Known as the food city of Japan, Tokyo is a foodie’s haven with restaurants and food stores at every turn.
With a plethora of food choices, be sure to start your foodie journey with an open mind and an empty stomach!
And if you are still wondering what to eat in Tokyo, join a Tokyo food tour to explore the world of Japanese cuisine, dining at local bars, izakaya, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants!
TRAVEL HACK:
As always, I find the best way to source for the cheapest flights is by checking on Google Flights & Skyscanner.
If you’re still piecing together the rest of your Japan trip, I’ve covered everything else, cities, seasons, budgeting, getting around, in my complete Japan travel guide.
As for accommodation, I found Booking & HotelsCombined to provide the most comprehensive, unbiased comparison of different hotel sites.
I travel long-term and never leave home without Safetywing, an affordable nomad travel insurance that covers COVID-19 too!.
1. Ramen
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With a long historical significance, ramen is one of the most popular Japanese dishes that appeals to many globally.
While the origins of ramen is still very much up for debate, many are of the agreement that the concept of ramen initially originated from China and arrived on the shores of Japan in the midst of trading.
Although the beginnings of ramen has been pegged to as far back as the late 1600s, it was not until the post-war economic boom that saw the rise in ramen’s popularity and concretized its role as one of Japan’s staple foods.
Ramen noodles are typically made of fine wheat and come served in a variety of hot broths such as shoyu, shio and miso broths.
Dipping ramen, known as tsukemen, is also another favourite amongst locals, and features a thicker and more savoury dipping broth served on the side. Ask any local for their recommendations on the best ramen in Tokyo and you will be sure to be bombarded with the likes of Tsuta or Afuri.
However, ramen has also started evolving with the times, as a new generation of third-wave ramen makers come into play, pushing the boundaries of ramen-making to serve up trendy bowls of ramen.
Best ramen in Tokyo:
One such famous store is Mensho San Francisco, known for using unique ingredients in their ramen, all while presenting incredibly Instagrammable bowls of ramen.
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2. Sushi
Synonymous with Japanese cuisine, sushi can be found at just about every corner in Tokyo, from sushi restaurants to convenience stores, and can fit any budget range.
Sushi is basically made of slices of seafood or meat, set atop vinegar sushi rice, which can then be dipped into soy sauce before being eaten.
Sushi initially originated as cheap fast food in the 1800s and came into the scene as a street food favoured by many locals.
These days, high-end sushi restaurants can charge up to 30,000 yen/ USD 273 or so for an omakase meal.
However, there are plenty of budget-friendly sushi options as well. Local fish markets, such as the well-known Tsukiji Market, are home to many sushi restaurants where you can have your fill of fresh catches of the day.
Best sushi in Tokyo:
If you are in town and craving for a quick sushi fix, check out Ganso Zushi, a popular conveyor belt sushi (kaiten sushi) restaurant which offers delicious value-for-money sushi that will not break the bank. It’s easily voted as one of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo.
3. Tempura
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The history of tempura dates back to the 16th century around the time when the trading route between Japan and Portugal was established.
The concept of frying foods was inspired by the Portuguese but has been perfected by the Japanese into the beloved tempura dish today.
Tempura is usually eaten with rice and miso soup, and upon serving, the freshly fried tempura is dipped in a light tentsuyu sauce to accentuate the flavour of the tempura batter.
Common tempura items include fish, prawns, pumpkins, and eggplants. However, these days, more chefs are experimenting with frying other ingredients, which has resulted in more foods being fried into tempura. Eggs, meat, and green vegetables are recent additions to the list of commonly found tempura, giving diners a wider spread of choice.
Best tempura in Tokyo:
If you are wondering where to eat tempura in Tokyo, check out Tempura Tenkamehachi, Tsunahachi Ginza or Tempura Kondo, famous tempura restaurants especially known for their light and airy tempura batters.
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4. Takoyaki
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One of the best cheap eats in Tokyo, although takoyaki was first popularized in the streets of Osaka as a street food, and was initially only found in Kansai, its popularity has now expanded to the Kanto region, with numerous takoyaki stores all over Tokyo.
Commonly known as “octopus balls,” its name comes from the piece of diced octopus placed in the centre of a dough ball.
Easily one of the best street food in Tokyo, the word tako means octopus, while the word yaki means to grill or fry. These takoyaki balls are typically made of a wheat flour batter, grilled into a small dough ball, in a special takoyaki pan. Bonito flakes are added on top before a sweet sauce is drizzled over the dough balls.
As a street snack, takoyaki stores are often found along the streets of Japan and are usually served in little paper dishes, serving as a convenient snack on the go. Be warned though, these little balls are often served fresh off the grill and are piping hot in the middle!
TIP: Pierce a small hole at the top to cool the takoyaki balls down for a bit, before popping them into your mouth.
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5. Okonomiyaki
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Like the takoyaki, okonomiyaki is made with a batter that is then yaki-ed (grilled or fried).
