Ultimate Guide to the 10 Best Michelin Star Restaurants in Tokyo

Welcome to the foodie paradise: Tokyo, the city with more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else on earth! Whether you’re a seasoned gourmand or just someone who loves great food, Tokyo’s Michelin star restaurants will leave you speechless and your taste buds in shock.

From tiny Japanese restaurants where sushi masters create edible art to French food that would make Parisians jealous, the city’s food scene is as varied as it is amazing. To name a few, the Michelin Guide inspectors have recognised a ramen restaurant, dinner places with traditional Japanese cuisines and even Japanese-style Western food places. In fact, Tokyo has restaurants with three Michelin stars, two Michelin stars, one Michelin star and even establishments awarded the Michelin Green Star or the Bib Gourmand. So if you’re ready to enter a world where every bite has a story and every dish is a work of art, Pelago by Singapore Airlines' Tokyo Michelin Star Restaurants guide will take you to the best Michelin star restaurants in Tokyo.

Yoshizawa: One Michelin Star Restaurant at Ginza & Roppongi

Enter a world of understated luxury at Yoshizawa, a Michelin-starred restaurant famous for its kaiseki (multi-course tasting menu). Whether you choose the bustling Ginza or sleek Roppongi Hills location in Tokyo, visiting this restaurant is one of the must-do activities in Japan. With impeccable craftsmanship and attention to detail, head chef Sadahisa Yoshizawa’s course menu will take you on a journey of Japanese cooking.

Dining here is akin to being part of a parade of dishes, each cheered, celebrated and photographed as they pass from the kitchen to your table. Here, you’ll be treated to Kyoto’s kaiseki cuisine using the freshest ingredients. In particular, the straw-grilled Spanish mackerel is a signature dish and highlight of the menu. Recognised by the Michelin Guide as one of the best restaurants in Tokyo for offering high-quality cooking at moderate prices, their dinner menus cost around 161 SGD while their lunch set course, perfect for a lunchtime meal, ranges around 86 SGD.

Sushi Yuu: Michelin One-Star Sushi Restaurant in Tokyo for 4 Consecutive Years

With its cosy wooden interior and exceptional cuisine, Sushi Yuu is one of the top attractions in Tokyo for Sushi lovers. Awarded the Michelin star for 4 years consecutively by the Michelin Guide, this Japanese restaurant is famous for its sushi mastery.

Here, simplicity and seasonality is key to allow the natural flavours of the freshest seafood to shine through. Owner chef Daisuke Shimazaki is known to carefully prepare each piece of Edomae nigiri sushi – textured flounder, smooth cuttlefish and Japanese tiger prawn – to preserve its quality.

Treat yourself to an Omakase (SGD 65-347) set where the chef will curate your meal for you to enjoy grilled Pacific mackerel, simmered yellowtail and melt-in-your-mouth cuts of tuna, especially the Aburi Ootoro (seared fatty tuna belly). Don’t miss the chance to pair your omakase with a selection of sake and wine to match each dish before taking a seat at the counter of Sushi Yuu Tokyo for a front-row seat to the action.

Sushi Zai: A Michelin One-Star Sushi Restaurant

As soon as you walk in the door of Sushi Zai in Tokyo, you’ll be hit with the smell of freshly cooked sushi rice, Japanese cuisine and the gentle hum of conversation.

The name Zai comes from the Japanese word “zaikyou” meaning hometown or a warm and familiar place you want to go back to. This Michelin-starred restaurant is a sister restaurant of Sushi Yuu and is recognised by the Michelin Guide as one of the top restaurants in Tokyo for pushing the boundaries of sushi craft while making customers feel at home.

Here, you can try classic Edomae-style sushi with a twist. Sushi Zai stays true to its roots, getting fresh ingredients from Toyosu Fish Market every morning and curing them in vinegar rice. This old-school method intensifies the flavour of the fish and gives it a deeper, more complex taste to unleash a rich umami bomb in your mouth. Besides the sushi, you can try melt-in-the-mouth tuna Otoro sashimi, one-plate dishes, and set courses ranging from SGD 173 to 216 along with sake and wine from a carefully curated list. For special occasions or larger groups, this sushi restaurant also offers private counters with a personal sushi chef.

