tokyo
とうきょう
A FOOD GUIDE
Here’s a curated list of our favorite restaurants and food stalls in Tokyo, across its different neighborhoods, from Ginza to Asakusa. For matcha and hojicha spots, I gathered them in a different post, that you can check out here.
Located in the heart of Ueno Park, Inshotei offers a serene setting to enjoy traditional kaiseki (traditional multi-course dinner) cuisine amidst lush greenery. Online reservations are essential, as this popular spot fills up quickly. The menu features a variety of kaiseki options, and we chose the tofu kaiseki, which included delicacies like yuba (tofu skin), tofu, okara (soy pulp), nama-fu dengaku (gluten rice cake with miso), and omihachiman red konnyaku (boiled konjac). The meal was complemented by grilled fish, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), roasted soybean rice, and wheat buns. Their homemade roasted soybean rice tea was a delightful finish, so much so that we bought some on our way out.
Tucked away from the main busy streets of Asakusa, Tonkatsu Juroku specializes in tonkatsu (japanese pork cutlet), but they also have chicken and shrimp katsu on their menu. For the tonkatsu, you have the option of the fillet (see photo above) or the loin. The dish comes with cabbage, rice and miso soup. They have various homemade condiments and sauces to accompany the tonkatsu such as mustard greens, tomato sauce, tonkatsu sauce, moshio (seaweed salt), but our favorite one was the yuzu kosho (fermented yuzu with chili peppers). There are only 6 seats at the counter, and a table of 4, so expect waiting time if you arrive at peak hours. When we arrived at 7:45pm on a weekday, there was no queue and we got the table of 4. They accept both cash and credit cards.
Address: 1 Chome-5-11 Kaminarimon, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0034.
Our suggested location: 〒105-0004 Tokyo, Minato City, Shinbashi, 2 Chome−5−6 2F.
Tokichiro specializes in tantanmen (a japanese twist to the chinese dan dan noodles), offering several options with customizable spice levels ranging from 1 to 3. Ordering is done through a machine, and with only 9 counter seats, try to go at opening time or later in the evening to avoid queues. The menu features four main dishes: premium noodles, spicy rich tantanmen, spicy medicinal noodles, and spicy soupless noodles. Our top pick was the spicy rich tantanmen, where the flavorful chicken broth blends perfectly with the nutty sesame and chili oil sauce. The presentation is carefully crafted, with each ingredient thoughtfully chosen. Their self-ordering machine accepts cash only.
Address: 1 Chome-16-6 Kaminarimon, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0034.
This small restaurant, located in an alley of Shibuya, specializes in one dish: steak donburi. The menu is straightforward – pick your beef portion, choose a type of rice, and add optional toppings like egg, curry, mashed potatoes, extra garlic chips, or whipped butter, each for a small additional fee. The beef, aged for 30 days, is cooked to a perfect medium-rare, and the flavorful garlic rice and garlic chips, make this simple dish so special. It’s best to go at opening time to avoir long queues. They accept both cash and credit cards.
Address: 〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Shibuya, 1 Chome−12−24, 707 Shibuya, １階.
Hidden in a secluded alley in Ginza, this once Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant treated us to the best tori-paitan soba (chicken-based broth ramen) we’ve ever had. It was silky, buttery and creamy in the best way. The dish was also complemented by garnishes like pumpkin, squash, bell pepper, and corn, which added both depth and a beautiful presentation. We especially enjoyed the truffle variation of their signature tori-paitan. For a satisfying addition, try their char siu butter rice – it’s simple but incredibly flavorful. If we could pick just one restaurant to revisit in Tokyo, it would undoubtedly be this place. Their self-ordering machine accepts cash only.
Address: 6 Chome-4-12 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061.
This small shop in Ginza offers convenient and affordable kaisendon (rice bowl topped with sashimi). With most bowls priced under 1,000 yen, it’s a great option for a quick, high-quality meal. The menu features a variety of sashimi, including salmon, lean and fatty tuna, sea urchin, scallops, whitebait, salmon roe, and crab. Service is fast, and there’s rarely a queue, making it an ideal spot for a quick bite. They accept both cash and credit cards.
Address: 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 2 Chome−9−12 森田ビル １階.
