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$$ | Chiyoda-ku |
Also known as "Andy's," this izakaya is located directly under the tracks of the Yamanote Line, making the wooden interior shudder each time a train passes overhead. It's a favorite with local and foreign journalists and is actually run by a Brit, Andy, who travels to the seafood market every morning to buy seafood. Don't miss the fresh sashimi and buttered scallops. It fills up very quickly, so call at least the day in advance to make a reservation.
2–4–4 Yurakucho, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 100-0006, Japan
Known For
- Favorite among Tokyo expats
- Expansive menu
- Cozy, lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Shibuya-ku |
Founded by American Bryan Baird in 2000, Baird Brewing has become one of the leaders in Japan's now booming craft-beer movement, with a range of year-round brews, such as the hop-heavy Suruga Bay IPA, and creative seasonal beers that use local ingredients such as yuzu citrus and even wasabi. The Harajuku Taproom combines Baird's excellent lineup of microbrews with Japanese izakaya (pub) fare like yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), gyoza (dumplings), and curry rice. The Taproom's rotation of 15 beers on tap, plus two hand-pumped ales, as well as its quality food and friendly atmosphere make it a must for beer lovers and dispel any notion that all Japanese beers taste the same. There are other branches in Naka Meguro, Takadanobaba, Kichijoji, and Yokohama.
1–20–13 Jingumae, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan
Known For
- Japanese craft beer
- Hand-pumped ales on tap
- Blend of Western and Japanese pub fare
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$$ | Minato-ku |
Offering up high-end Mediterranean cuisine in an incredibly stylish setting, Cicada's resortlike atmosphere feels a world away from Omotesando's busy shopping streets. In the warmer months, the outdoor patio is especially relaxing. The menu ranges from Spanish tapas and Middle Eastern mezze to hearty grilled meats and seafood. An expansive wine list and craft beers complement the range of cuisine, and the outdoor bar makes a great spot for a nightcap. Though spacious, this popular restaurant fills up quickly, so dinner reservations are recommended.
5–7–28 Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 107-0062, Japan
Known For
- Terrace dining
- Flavorful Mediterranean dishes
- Stylish bar
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
The style here is robatayaki, a dining experience that segues into pure theater. Inside a large U-shape counter, two cooks in traditional garb sit on cushions behind a grill, with a cornucopia of food spread out in front of them: fresh vegetables, seafood, and skewers of beef and chicken. You point to what you want, and your server shouts out the order. The cook in back plucks your selection up out of the pit, prepares it, and hands it across on an 8-foot wooden paddle. Inakaya is open from 5 pm and fills up fast after 7. If you can't get a seat here, there is another branch, Inakaya West, on the other side of Roppongi Crossing.
3--14--17 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Entertaining service
- Fresh ingredients grilled just right
- Fun, lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | Minato-ku |
Smoky, noisy, and cluttered, Ganchan is exactly what the Japanese expect of their yakitori joints—restaurants that specialize in bits of charcoal-broiled chicken and vegetables. The counter here seats barely 15, and you have to squeeze to get to the chairs in back. Festival masks, paper kites, lanterns, and greeting cards from celebrity patrons adorn the walls. The cooks yell at each other, fan the grill, and serve up enormous schooners of beer. Try the tsukune (balls of minced chicken) and the fresh asparagus wrapped in bacon. Otherwise opt for a mixed eight-skewer set that also comes with several small side dishes. The place stays open until 1:30 am (midnight on Sunday).
6–8–23 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Eclectic decor
- Cozy, down-to-earth atmosphere
- Fills up on weekends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Shinjuku-ku |
The Park Hyatt's 52nd-floor bar and restaurant may have come to international fame thanks to Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, but expats and locals have long known that it's one of the most elegant places to take in Tokyo's nighttime cityscape over a steak or cocktail. The restaurant menu showcases excellent steaks and grilled seafood in the evening, and has one of the city's best lunch buffets during the day. If the restaurant is out of your budget, come instead to the bar when it opens (before the ¥2,200 evening cover charge is added to your bill) and enjoy a drink as the sun sets over the city. The cover charge for the bar starts at 8 pm every day but Sunday, when it starts at 7 pm.
