Must see restaurants in Harajuku & Aoyama

There are sushi shops that pride themselves on hewing to tradition and then there is sushi m (and blessedly Tokyo has room for both). Here there are two…

Eatrip is one of the big players in Tokyo's farm-to-table organic movement. Chef Shiraishi Takayuki works closely with domestic producers and his cooking…

Sahsya Kanetanaka is the entry level offshoot of exclusive kaiseki (haute cuisine) restaurant Kanetanaka. At lunch (served until 2pm) choose two mains …

The weekend farmer's market, held in the plaza in front of the United Nations University on Aoyama-dōri, is Tokyo's best. Dozens of farmers come from…

Commune is a food and event space, with a daily farmers market plus vendors selling fresh bread, curry, cold-pressed juice and herbal teas to eat and…

Gyōza (dumplings) are the only thing on the menu here, but you won’t hear any complaints from the regulars who queue up to get their fix. Have them sui …

Maisen is famous both for its tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlets) and its setting (an old public bathhouse). There are different grades of pork on…

Maru has hit upon a sweet spot with its casual reinterpretation of kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine). With the seven-course meal (which changes monthly)…

This pioneering macrobiotic restaurant has been running since 1976, long enough to see many a Harajuku trend come and go (and to see some famous visitors,…

Freshly caught seafood from the nearby Izu Peninsula is the speciality at this upscale, yet unpretentious, restaurant. The dinner courses, which include…

This food truck – our vote for Tokyo's best – is kitted out with a real wood-burning kamada, an old-fashioned cauldron-style rice cooker. And the…

This chill little restaurant serves Kyoto-style food (deceptively simple, with the ingredients – always seasonal – taking centre stage) without pretense…

Manjū (まんじゅう) – that's where the shop's name comes from; it's not just for men! – are hot buns stuffed with sweetened red-bean paste. They're steamed…

Yes, this is Neal's Yard Remedies, as in the British health and beauty company, but for some reason they decided to open a restaurant, just one, here in…

Grill your own okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) at this funky place inside the gallery Design Festa. In addition to classic options (with pork, squid and…

This Aoyama outpost of famed Karuizawa soba shop serves handmade, 100% buckwheat noodles all day and (nearly) all night. Go all in with the (truly) jumbo…

Goma (sesame) ice cream is a must-try and this takeaway stand is the place to try it. There are two varieties, made from high-grade kurogoma (黒ごま; black…

Each month this restaurant focuses on a particular country's breakfast tradition, from Indian idli (fermented rice and lentil cakes) to Brazilian pão de…

Come sample the elegantly thin noodles, silky chāshū (roast pork) and righteous karashi takana (hot pickled greens) for which Kyūshū-style ramen is famous…

This is Omote-sandō's prime people-watching spot, a Parisian-style cafe with terrace seating. The weekday lunch specials (a croissant sandwich or Niçoise…