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Looking to experience some of the best food in Tokyo? Read on for some of our favorite dishes and where to find them while exploring Tokyo.
On my return from Bali this year, I stopped in Tokyo. Before my Tokyo trip, I scoured the Internet for eateries serving Japanese staples, such as sushi, rice balls, ramen, and dumplings. I also wanted to experience latte art. My quest to find the best food in Tokyo took me to four central tourist areas over three days:
Ginza – Home to original Japanese department stores and fine restaurants
Tsukiji – The best place to have fish for breakfast
Shinjuku – Neon buildings and nightclubs
Shibuya (Harajuku) – Tokyo’s fashion district
Although Tokyo is vast, the subway system is clean and efficient, making it easy to get around. The restaurant service is excellent, and the locals are helpful and accommodating. There is a strong sense of order and protocol.
Pro Tip : Don’t be daunted by the size of Toyko. Take it one area at a time.
Here are some excellent examples of the best food in Tokyo, the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, in key districts.
Best Food in Tokyo
Sushi in Ginza
Sushi has a long history in China and Japan. The s ushi-making process began in the Tang Dynasty ( 618 – 907 CE) to preserve fish using salt and fermenting with rice, which was later discarded. Today, sushi is considered some of the best food in Tokyo.
Travelers give the high-end Ginza Honten Restaurant top billing. The cream-colored interior, rich wood tables, and brown leather chairs create a luxurious feel. The sushi master molded rice into rectangles with his fingertips, covering the rice with carefully carved salmon. I sat at the counter and watched, mesmerized.
Ginza Honten Sushi Tokyo. Photo by Merle Rosenstein.
I learned sushi-eating etiquette from the sushi master. When the rice on my salmon sushi lost its shape, he fixed it for me. Then, I bit into my sushi twice instead of once. The sushi master shook his head and handed me a book to study. Everyone at the counter laughed. Next, I watched as four shrimp wiggled on a white plate before me. The sushi master asked if I wanted them raw or boiled. “Boiled, please!” I answered.
Pro tip : Read up on sushi etiquette.
Directions
The restaurant is a five-minute walk from the Ginza C2 Exit of the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line or a five-minute walk from Ginza Exit C2 of the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
Pro tip : Consume sushi in one bite, if possible.
Rice Balls in Tsukiji
The Tsukiji Fish Market is the perfect place to try rice balls or onigiri, also considered some of the best food in Tokyo. Rice balls are cylindrical or triangular and are filled with different ingredients, including salmon, salted cod roe, and pickled plums. They were initially used as offerings. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), regular folk began eating them. The Japanese started wrapping rice balls in seaweed in the mid-Edo period (1603-1868), adding to the taste and making them easier to handle.
Rice Ball. Photo courtesy of Note Thanun
I lined up at the Marutoyo stall to pick from over 40 kinds of rice balls. I tried the one with salmon inside and felt the salty brine of the seaweed tickle my tongue.
Pro Tip : If you want to make onigiri at home, u se good quality sushi rice so that it will stick together.
Directions
The Tsukiji Fish Market is in the Tsukiji District, a three-minute walk from Tsukijishijo Station Exit A1 on the Toei Subway Oedo Line.
Pro Tip : If traveling to Tokyo in the winter, pack a lightweight puffer jacket that fits neatly into your suitcase.
Ramen in Shinjuku
I was glad to have my raincoat as I waited in a dark alley next to Ramen Nagi , a restaurant in the Shinjuku District, in the Golden Gai. The restaurant posts a list of rules called ‘ramen shop etiquette’. The list includes instructions on slurping, how not to abandon your bowl by going to the washroom, and no ‘take-out’ or ‘to go’ options. Patrons who linger after finishing their ramen get the ‘stink eye’. The tiny shop seats 10 and fills up fast.
Pro tip : The Golden Gai has six alleys with over 200 bars for bar hopping.
The types of noodles change each day. I ordered the hand-kneaded, curly, medium-thick nagy noodles. These had a springy texture. My ramen, a broth with sardines and green onions, was tangy, filling, and definitely on my list of the best food in Tokyo.
Ramen Nagi Restaurant Tokyo. Photo courtesy of Ramen Nagi
Pro tip : Mind the rules.
Directions
Ramen Nagi is located in the Shinjuku Golden Gai , about a one-minute walk from the E-1 exit of Shinjuku -sanchome Station.
Dumplings in Harajuku
Harajuku is also Tokyo’s bustling, quirky shopping area, with high-end boutiques alongside unusual fashion finds. On weekends, the under-16 set participates in ‘cosplay’ or costume play, donning frills, fashion gloves, cat-eared hoodies and parkas, and pink lace dresses.
I ducked into Harajuku Gyozaro to sample Japanese dumplings. The dumplings, crafted from rice dough with pork or veal filling, can be ordered pan-fried, crispy-fried , poached, and grilled. I had pan-fried dumplings filled with ground pork. They were crisp, hot, and satisfying. You have to try these dumplings, one of Tokyo’s best foods.
Harajuku Gyoza Dumplings. Photo courtesy of City Foodsters
Directions
Take the Chiyoda or Futokoshin lines to Meiji Jingumae Station. Harajuku Gyoza is about a two-minute walk away.
Latte Art in Harajuku
I love latte art, and Cafe Reissue does not disapp oint . The menu offers 2D and 3D l attes. You can bring your favorite picture of a celebrity or a nime character or choose from nine different samples, such as Pikachu, Charlie Brown, or a teddy bear.
I chose the elephant latte. George, my latte artist, manipulated stiff foam to form the ears, trunk, and body and used a chocolate sauce for the eyes, ears, and mouth. George took great pride in fulfilling patrons’ caffeine fantasies. I have his business card for my next visit. You can drool over designs on the website.
Cafe Reissue Latte Art Tokyo. Photo by Merle Rosenstein
The latte was a great way to top off my Tokyo neighborhood food tour.
Directions
Cafe Reissue is a seven-minute walk from the Harajuku station.
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If You Go to Tokyo
Let curiosity guide you on your culinary journey. Experiment with foods you’ve only heard about, or seek fresher versions of the best foods back home. Go for a variety of eateries from street-side to sit-down restaurants. And continue your search for the best Japanese food after your trip.
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5 Best Food Finds in Tokyo
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