3–7–1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 163-1055, Japan
Known For
- Impressive views over Tokyo
- High-end modern American cuisine
- Excellent service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Chuo-ku |
Anyone looking to experience Japanese haute cuisine in a more relaxed atmosphere should look to this kappo-style restaurant, where diners order and eat at the counter. Third-generation chef—and 2002 Iron Chef champion—Kimio Nonaga displays his artistry in every element of Nihonbashi Yukari's menu. Dinner here is a multicourse affair, with each dish showcasing the freshness and quality of the seasonal ingredients. To witness him at work, and get the full kappo dining experience, be sure to request a counter seat when making reservations. As a bonus, Nihonbashi Yukari also offers a lunch setting for a fraction of the price of dinner, which is unusual for this kind of restaurant.
3–2–14 Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan
Known For
- Excellent kappo-style lunch sets
- Affordable for high-end kappo dining
- Chef Nonaga's creative take on Japanese cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Chiyoda-ku |
Old, funky, and more than a little cramped, Robata is a bit daunting at first, but fourth-generation chef-owner Takao Inoue holds forth here with an inspired version of Japanese home cooking. He's also a connoisseur of pottery and serves his food on pieces acquired at famous kilns all over the country. There's no menu; just tell Inoue-san how much you want to spend, and leave the rest to him. A meal at Robata—like the pottery—is simple to the eye but subtle and fulfilling. Typical dishes include steamed fish with vegetables, stews of beef or pork, and seafood salads.
1--3--8 Yurakucho, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 100-0006, Japan
Known For
- Country-style izakaya
- No menu
- Dishes served on unique pottery collection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed some Sun. each month. No lunch
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
The exclusive specialty here is tofu, prepared in more ways than you can imagine—boiled, steamed, stir-fried with minced crabmeat, served in a custard, or wrapped in thin layers around a delicate whitefish paste. Tofu is touted as the perfect high-protein, low-calorie health food; at Ume no Hana it's raised to the elegance of haute cuisine. Remove your shoes when you step up to the lovely central room. Latticed wood screens separate the tables, and private dining rooms with tatami seating are available. Prix-fixe meals, from ¥5,000 to ¥8,000 at dinner, include a complimentary aperitif, while lunchtime is very budget-friendly considering the quality (courses from ¥2,100). Ume no Hana shops in Ueno and Ginza are also worth visiting.
2–27–18 Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 107-0062, Japan
Known For
- Varied set meals
- Delicious thin sheets of yuba tofu
- Good value lunch courses
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$ | Shibuya-ku |
Ramen is the quintessential Japanese fast food: thick Chinese noodles in a bowl of savory broth topped with sliced grilled chashu (pork loin). Each neighborhood in Tokyo has its favorite, and in Ebisu the hands-down favorite is Afuri. Using the picture menu, choose your ramen by inserting coins into a ticket machine, find a seat, and hand over your ticket to the cooks, who prepare your ramen then and there. There's limited seating, and at lunch and dinner, a line of customers extends down the street, but as expected, the ramen is worth it. The signature ramen here is yuzu shio (citron and salt), but there are other options, including a vegan ramen.
1–1–7 Ebisu, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 150-0013, Japan
Known For
- Quick, affordable meals
- Refreshing shio ramen with yuzu
- Vegan ramen
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$ | Shinjuku-ku |
Just south of the Shinjuku station, this chain ramen house serves up ramen with hints of citrus in the broth, turning this often heavy dish into something more refreshing. It's located on a basement food level of Shinjuku's Lumine I department store, so you can have the nearby Thai food instead should you peek in and change your mind.
1–1–2 Nishishinjuku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan
Known For
- Lively atmosphere
- Very unusual citrusy broth
- A light version of the sometimes heavy ramen
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
For his Michelin-starred contemporary French creations, chef de cuisine Shintaro Miyazaki sources the finest Japanese beef, poultry, seafood, and vegetables from around the country. Served on the 45th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, the resulting prix-fixe lunch courses (from ¥5,800) come with a choice of four or five dishes from a changing monthly menu. For dinner there are chef's tasting menus, which are paired with wine selected by the hotel's sommelier. The dining room, decorated in soft beige, white, and black, and crowned with a city skyline view, provides the appropriate tony setting.
9–7–1 Akasaka, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 107-6245, Japan
Known For
- Classy atmosphere
- Stunning views
- Delightful tasting menus
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$$$$ | Shibuya-ku |
Carnivores flock here for the all-you-can-eat Brazilian grilled chicken and barbecued beef, which the efficient waiters keep bringing to your table on skewers until you tell them to stop. It comes with a self-serve salad bar and for an extra fee all-you-can-drink beer, wine and other alcohol for two hours. Hardwood floors, lithographs of bull motifs, warm lighting, and salmon-colored tablecloths provide the backdrop. The drink menu provides the chance to try a selection of Brazilian cocktails. Look for the entrance just off Omotesando-dori on the Harajuku 2-chome shopping street (on the north side of Omotesando-dori), about 50 yards down on the left. There's also a Barbacoa near Tokyo Station, as well as others in Roppongi, Shibuya, and Shinjuku. Dinner with drinks can easily run ¥10,000 per person, but the weekday lunch buffet offers largely the same selection at a fraction of the price.
