Tokyo is a food haven and often you might find yourself in the city wondering what to eat! This Tokyo food guide covers what and where to devour in Tokyo, from the weird to the wonderful. Ever considered trying fugu (pufferfish)? Or how about sushi ordered from a tablet?

A big thank you to all the amazing travel bloggers for their contributions & input helping me with this project!

What and where to eat in Tokyo in 2019 & beyond

Bento boxes at Hyoki Kasuitei

“One of my favourite places to eat in Tokyo is Hyoki Kasuitei restaurant which is located in the Roppongi district. They offer delicious bento boxes when you arrive restaurant staff in traditional Kimonos will lead you to an unconventional and relaxing Japanese space that features silver leaf wallpaper and warming wood materials to enjoy your luxurious lunch with friends or family. Hyoki Kasuitei is a fine dining Japanese style restaurant. 

The Bento box offers: a Japanese style soup, steamed rice, cooked salmon, salmon sashimi, pickled vegetables and soybean tofu.” – Sam from The Travelling King. Check out her recommendations for places to stay in Tokyo.

Bread

Yes, you read that right. Bread. How the Japanese managed to give the French a run for their money when it comes to baking bread is beyond me. You must try the gigantic award-winning toast at this establishment in Ginza. You will not be sorry.

Chocolate

Max, who blogs at Dame Cacao says that “Japan is the center of chocolate culture in Asia. There are over a dozen small-batch chocolate makers in Tokyo alone, with another several dozen across Japan. But even in a city as huge as Tokyo, having so many chocolate makers and chocolatiers in one place has made competition quite fierce. Tokyo’s chocolate makers are some of the most creative in the world, concocting beverages made with cacao pulp, bonbons layered with local fruits & herbs, and even chocolate-soaked berries. If there are any foods you need to try in the city that you can’t find elsewhere, it is Japanese chocolate. In particular, I recommend you check out Dandelion Chocolate for a nice cafe space with free WiFi (a surprisingly rare find in Japan), or Kabuki Cafe for a coffee master’s take on artisanal chocolate made from bean to bar.”

Classic Japanese fare at “shokudos”

“Shokudo are small casual eateries that serve a variety of inexpensive dishes, in a cafeteria type setting. The dishes offered are a fairly simple affair and will include rice and noodles, set meals, with a range of proteins such as grilled fish, chicken, sushi and sashimi, just to name a few. The atmosphere is very relaxed as customers eat their meals quickly and move on to free their seats. During our time in Tokyo we had our favourite Shokudo, and each time we visited we were always amazed at the range of tasty dishes, the freshness of the ingredients, and the low prices to match. One dish we enjoyed a few times was a Japanese classic, sardines stewed in umeboshi, a tart fruit that is a combination of an apricot and a plum. The richness of the sardines always matched perfectly with the tartness of the fruit.” – Markus from The Roaming Fork. Read more about his Japanese food experiences here.

Cute food at Pom Purin Cafe

“The Pom Pom Purin Cafe is the cutest place to eat in Tokyo. Located in the Harajuku district, this cafe is a tasteful place to have lunch with your friends. The food here is delicious and reasonably priced. The unique aspect about this cafe is that all the food is ornately decorated to look like Pom Pom Purin characters. We tried out the taco rice salad, the banana and caramel pancakes, and a berry dish. I would recommend any of these dishes. After you eat, there is a little shop and several spots for photo opportunities with Pompompurin and her friends. The Pom Pom Purin Cafe can get crowded, so I recommend making a reservation if you can!” – Francesca from Home Room Travel.

Fugu at Genpin fugu

“Fugu (pufferfish) is one of those dishes that you should only try in Japan. You need to go to a trusted establishment as fugu can be very poisonous if it is prepared improperly. Still, if you are adventurous and want to try this tasty fish, Genpin fugu( 玄品ふぐ )  is a great place to try it! 
If you order the set meal, you’ll get to try Fugu in a myriad of different styles. The sashimi is sprinkled with spices and spring onions, then dipped in ponzu. It is so good! Then you’ll try fugu sashimi on hakusai (cabbage), fried fugu karaage (which is amaaaazingly good) and even fried fugu ski in ponzu sauce. Next, you move on to fugu sushi. The highlight for me was the fugu nabe (hot pot) that was full of tasty vegetables in a fantastic broth.” – Josy from A Walk and a Lark. 

