Best Eats in Tokyo, Japan!

This is my comprehensive guide to everything I ate in Tokyo, including my favorite meals from the trip. I recently visited in April 2026 during cherry blossom season. One thing I love about Japan is that it doesn't change very often. Many of the restaurants are decades old, and consistency is one of the country's greatest strengths. Because of that, many of the spots from my previous visits continue to deliver and remain on my list of recommendations.

I'll start with the restaurants I visited most recently, while the latter part of this guide covers places from previous trips. Regardless of when I visited, every restaurant featured here is somewhere I would happily recommend. I used Tabelog and local recommendations to make this guide!

Tokyo Eats Maps

Unagi Watabe

Unagi Watabe has been recognized by Michelin. We made a reservation through TableCheck by setting an alarm, and it was actually relatively easy to secure. Since we were traveling with a baby, we booked a private room.

We ordered their special set, which included both the traditional sauce glazed unagi and the "blonde" unagi served without eel sauce. The meal also came with rice and dashi tea on the side so you could make ochazuke if you wanted.

This was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Being able to try authentic, freshly grilled freshwater eel in such a traditional setting made for an incredibly memorable experience.

Reserve Here

Hatoya Matcha

The next spot was recommended by one of my followers: Hatoya Matcha. Apparently, the lines can get pretty long, but when we visited, the wait was not bad at all.

We picked up a packet of their matcha powder to take home, and since I was in the mood for something a little more indulgent, I ordered the strawberry matcha topped with a scoop of matcha soft serve. My husband kept it simple with their plain matcha latte.

The matcha here was incredibly rich, deep, and creamy, with a pronounced umami flavor and a natural sweetness that didn't need any added sugar. The strawberry added a bright freshness, while the matcha soft serve brought an extra layer of creaminess that made the drink feel even more decadent.

You're honestly not going to find many matcha drinks in the United States that compare to the quality here. If you're visiting Asakusa and love matcha, this is absolutely a spot I would recommend checking out.

Nihonbashi Kaisen Don Tsujihan

The kaisen don at Nihonbashi Kaisen Don Tsujihan is arguably one of the most famous dishes in Tokyo. It seems like everyone recommends this spot, and for good reason.

That said, it is definitely on the touristy side, and if you visit the original location, you can expect a very long line. We stayed at the The Okura Tokyo, which happened to be close to the Ark Hills location. That ended up being the perfect move because there was virtually no wait. If you're willing to make the detour, I highly recommend this branch since you'll likely encounter little to no line.

The move here is to order the kaisen don. I specifically recommend the ume course, which comes topped with shrimp, whelk, geoduck, clams, squid, herring roe, cucumber, green onion, and what I believe is tuna scraped from the bone. The seafood is finely chopped and mixed together, creating a rich and flavorful bowl with a great variety of textures.

One of the things that makes this meal so memorable is how it evolves as you eat it. At the beginning, you're served a few slices of sashimi that you can add to the bowl for a refreshing contrast. Then, toward the end of the meal, you're encouraged to leave some of the kaisen don behind so the staff can pour in a rich broth, transforming it into a comforting ochazuke style dish. The combination of hot broth and chilled seafood creates a surprisingly delicious contrast.

With that being said, this is absolutely a kaisen don worth trying while you're in Tokyo. They also offer takeout, but in my opinion, it's not nearly as enjoyable as eating it fresh in the restaurant.

Shiosoba Jiku

Shiosoba Jiku is a bit of a detour, located in a more suburban part of Tokyo, but the friendly locals and the peaceful river walk nearby make it well worth the trip.

We made a reservation through TableCheck about 3 days in advance, and it was relatively easy to secure. We booked a spot right at opening and arrived to find a small line already forming outside. The restaurant is tiny, with only about 6 seats available inside, so reservations are definitely recommended.

However, their specialty is a clear seafood based broth paired with homemade noodles. Shoyu ramen is only available on Fridays, making it a bit more of a special offering.

