Tokyo's food culture is a
fascinating journey through the inventiveness and skill of its many eateries.
The city's eating scene is a
monument to its rich culinary legacy and unwavering quest of culinary
perfection, offering everything from the traditional flavors of centuries-old
institutions to the cutting-edge concoctions of avant-garde chefs.
No matter what you order,
top Tokyo restaurants guarantee a mouthwatering experience that entices the
senses and creates a memorable impact on each and every guest.
1.Kobe Beef Teppnyaki
Hakushu
This restaurant started
working in 1966 and since then has received numerous awards.
In the center of the busy
Shibuya neighborhood, you can experience a range of Teppanyaki dishes and
high-quality Japanese wagyu beef, including Kobe Beef, at a reasonable price.
This family-run restaurant
has been cherished for so long given its warm, inviting ambiance, which somehow
makes you feel at home. Make sure to book a table in advance of your visit to
Hakushu, since it is quite popular with both visitors and Japanese!
2.Sezanne
Sezanne, with modern artwork
by Annie Morris and Zen-inspired elements, is one of the best restaurants in
Tokyo.
Sézanne opened in July 2021
and is housed on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at
Marunouchi.
The French Champagne
region's town of the same name serves as a source of inspiration for Sézanne.
The contemporary eating area
skillfully blends Japanese materials and European design. An elegant yet
laid-back atmosphere is created by the cream interior, the bright green of the
natural flowers, and the pastel pink and blue tones of the seats.
3.Sukiyabashi Jiro
Sukiyabashi Jiro, which is
owned by the well-known sushi chef Jiro Ono, is a well-known attraction for
sushi lovers all over the world. This restaurant is a sought-after dining
destination because of its dedication to quality and heritage as well as its
exclusive omakase tasting menu.
As one of the top Tokyo
restaurants, Sukiyabashi Jiro offers a unique culinary experience, with each
piece of sushi being skillfully made and delivered by qualified chefs following
the Edo-style tradition.
The omakase tasting menu
highlights the finest and freshest ingredients, letting patrons experience the
essence of Japanese culinary expertise through a selection of 20 expertly made
sushi pieces.
4.Gyuan
For more than 30 years,
Gyuan, a well-known Japanese steakhouse in the Ginza district, has been serving
up top-notch wagyu cuisine and exceptional service.
If you've always wanted to
try wagyu beef but are afraid it's too costly, you should go to Gyuan during
lunchtime. They have amazing lunch specialties made with wagyu beef that are
surprisingly inexpensive. For 1,000 yen, you may savor a delicious wagyu beef
humburg steak!
5.Sushi no Midori
One of the greatest
locations to sample sushi in Japan is at the well-known Sushi no Midori, where
you can get excellent sushi at shockingly low prices.
There is always a line
outside at lunch at any of the several highly popular branches located
throughout Tokyo.
In this top restaurant, skilled
sushi chefs use premium fish to create their sushi delicacies at Sushi no
Midori. Together with ala carte options and side dishes, there are several
different sushi set meals available.
6.Gonpachi
Located near Nishi Azabu and
Roppongi, Gonpachi is one of the best restaurants in Tokyo which serves
authentic Japanese cuisine.
Gonpachi was the source of the
idea for the famous combat scene from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, which is
why it’s frequently referred to as "the Kill Bill restaurant".
Gonpachi offers a variety of
traditional Japanese fare, such as tempura, yakitori, soba, and sushi, in a
setting with an ambiance reminiscent of an old-fashioned wooden interior.
7.Asakusa Imahan
With more than ten locations
throughout Japan, Asakusa Imahan is a well-known Japanese eatery that has been
around since 1985.
The primary branch is
situated next to the well-known Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa neighborhood.
Ihaman is known for its signature cuisine, sukiyaki, a traditional Japanese
hotpot dish made with the best ingredients, such as Kobe beef and black-haired
wagyu, stewed in an iron pot with flawlessly blended sweet soy sauce.
Shabu shabu, another
well-liked Japanese hotpot cuisine, is also offered. Because the restaurant is
very well-liked by both locals and visitors, reservations should be made well
in advance!
8.Marugo
Akihabara is home to the
well-known Tonkatsu restaurant Marugo, one of the top Tokyo restaurants. This
little, old-fashioned restaurant has been around for a long time and draws
customers from all over the nation.
During lunch and supper,
there is always a huge line outside the restaurant, but the wait is well worth
it.
You can get the tonkatsu
meals at Marugo with either fillet (which is less fatty) or loin (which is
juicier). The meat is thinly sliced and grilled to a perfect crispiness on the
exterior and juicy, tender inside. The enormous Ebifurai, or deep-fried breaded
shrimp, is another well-liked item.
