If you’re traveling to Japan soon, check out this post for Tokyo food!
Most Tokyo food locations were recommended to my family while others were unexpected finds. While this is not an exhaustive list, I hope it provides some useful recommendations. Have fun exploring and eating!
Also, check out my food guide for Osaka & Kyoto!
Street and fresh seafood including kaisendon, wagyu beef and more!
Delicious kaisendon enjoyed with a seabream broth.
A Michelin Bib restaurant serving Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
Highly proclaimed Shoyu Ramen that did not disappoint.
Tsukiji Outer Market is a bustling and popular destination for fresh food and seafood. It consists of a few blocks of shops, restaurants and food stands. While the “inner market” has moved to Toyosu, the Outer Market remains a popular destination for locals and tourists.
The best time to arrive is in the morning. Even on a super rainy day, the market was packed and many stalls still had winding lines.
Here you can try a variety of foods. We had the most delicious kaisendon, grilled scallops, and king crab at a stall with covered tables while waiting for some rain to pass. After, we ventured out and had the best time trying tamagoyaki, wagyu beef, a potato croquette topped with a mound of seafood, and more.
It’s a great destination to try lots of different Tokyo food at once. Make sure to stand in front of the vendor you purchased from to eat! We also found the cutest rice bowl bento boxes, and they had some beautiful souvenirs and kitchenware.
Check out Japan Wonder Travel Blog (which helped me before our trip) for more info on how to get there and some history!
Tsujihan is a delicious kaisendon restaurant with multiple branches. We went to the Ark Hills Akasaka location (inside the Ark Mori Building), and the wait was about 25 minutes for lunch.
The area was less touristy, and the quiet restaurant was filled with locals. They pretty much only serve kaisendon – a rice bowl topped with fresh tuna, shellfish, salmon roe, cucumber, and more. The price is affordable (less than $10 USD), and you are served a bowl with a side of sashimi, soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger.
Tsujihan is extra delicious because once you’ve finished half or two thirds of your bowl, you can request the chef to add their signature broth to finish your meal.
Denko Sekka is a Michelin Bib restaurant famous for their Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki. The Bib Gourmand is a Michelin restaurant guide that recognizes “exceptionally good food at moderate prices.”
Denko Sekka’s Tokyo Station location did not disappoint. Cash is needed to order at a vending machine outside, and our party of 4 was seated right away at the bar.
My family loved sitting at the bar and watching them cook. While others had their food served on a separate skillet, we ate right off the bar.
The Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki comes stuffed with seafood, cabbage, and noodles. It is wrapped in thin egg and topped with a ginormous mound of scallions. Variations may include mayo, other ingredients, or a fried egg on top!
We went for dinner a little after 6 PM, and it was the perfect timing. We had no wait, but it did get busier after. My family also liked the more casual environment after so many quiet ramen and lunch spots on our Tokyo food list.
Ramenya Toy Box is known for their shoyu ramen. It was recommended by Ramen_lord (Reddit) and Hwoo (Tiktok/Instagram), and my brothers were super excited.
For context, my brother is a self-proclaimed ramen nerd. He makes his own noodles and broths from scratch at home, and although his favorite type is not Shoyu, this visit to Ramenya Toy Box was “life-changing.”
While other shops may be more experimental, Ramenya Toy Box features a classic noodle shop experience and perfect textbook Shoyu ramen. You will need cash to order at a vending machine before being seated, and be prepared because we did not have English translations! It has also been recognized by Michelin guide.
There is often a wait, but we went early on a rainy day and waited about 20 minutes for a party of 3. It is a little out of the way, but if you are a ramen nerd or have some time to spare, definitely check them out!
Tokyo Food: Other Notable Mentions
Oreyu Shio-Ramen
- Adding to our ramen list, Oreyu Shio-ramen is a popular chain
- We went to the main location in Shibuya, and only waited about 10 minutes outside
- Cash, order from vending machine
- Solid ramen with many options, and they were able to accommodate all 5 of us at one table.
Fuunji (unpictured)
- Classic noodle shop known for their tsukemen ramen
- Order with cash at vending machine before being seated
- Many locations, we went to the one near Tokyo Station which was less crowded then Shinjuku
- Another “life changing” ramen for my brother – he even went twice in 2 days!
Uobei (unpictured)
- Fun location for conveyor belt sushi
- We went to the Shibuya Dougenzaka location near Shibuya Crossing
- Although the line was nearly out the door at 9PM, we waited only 15 minutes
- Our party of 5 was split into a group of 2 and 3. Dividers are up, so it is a good solo dining spot, but we put them to the side to enjoy our meal with family
- Not outstanding sushi, but a fun dinner allowing us to try a lot of different things