The bowl comes topped with ajitama, chicken chashu, pork chashu, and chicken meatballs. While the toppings are excellent, what really makes this ramen memorable is the combination of the noodles and broth. The homemade noodles have an incredible texture, and the broth is remarkably rich and flavorful despite being primarily seafood based. It's clean and delicate, yet still packed with depth and umami.

For ramen lovers looking to venture beyond the usual Tokyo hotspots, this is a destination worthy of the extra effort.

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Kooriya Peace

Kooriya Peace was a bucket list destination for both my husband and me for a very long time. We've always wanted to visit, but it was simply too far out of the way on our previous trips. This time, however, we were already planning to visit the Ghibli Museum nearby, which finally gave us the perfect excuse to make the detour. We were able to secure reservations through TableCheck, which I highly recommend.

A few things to know before you go: the space is extremely small, and they only accept cash. That said, this place is absolutely worth the effort.

Their menu rotates constantly, so the flavors are never really the same. We ended up ordering nearly every kakigori on the menu, and I can honestly say it was a life changing experience. They use premium ice and carefully shape it by hand, gently pressing out air pockets before assembling each mountain of shaved ice with their house made syrups and toppings.

I'd be lying if I said I could remember every flavor we ordered, but I can confidently say that almost everything we tried was incredible, especially the fruit based creations. The flavors tasted remarkably fresh and vibrant, with an intensity that I've rarely experienced elsewhere. If I remember correctly, the pistachio was one of my favorites, and the strawberry was equally memorable.

If you're a dessert lover visiting Tokyo, this is one of those places that's absolutely worth planning your day around.

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Ginza Chikamitsu Roku

Ginza Chikamitsu Roku was also relatively easy to reserve. We called ahead to book a private room, which is actually the only dining option available since all guests are seated in private rooms. The restaurant specializes in wagyu and offers a variety of tasting menus with names such as "life changingly good," which certainly sets high expectations.

One of their signature dishes is the Uni Dog, which consists of finely chopped wagyu topped with uni and rice, all wrapped in seaweed and shaped like a hot dog. It's a fun and memorable presentation that highlights two luxury ingredients often associated with Japanese dining.

Overall, I thought the meat quality was very good, and there were several enjoyable dishes throughout the meal. That said, if I were choosing between the two, I personally prefer Yoroniku Ebisu for wagyu. The beef preparations there were more memorable to me, and it's the restaurant I would be more likely to revisit for a dedicated wagyu experience.

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Sosakumen Kobo Nakiryu

Sosakumen Kobo Nakiryu is one of the most famous ramen shops in Japan and previously held a Michelin star. If you're visiting for the first time, the move is absolutely to order the tantanmen, their signature bowl that features a rich, spicy broth topped with seasoned minced pork.

The tantanmen here was genuinely one of the best bowls of ramen I've ever had. The broth was incredibly rich and flavorful, with a pleasant numbing heat that slowly built with each bite. Combined with their excellent noodles, it created a bowl that was both comforting and deeply satisfying.

If you're specifically looking for great tantanmen in Tokyo, this is a place I would strongly recommend. My biggest tip is to arrive around 8 a.m. to join the waitlist and secure an earlier seating time. Once you're on the list, you can explore the neighborhood instead of standing in line for hours.

In fact, while we waited, we walked over to Onigiri Bongo and grabbed a rice ball as a snack before returning for lunch. It ended up being a great way to spend the morning and made the wait feel much more manageable.

Between the exceptional noodles, the complex broth, and the signature spicy flavor profile, this was easily one of the most memorable ramen experiences of our trip.

Onigiri Bongo

In my opinion, Onigiri Bongo has the best rice balls I've ever had.

One thing that did frustrate me a little was that there are multiple signs throughout the restaurant asking guests not to take photos or videos of the staff. However, if you look at social media, you'll find plenty of videos of people filming inside, and it appears that the restaurant even reposts some of that content. It felt like a bit of a gray area, so to be safe, I asked directly and was told that taking photos was allowed.