Imafuku: Michelin One-Star Sukiyaki Restaurant in Tokyo

It's not difficult to find the entrance of Imafuku, with a creepy bull mask above it. To experience excellent cooking at its best, look no further than this restaurant that’s awarded one star by the Michelin Guide and has been around for years.

Imafuku serves Japanese beef hot pot dishes like Sukiyaki and Shabu-Shabu (SGD 112 - 120). Here, the focus is on ingredients, such as the thinly sliced A5-grade Japanese black wagyu beef with exceptional marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

But the magic is in the details. Imafuku has two sukiyaki styles - Kansai and Kanto. Kansai is the Western style from Osaka where the chef sears the wagyu in a pot of beef fat before adding the vegetables, sukiyaki sauce and dashi (broth). Kanto is the Eastern style from Tokyo where the dashi takes centre stage before the ingredients like meat and vegetables are added.

No matter which style you prefer, the chef cooks the wagyu at your table and makes sure each bite is packed with umami. A light dip of foamy egg sauce adds another layer of texture to the cooked beef.

At Imafuku Tokyo, sukiyaki is elevated to an art form with premium beef cuts cooked to perfection in a sweet mirin and soy sauce broth. The communal dining experience is another bonus as you sit around the hot pot filled with goodness. And to finish, a scoop of ice cream ends your special journey of culinary exploration on a sweet note.

Le Sputnik: Creative Michelin Star Restaurant

Credited by the Michelin Guide as one of the top Tokyo restaurants, Le Sputnik is where creativity soars! This Michelin-starred gem is not just another establishment with a Michelin star, it’s a culinary exploration into the unknown. Taking inspiration from French-Japanese techniques, the chef-owner takes Western dishes and turns them on their head. Think foie gras as an experience rather than a dish, or creative dishes served up as edible art on your table. For those who want more than just a meal, Le Sputnik is a dining adventure as innovative as Tokyo’s food scene itself. This is one of the most avant-garde Michelin restaurants where every bite is a story to be told!

Tempura Kondo: Tempura Establishment with Two Michelin Stars

According to the Michelin Guide, enjoying a meal at Tempura Kondo is like entering a world where traditional Japanese cuisine meets modern art and every mouthful is an epiphany. This tempura joint with two stars is not just any tempura place; it’s one of the most famous Michelin-starred establishments in Tokyo. With over 50 years of experience, Chef Kondo has turned tempura into an art form that attracts foodies, celebrities and even heads of state from around the world. Each dish at this very good restaurant is crafted to extract the maximum from every ingredient, to bring out the unique flavours and umami that makes Japanese food so loved. The simplicity of the batter hides the luxury within, so every mouthful is a moment of pure food heaven. Reservations may be tough but it’s worth planning your entire trip to Tokyo around a meal at Tempura Kondo.

Den: Sustainable Kaiseki Restaurant

Looking for restaurants in Japan that does kaiseki with a twist? Den in Gaienmae, Tokyo is the restaurant for you. In fact, this creative establishment has been awarded 2 Michelin stars for its concept of taking “home cooking” to a whole new level with dishes such as Den Tacky where chicken wings are stuffed with steamed rice. Recognised with the Michelin Green Star for its use of organic, low impact vegetables and thoughtful seafood sourcing, you can rest easy knowing that you are feasting sustainably too.

Sazenka: One of the Best Chinese-Japanese Restaurants

Sazenka is one of the 3 Michelin star restaurants in Tokyo, located in Minami-Azabu, led by Chef Tomoya Sawada. Under Sawada’s direction since 2017, Sazenka’s cuisine has been reinterpreted with Japanese and Chinese flavors, with Japanese soul and ancient Chinese techniques. With its delicious degustation and seasonal courses with Japanese flavours, this Chinese-Japanese restaurant is a regular in the Michelin Guide Japan.

