Although we know that it is very difficult to make a list of places to eat in Tokyo, we are going to try to make a selection of what have been for us some of the best options, among which we also include some that, despite the good reviews, we have not ended up liking as much as we expected.
This list is made after our two visits to Japan, the first one during our trip to Japan on our own and the second one when we spent two months in the country, after which we published this guide to Tokyo, in which this post is included.
As we did in the article on where to eat in Kyoto, we also leave you some basic tips to keep in mind for eating in Tokyo and throughout Japan.
Basic tips for eating in restaurants in Japan
One thing to keep in mind is that eating in a restaurant in Japan is not the same as eating in a restaurant anywhere else in Asia or Europe.
In Japan there are certain unwritten rules, which should be taken into account, especially to enjoy the gastronomy and to show respect towards our hosts, which in this case will be the restaurants.
If you want to know these basic tips, which is highly recommended, don't miss the post Where to eat in Kyoto, in which we talked about this topic in the first part of this post.
Also, do not forget about a comfortable stay in Tokyo and book a hotel. Book at tokyo-hotels-stay.com
Sushizanmai Shibuya East Entrance
The restaurant Sushizanmai Shibuya East Entrance, is one of the most recommended sushi restaurants in Tokyo that belongs to a sushi chain, which can be found in Tokyo and Osaka.
The concept is like a Spanish "100 Montaditos", where you write down the pieces you want on a piece of paper and after giving it to the waiter, they serve you.
The nigiris are individual pieces and prices range from 98 yen (tortilla) to 560 yen for the most expensive tuna.
In general, the quality/price ratio is not bad in this place, but we think it is not the best we have tasted in Japan.
However, we would like to point out that the places they have in the Tsukiji Fish Market are some of the best we have tried.
Sushizanmai Shibuya East Entrance
Soranoiro Honten (Head Shop)
Soranoiro Honten (Head Shop) is a small ramen restaurant in Tokyo, located in Tokyo Station, 1-3-10 Hirakawacho, Chiyoda 102-0093, on the famous "Ramen Street".
In addition to being one of the few restaurants that offers vegetarian ramen, it is well known for being listed in the 2015 Michelin Guide for Tokyo.
It should be noted that there are only two types of ramen on the menu, one normal and one vegetarian, to which you can add egg for an additional price. Each bowl costs approximately 1050 yen and you can add a salad or a healthy shake for 150 yen.
Highly recommended!
Soranoiro Honten (Head Shop)
Bairin Ginza Honten
Bairin Ginza Honten is one of the most recommended restaurants in the Tokyo Station area for tonkatsu and one of the must-visit places to eat in Tokyo if you like Japanese food.
The average menu price is 1700 yen and includes a 130 gram piece of tonkatsu plus rice and miso.
Although it was good, it was impossible to compare it with Katsukura, one of the restaurants we recommend where to eat in Kyoto and where we tasted, several times, an incredible tonkatsu.
Bairin Ginza Honten
Ichiran
Ichiran restaurant, located at 1-22-7 Jinnan | Iwamoto Bldg. B1F, Shibuya 150-0041 (although there are more in the city), is one of the most recommended places to eat in Tokyo if you want a good ramen.
They also have places in Kyoto, although we didn't try them.
It's usually quite crowded, so we recommend you go early to avoid queuing. The procedure may seem a bit complicated at first, although it is quite intuitive: in the queue you will meet a guy who will give you some papers to fill in, which include questions such as how you want the texture of the noodles, what ingredients you want to add, the degree of spiciness, etc. If you don't want anything special, we recommend you to choose the "medium" option, which is the one they recommend. Once you have filled in the paperwork, you will go to a machine where you have to pay and you will get a ticket with your choice, which you will have to give to the waiter, who will serve you your ramen dish in a few minutes.
The average price is 800 yen per ramen.
Great!
Ichiran. Where to eat in Tokyo
Katsu Midori Seibu Shibuya
The Katsu Midori Seibu Shibuya restaurant, located at 21-1 Udagawacho | Seibu Department Store Shibuya 8F, is one of the most recommended restaurants in the area for quality, affordable, conveyor-belt sushi.
Although it is very large, there is usually a long queue, but at the same time it tends to go very fast, so it is worth the wait.
The price of sushi varies according to the type of fish, starting at 108 yen (two nigiris). It is worth noting that there are more non-fish Japanese dishes on the menu.
You can sit at the bar or at the table, placing your order using an iPad or directly on forms, which you then give to the waitress and they will be delivered to your table on a conveyor belt.
The price of a plate of nigiris ranges from 100 yen to 500 yen for the most expensive one.
Katsu Midori Seibu Shibuya
Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka
Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka restaurant, located at 2-29-11 Dogenzaka | 1f, Shibuya 150-0043, a few metres from the famous Shibuya crossing, is one of the most recommended restaurants in this part of the city for sushi using the conveyor belt system.
The place is very big and even if you see a long queue, it goes fast, so you won't have to wait too long. The concept of the restaurant is curious to say the least: you have to order on an iPad and your order will arrive at your area of the bar via the conveyor belt.
