Restaurants in Tokyo
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Mimiu
Connoisseurs of udon say that Osaka-style broth is lighter in colour and more delicate in flavour than what Tokyoites favour. Try for yourself at this Osaka original that’s said to have invented udon-suki (¥3700 per person), udon cooked sukiyaki-style in broth, with seafood, vegetables and meat. Look for the stately black building.
reviewed
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B
Monsoon
Monsoon serves up a variety of pan-Asian cuisine from peanut satays to steamed shrimp dumplings in an evocative tropical café setting. Alfresco seating and fruity cocktails help stave off the oppression of Tokyo's notoriously muggy summers, while tropical lagers and spicy curries will help you escape the depression of Tokyo's notoriously grey winters.
reviewed
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C
Gyros Hero
A popular student haunt that offers great value for your yen, Gyros Hero puts together some seriously monster pitas, packed to the gills with meat and salad, and served up with accompanying sauces and golden fries. The Greek-inspired décor of soft pastels and pictures of tiny sun-drenched isles is a world away from the concrete and neon outside.
reviewed
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D
Miravile Impakt
It's hard to know what's more striking at this trendy café - the chic modern interior of bold colours and angular furniture, or the fact that everything on the menu here will overload your sweet tooth. Specialising in just dessert, Miravile Impakt serves up an elegant three-course meal that is rounded out by designer teas and speciality coffees.
reviewed
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E
Sakana-Tei
This unpretentious but slightly posh izakaya is a sake specialist much sought after by connoisseurs, and is good value for the quality. Though there's no English menu, you can point to dishes displayed on the counter, and start with a sampler set of sake. Call ahead for reservations, but turn off your mobile phone once you're in-house rules.
reviewed
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F
Hantei
In an updated Meiji-era house, delectable set menus of skewers of kushiage (fried meat, fish and vegetables) are counterbalanced by small, refreshing side dishes. Lunch courses are eight sticks, and dinner courses start with six, with add-on courses available (from ¥1365). All you really need to decide is whether to drink sake or beer.
reviewed
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G
Akiyoshi
If you’re in the mood for yakitori, Akiyoshi is an approachable, ebullient place to partake. The open grill at centre stage ignites a festive, sociable space. The chefs work quickly to help move traffic along, but that doesn’t mean you can’t sit comfortably through several small courses and at least one conversation.
reviewed
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Hannibal Deux
Even if you've never been to Tunisia (or had Tunisian food for that matter), you'll recognise the fiery tajines and savoury couscous dishes on offer at this North African restaurant. The chef and much of the staff do in fact come from Tunisia, which is about all the proof you need that the food here is about as authentic as you'll find in Japan.
reviewed
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I
Marugo Tonkatsu
In Akihabara's megawatt circus, Marugo sits serenely unplugged in one of the few prewar houses remaining in the area. Although the serene interior full of nostalgic diners is nothing like the otaku (geek) parade that's outside, Marugo survives by offerings some seriously delicious tonkatsu atop piles of fresh shredded cabbage.
reviewed
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J
Botan
Botan has been making a single, perfect dish in the same button-maker’s house since the 1890s. Sit cross-legged on rattan mats as chicken nabe ( 鍋; meat cooked in broth with vegetables) simmers over a charcoal brazier next to you, allowing you to take in the scent of prewar Tokyo. Try to get a seat in the handsome upstairs dining room.
reviewed
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Zest Cantina Ebisu
You’d be forgiven for thinking you were eating Tex-Mex somewhere in America after walking into this cavernous Ebisu institution. Although the jumbo margaritas, enormous bowls of nachos and sizzling hotplates of fajitas are reason enough to stop by, there’s something endearing about Japanese waiting staff in cowboy boots and hats.
reviewed
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L
Yūrakuchō Yakitori Alley
Follow the smoke and steam that's looping its way up from under the railway tracks to this warren of rickety outdoor yakitori stands. Each open-air corner is tended by its own chef who knows everything you'd ever need to about the fine art of grilling chicken. These stands offer little shelter from the elements, so dress accordingly.
