Eating through Tokyo – my top picks!

Japan is the land for food. There is simply no comparison. Out of all the countries I’ve traveled to, Japan has always been the most consistent in terms of food quality and value for money. Whenever people say Japan is expensive – all I need to do is point out how cheap you can get their food (ok, not cheap, but affordable given the quality)! I love it – my only sadness is… I haven’t had the time to fully explore the culinary scene of this beautiful city yet… But for now, this list shall suffice. Before we start though – some tips:

• Japan is pretty well-known for their queuing culture and their small restaurant seating space; therefore for most of the restaurants I’ll be listing below – expect to queue for quite awhile. As such, if you’re a big group and okay to be seated apart, please do tell them upfront. This will cut down on your waiting time DRASTICALLY. You know what will cut it down even more? Go early
• For some restaurant joints, you’ll notice an ordering machine. You have to order here by placing cash in first, then pressing your order (the machine is usually in Japanese, but will have nice photos on it). Afterwards, a stub will come out and you should then hand this over to the waiter
• Despite being a very well-to-do country, Japan is still a bit backwards in some sense… Case in point, a lot of their establishments accept cash only. So, be ready and always have some cash with you!

 

Great, I think that covers it! Let’s walk you guys through my food recommendations now shall we? Hope you’re ready to shout UMAMI with me! <3

 

Shibuya

Katsudon Zuicho

• Specialty: Katusudon
• Price: $

Not exactly in the center of Shibuya, but close enough. We rushed here because we were worried we wouldn’t make it before it closed. Thankfully when we got there, we managed to snag the last few remaining seats and were told to come back 30mins later. We arrived and had to wait for another ~30minutes but all is well…

BECAUSE THE KATSUDON WAS DELICIOUS! 🤪 These Japanese people know how to fry! The pork was juicy on the inside, crispy fried perfectly on the outside. Delicious sauce also. Added egg as well, which was cooked just the way I like it – a bit runny hehe

 

Joto Curry

• Specialty: Curry
• Price: $

Back at it! We got the last few seats before the restaurant turned away customers. Crazy how early these tokyo restaurants close!

Anyway their pork cutlet curry was AMAZING! This was arguably my fave meal this trip. As always the frying was on-point, but it’s the curry that really makes this dish, and the curry sauce was just super good – alternating between sweet and spicy (got that extra kick that was v pleasing to my taste)

 

Shinjuku

Bou’lange

• Specialty: Pastries (they have lots of novel flavors like Sakura blanc – so make sure to try them out)
• Price: $$$ (Quite pricey for pastries)

It always surprises me when I realize how good Japanese pastries can be – although I don’t know why I’m surprised. After all, it feels like Japan consists of people who simply spend years honing their craft, so why would their pastries be any different? Anyway, I was really itching to try Gontran Cherrier, consistently touted to be the #1 bakery in Tokyo; but it’s been replaced by Bou’lange – owned by the same group and serving largely the same pastries… No worries, the pastries were still AH-MAZING

Gyukatsu Motomura

• Specialty: Fried beef cutlets
• Price: JPY 1,300 (130 g of beef); JPY 2,100 (260 g of beef)

We queued for 30mins for the opportunity to savor this delectable piece of beef. Note, they place a stone cutlet in front of you so you can cook it on your own. Included in the price are wasabi, horseradish sauce, seasoned cod roe and potato salad. It was very good – please take my word for it and go!

Menya Musashi Shinjuku

• Specialty: Dipping noodles
• Price: $

Menya Musashi is actually known for their dipping noodles and the incredibly rich fish broth. I got the garlic flavored broth, so that its sweetness would cut through the richness.

The standard order includes ramen and pork belly (SO AMAZINGLY GOOD!!!!), but I opted to add ramen egg and this pork ham-like thing as well. Mmmm you can skip the ham thing, it was just ayt

 

Omoide Yokocho

• Specialty: Yakitori
• Price: $ (but becomes $$ if you choose a sit-down restaurant), cash only

Craving for some yakitori? You’re in luck – it’s the land of yakitoris!!! Beware, it can feel slightly claustrophobic here due to the walled-in spaces and hordes of people

Tip: Don’t eat in the sit-down restaurants. Those are more expensive (there’s a JPY 300 table charge), and everyone’s expected to order a drink (on top of food). Just try one of the roadside “stalls” instead

Afuri

• Specialty: Tsukemen
• Price: $$

There was a slight queue when we got there (at 6:30PM) but it wasn’t so bad. What took us longer was trying to figure out how to operate the ordering machine! Arghhh, need to enter cash first, BEFORE you can order the food items. I thought the machine was broken!! Oh well, you learn a new thing everyday… Anyway, try their famed Afuri fusion noodles (tsukemen was the bomb!), it’s amazing! <3

 

Fuunji

• Specialty: Noodles – famed for their special dipping sauce
• Price: $$

We got here at 6:30PM and still had to queue for 30 mins, these restaurants are CRAZY! Once you’re seated, the waiter will ask you if you want a medium or large size (they cost exactly the same!). I’m a girl with decent appetite and I finished the medium semi-easily; I do think Large would’ve been a struggle though (although my brother happily scarfed his food down)

Anyway, this joint is famous for their special dipping sauce (which has this very rich, a bit fishy taste). Some people like the sauce here so much, that after they finish their noodles, they pour hot water into the sauce to dilute it, then drink it straight down like a soup!

