10 Best Restaurants in Tokyo: Budget-Friendly Delights to Michelin Star Extravagance

Get to know Tokyo: A foodie’s paradise

Tokyo’s food scene is vibrant, ranging from local Japanese cuisine to international specialties. To make the most of your restaurant hopping in the capital, read on for our tips.

Queue or make a reservation in advance to enter popular restaurants

If you want to visit a popular restaurant in Tokyo, it’s mostly impossible to just walk in and grab a seat. In most cases, you’ll find yourself queuing up in front of the store, jotting down your name, and patiently waiting for your call. Alternatively, you might receive a numbered ticket and return to the eatery when it’s close to your turn.

To avoid the aforementioned hassle, try to visit popular restaurants during lunch hours or on weekdays. The best option, however, is making a reservation in advance through either WAmazing, or the restaurant’s official booking websites.

Tokyo is home to the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world

Tokyo is a popular destination for local gourmands and international foodies, being home to the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in any city around the world—a dazzling 183 in 2024.

Aside from the classic French specialties, you can find a range of local delicacies, ranging from extravagant Japanese-style kaiseki course meals and sushi creations, to more simpler dishes, such as ramen and tempura (deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter.)

Explore Tokyo's culinary scene with the Tokyo Subway Ticket

Visit many of the city’s restaurants by using the Tokyo Subway Ticket, which grants you unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines for either 24, 48 or 72 hours.

4 must-eat Tokyo specialties

Tokyo boasts a diverse range of local specialties and popular dishes that are a must-try during your visit to Japan's capital. Indulge in authentic Edomae sushi, savor a sumo wrestler's staple, chanko-nabe hot pot, experience the flavors of tempura rice bowls, and enjoy various ingredients grilled teppan-yaki style. Below, you’ll find four eateries to explore Tokyo’s best local foods.

Edomae sushi: Ebisu Sushi Shiorian Yamashiro

Edomae sushi, also known as Edo-style sushi, traces its origins back to Edo, the former name of Tokyo.

It’s typically associated with nigiri-zushi, which refers to hand-formed vinegared rice topped with raw seafood. Traditionally, it utilized fish and shellfish caught in Tokyo Bay.

Try this culinary Tokyo staple at Shiorian Yamashiro, a former Michelin-starred restaurant located just a short walk from Ebisu Station.

Indulge in a meticulously crafted course meal with beautifully presented dishes, featuring seasonal vegetables and seafood that capture the essence of each time of year. The sushi toppings used for each piece are allowed to rest, a procedure that enhances the natural flavor of the fish.

With a focus on ingredients, taste, color, aroma, ambiance, service, and customer satisfaction, Ebisu Sushi Shiorian Yamashiro promises an authentic gastronomic experience like no other.

Ebisu Sushi Shiorian Yamashiro
Address: STM Ebisu Bldg 3F-A, 1-8-1 Ebisu-Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: Short walk from Ebisu Station (JR Yamanote, Saikyo, Shonan-Shinjuku lines, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)

Book through WAmazing and enjoy Shiorian Yamashiro’s authentic Edomae sushi course.

Tendon: Dote no Iseya

Dote no Iseya, established in 1889, is housed in a traditional Japanese-style wooden building that exudes the charm of a bygone era.

This retro restaurant is renowned for its tendon, deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter served over rice. You can choose from three options—I, Ro, and Ha—each offering different toppings.

Ha, the most extravagant, boasts toppings such as deep-fried anago (conger eel) and a large prawn, kakiage tempura of shrimp, seasonal fish tempura, plus three types of vegetables.

The crispy batter maintains a fluffy texture, complemented by a sauce that strikes a perfect balance between sweet and salty.

While the tempura bowls at Dote no Iseya are generously portioned, the restaurant also offers smaller versions for children at half the price.

To avoid long queues, consider visiting early on a weekday rather than on weekends.

Dote no Iseya
Address: 1-9-2 Nihonzutsumi, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access: 11-min walk from Minowa Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
Official website: http://www.dotenoiseya.jp/info/ (in Japanese only)

Chanko-nabe: Chanko Kirishima

While ramen and sushi are the go-to staples that immediately come to mind when thinking of Tokyo cuisine, chanko-nabe actually stands out as one of the most local and distinctive dishes in the city.

This protein-rich stew is traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers, and most restaurants serving this dish are scattered around Ryogoku Station. This particular area is home to the Kokugikan Sumo Hall, where Japan’s biggest spectator sport, the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament, is held.

You can fuel up on this hearty dish at Chanko Kirishima, run by former pro-wrestler and head coach of the Michinoku Stable, Kazuhiro Kirishima.

Only a short walk from JR Ryogoku Station, its signature chanko-nabe is prepared by using the same recipe that is used at the Michinoku Stable. The soup is a blend of chicken and pork bone broth, enhanced with the flavors of soy sauce and miso.

