Top 6 Restaurants to Visit in Tokyo
Boasting the most emblematic cook shops in Asia and having the largest number of Michelin star restaurants than any city around the globe, it is no secret that one of the best eating scenes in the world takes place in Tokyo. From time-honored Japanese to diverse international cuisine, the capital of Japan features an impressive dining experience. The restaurants in Tokyo serve a wide range of meals from Japanese style pub food to Michelin-starred sushi.
Here are some of the best restaurants to visit in Tokyo.
1. Kanda
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Despite being nestled on a side street inside an ordinary building, this place is considered one of the best restaurants in Tokyo with three Michelin stars. Hiroyuki Kanda, the master of modern Japanese cuisine and chef of this restaurant, is responsible for the popularity of this place. He serves a variety of seasonal dishes, ranging from mountain veggies to fresh-cut sushi. Keep in mind that this restaurant only accommodates 8 seats, so make sure to book it 2-3 months beforehand.
Website: http://www.nihonryori-kanda.com/english/
Address: 3-6-34 Motoazabu, Minato-ku
Phone: +81 3 5786 0150
2. Ginza Kojyu
Credit: Koyju
If you want to experience traditional kaiseki dining, Ginza Kojyu is surely the best place to do it. While enjoying the homelike interior of this Michelin-starred restaurant, you can watch at the counter how the dishes are being prepared. The long-established Japanese cuisine is emphasized by the seasonal menu, but there are also several experimental dishes to pick from. This cozy restaurant is relatively affordable but it is pretty small, so those wanting to visit it should book a table a few weeks in advance.
Website: http://www.kojyu.jp/
Address: Carioca Building 4 floor, 5 Chome-4-8 Ginza, Chuo
Phone: +81 3 6215 9544
3. New York Grill
Credit: NYG
If you prefer grilled food over the traditional Japanese cuisine, this is the right place for you. Located at Park Hyatt on the 52nd floor, this place offers picturesque views of the city with enormous floor to ceiling windows. It’s possible to see Mount Fuji from here on clear days. As its name suggests, it is all about meat in this restaurant, which sleek interior features 4 big pictures of New York City scenes. From Kobe Prime Cut to Hokkaido Ribeye, there is a broad range of grilled beef meals on the menu to choose from. The restaurant also serves exquisitely roasted poultry and fresh seafood.
Aside from grilled dishes, New York Grill offers a huge selection of popular US wines as well as plenty of liqueurs, cocktails, whiskeys, rums, gins, and cognacs. That’s why many regard it as one of the prime restaurants in Tokyo.
Website: https://tokyo.park.hyatt.com/en/hotel/dining/NewYorkGrill.html
Address: 3-7-1-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Phone: +81 3 5323 3458
4. Ishikawa
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Located on a backstreet at prominent geisha district, this place is a hidden gem in the jungle of Tokyo’s streets. Besides an intimate ambiance with an elegant dining area and cypress wood counter, this welcoming restaurant boasts attentive staff and kimono-clad servers helping consumers pick out the best dishes. As a guest, you will be provided with a few courses that are composed of an appetizer, soup, sashimi (raw fish stuffed with wasabi paste and soy sauce), and grilled main courses.
Website: http://www.kagurazaka-ishikawa.co.jp/english/index_e.html
Address: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Kagurazaka 5-37 Takamura Building 1F -JR Sobu
Phone: +81 3 5225 0173
5. Hinokizaka
Credit: Ritz Carlton
Like most restaurants in Tokyo, Hinokizaka serves traditional Japanese food. What sets this restaurant apart from the rest is a modern edge with 4 different areas, each of which specializes in a distinct cuisine ― sushi, kaiseki, teppanyaki and tempura. Offering breathtaking views and heart-to-heart dining space, this spot is perfect for private meetings.
Website: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/japan/tokyo/dining/hinokizaka
Address: Tokyo Midtown, 9-7-1, Akasaka, Minato-ku
Phone: +81 3 6434 8711
6. RyuGin
Credit: City Foodsters
Seiji Yamamoto, the chef of this famous Michelin-starred restaurant, takes all the meals very seriously to cater to every single guest. He serves both well-established traditional dishes and innovative creations. This results in vast culinary delights, ranging from wild eel grilled over charcoal to fruit-based desserts chilled to a -196ºC and dressed with a sauce warmed to 99ºC. Please note that there are many rules you must obey (like using not too sensible perfume) if you want to visit this restaurant. Head to their official website and familiarize yourself with the restaurant’s rules before going there.
Website: http://nihonryori-ryugin.com/en/
Address: Side Roppongi Bldg, 1F 7-17-24 Roppongi, Minato-ku
Phone: +81 3 3423 8006