Although it is highly recommended, we think it is mainly because of its cheap prices, as in terms of quality, in our opinion, it falls a little short. However, if you want to eat a lot, at reasonable prices and try this type of restaurant, it's worth it.
Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka. Where to eat in Tokyo
Uobei Shibuya Dogenzaka. Where to eat in Tokyo
Harajuku Gyozaro
The Harajuku Gyozaro restaurant, located at 6-2-4 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, very close to the well-known Omotesando Street, is one of the best known places to eat gyozas in Tokyo, one of the most recommended and well-known dishes in Japanese cuisine.
It should be noted that there is often a long queue, although it goes fast, so it is advisable to come early, either at midday or in the evening, if you don't want to wait too long.
There are two varieties of gyozas on the menu, boiled or fried, which you can order with or without garlic. The price for 6 gyozas is 290 yen, beer 500 yen and soft drinks 200 yen. We ordered all 4 varieties for two people, plus a cucumber starter, and we were perfectly happy.
Harajuku Gyozaro
Tempura bowl Tenya Asakusa
Tempura bowl Tenya Asakusa, located at 1-9-1 Asakusa, Taito in the Asakusa district, is one of the best known tempura bowl restaurants in this part of Tokyo.
The restaurant has a couple of floors with a bar area and a table area, and you can choose whichever one you want to sit at.
Although it looks like a fast-food restaurant, it's really good and it's worth taking advantage of the fact that you're in this neighbourhood to try it.
From the menu you can choose from various tempura options individually, as well as menus that include rice, miso and tempura, whether vegetable, fish or prawns. The latter are the most expensive and are priced between 700 and 900 yen.
Tempura bowl Tenya Asakusa
Curry House CoCo Ichibanya Shinjuku Station West Entrance
The restaurant Curry House CoCo Ichibanya Shinjuku Station West Entrance, located at 1-2-12 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0023, in the Shinjuku neighbourhood, is from the same chain as the one we recommended in Kyoto, which you can read in the post "where to eat in Kyoto".
Curry House CoCo. Where to eat in Tokyo
Shake Shack
We understand that Shake Shack is probably not the best place to eat in Tokyo, although we have to say that it is worth going to one of the places in Tokyo, especially if you are there for a few days and want to get away from the incredible Japanese cuisine for a few hours.
We have been to two different ones during our stay in Tokyo and we have to say that although they are not the same as the burgers in New York, they are very similar.
The price of a basic menu is a little more expensive than initially expected, with the final bill being 3300 yen for two menus.
Shake Shack Tokyo
Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro
Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro is a small restaurant in Asakusa, a neighbourhood that is among the things to see and do in Tokyo, located at 2-2-2 Nishiasakusa, Taito 111-0035, which is considered one of the most recommended places to eat in Tokyo the famous okonomiyaki.
It should be noted that they open at 12 noon and the place, despite having several tables, is quite small and long queues tend to form, so it is worth coming 15-20 minutes before opening time to get in at the first sitting. If there is a bit of a queue, you usually have to wait an hour and a half to two hours before you can be seated in the second round.
The only seating option is on tatamis, which is something to bear in mind as the position, if you are not used to it, can be uncomfortable, as well as having the iron on the table, which makes the heat quite exhausting.
Requirements!
The price is 870 okonomiyaki and 1200 prawn tepanyaki.
Asakusa Okonomiyaki Sometaro
Mr. Donut
This place, also in Kyoto, is one of the most addictive places in Japan. Something to keep in mind if you don't want to spend the whole trip eating delicious doughnuts.
They have endless varieties, each one better than the next, which are the perfect accompaniment to an iced coffee.
The prices of the doughnuts are no more than 150 yen and the coffees around 350 yen.
Mr. Donut
Suke6 Diner
The Suke6 Diner, located at 1-11-1 Hanakawado 1F & 2F mi Bldg., is a charming restaurant near Sensoji Temple that serves a variety of Western dishes such as burgers, avocado toast and salads, as well as a huge variety of drinks.
Highly recommended if you like this type of cuisine. Prices range from 800 to 2000 yen and the atmosphere is a vintage cafe-restaurant type of place.
Where to eat in Nikko
Hippari dako
The small Hippari dako restaurant is one of the most popular places to eat in Nikko.
Located at 1011 Kamihatsuishimachi, Nikko 321-1401, the main street of the city, it is a perfect choice if you want to try various dishes of Japanese cuisine, as well as quality, it has very reasonable prices ranging from 300 to 800 yen.
As well as eating à la carte, you can choose from several set menus for around 1000 yen.
Hippari dakoWhere to eat in Fuji. Lake Kawaguchiko
Lake Bake
The Lake Bake café-restaurant, located at 2585-85 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko-machi, on Lake Kawuguchico, in the Oishi area.
It is a small place with a breathtaking view of Fuji, where we recommend you stop for a coffee, although it must be said that both the sweet and savoury pastries are exquisite.