4–3–2 Jingumae, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 150-0001, Japan
Known For
- Meat lover's paradise
- Range of wines
- Excellent salad buffet
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$$ | Suginami-ku |
Yakitori, Vietnamese-style, is on the menu at the bustling restaurant that feels it could have been transported from the streets of Hanoi. The skewers here include chicken thigh on or off the bone, chicken feet, and gizzards, but also vegetables such as okra and sweet treats like banana. The owners also run another no-frills Vietnamese restaurant called Chopsticks, serving excellent pho noodles, on the same block in Koenji’s north side.
3-22-8 Koenji Kita, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 166-0002, Japan
Known For
- Vietnamese grilled chicken
- Vietnamese beer
- Lively vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Shibuya-ku |
Run by Neal's Yard Remedies, this laid-back café has all-natural wooden interiors and natural produce on the menu. If shopping in Harajuku, it's a great place to stop for a healthy Japanese teishoku set, vegetable curry, tofu lemon cake, or other vegan fare.
5–1–8 Jingumae, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 150-0001, Japan
Known For
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Japanese-style vegan dishes
- Affordable lunch sets
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$$ | Odaiba |
Stop off near the end of the Yurikamome Line and have dinner along the river bank before heading back to your hotel. The live DJ, order-at-bar service, and strong cocktails create a lively ambience, and classic western dishes can be ordered at your table via cellphone. There are often festivals here, so make sure to check the event schedule.
6–4–26 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 135-0061, Japan
Known For
- Outdoor-only dining
- Pizza and fish-and-chips
- Fairy lights with river and city views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. to Wed.; No lunch Fri. and Thu.
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$$ | Shibuya-ku |
Connected to a natural-foods store, and with natural airy wooden interiors to match, Crayon House serves Japanese and Western dishes with a common theme—it's all very healthy. Ninety-five percent of ingredients are organic, and the mixture of curries, pastas, salads, and other dishes are all wholesome. The lunchtime buffet is good value. The desserts taste as if the notion of health has been thrown out the window.
Kita-Aoyama 3-8-5, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, Japan
Known For
- Healthy lunch and dinner buffets
- Outdoor izakaya area
- Organic fare
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$$ | Suginami-ku |
Koenji has many culinary bases covered, and with this izakaya it delivers Okinawan food and drink as authentically as you’ll find in Japan’s southern islands: thank the Okinawan owner for that. The menu features regional classics such as goya champuru (a stir fry of bitter gourd, spam, and tofu) and soki soba (noodles with pork sparerib meat), which you can chase down with Orion Beer and a firebrand of an island rice spirit called awamori. Like many Koenji venues, it runs late, opening daily from 5 pm to 5 am.
3-2-13 Koenji Kita, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 166-0002, Japan
Known For
- Okinawan dishes
- Awamori spirits
- Opens till 5 am
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Taito-ku |
Daikokuya, in the center of Asakusa's historic district, is a point of pilgrimage for both locals and tourists. The specialty here is shrimp tempura, and the menu choices are simple—tendon is tempura shrimp served over rice, and the tempura meal includes rice, pickled vegetables, and miso soup. Famished diners can add additional pieces of tempura or side dishes such as sashimi for an additional fee, or opt for a multi-dish course. When the line of waiting customers outside is too long, head to the shop's annex (bekkan) just around the corner.
1–38–10 Asakusa, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 111-0032, Japan
Known For
- Being an Asakusa landmark
- Tokyo-style tempura a cut above the rest
- Long lines
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$ | Minato-ku |
The classic bowl of ramen is topped with slices of pork, but Darumaya, in the fashion district of Omotesando, has a slightly different take, topping its noodles with grilled vegetables. In the summertime be sure to order the hiyashi soba, a bowl of chilled noodles topped with vegetables and ham in a sesame dressing. Another shop specialty is the tsukemen, where the noodles and broth are served in separate bowls. Dip (don't drop) the ramen into the broth. Despite the focus on veggies, vegetarians should note, the soups and sauces are not meat-free.
5–9–5 Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 107-0062, Japan
Known For
- Refreshing take on ramen
- A quick, affordable lunch in a high-end area
- One of few noodle shops in the neighborhood
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