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Marmara
The tiny wooden shack that marks the entrance and dispenses dirt-cheap takeaway kebab is so small you might pass it by without remark. Once through the door, however, you'll see the stairs leading down to the spacious seating area where there's sometimes live music, but always solicitous staff and a dizzying choice of Turkish delights.
reviewed
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Umaya
This atmospheric, traditionally styled restaurant serves a variety of Japanese dishes, incorporating free-range chicken, house-made tōfu and a surprising number of vegetarian dishes (though not so many at lunch). To find it from Hitotsugi-dōri, head for Akasaka-fudōson-jinja but turn left just inside the shrine gate.
reviewed
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TY Harbor Brewery
This American-style brew pub boasts an eclectic menu (pan-roasted scallops with curry and couscous anyone?), beer tanks on the premises and a huge, loyal following. It's a gathering place for Tokyo's moneyed expat community, especially for weekend brunch.
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P
Maisen
Maisen turns out righteous, crisp tonkatsu that draws consistent queues. Thankfully, the place is housed in a converted bathhouse, so there's plenty of room for the many souls craving Kagoshima kurobuta pork. If you're on the run, pick up a bentō at the takeaway window – the katsu sandwiches are particularly delicious.
reviewed
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Q
Tsunahachi
Tsunahachi keeps them coming with its reasonably priced, tasty tempura. Sit at the counter for the pleasure of watching the efficient chefs fry each course of your dinner and place it on your dish.
reviewed
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Dada Café
This retro café, which is housed in a 70-year-old tenement building straight out of the Shōwa Era, is a charming spot to reminisce about a Tokyo most of us have never known. While taking tea and noshing on immaculate spreads of honest Japanese cooking, take a moment to reflect on the Zen-like beauty of your surroundings.
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Marunouchi Building
Out the Marunouchi exit of Tokyo Station, ‘Marubiru’ overflows with over 75 options for all budgets and tastes, including soaring, pricey Italian, kaiseki and Chinese on the 35th and 36th floors, Hawaiian hamburgers to Fukuoka rāmen on the 5th and 6th, and casual and takeaway in the basement.
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Eataly
In this neighbourhood – in this city – that worships all things Italian, airy, rambling Eataly is one-stop shopping: trattoria, bakery, espresso bar, salumeria, cheese shop, wine shop and outdoor cafe. Even the shopping carts are so cute that you’ll want to pinch their little shopping-cart cheeks.
reviewed
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Kua 'Aina
From the shores of Haleiwa comes this Hawaiian burger chain, which serves up the obligatory pineapple-topped burgers in a tropical-themed setting. Lovers of avocado, fabulous chips, savoury mahi-mahi fillets and innovative microbrews would be wise to pop by for lunch, even if only to watch salarymen dreaming of warmer climes.
reviewed
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Delhi
Tropical cultures tout the numerous benefits of eating spicy foods; among them, the flushing of toxins when one begins perspiring with the endorphin rush (or pain, as the case may be). For those who like it hot, Delhi serves a fiery Kashmir curry. Patrons with milder tastes will find equally delicious options on the menu.
reviewed
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Robata
Back near the railway tracks, this is one of Tokyo's most celebrated izakaya (Japanese-style pub). A little Japanese language ability is helpful here, but the point-and-eat method works just fine. It's hard to spot the sign, even if you can read Japanese; better to look for the rustic, weathered façade.
reviewed
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Sushi-Sei
Taste top-notch sushi at Sushi-sei, which traces its ancestry back to Tsukiji. Like Akasaka itself, Sushi-sei conducts serious business. Try to hit it during off-peak hours, or expect to queue with hungry government officials and financial movers and shakers. The low-profile shop is set back slightly from the street.
reviewed
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Y
Sonoma
Favourites such as crispy-skinned salmon with lime aioli, and porterhouse steak with truffle butter form the mainstay of this unpretentiously inspired and priced Californian fusion menu. The interior resembles a Sonoma Wine Country restaurant and the menu is complemented by a strong selection of Californian wines.
reviewed