Gyoza at Harajuku Gyozaro

“In 10 days in Japan, the gyoza (dumplings) at Harajuku Gyozaro were some of the best things we ate.

The menu here is short: steamed gyoza or fried gyoza, with chives or without. It’s not fancy, and it doesn’t have to be. The gyoza are delicious: pillowy pockets of juicy pork in a light dough – crisp and golden if you go for the fried option. There are a few side dishes too, including bean sprouts and a simple but perfectly seasoned cucumber salad.

The vibe is buzzy, with an open kitchen and counter seating, and the value for money is hard to beat, at ¥290(US$2.5) for six gyoza. The only downside is the queue. It stretched down the street and took half an hour on our visit, but we were happy to wait – it was absolutely worth it.” – Lisa from Rebellious Tourist

Katsu curry at Curry House Coco Ichibaniya

If you’re a huge fan of katsu curry, then you must head to Curry House Coco Ichibaniya, which is a chain all over Tokyo. You have various options and spice levels to choose from. Besides this, it’s a very reasonable option to eat out in Tokyo. It just has to be on your list of what and where to devour in Tokyo!

Onigiri & various snacks at 7/11

“Japanese 7-Elevens offer amazing food that you must try in Tokyo. Unlike its counterpart in the U.S, 7-Elevens in Japan are a staple for both local and tourists, both because there are a variety of food, drinks, alcohol, clothes, household items. One distinctive factor is that the food at 7-Eleven is both tasty and unique (if you have never been to Tokyo).

If you are looking for a true Japanese experience, head to 7-eleven in Tokyo for either breakfast or lunch. 7-Eleven in Japan stocks many lunch plate (or bento) options. A few things you should try: bottled milk tea, individual hard-boiled eggs, bento boxes with either noodle or rich dishes and fried chicken. One popular food that Japanese and tourists love to get from 7-eleven is onigiri or Japanese rice balls. These rice balls are wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with different types of filling, such as salmon, roe, pickle, etc.” – Serena from Serena’s Lenses

Ramen at Memory Lane

You don’t think I’d do this post without ramen right? I’d highly recommend trying the light shoyu ramen with veggie tempura at this little shop in Memory Lane. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Souffle pancakes at A Happy Pancake

A Happy Pancake has some of the most delicious pancakes you can ever have in Japan. These souffle pancakes take about 30 minutes to make, but they are so worth it. Try the ones with maple and butter. This has to be on your list of what and where to eat in Tokyo.

Sushi at Genki Sushi

“Genki Sushi is the best place to go if you want to eat sushi and get great quality and a cool food experience without spending too much. It’s a Japanese chain restaurant that serves sushi on a conveyor belt. However, it’s not one of those restaurants where the sushi pieces goes around the belt again and again. At Genki Sushi, you order from a computer screen, and then they prepare it and send it out to your seat.

There are hundreds of choices to choose from, and you can get 2 pieces of sushi from 108 yen, which is about 7-8 USD.  My favorite Genki Sushi is located in Shibuya.” – Alexander from Destinavo.

Udon at Taniya

“If you are looking for a great place to eat in the heart of Tokyo, Taniya is a restaurant you really shouldn’t miss. At this Udon restaurant, the noodles are made from scratch every day. You can even watch the chefs preparing your dishes if you take a seat at the counter. The Udon dishes at Taniya are simple but so delicious. Udon noodles are either served hot or cold and are topped or accompanied by deliciously crispy deep fried Tempura. Udon is, therefore, a perfect dish in hot summers as well as cold winters. And the best part about Taniya is that it is really quite cheap, and you will be full for sure since you can choose the size of your portion at no extra charge. The Udon restaurant Taniya is located in Ninyocho, which is a part of Nihonbashi in Chuo district of Tokyo just a short metro ride from Tokyo station (or a beautiful 2 kilometer walk if you are up for that).” – Lena, from The Social Travel Experiment

Yakitori at Piss Alley/Memory Lane

Even though it’s now called Memory Lane, Piss Alley used to be a narrow alley from the World War days, filled with watering holes & home to some delicious yakitori (skewers). Don’t miss this on your list of what and where to eat in Tokyo. You can get both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options here. I am yet to discover a better spot to have yakitori. I’d also add it to my list of best cheap eats in Tokyo.

I hope you enjoyed this list of what and where to dine in Tokyo! It’s my ultimate Tokyo travel guide for food lovers. Do you have any more suggestions? Let me know in the comments below!

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