The hot pot includes plenty of vegetables, pork, minced chicken, seafood such as scallops, shrimp, and octopus dumplings, as well as tofu and fried tofu. Pair your hot pot with a platter of chicken wings, which are traditionally eaten together with the chanko-nabe.

Chanko Kirishima Main Store
Address: 2-13-7 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Access: Short walk from JR Ryogoku Station (Chuo-Sobu Line)
Official website: https://c-kirishima.com/ (in Japanese only)

Teppan-yaki: Ginza Teppanyaki Sublime

This former Michelin restaurant specializes in teppan-yaki, where various ingredients are skillfully prepared on a hot steel plate in the center of the table.

Indulge in the luxurious experience at this Ginza restaurant, which boasts a sophisticated atmosphere with both counter seats and private rooms.

The skilled chefs grill the ingredients to perfection, with the A5 black wagyu beef chateaubriand, in particular, offering a tender, melt-in-your-mouth experience accompanied by a rich aroma. 

Additionally, seasonal vegetables and seafood such as abalone and lobster are incorporated, providing a colorful array of menu options.

Ginza Teppanyaki Sublime
Address: Tsukamoto Fudosan Bldg 6F, 5-5-11 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Access: Short walk from Ginza Station Exit B3 (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line) and Exit A2 (Ginza Line)

Book through WAmazing and enjoy Ginza Teppanyaki Sublime’s premium teppan-yaki course with wagyu beef and lobster.

2 best Michelin-starred restaurants

Tokyo boasts over 180 Michelin-starred restaurants. While you can find typical French cuisine in any major city around the world, let's take a closer look at these two establishments below, known for serving two quintessential staples in Japanese cuisine—ramen and fugu (puffer fish.)

Affordable: Enjoy ramen at Ginza Hachigou

While ramen is typically considered a Japanese comfort food, Ginza Hachigou elevates it to a refined and elegant dish. This transformation is credited to owner-chef Yasushi Matsumura, who has over 30 years of experience in French cuisine.

The French-infused soup resembles a flavorful consommé. It’s made from a blend of Nagoya Cochin chicken, duck, dried tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, scallops, konbu (kelp,) green onions and cured ham. The concoction is then topped with bamboo shoots, green onions, sliced chashu pork, and black pepper.

The standard bowl at this Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand-rated restaurant is available for a mere JPY 1,200.

To snag a seat at this six-seat counter eatery: you either line up, or you can make a reservation in advance. For the latter option, however, you’ll have to pay a JPY 500 reservation fee per person.

Ginza Hachigou
Address: Daiichi Hanabusa Bldg 1F, 3-14-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Access: Short walk from Higashi-Ginza Station (Toei Subway Asakusa Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
Official website: https://katsumoto-japan.com/en/ginza_hachigou.html

Premium: Savor puffer fish at Usuki Fugu Yamadaya Nishi-Azabu

This Michelin-starred restaurant, located in a residential area in Nishi-Azabu, specializes in fugu (puffer fish) specialties. It’s a branch of Ryotei Yamada in Usuki, Oita Prefecture, an area and restaurant renowned for its fugu.

The puffer fish used for the restaurant’s carefully fileted delicacies is the tiger puffer from the Bungo Channel, a strait that separates the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Shikoku.

Splurge on the Usuki Fugu Omakase Course for the ultimate puffer fish experience, which includes eight dishes—think fugu sashimi, grilled and fried fugu, fugu-chiri (boiled fugu, tofu, and vegetables and served with a citrus ponzu dipping sauce,) and fugu-zosui (hot-pot of puffer fish, vegetables, and rice.)

Usuki Fugu Yamadaya Nishi-Azabu
Address: Fleg Nishi-Azabu Vierge B1F, 4-11-14 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 9-min walk from Hiroo Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
Official website: https://www.usukifugu-yamadaya.jp/English/nishiazabui-english.html

2 best kaiseki restaurants

Kaiseki, or kaiseki-ryori, is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal that balances the taste, texture, appearance, and colors of food. Utilizing only fresh and seasonal ingredients, the flavors are enhanced through meticulous preparation. The dishes are thoughtfully presented on plates chosen to emphasize both the visual appeal and the seasonal theme of the meal, often adorned with real leaves and flowers. Read on for two of Tokyo’s best kaiseki restaurants.

Ise Sueyoshi in Nishi-Azabu

Believing that a region's food culture is rooted in locally grown ingredients, kaiseki chef Yuki Tanaka opened Ise Sueyoshi in 2015. The beautifully crafted dishes at this small, ten-seat restaurant focus on ingredients sourced from the ancient city of Ise.

Awarded multiple times with Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award, Tanaka's dishes reflect a profound expertise, showcasing a deep understanding of the ingredients. They not only capture the essence of the changing seasons but also portray the landscapes and traditional flavors of Japan.

Book in advance and opt for the “Kaiseki Cuisine Full Course at Chef's table” plan, which includes an English guide on traditional kaiseki culture, explaining the various small dishes in the course meal.

