What to Eat in Tokyo

In a land where even the consumption of fast food (think: Yoshinoya and Mos Burger) can bring tears of joy to one’s eyes, I dare say that finding a bad meal in Japan is actually a challenge. But with so many options, where would you even begin? Over a weekend in Tokyo, we found some amazing gems and are so excited to share them with you in our gastrorgasmic food guide to Tokyo!

Sushi Ya Ginza

To truly experience the beauty of Japanese food, I honestly believe an omakase experience is essential. Omakase essentially means chef’s choice, where the chef will put together a medley of dishes using the freshest ingredients of the day. The element of surprise in not knowing what to expect, the incredible freshness of ingredients and the sheer joy of watching the chef at work make a good omakase experience unforgettable. Located in the back alleys of Ginza, the 8-seater Sushi Ya is pretty much the most intimate experience you could have. Our 2 hour meal there felt more like a theatrical performance as we watched Chef Takao Ishiyama expertly slice, craft and serve each exquisite piece of sushi. Even though the meal comes at a rather hefty price, I felt that the quality, diversity and number of ingredients made it value for money. This was definitely the best meal of our trip and I’m sure the Japanese folks who were groaning in pleasure with us would agree wholeheartedly!

Address:
6-3-17 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo (東京都中央区銀座6-3-17 悠玄ビル 1F)
Nearest Train Station: Ginza
Tel: +81 46-234-9992  (Reservations required)
Opening Hours: 12 – 2pm, 5 – 10pm

Tonkatsu Maisen

Our butts had barely hit the seat, and already appetiser and tea were served. It was easy to pick what to eat, because the baptism of fire here is the tonkatsu. The crunch of that breaded crust put the best sio bak I’ve had in Singapore to shame. Paired with the special Tonkatsu sauce which has a tinge of sour sweet ume, the mixture of fat, lean meat and crust was simply heavenly. Even the soup that comes with the set is no regular miso- chock full of the sweetness of daikon and other root vegetables topped with slices of delicious pork, it is so, so good. A key companion of every Tonkatsu meal is the free flow cabbage and even this was exceptionally delicious when accompanied by their intensely sweet, Sarsi- like house sauce.

Address:
4-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区 神宮前4−8−5
Nearest Train Station: Omotesando Exit A2
Tel: +81 3 3470 0071
Opening Hours 11:00am-10:00pm

Menki Yashima

Welcome to tempura heaven. Unlike in Singapore where your tempura options are mostly limited to prawns and root vegetables, here you can opt for squid tentacles marinated in teriyaki sauce and succulent sweet scallops. The udon noodles are definitely slurp-worthy and the right kind of springy without being overly chewy. Simply sitting in the restaurant is a fascinating experience because it is an eclectic wonderland with all sorts of soft toys peeking from behind the industrial pipes, stickers lining the walls and paraphernalia covering every inch of the shop.

Address:
1-44-13 Tomigaya Shibuya Tokyo
東京都 渋谷区 富ヶ谷 1-45-13 シズナビル B1F
Nearest station: Yoyogi Koen
Tel: +81 3-5454-0568
Opening Hours: 1130 -1500

Rokurinsha Tsukemen 

Located at the famous Ramen street near Tokyo Station, this was the only restaurant in this list that we actually had to queue a good hour for despite the quick turnover of customers. I really loved the broth here because it had just the right amount of umami to make it smoky and savoury without being too overpowering. And the noodles, oh the noodles, were springy beyond belief and magically able to absorb the flavours of the broth perfectly. The absolute clincher, however, was the Yuzu broth added at the end of the meal that ended the meal on a beautiful sweet-citrusy note. Order the Special Dip Noodles (Yen 1060), you can’t go wrong with that.

Address:
Tokyo Station Ichibangai B1
Tokyo Ramen Street, 1-9-1 Marunouchi,
Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0005
Tel: +81 3-3286-0166
Opening Hours: 0730-1000, 1100-2300

Uoriki Kaisen Sushi

If you love chirashi as much as I do, this is a god-send. Hidden elusively in the basement of Tokyu Department Store is this humble little 11-seater sushi bar that dishes out the freshest catch from Tsukiji Market. You can get the Tairyo Tsukiji Donburi (¥1750) if you want more succulent and premium ingredients although we both felt that the Kaisen Donburi was super value for money and just as satisfying at ¥1000. To avoid the long queues, go before 6pm!

Address:
B1 Tokyu Department Store
2-24-1 Shibuya
Nearest Station: Shibuya
Tel: +81 03 5428 3813
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm

Looking to take things one step further and recreate some sushi or tonkatsu magic back in your kitchen? Check out some of the amazing cooking class options in Tokyo here!

We know for sure that this list is just a tip of the iceberg in terms of the amazing food that Tokyo has and would love to hear your recommendations! Share them with us in the comments section below (:

Looking for activities to occupy your time in between all these meals? Check out Klook.com for amazing deals on tours, activities and even transportation!