Quintessence: Sustainable French Restaurant with Three Michelin Stars

Eating at Quintessence in Shinagawa, Tokyo is like entering a world where French cuisine meets Japanese precision. This Michelin Green Star and three-star restaurant is not just about the food, it’s a culinary journey created by Chef Kishida who trained at the Michelin three-star restaurant Astrance in Paris. The experience is one of a kind – Quintessence offers a “carte blanche” menu tailored to your wishes, with the freshest seasonal ingredients. It’s a bespoke, ever changing dinner where every dish is the perfect balance of ingredients, fire and seasoning. Beyond the French cuisine, Chef Kishida’s commitment to sustainability from conserving fishery resources to reducing food waste adds an extra layer of moral fibre to the meal. If you want to dine sustainably at the best of the best of Michelin restaurants in Tokyo, this three-star gem comes highly recommended by the Michelin Guide.

BONUS: Tokiwa: A Kaiseki Experience by Michelin-Starred Chef in Tokyo

Tucked away in a quiet alley in Roppongi, Tokiwa is a peaceful retreat from the city. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a calm dining room where traditional Japanese tea ceremony room meets modern wooden interior - the atmosphere itself promises a sophisticated experience. Here, a Michelin-starred chef creates kaiseki menus and hidden gems that showcase the season’s best.

Enjoy the Kaiseki menu, a multi-course meal where every dish is carefully composed and beautifully presented with textures playing on your tongue. Delicately plated dishes from sashimi to steaming Oden will tease your eyes before satisfying your taste buds. Or, let the chef create an omakase kaiseki for you (SGD 208) as you sit back and watch an expert at work while sipping on a sake of your choice.

BONUS: Ma Cuisine: Michelin Green Star & Bib Gourmand Winner

If you like a restaurant that mixes tradition with innovation then you won’t want to miss dining at Ma Cuisine in Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo. A Green Star and Bib Gourmand holder, this lovely spot offers à la carte dishes that showcase the best of French regional cuisine with a Japanese twist. Ingredients are sourced mainly from Tokushima Prefecture and the chef here takes ethical consumption very seriously, making sauces from vegetable peels and sausages from meat scraps. For him, it’s not just about eating – it’s about a philosophy that honours food and community at his own restaurant. With dishes like ratatouille, bouillabaisse and herb-crusted spareribs, every bite at Ma Cuisine is a flavour, sustainability and creativity celebration.

Enjoy a Michelin Culinary Odyssey In Tokyo

Whether you’re slurping special miso soup at a eatery in Chiyoda City, biting into Nagoya Cochin chicken at yakitori restaurants, or trying Japanese pufferfish, expertly prepared by 2-star Michelin Sushi chef Takashi Ono, the options for Michelin-level establishments in Tokyo, Japan are endless. They offer everything from humble yet beautiful dishes like tamago kake gohan (rice topped with raw egg) to luxurious dining options at places like the Toranomon Hills Residential Tower. Happy eating, because the best restaurants in Tokyo, Japan are sure to leave you with delightful memories!

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Michelin-star restaurants are in Tokyo?

Tokyo has the most Michelin stars in the world with over 200 as of 2023.

Why does Japan have so many 3 Michelin-star restaurants?

Fresh ingredients, attention to detail and respect for tradition are the reasons why there are so many restaurants with 3 Michelin stars in Japan.

What city has the most 3 Michelin star restaurants?

The city of Tokyo in Japan has the most 3 Michelin stars in the world.

What is the most Michelin stars per restaurant?

A restaurant can have a maximum of 3 Michelin stars.

Which Japanese chef has the most Michelin stars?

Chef Yoshihiro Murata and Chef Seiji Yamamoto have the most Michelin stars in Japan, with 7 stars between them.