Best Tokyo Restaurants Guide: 11 Places That'll Tantalise Your Tastebuds

Tokyo. The city hums beneath you, neon lights paint the night sky and the air is thick with the scent of Washoku or Japanese food.

Think sizzling okonomiyaki and takoyaki at a street vendor or steam rising from a noodle dish at a ramen shop with counter seats.

Visualise freshly sliced sushi served up by a veteran sushi chef paired with Japanese sake along with a dash of soy sauce.

Or how about a piping hot plate of curry rice and beautifully plated Japanese-French cuisine served by a head chef at a fusion fine dining restaurant?

These are just some of the signature dishes that represent the best of Japanese cuisine!

From casual yakitori to restaurants with two Michelin Stars, the Tokyo food scene is a maze of deliciousness waiting to be uncovered.

But you don’t have to be overwhelmed if you are a foodie - this is your ticket to a taste bud explosion through the heart of Tokyo. You can embark on a food journey in Tokyo with confidence with our guide to the 11 best restaurants in Tokyo!

Shabu Shabu Merino Shinjuku - Mutton and Beef Tongue Shabu-shabu Specialty Restaurant

Ever heard of a viral shabu-shabu experience being a top attraction in Japan? Well, buckle up because this restaurant in central Tokyo offers exactly that.

Imagine this: a communal hot pot of bubbling broth, with melt-in-your-mouth slices of mutton, black pig and beef tongue in it. The flavours dance on your tongue, with the dipping sauces adding to the flavour. Merino’s signature ingredient mutton is especially loved by the ladies for its beauty benefits.

Yakitori Mikado - Omakase Course

Yakitori, the art of grilling skewered chicken, is taken to a whole new level at Yakitori Mikado. Try an omakase course at one of the top restaurants in Tokyo where you let the chefs choose for you a selection of skewers, showcasing the best of Japanese cuisine.

Sit at the counter seats and watch yakitori being grilled in front of you and enjoy chicken and vegetables with sake or wine.

Butcher's Kitchen Ueno Park Branch - All-You-Can-Eat Japanese Wagyu Beef Yakiniku (BBQ)

Attention, meat lovers! The Butcher’s Kitchen (Nikuya no Daidokoro) near Ueno Park is the place to go - you can have all-you-can-eat Japanese Wagyu beef yakiniku!

Imagine a table overflowing with cuts of Wagyu so marbled it’s like it’s glistening. Grill your selection at your table then enjoy your mouth-melting yakiniku masterpieces - ribeye, short ribs, sirloin and all the trimmings. This is simply a yakiniku lover’s paradise in Tokyo!

UNIHOLIC - Sea Urchin Course

Dive into the world of UNIHOLIC for the ultimate indulgence of one of Japan's most prized delicacies.

This restaurant in Roppongi, Tokyo is dedicated to the luxurious, seasonal seafood, uni or sea urchin. Their sea urchin course showcases uni's creamy perfection, bursting with ocean flavour. From uni taster sets to uni pasta, each bite celebrates its unique, fresh seafood taste.

Gin-kuma Saryo - Teppanyaki Experience

Known as one of the best restaurants in Ginza, Tokyo, Gin-kuma Saryo takes teppanyaki (iron griddle cooking) to a new level as the chefs transform the teppan grill into a performance stage, presenting both a show and a meal!

Skilled chefs expertly sear Japanese Black Beef Hamburg steaks and seafood right before you in the open kitchen with dazzling knife skills and entertaining flair. The sizzling sounds, the rhythmic clang of spatulas, flying flames, and the aroma fills the air with anticipation. The result? It's a feast for your eyes and your taste buds.

Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho at Marronnier Gate Ginza 1

To transport your taste buds to the streets of Nagoya, head to Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho at Marronnier Gate Ginza 1.

Here, you can savour Hitsumabushi, a unique freshwater eel (or Unagi) rice dish with Kabayaki sauce. Savour the flavours in three ways – with green onions, with condiments like wasabi, or in dashi or a clear broth.

This is one of the best restaurants in Ginza, Tokyo, to try rare Japanese cuisine!

Imafuku - Sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu Course at Michelin Star Restaurant

Treat yourself to a hot pot experience at Imafuku, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Tokyo.

Whether you go for sukiyaki’s sweet notes or shabu-shabu’s clean taste, get ready for a flavour bomb.

But the star of the show? Thinly sliced wagyu beef with beautiful marbling. Imagine dipping the thinly sliced prized meat and fresh seasonal vegetables into the broth and creating your culinary symphony in every pot.

The Cruise Club Tokyo - Dinner Cruise

Admiring the scenic cityscape is one of the best things to do in Tokyo, but imagine seeing it while eating gourmet food.

The Cruise Club Tokyo’s dinner cruise takes you on a magical journey along the Tokyo Bay while you enjoy a multi-course French meal prepared by their chefs.

Imagine eating Pot-au-feu or roasted pork while sipping champagne and passing by famous landmarks.

Yakitori Tsuki-ya

Enjoying some Yakitori, or grilling chicken skewers, is a Tokyo must-do. And where better to do it than Yakitori Tsuki-ya in Ginza?

The aroma of grilling "Date" chicken over charcoal wafts out onto the street and pulls you in. The meat on each skewer, from chicken thigh to chicken breast fillet, is smoky and tare sauced.

Inside its intimate interiors, it has private rooms, three delectable courses to tempt your tastebuds and an extensive drinks and wine list to match.

La Rochelle Minami Aoyama

Expect exquisitely presented plates in an elegant European decor. Each dish showcases the chef's impeccable technique, from Japanese black beef filet mignon to egg stuffed with sakura shrimp in sabayon sauce. Be sure to save room for their extensive dessert selection.

Experience a premium course of dining at Hiroyuki Sakai's La Rochelle.

Sushi Ojima

Enjoy classic Tokyo food and Japanese culinary art at Sushi Ojima, a luxury sushi restaurant in Ginza. Top-quality ingredients such as fresh fish are delivered daily to the restaurant.

Each piece of sushi, from Nigiri to Futomaki - - is a work of art that will make you fall in love deeper with the Sushi world.

Try Chef Ojima’s Omakase Course or the Special Selected Course with wine and sake or Sushi Ojima’s sushi bento to add a twist to your meal. Look out for their seasonal menu too!

Meshiagare! Get Ready for a Feast in Tokyo!

In Tokyo, every meal is an adventure, where flavours from all over Japan and beyond come together. Imagine kaiseki cuisine that’s as much art as it is food or slurping up perfect chewy soba noodles that warm your soul.

Whether you’re sitting at small tables in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant under a highway overpass or enjoying a craft beer amongst local local office workers at the best pizza bar in town, Tokyo has endless dining options.

After a day of exploring tourist attractions like Tokyo Tower, this is the perfect way to wind down.

Ready to go on a food journey like no other? Make time to add the city’s food scene to your Tokyo itinerary now. Meshiagare!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many restaurants does Japan have?

Over 900,000, ranging from street food stalls to restaurants with Michelin stars.

Are there any Michelin-star restaurants in Tokyo?

Yes, over 200! Tokyo is one of the top culinary cities in the world.

What is the most common restaurant in Japan?

Izakaya, casual restaurants serving small plates and drinks, are the most common in Japan.

What is the average cost of a meal in Japan?

Meal prices in Japan vary greatly depending on the restaurant, location and dish. For example, sushi or wagyu will cost more than ramen.

What is Japan's most famous meal?

Sushi is enjoyed by locals and visitors for its fresh flavors and artistic presentation.