 

Yoshinoya

• Specialty: Gyudon
• Price: $

Don’t laugh! Yoshinaya Japan’s gyudon is simply mindblowing!!! In the Philippines, Yoshinoya isn’t great – but in Japan, it’s my #1 go-to place for gyudon. The best part? It’s cheap!

 

Omotesando

Higuma Doughnuts

• Specialty: Donuts
• Price: $$

Got the limoncello and plain w/ vanilla ice cream. Kakaiba the doughnut! Not dense, but chewy. I really liked the texture! The limoncello was good – very lemony in flavor. The plain was ok lang – I like ‘em sweet eh hehe! And the ice cream was just alright. I have been spoiled by Hokkaido forever!

 

Happy Pancake

• Specialty: Pancakes
• Price: $

Woo fluffy pancake!! This is one of Tokyo’s well-known ones, and the pancake was pretty good albeit eggier than expected? The ice cream that accompanied the pancake was weird though…

 

Harajuku

Kura Sushi

• Specialty: Sushi
• Price: $

Super fascinating this place and the queue is crazy! We got our number at 12:30pm and we got a seat at 4:30pm. Thankfully you didn’t need to wait there the whole time but were just told when we should return back to the restaurant

Everything’s super automated here too! Even the announcement of your number and informing you which table to be seated at. The getting of the sushi from the conveyor belt was very neatly designed as well. You could get direct from the belt, or use your monitor to order and your order would be delivered in a separate belt.

The sushi were all pretty good and v reasonably priced at ¥150 per plate (for most). Tip: order half rice only so you don’t get full too quickly! Also, don’t bother ordering their crepe dessert, it aint that great (practically all cream), and it takes forever for them to make

 

Tsukiji Market

Segawa

• Specialty: Tuna bowls (or Maguro Donburi)
• Price: JPY 1,500 for the tuna bowl

I really really wanted to try Segawa. Unfortunately, I woke up late and by the time we got there (10:30AM), they were already out of stock!! How can this be?!?! Anyway, we ended up eating at Sushi Zanmai instead…

 

Sushi Zanmai

• Specialty: Sushi (duh – see the name!)
• Price: $$

Good quality, and reasonably priced sushi sets – it’s hard to go wrong with Sushi Zanmai! Still, I think I would’ve liked to try Segawa…

 

Shutoku Honten (秀徳)

• Specialty: Sushi
• Price: $$$
• Address:4-14-16 Tsukiji Chuo Tokyo (Tsukiji Market area)

Man, this restaurant is a definite must-try! My local friend brought me here and it was A-MAZING. Fresh sushi galore – and it just kept coming. I counted 18 dishes in total, devoured over a span of 2 hours. Crazyyy! My stomach died, but it died happy 😉 Do expect to cough up some cash for this meal though…

Tsukiji Yoshino

• Specialty: Boiled conger eel
• Price: $$

Famous for their boiled conger eel, I got their lunch combo set (boiled eel and grilled eel) which was very reasonably priced! I love lunch sets in Japan 🥰

Taste-wise was good. I believe I prefer boiled to grilled, but that might just be because there was more of the boiled. However this was no comparison to Hamamatsu eel!

 

Sashimi Bar Kashigashira

• Specialty: Sushi
• Price: $

A few steps away from tourist trap Tsukiji Market is this gem of a place. It’s found in the basement so you won’t see it unless you’re really looking for it, but the prices here are pretty much half that of the market (especially if you avail of the cash discount!)

We got the mixed seafood bowl dn the salmon bowl – both of which were amazingg as expected. There’s also a chirashi bowl (no cash discount though) which I heard was pretty excellent too!

 

Odaiba

Kaneko Hannosuke

• Specialty: Tempura with poached egg
• Price: JPY 900 + tax

The tempura here is SUPER yummy, but quite pricey given the size of its portions. Note that the Odaiba branch is found at the Diver City food court, but the original branch is the one at Nihombashi

 

Excited for more? Follow me on my Tokyo journey! 🙂

For my other Japan blogs, please do check out the following:

Everything you need to know about Tokyo (as a DIY tourist)

Eating my way through Tokyo – top picks!

What to see and do in Okinawa

TOKYO 7-DAY OFF-THE-BEATEN PATH DIY ITINERARIES

• Day 1: Tokyo Day trip to Kawagoe
• Day 2: Tokyo Disney Sea adventure
• Day 3: Tokyo Day trip to Yokohama
• Day 4: Tokyo Day trip to Hakone
• Day 5: Tokyo Day trip to Kamukara and Enoshima
• Day 6: Tokyo shopping day!
• Day 7: Imperial Palace Walking Tour + Odaiba