Visiting Tokyo? This is the ultimate Tokyo travel guide for food lovers. There are zillions of awesome food in Tokyo. I have only tried a friction of it. Everything listed here is from my own experience. For the rating system explanation, click here.
*updated as per 28 January 2018.
Ramen
ICHIRAN
Location: all around Japan except Hokkaido
Last Visit: Jan-23 (>10x)
Order: strong flavour, ultra-rich richness, regular garlic, green onion, with sliced pork, regular secret sauce, medium noodle texture.
TL;DR: best tonkatsu ramen
TL;DR: best tonkatsu ramen
Rating: ★★★★★ Personal Favourite (100%)
NAGI
Location: Shinjuku
Last Visit: Jan-23 (>5x)
Notes: my 2nd favourite ramen | anchovies broth | 24 hours.
Rating: ★★★★★ Personal Favourite (100%)
ROKURINSHA
Location: Tokyo Ramen Street under Tokyo Station
Last Visit: Nov-22 (4x)
Notes: claimed the best tsukemen in the world | 45 mins+ queue | lighter broth in the morning.
Rating: ★★★★★ Personal Favourite (100%)
FU-UNJI
Location: 7 mins walking from JR Shinjuku Station South entrance
Last Visit: Oct-15
Notes: rated the best ramen for few times | famous for its tsukemen | biggest competitor of Rokurinsha | restaurant fits about 12 people | open 11:00-15:00 and 17:00-21:00 or until soups run out
Review: I ordered special ramen with extra noodle, extra egg, extra chasiew. I got 2 eggs, around 20 pieces of chasiew, big portion of noodle. It was too much as per picture. I suggest to order the regular ramen. It doesn't come with egg, but already with chasiew. When you're hungry, order the special, but don't add any extra. I came at 12:30, the restaurant already closed. Tried again few days later at 18:30, We were waiting for 30 mins+.
TL;DR - I prefer Rokurinsha to Fu-unji.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
Review: I ordered special ramen with extra noodle, extra egg, extra chasiew. I got 2 eggs, around 20 pieces of chasiew, big portion of noodle. It was too much as per picture. I suggest to order the regular ramen. It doesn't come with egg, but already with chasiew. When you're hungry, order the special, but don't add any extra. I came at 12:30, the restaurant already closed. Tried again few days later at 18:30, We were waiting for 30 mins+.
TL;DR - I prefer Rokurinsha to Fu-unji.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
RAMEN JIRO
Location: Shinjuky
Last Visit: May-15
Notes: opens 11am | order on vending machine | no english menu | super big portion
Review: This is recommended by my local Japanese friend. This is his favourite ramen and popular amongst locals because of its portion and value.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
Sushi
SUKIYABASHI JIRO
Location: Ginza | Roppongi
Price: ¥30,000
Last Visit: Jan-18
Notes: order 1 month in advance
Tips: Roppongi for better English service and 1 hour dining experience rather than 30 minutes in Ginza main branch.
Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%)
Notes: order 1 month in advance
Tips: Roppongi for better English service and 1 hour dining experience rather than 30 minutes in Ginza main branch.
Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%)
OKAME SUSHI
Location: Tsukiji Fish Market - same alley as Sushi Dai and Sushi Daiwa (probably has closed)
Price: ¥2700 for 12 pcs set.
Last Visit: May-15
Notes: recommended alternative if you don't want to queue for the famous sushi dai and sushi daiwa.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
SUSHI MIDORI
Location: 4th floor of Shibuya Mark City - shopping mall behind Hachiko statue
Last Visit: May-15
Review: This place is very famous for both locals and tourist for its fresh sushi and great value. We queued for 1.5 hours. I ate the ¥2140 set sushi. The quality was exceptional and for its price, it might be the best value high quality sushi that you can find, but I feel that it was not worth the wait. I rather pay a little bit more somewhere else and save 2 hours for extra sightseeing time. Heard that these days, the queue can be up to 3 or 4 hours.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
SUSHI ZANMAI
Location: All around Japan
Last Visit: Nov-22 (>5x)
Notes: famous cheap sushi chain restaurant | good value
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
Wishlist: Seamon Ginza, Sushi Kyubey (edo style), Sushi Sho Masha, Sushi Kanesaka (famous for uni with baby shrimp and maguro cheek), Sushi Iwa (6 seats only).
Katsu
TONKATSU MAISEN
Location: Omotesando
Last Visit: Nov-16 (3x)
Review: It is the most juicy and moist Tonkatsu I have ever eaten. But comes with a price, I ordered the most expensive Okita Loin set for ¥3900. We also ordered the Tokyu X cut which is limited to 6 serve per day. Cost us ¥15,000 in total for 6 people. Combination of ¥3900 (okita loin set), ¥3700 (tokyu x cut), ¥2700, ¥2100, ¥1200 (mince), ¥1700 (shrimp). Actually, it's quite hard to differentiate between the cuts. In my opinion, everything tastes the same since they are all fried and use the same sauce. TL;DR everything tastes awesome! Maisen opens at 11 am. We waited for 30 mins at 12 pm.
Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%)
KATSUKURA
Location: Takashimaya 14F Shinjuku | Kyoto Station and more
Last Visit: Nov-22 (>3x)
Review: For me, I can't tell if Maisen is better than this. Both are very good but Katsukura is not as expensive as maisen
Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%)
GYUKATSU MOTOMURA
Location: Shinjuku (22 seatings) | Shibuya (8 seatings), Osaka and more
Last Visit: Nov-22 (>3x)
Review: This restaurant is one of the most hype restaurant in Tokyo 2016. Gyukatsu is deep fried beef cutlet. It is like tonkatsu but it is beef instead of pork. What interesting is, you put each slice on the hot stone before you eat it, so it's not that raw anymore. The restaurant opens at 11am. I started queueing at 10.30 and I was already the 20th person and got the last table. I came to Shinjuku branch as it has more seats.
Tips: Start queuing 30 minutes to 1 hour before the restaurant opens.
Review: This restaurant is one of the most hype restaurant in Tokyo 2016. Gyukatsu is deep fried beef cutlet. It is like tonkatsu but it is beef instead of pork. What interesting is, you put each slice on the hot stone before you eat it, so it's not that raw anymore. The restaurant opens at 11am. I started queueing at 10.30 and I was already the 20th person and got the last table. I came to Shinjuku branch as it has more seats.
Tips: Start queuing 30 minutes to 1 hour before the restaurant opens.
Rating: ★★★★★ Personal Favourite (100%)
BUTAGUMI
Location: Shibuya
Last Visit: Nov-22
Review: This place focuses on pork tonkatsu only. They have over 50 different varieties of pork. Tenderloin cut is nice. But Sirloin is way too fat, don't enjoy this one at all. It's been on my wishlist since 2015. After I got to try Butagumi, to be honest I'm a bit dissappointed. I'm expected to get mindblowned. It doesn't meet my expectation. It's good but not spectacular. Happy that I've finally tried this. Next time, will come back to Maisen or Katsukura, whichever has less queue.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
Tempura
TSUNAHACHI
Location: across Uniqlo Shinjuku
Price: ¥5200 for the best set tempura menu available and draft beer
Price: ¥5200 for the best set tempura menu available and draft beer
Last Visit: May-15
Notes: one of the most famous tempura restaurant at the heart of Shinjuku.
Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%)
DAIKOKUYA
Location: Asakusa
Last Visit: May-15
Review: Well known for its Tendon. Tendon is Tempura Prawn served on top of Rice Bowl. They have special seasoning on the tempura, like special soy sauce. Many bloggers rated this restaurant quite high. But not for me.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
AOI MARUSHIN
Location: right of Kaminari Gate at Sensoji Temple Asakusa
AOI MARUSHIN
Last Visit: Nov-16
Notes: 60 years old famous tempura restaurant
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
TEMPURA KONDO
7-CHOME KYOBOSHI
Price: $300
Notes: most expensive tempura in the world
Notes: most expensive tempura in the world
Curry
CURRY HOUSE COCO
Location: All around Japan
Last Visit: Jan-23 (>5x)
Notes: curry chain restaurant
Notes: curry chain restaurant
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
Last Visit: May-15
Notes: curry chain restaurant with gorilla sign | the curry sauce is dark and more to the sweet side | huge portion
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
Udon
TOKYO MENTSU-DAN
Location: Nishi-Shinjuku
Last Visit: May-15
Review: Once you enter the restaurant, you have to choose your noodle type and how the soup is served: hot or cold. Then you take your own toppings. It is very cheap, It costed me ¥570.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
UDON HANAMARU
HAKATA MIZUTAKI
Location: Shirogane
UDON HANAMARU
HAKATA MIZUTAKI
Others
JUMBO YAKINIKU
Last Visit: Nov-16
ASAKUSAIMAHAN
Location: Asakusa
Notes: sukiyaki
Review: My top 3 best beef I've ever eaten in my life. For your reference I've tried many different high grade wagyu A5 like Tajima Beef, Hida Beef, Matsusaka Beef, Kobe Beef, etc. They are all superb. But Jumbo Yakiniku is just on a different level. Almost every bite is mind blowing. You have to book in advance to eat here. I called 2 weeks before. I got 5pm slot (2 hours) for dinner on Saturday. They only use A5 Kuroge Wagyu which is the highest rank of Japanese beef. They have prime cuts and traditional cuts. Traditional cuts taste awesome like any other high grade wagyu beef that I tried before. But the prime cut is just superb. There's 1 very special cut. It costs 2500 yen per slice!! We spent about $100-$150 per person. The picture above is Zabuton. One of the best prime cut. There is Nohara-yaki that costs ¥2500 per slice. It is served with raw egg.
