Tokyo, Japan’s capital city is formidable when it comes to the quality and variety of foods. Tokyo tourists and locals will find everything from noodle shops to upscale traditional dinners (kaiseki), but it doesn't stop there. After touring the sushi bars and tempura restaurants, there are just as many international eateries serving authentic Western cuisine. In this Tokyo dining, food and restaurant guide will help you decide where you can find your favourite cuisines while in Tokyo, Japan.
There are no less than 80,000 restaurants in Tokyo, densely packed into the central districts. In many cases, the best selection is found in multi-story shopping centers, many of which boast food courts as well as dedicated restaurants.
English-language menus aren't always available. In lieu of this, many restaurants in Tokyo keep a display case stocked with plastic ‘sample' dishes and visitors can point to what looks good. Be advised that closing times indicate when the last customer is expected to leave rather than take a seat or place an order.
Along with its neighbour Hibiya, Ginza is Tokyo's most exclusive commercial district. The best selection is either inside of or attached to the large shopping complexes here. Budget diners needn't despair, as a string of yakitori (grilled chicken) stands congregate under the elevated commuter railway near the Imperial Hotel.
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Restaurants in Shinjuku, Tokyo cover all the bases. Visitors enjoy a pleasing mix of international and Japanese cuisine. The best selection applies to local cuisine, with plenty of mid-range and upscale options. Many of the high-rise buildings in Shinjuku boast restaurants with a view.
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Popular with Japanese teenagers, Harajuku also holds sway with adults because of its colorful café and shop district. Fashionable clothes are widely available at affordable prices. The local highlight is the twice-monthly Sunday flea market.
Shibuya targets commuters, especially students and middle-class office workers. Ticket prices average a little lower than in neighboring districts, but it's still possible to splurge. At the budget end are a few pizzerias, Mexican cantinas and Chinese restaurants.
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Known for its nightlife and bars, Roppongi caters to young partiers with noodles, pizza and pub fare. There aren't as many splurge options in Roppongi, as the party atmosphere keeps fine diners at bay.
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Nobu Tokyo
4-1-28 Toronomon, Shinjuku
Phone: +81 3 5733 0070
Visitors may know Nobu's sister restaurant in New York City. Gourmet seafood is the specialty, including Japanese favorites as well as dishes that blend influences from the greater Pacific Rim. The chef's choice (omakase) is a good option for indecisive diners.
New York Grill
3-7-1-2 Nishi-Shinjuku
Phone: +81 3 5322 1234, Akasaka
A longtime Tokyo favorite, the New York Grill perches high in the Park Hyatt. Everything from the cuisine and dé cor to the high-flying views over Shinjuku is exquisite.
Hayashi
2-22-5 Kabuki-cho, Shinjuku
Phone: +81 3 3209 5672
This affordable restaurant in Shinjuku serves meats which diners can cook over tableside hibachi grills. The dé cor is particularly rustic as it was carted in from the mountains of Takayama and reassembled here.
Casita
5-51-8 Jingumae, Harajuku
Phone: +81 3 5485 7353
Unabashedly upscale, Casita serves Pan-Asian cuisine with a sprinkling of Western menu items and pays careful attention to the finer points of service. The covered outdoor seating area is heated in the winter.
1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho, Ginza
Phone: +81 3 3504 1111
Located inside the Imperial Hotel, Kamon is a posh sushi restaurant that branches out into mainstream seafood and steaks. The interior is lavishly decorated without going over the top, creating an exclusive atmosphere that matches the quality of the cuisine.
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