We enjoyed the finest tonkatsu experience at Ginza Katsukami. This restaurant offers a katsu omakase, available only through online reservations due to its popularity and frequent full bookings. The restaurant, located on the 5th floor of a building, might be a bit challenging to find, so allocate extra time to locate it. We chose the lunch course omakase, which featured two katsu selected by the chef and two cutlets of our choice, including options like loin, shoulder loin, rump, minced meat cutlet, kitafuku king crab croquette, or abalone croquette. The meal also included rice, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and a choice between pork stew or kakigori (Japanese shaved ice)- we highly recommend their kakigori. The chef serves different cuts one by one, suggesting the best sauce or seasoning to pair with each. Each cut was perfectly tender, with an exceptionally crispy and airy breading, making it one of our most memorable culinary experiences in Japan. They accept both cash and credit cards.
Address: 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−6−10 銀座ミヤコビル ５階.
Located in the heart of Ginza, Tsujita Ginza is a cozy spot renowned for its tsukemen (dipping ramen). We ordered at the machine, and got their special rich tsukemen (no. 1). Visiting on a weekday around 8 PM, we found a short queue of just five people ahead of us and waited approximately 10 minutes to be seated. First you eat it normally dipping the noodles into the broth, then add sudachi to the broth, and then black shichimi, so you can enjoy three flavors with one bowl of tsukemen. Their tsukemen stands out by their deep umami-rich dashi flavor. Although we didn’t try the char siu rice bowl, it’s reputed to be another highlight of the menu. Their self-ordering machine accepts cash only.
Address: 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 3 Chome−8−12 銀座ヤマトビル １Ｆ.
Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza, an antenna shop located in the Yurakucho/Ginza area, offers a wide selection of regional products from Hokkaido, with their Yubari melon soft serve ice cream being a standout must-try. Antenna shops like this one specialize in selling products from specific prefectures, and at this Hokkaido shop, you’ll find a small soft-serve ice cream stand tucked away at the back. They offer three delicious flavors: milk, Yubari melon, and a twist of Yubari melon and milk. The Yubari melon ice cream is particularly special because it’s made from Yubari King melons, which are considered the crown jewel of melons in Japan, celebrated for their exceptional sweetness, juiciness, and fragrant aroma. On your way out, you can also pick up other Hokkaido delicacies like Rokkatei butter cookies, Royce’ chocolates, Shiroi Koibito, and yaki imo (roasted sweet potato) snacks. Their self- ordering machine accepts cash only.
Address: 〒100-0006 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Yurakucho, 2 Chome−10−1 東京交通会館.
Asakusa Chicken, a newly opened gem in the heart of Asakusa, has quickly made a name for itself with its award-winning karaage. Their karaage chicken won the gold medal in 2023, and it’s easy to see why. The meat is exceptionally tender and juicy, while the coating is perfectly crispy and seasoned. We loved it so much that we visited twice during our last trip to Japan. You can enjoy the karaage either as a savory snack or as part of a meal, with options to add rice on the side. Their freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is a refreshing complement to their karaage chicken. They accept both cash and credit cards.
Address: 2 Chome-7-13 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032.
Asakusa Kagetsudō, established in 1945, is a renowned shop in Tokyo’s Asakusa district, famous for its melon pan, a traditional Japanese treat. Although shaped like a melon, melon pan doesn’t actually have melon flavor; it features a crispy, sugary crust with a soft, fluffy interior. You can enjoy it plain or choose one of these various ice cream fillings flavors: matcha, cookies and cream, or vanilla. Each melon pan is served hot and fresh from the oven. They accept cash only.
Address: 2 Chome-7-13 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032.
Maguro Koya is one of the most popular stalls at Tsukiji Fish Market, and for good reason. They’re known for serving some of the freshest tuna in Tokyo. Be prepared for long queues, but the wait is more than worth it. With the staff slicing each piece of tuna right in front of you, you can select from a variety of cuts, including kamatoro (neck, very fatty), otoro (belly, very fatty), chu-toro (belly, medium fatty), and akami (lean). Each bite of the tuna is rich, flavorful, and melts in your mouth. Maguro Koya operates as a stand-up, eat-at-the-counter shop. They accept cash only.
Address: 4 Chome-10-12 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045.
MORE JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDES
matcha and hojicha in tokyo
coffee in tokyo
a day trip to enoshima