The menu can be personalized to cater to vegan and vegetarian diners, as well as accommodate other dietary restrictions, allergies, and preferences.

Ise Sueyoshi
Address: Mizuno Bldg 3F, 4-2-15 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 9-min walk from Hiroo Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)
Official website: https://ise-sueyoshi.com/top-en/

Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai next to Tokyo Tower

For a truly authentic and almost magical dining experience, visit this stunning kaiseki restaurant right underneath Tokyo Tower.

Step through the wooden Nagayamon gate and climb the cobblestone staircase to find yourself in Tokyo of bygone days. The restaurant is housed in a traditional wooden structure that was once a two-century-old sake brewery, relocated from Yamagata Prefecture.

Follow the path along the tranquil Japanese-style garden, with its koi-filled pond, wooden bridges, stone lanterns and vermillion red torii gates. Traverse the lacquered corridors and find your seat in one of the 55 private dining rooms, furnished with tatami mats, shoji sliding doors, and other traditional elements exuding Japanese aesthetics.

The restaurant name aptly indicates the focus of the menu on tofu dishes, artfully presented in the kaiseki style, a multi-course meal. The two standout specialties are tosui-tofu (tofu in dashi-seasoned soy milk) and age-dengaku (fried sliced tofu cooked with wood charcoal.)

All meals feature seasonal ingredients and are meticulously crafted, highlighting the restaurant’s homemade "Ukai tofu," celebrated for its rich and sweet taste. This tofu is freshly produced daily using high-quality soybeans and spring water from Owada, Hachioji.

Even though Tofuya Ukai specializes in tofu dishes, meat and fish are served throughout the course. However, they do offer a vegetarian menu as well.

Tokyo Shiba Tofuya Ukai
Address: 4-4-13 Shiba-koen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Access: 5-min walk from Akabanebashi Station (Toei Oedo Line,) 7-min walk from Shiba-koen Station (Toei Mita Line)
Official website: https://www.ukai.co.jp/english/shiba/

2 best vegetarian and vegan restaurants

Veganism is also on the rise in Japan, a country traditionally known for its cuisine relying on meat and fish. While options are still limited, vegetarians, vegans and those who’re simply looking for plant-based options will be happy to know that there’s the Happy Cow app that lists all meatless options in Tokyo. To save you some time, we’ve done the work for you and picked two of the best vegan options in Japan’s capital.

Teishoku: Brown Rice Tokyo in Omotesando

Being part of the organic skincare brand Neal’s Yard Remedies in Omotesando, Brown Rice focuses on whole foods and vegan meals.

It’s a popular lunchtime destination, offering three teishoku (set meals). The seasonal set menu is a great choice, featuring one main dish and three small sides, such as simmered vegetables, greens, and seaweed. It also includes a serving of brown rice and organic miso soup. Alternatively, you can opt for the more straightforward option of vegetable curry, brimming with seasonal veggies and beans simmered in aromatic spices.

Those with a sweet tooth can pair their hearty meal with a piece of tofu lemon cake or scoops of tofu ice cream, perfectly accompanied by a cup of organic tea.

Brown Rice Tokyo Omotesando
Address: 5-1-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Access: Short walk from Omotesando Station (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda, Ginza, Hanzomon lines)
Official website: https://brownrice.jp/en/

Ramen: T’s Tantan in Tokyo Station

Renowned as one of the top spots for vegan ramen in Tokyo, this fully vegan Japanese restaurant chain has multiple outlets. The one at Keiyo Street, situated within the ticket gates of Tokyo Station, stands out, offering three exceptional ramen dishes—white sesame ramen, spicy black sesame ramen, and Japanese yuzu citrus ramen.

If you’re not in the mood for noodles, you can also savor a spicy massaman curry with mixed beans and mushrooms, or a rice bowl topped with soy meat, vegetable gyoza potstickers, and vegan cheese.

T’s Tantan
Address: Keiyo Street in Tokyo Station, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Access: Direct access from Tokyo Station, inside the ticket gates
Official website: https://foods.jr-cross.co.jp/ts-tantan/ (in Japanese only)

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*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

*Consuming alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by Japanese law, and these regulations also apply to international visitors and foreign residents in Japan. Please enjoy alcohol responsibly and don’t drive after drinking.

Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72 hours)

・Unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.
・Pick up your ticket at all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway line stations by scanning a QR code.

Ebisu Sushi Shiorian Yamashiro: Omakase Nigiri (Special Premium) Course

・Indulge in Edomae nigiri suhi at the Michelin-starred restaurant Shiorian Yamashiro.
・Opt for a counter seat and watch the chef skillfully preparing the delicate sushi pieces.

Ginza Teppanyaki Sublime: Premium Course

・Savor teppanyaki-grilled wagyu beef, abalone, and lobster.
・Choose a counter seat to watch the chefs grill the ingredients right in front of you.