As for what to order, my top recommendation is the onigiri filled with cured egg and sweet minced pork. I also loved the salted salmon flakes and the ume plum. That said, the quality of the rice here is so good that it's hard to go wrong with any of the fillings.

What makes these onigiri special is how they're assembled. The rice is loosely packed, incredibly soft, and served warm, creating a texture that's completely different from most rice balls you'll find elsewhere. They're also massive. If you eat 2 of them, you'll probably be completely full.

You can order them to go, but I think they're best enjoyed fresh. We arrived around 9 a.m. and only encountered a small line of about 10 people. However, I've heard waits can easily stretch to 2 to 3 hours during peak times, so proceed with caution. If possible, I would recommend visiting on a weekday or arriving early in the morning.

Mendokoro Honda Akihabara

Mendokoro Honda Akihabara (tokyo noodle works) is not one of the more famous ramen spots in Tokyo, but it's still worth considering if you're a noodle lover. They specialize in both traditional soup based ramen and tsukemen, and since we had already eaten so many bowls of broth ramen during our trip, we decided to order the tsukemen.

We made a reservation through TableCheck about 7 days in advance. Surprisingly, they do allow babies, although the restaurant is extremely small. We ended up having our baby stay outside with our friend while we ate because the space felt pretty tight.

One of the coolest things about dining here is that you can see the room where they make their noodles. It's incredibly tiny, literally just large enough to fit the noodle machine and a single person working inside.

The tsukemen noodles were excellent. They had that distinctive alkaline quality that gave them a satisfyingly chewy, springy texture and made them incredibly easy to slurp. The bowl was topped with the usual accompaniments, including ajitama and various meat toppings, but the noodles were unquestionably the star of the show.

Personally, I still prefer the tsukemen at Tomita, but it's also a very different style. Even so, I have to give Honda credit for producing some of the bounciest, most enjoyable noodles I had during the trip. If you're someone who values noodle texture above all else, this is definitely a place worth checking out.

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All Seasons Coffee

All Seasons Coffee is on my list for one reason only: I came here specifically for their Japanese purin.

Japanese pudding in Japan is very different from what most people expect. It has a more gelatinous, almost jello like texture compared to the creamy flan style versions you might find elsewhere. It is usually topped with a slightly burnt caramel sauce that brings a gentle bitterness to balance out the sweetness.

I had heard this particular purin was especially good, so I made a point to stop by, and I immediately understood why it has a following. I honestly wish I had ordered two.

The caramel had that perfect bitter edge that kept it from being too sweet, and the pudding itself had an ideal texture. It was firm but still soft, with a clean melt that made each bite really satisfying.

If I had to recommend one dessert you should try while in Japan, this would be high on the list. It is simple, but executed at a level that makes it memorable.

The Okura Tokyo

If you only have one hotel breakfast buffet to try in Tokyo, I would personally choose The Okura Tokyo. During our stay, we ate breakfast there every morning with our baby, and it ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.

The bakery selection was excellent, with a wide variety of freshly baked items that we genuinely looked forward to each morning. The buffet also offered a strong mix of Japanese and American breakfast options, with enough variety that you could easily eat there every day without getting bored.

Overall, it was one of the best parts of staying at the hotel, and honestly a big reason I would return. I would consider staying at The Okura Tokyo again just for the breakfast alone.

Yoroniku Ebisu

Truffle Sukiyaki

Kakigori

They have a silver award on tabelog and is considered one of the best yakiniku places in Japan. They tell you how to eat each bite and this was the best meal in Tokyo I had. The truffle sukiyaki was one of the most breathtaking bites. I highly recommend reserving this restaurant. Reservation was on table check and omakase! If you're looking for Wagyu, definitely eat here.

tabelog: Ebisu Yoroniku

Location: Japan, 〒150-0013 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Ebisu, 1 Chome−11−5 GEMS恵比寿 8F

Tempura Kondo

Sweet Potato

Ebi

This is a very famous spot for tempure in Tokyo. 2 Michelin star tempura. I got the lunch set for 70 ish dollar pp in 2022. I made my reservation via visa concierge. What I like about the spot is you can see the master cooking right in front of you, while his assistants cuts the vegetables he fries them. I recommend ordering their sweet potato à la cart.  You can also reserve here.