Rating: ★★★★★ Personal Favourite (100%)
SHIMA STEAK
Location: near Tokyo Station
Last Visit: Jan-18
Review: I saw this resturant from Nihongo Mantappu Youtube. Shima Steak is French cuisine restaurant that specializes in wagyu steak. My wife and I both had fillet and sirloin wagyu steak. We al so ordered some appetizers and a bootle of wine. Dinner experience was average. It was good but nothing really memorable. However, what makes this restaurant special is the Wagyu Sandwich. Shima Steak sells this special sandwich that can be only ordered for takeaway. Yes, you read it correctly, take-away only. This sandwich is divine! In total, I spent ¥46,475 for the dinner including ¥7,500 Steak Sandwich for takeaway.
Rating: ★★★★☆ Superb (90-99%)
ASAKUSAIMAHAN
Location: Asakusa
Notes: sukiyaki
OMOIDE YOKOCHO
Location: Shinjuku
Last Visit: Nov-22 (3x)
Review: Omoide Yokocho, which means Memory Lane, is a small alley crammed with around sixty small izakaya type restaurants and bars. I usually come here for supper. Most restaurants close around 2 am. Note that people smoke inside the restaurant
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
SHIRUBEE SHIBUYATEN
Location: Shibuya | Harajuku | Ebisu
Notes: cheap
HACHIBEI
Location: Roppongi Hills
Notes: fukuoka-styled yakitori
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
SHIRUBEE SHIBUYATEN
Location: Shibuya | Harajuku | Ebisu
Notes: cheap
HACHIBEI
Location: Roppongi Hills
Notes: fukuoka-styled yakitori
ROBOT RESTAURANT
Location: Kabukichou
Last Visit: May-15 (closed)
Review: Rated #1 Trip Advisor attractions in Shinjuku and I think so too. Crazy! Unique! Bizarre! Extraordinary! It is Japan! You cannot see this anywhere else. For me going here once is enough.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
MAID CAFE
Location: Akihabara
Price: ¥2000 set for 1 drink and Polaroid photo with 1 of the maid.
Price: ¥2000 set for 1 drink and Polaroid photo with 1 of the maid.
Last Visit: May-15
Notes: no picture is allowed | english friendly
Notes: no picture is allowed | english friendly
Review: We went to Home Cafe in Akihabara. It is one of the biggest Maid Cafe in Akihabara and well-known for its service towards foreigners.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
LUKE'S LOBSTER
Location: Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku and more
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
LUKE'S LOBSTER
Last Visit: Nov-22 (3x)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
ZAUO
Location: Nishi-Shinjuku
Last Visit: May-15
Review: Catch you own fish restaurant. Taste wise, average. But we come for the experience.
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
GYOZA LOU
Location: Harajuku
Last Visit: Nov-16 (2x)
Notes: cheap | long queue
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
YOSHINOYA
Location: all around Japan
Last Visit: Jan-23 (>10x)
Last Visit: Jan-23 (>10x)
Notes: fast food chain of gyoudon (slices of beef on rice) | my go to if don't know what to eat or when in a rush before getting on train
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
GINZA AKEBONO MOCHI
Location: Ginza
Notes: the most famous mochi in Tokyo
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
HARAJUKU CREPES
Location: Takeshite Dori - Harajuku
Last Visit: Jan-23 (>5x)
Notes: must have in harajuku | 3 most famous shops: Angel's Heart and Marion Crepes since 1970s and Santa Monica Crepes
Review: Marion Crepes usually have the longest line. Probably, because it is the oldest crepe shop in this area. I have tried all three shops and I couldn't decide which one is the best. For me, they all taste the same.
TL;DR: Go for the shortest queue. You can’t really go wrong with any of these three crepe shops
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Ordinary (50-69%)
GREEN TEA ICE CREAM
Location: Asakusa
GREEN TEA ICE CREAM
Last Visit: Nov-22 (>3x)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
NARISAWA
Notes: 2 michelin stars
Leave a comment below if you know other awesome restaurants in Tokyo that I haven't tried before and share this to your family and friends if you like it. Cheers!
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Good (70-89%)
NARISAWA
Notes: 2 michelin stars
Leave a comment below if you know other awesome restaurants in Tokyo that I haven't tried before and share this to your family and friends if you like it. Cheers!
Thanks for a great post--great info and I appreciate your opinions. Going in a few weeks to Tokyo, 3rd time!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
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