9.Izuei
Izu-ei is among the best
restaurants in Tokyo that has been working for nearly 300 years. It has
survived multiple wars and natural disasters, and it has been passed down
through nine generations.
This restaurant dates back
to the Edo period and offers traditional Tokyo-style unagi, or Edo-mae.
The expert master chefs
grill the premium eels and serve them with a traditional sauce derived from a
family recipe. With table chairs and Japanese-style tatami seats, the
tastefully modern Japanese-style building can accommodate 270 people.
Currently, there are four
branches of sIzuei, with the main one being in the Ueno region.
10.Ichiran
This
well-known Ramen brand in Japan has locations both domestically and abroad.
Ichiran's specialty is Tonkotsu Ramen, a Fukuoka-originating dish of thin,
straight noodles served with a thick, creamy pig broth soup.
The
combination of chopped green onion, sliced pork, and hot red sauce on top of
the bowl of Ramen creates the ideal harmony.
This
restaurant is renowned for its distinctive counter seating and ticketing
systems, which draw a lot of customers.
You can
adjust the richness of the broth and the hardness of the noodles in your Ramen.
Their Shinjuku location is quite accessible because it's open till 6 a.m. and
is just a 3-minute walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station.
11.Tempura Kondo
The greatest spot to eat is
Tempura Kondo if you want to sample the tastiest tempura.
With over 50 years of
experience, Tempura Kondo is without a doubt one of the top Tokyo restaurants.
Despite being deep-fried,
the tempura items served at Kondo are delicate and light because the cooking
timing and procedures are impeccable. Numerous VIPs and celebrities from Japan
and other countries have expressed admiration for the restaurant.
12.Rokkasen
Popular in the Shinjuku
neighborhood, Rokkasen is a Japanese style BBQ restaurant serving a variety of
excellent Wagyu beef meals, such as Matsuzaka and Kobe beef, in three different
styles.
In addition to the standard
course menu and ala carte options, there's an all-you-can-eat option where you
can eat as much of the premium Japanese beef as you desire.
A wide variety of beverages
are also available on the drink menu to go with the mouthwatering dishes.
13.Tinc Gana
Inside Tinc Gana, a fancy
restaurant connected to the Spanish bar Gracia, there's a cool-looking counter.
It's green on the inside and grey on the outside.
Outside, there's a small
area with nice chairs where people can enjoy drinks before their meal.
As one of the top Tokyo
restaurants, Tinc Gana is popular among people who work in hospitality and with
food enthusiasts. You might even see local restaurant owners having a meal here
on their days off, or famous chefs visiting Tokyo.
The menu changes depending
on the time of year, but it usually starts with bread and tomatoes topped with
special ham.
14.Kanda
Since 2008, when the Red
Guide initially arrived in Tokyo, Kanda has been bestowed with Michelin stars.
Originating from a family of
traditional Japanese cooks, Hiroyuki Kanda combines his conventional training
with concepts he picked up while working in France in his twenties.
He makes dishes like abalone
with somen noodles in a sour broth or peaches with tofu and caviar, blending
sweet and savory elements. Favorites include the pressed sushi and
clay-pot-cooked rice, which are paired with pickles and miso soup.
It's all served on antique
lacquerware. It's difficult to get a reservation here, but it is well worth the
effort for a special occasion.
This is one of the best
restaurants in Tokyo which despite its high cost, attracts many people or an an
exceptional experience.
15.Hosokawa
The sumo arena in Tokyo is
located in the eastern Ryogoku neighborhood, and Hosokawa is immediately
recognized by the long line of devoted soba fans waiting outside during
lunchtime.
This is just past the
massive Edo-Tokyo Museum. Noodles made by renowned chef Tadashi Hosokawa are
made entirely of freshly ground buckwheat flour.
Unlike noodles made from
wheat flour, these noodles have a fantastic texture that is both hearty and
pleasantly chewy.
The buckwheat's nutty flavor
is accentuated by the smoky soy-based sauce that is served alongside them. The
perfect way to savor Hosokawa's soba dishes is with a side order of juicy,
fast-fried kamonasu eggplant or delicate anago eel tempura.
Try the soba in a chilled
dashi soup with pureed okra during the height of summer.
Conclusion
Are you planning a trip to Japan and trying to find the best
restaurants in Tokyo?
Tokyo is home to tens of
thousands of restaurants; it would take a lifetime for someone to visit them
all.
Even though there are some
restaurants in Tokyo which you can’t get in unless a regular recommends you,
you will find enough options to enjoy a great meal.
However, in Japan, it is not
customary to leave tips, and if you try to do so, you will almost definitely be
declined. Therefore, you can’t leave a tip in cash or use Tipsy.