Often referred to as a grilled savoury pancake, okonomiyaki contains various ingredients of your choosing, which are diced and mixed in the batter.
Similar to the takoyaki, okonomiyaki initially originated in the Kansai region as well. Although it has been around since the 1600s, it was not until after the war that people started adding ingredients such as eggs, pork, and cabbage, to take the semblance of the dish we are familiar with now.
Today, the ingredients in okonomiyaki can be customized to your liking, and ingredients such as seafood, cheese, or scallions are all now commonplace in the making of okonomiyaki.
Many okonomiyaki restaurants also offer diners the experience of diner-style counter seats, where the chefs would grill your okonomiyaki in front of you, before allowing you to eat off the special hotplate (teppan).
6. Monjayaki
Not to be confused with its cousin, okonomiyaki, monjayaki is a similar-looking round savoury grilled pancake, with a runnier batter.
Unlike okonomiyaki, dashi or water is often added to the batter of the monjayaki, giving it its semi-liquid consistency.
Also called monja by the locals, monjayaki is best enjoyed when you spread the batter thinly to cook.
As you slowly eat your way through your monjayaki, you will find that portions which have been cooked longer will start to crisp and take on a brownish burnt color. This is also known as okoge, which many consider as the most delicious part.
Known to be the birthplace of monjayaki, the Tsukishima district in Tokyo is especially famous for monjayaki and has over 70 stores selling monjayaki. Most stores in the area sell both monjayaki and okonomiyaki as well, so you can have the opportunity to sample both if you so wish!
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7. Onigiri
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With one of the longest histories of all of Japanese food, the onigiri is a staple in many Japanese daily meals.
Onigiri are basically rice balls that can be eaten as a full meal, or just a snack, making it a convenient portable food for parties and picnics as well.
While most onigiri contain a filling to be eaten together with the rice, some onigiri can be eaten plain or salted (shio). The flavour variations of onigiris are endless and can be customized to your liking.
Although you can find many onigiri shaped into triangles, they can be shaped in any way, with many kids’ bento sprouting onigiri shaped into cute cartoon characters.
Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku and Onigiri Bongo are two extremely popular onigiri restaurants in Tokyo where you can sit at the counter to watch the chef prepare your onigiri on the spot. However, because of their popularity, be prepared to queue for good satisfying rice balls!
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8. Tonkatsu
The origins of tonkatsu began in the 19th century, from Western inspirations. Tonkatsu is essentially pork cutlet that has been breaded and deep fried. It is usually served with rice, miso soup, a side of shredded cabbage and a sweet dipping sauce which you can also drizzle abundantly over the cutlet itself.
Best tonkatsu in Tokyo:
If you are in search of a well-known tonkatsu store, both Butagumi and Katsukura Tonkatsu are stores patronized by locals and tourists alike. The long queues snaking outside their doors are testimonies of the juicy and crispy pork cutlets they have to offer.
9. Oyakodon
The oyakodon is said to have been around since the late 1700s and has over 300 years of history. Oyakodon literally translates to “parent and child bowl,” with the chicken (parent) and eggs (child) cooked in a savoury dashi stew, served over a warm bowl of rice.
Best oyakodon in Tokyo:
In Tokyo, Tamahide Ichino is one of the most well-known oyakodon restaurants, boasting long queues during peak hours, and for good reason.
Tamahide Ichino has been serving oyakodon for over 254 years, consistently serving out delicious bowls of oyakodon with meltingly soft eggs on top.
With its ever-expanding fan base, Tamahide recently opened its second and more accessible outlet at Asakusa, in the Tokyo Skytree building.
10. Udon
The thickness and texture of udon noodles vary from region to region, but as one of Japan’s largest cosmopolitan cities, Tokyo is home to many different kinds of udon from all across Japan.
Udon is essentially Japanese noodles made from wheat flour, kneaded with water and salt, before being stretched and cut into thinner strips for cooking.
Udon can be served in many different ways. In summer, zaru udon, a cold style of dipping udon, is often favoured as a refreshing dish, while cold winters are perfect for udon served in hot steaming broths.
A variety of toppings and ingredients can also be added to the dish as well.
Although there are many udon restaurants in Tokyo, many still prefer traditional udon stores that serve simple straightforward udon dishes.
Shin Udon is one such traditional udon stall that has won the palates of many with their chewy udon noodle strands that give just that perfect bite with each mouthful.
However, if you are interested in trying a different take on udon, you can also check out Godaime Hanayama, a store that specializes in flat, fat strands of udon.
If you’re wondering what to eat in Tokyo, fret no more and take your pick from our list of Tokyo foods!
With so many things to eat in Tokyo, you’ll surely be spoilt for choice. If you are short on time, joining a Tokyo food tour will offer you a taste of most of the must-try Japanese foods in Tokyo before you leave.