tabelog: Kondo

Location: Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 5 Chome−5−13, Sakaguchi Bld., ９F

Rokurinsha

This Ramen spot is located in Tokyo station. They have a bit of a line. It’s cash only. They serve exclusively, dipping noodles, a.k.a. tsukemen. Their handmade noodles with the thick broth was so delicious. I highly recommend this spot if it’s your first time. 

tabelog: Rokurinsha

Location: Japan, 〒100-0005 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 1 Chome−9−1 東京駅一番街 B1 東京ラーメンストリート内
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Chuka-Soba Tomita

Special Set from Omakase

Tomita is probably the most famous spot on this list. You can make a reservation to Tomita a week in advance via Omakase. The broth here is thick like curry, and the noodles are extremely thick and cold. However, as you dip the cold noodles into the broth, the flavors, meld together beautifully and it’s probably the best dipping noodles you’ll ever eat. If you have a normal appetite, I would probably get the medium size portion. However, I saw a bunch of customers ordering the large portion. I ordered the premium meat toppings, but I recommend just trying their chashu and different meats. Definitely make a reservation on omakase or it’s a multi hour line. The ramen here is considered the best in Japan. 

tabelog: Tomita

Location: Japan, 〒271-0092 Chiba, Matsudo, 1339 高橋ビル

Ramen Nagi

Ramen Nagi is my husband's favorite ramen place to eat. The Ramen broth here is exclusively made from sardines. The broth can come across really fishy but what I like about this ramen broth is even if you’re not into the fishiness, the flavor balances with the salt really well and it makes for easy bowl to consume. Cash only. 

tabelog: Ramen Nagi

Location: Japan, 〒160-0021 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukicho, 1 Chome−1−10 2F

Waguriya’s Mont Blanc

Apple Set

Mont Blanc with Tea Set

This spot serves premium chest but desserts. They serve a limited number of special seasonal Mont Blanc desserts. When we went it was an apple dessert. The Mont Blanc here is life changing. The owner farms the chestnuts himself and even uses his own chickens eggs. I recommend getting a tea set combo. Make sure to grab a bag of their roasted chestnuts togo! Located in Yanaka which is a more old Japan vibe. The lines can get long so get here before they open or right when they open. Cash only. 

tabelog: Waguriya

Location: 3 Chome-9-14 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001, Japan

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Umemura anmitsu located in Asakusa

Mame Kanten and Anmitus

They serve anmitsu and Mame kanten. Honestly it was kinda underwhelming but worth a visit if you want to try it. The hours weren’t consistent and we had to come here another day. Cash only. You’re only allowed to take photos of food! 

tabelog: Umemura

Location: 3 Chome-22-12 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

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Bondy curry

Medium Beef Curry

They put cheese and butter on the Rice

Located on Jinbocho curry street area. We waited in line for 1 hr. I got the medium beef curry with 400 grams of rice. I wish I ordered more because it was the best curry I’ve ever eaten. I can’t recall if it was cash only so I would check. This is the must try curry spot if you visit Japan!

tabelog: Bondy

Location: Japan, 〒101-0051 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Kanda Jinbocho, 2 Chome−3, 神田古書センター ２階

Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory

Christmas Creampuffs

Entrance

The inside

A must for studio Ghibli lovers. The cafe is tiny and they sell out fast so you need to get there early. They have a cafe you can wait to eat in but I would get togo. I got their strawberry and custard cream puffs and found them delightful! I also got some cookies. This is the only patisserie legally allowed to sell Studio Ghibli pastries! 

tabelog: Shirohige

Location: 5 Chome-3-1 Daita, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0033, Japan

Check out my other guides here for Japan!

Click here to check out my guide for Osaka

Click here to check out my guide for Kyoto

Click here to check out my guide for Kawaguchiko

Click here to check out my tips for visiting japan.

Click here to check out my guide to Tokyo

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