroom miso soup or a chunky pork soup with root vegetables) and an…

  • Nemuro Hanamaru

    Tokyo

    Nemuro is a fishing port in the far east of Hokkaidō (Japan's northern island), and visiting the original kaiten-zushi (conveyor-belt sushi restaurant)…

  • Yong Xiang Sheng Jian Guan

    Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo

    This tiny shop in Ikebukuro's Chinatown deals in Shanghai street food, namely shēngjiān (pan-fried pork buns; called yaki-shōronpo in Japan). Warning:…

  • Tomoegata

    Asakusa & Sumida River

    If you're keen to try chanko-nabe – the hearty, protein-rich stew that fattens up sumo wrestlers – Tomoegata is a great place to do it. The daily lunch…

  • Sometarō

    Asakusa & Sumida River

    Sometarō is a fun and funky place to try okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese-style pancakes filled with meat, seafood and vegetables that you cook yourself)…

  • Botan

    Kōrakuen & Akihabara

    Botan has been making a single, perfect dish in the same traditional wooden house since the 1890s. Sit cross-legged on rattan mats as chicken sukiyaki …

  • Amanoya

    Kōrakuen & Akihabara

    The owner of this charming dessert cafe is a bit of a collector, as you'll discover from the eclectic bits and bobs on display ranging from model trains…

  • Shimanto-gawa

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    This beneath-the-train-tracks izakaya takes its theme literally by creating a dining area of wooden booths built beside and over a flowing stream – the…

  • Camelback

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    Okay, this is a cafe and the staff really want you to order a drink (and the coffee is good) but the real reason everyone wants to come here is for the…

  • Uoriki

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    Uoriki is a fishmonger's run by the same family since 1905 (back when Shibuya was practically still a village). There's a restaurant hidden in the back…

  • Sakura-tei

    Harajuku & Aoyama

    Grill your own okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) at this funky place inside the gallery Design Festa. In addition to classic options (with pork, squid and…

  • Akasaka Ichiryu Bekkan

    Roppongi, Akasaka & Around

    While it won't win any awards for its decor, this three-decades old, round-the-clock joint is beloved for its heart-warming rendition of the Korean beef…

  • Kimagure-ya

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    This sandwich counter, run out of an old barbershop, is a market-worker favourite, and also sells some of Tokyo's cheapest (and still decent) coffee (¥140…

  • Nagi Shokudō

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    A vegan haven in fast-food-laced Shibuya, Nagi serves up dishes like falafel and coconut curry. The most popular thing on the menu is a set meal with…

  • Mornington Cresent

    Roppongi, Akasaka & Around

    British baker Stacey Ward has caused a sensation with her authentic marzipan Battenburg cake and Victoria sponges – so much so that fans queue for…

  • Nasu Oyaji

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    'Uncle Eggplant' specialises in Japanese-style curry – that curious dark-brown melange that manages to be both sweet and savoury, mild and flavourful –…

  • Food Show

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    A best friend to harried and hungry commuters, Food Show has steamers of dumplings, crisp karaage (deep-fried chicken), sushi sets and heaps of salads…

  • Aoyama Kawakami-an

    Harajuku & Aoyama

    This Aoyama outpost of famed Karuizawa soba shop serves handmade, 100% buckwheat noodles all day and (nearly) all night. Go all in with the (truly) jumbo…

  • Nataraj

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    Vegetarians and vegans rejoice: Nataraj brings its warm colours and low-key elegance to its three-storey Ginza branch. Sizeable set meals include…

  • Ahiru Store

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    This tiny counter bistro dishing up homemade sausages, fresh-baked bread and bio wines (¥1000 to ¥1200 per glass) has a huge local following. Reservations…

  • Falafel Brothers

    Roppongi, Akasaka & Around

    Mainly for takeaways, this cosy joint dedicated to crispy chickpea balls offers a couple of stools inside and out at which to get your chops around its…

  • Buvette

    Ginza & Tsukiji

    Jody Williams brings her New York City brasserie operation to the heart of Tokyo. It's a classy affair that delivers reliable French comfort classics…

  • Iseya

    Tokyo

    This long-running yakitori shop (the building was redone a few years ago) is popular with park-goers who line-up in front of the takeaway window for…

  • d47 Shokudō

    Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa

    There are 47 prefectures in Japan and d47 serves a changing line-up of teishoku (set meals) that evoke the specialities of each, from the fermented tofu…

  • Kanda Yabu Soba

    Kōrakuen & Akihabara

    Kanda Yabu Soba has been in business since 1880. The restaurant was rebuilt after a fire in 2013, but the commitment to excellent soba remains the same:…

  • Izu-ei Honten

    Ueno & Yanesen

    Izu-ei's twin delights are its delicious unagi (eel) and its elegant, traditional atmosphere, with waitstaff in kimonos and tatami seating (there are…

  • Nagomi

    Ueno & Yanesen

    Nagomi deals in juicy skewers of ji-dori (freerange chicken). There are plenty of grilled veggie options, too. Wash it all down with a bowl of chicken…

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