Enjoying the food in Japan is one of the things we miss the most from our recent trip! We share a list of some of our restaurant recommendations and must-eat food in Tokyo!
There are so many delicious, unique, and fantastic foodie experiences in the capital of Japan! Therefore, if this is your first time in this amazing city, make sure your foodie adventures include at least the following food in Tokyo!
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Food in Tokyo – What & Where to Eat:
MICHELIN Starred Sushi Restaurant
In the 2024 edition of the MICHELIN Guide Tokyo, there are over 500 restaurants from the capital of Japan. The Tokyo restaurants include different cuisines, including Japanese, French, Italian, Chinese.
For us, we had to experience a Michelin Starred sushi restaurant in Tokyo!
” ‘…Tokyo continues to be the best-endowed city in terms of both quality eateries and MICHELIN-Starred establishments.’ “
-comments by Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide (The 2024 edition of the MICHELIN Guide)
Although we have sat at the sushi counter and enjoyed omakase at home and on our travels, our Michelin-star sushi experience in Tokyo was truly memorable!
Most importantly, becoming an “itamae”, or traditional head sushi chef in Japan, takes many years of training! Therefore, we could not leave Japan without experiencing a meal from a master sushi chef!
*Be sure to check back for our article on our Michelin Star sushi restaurant and experience in Tokyo!
Also, for Michelin Guide restaurants, be sure to book reservations in advance!
Where to Eat: Tokyo’s “Memory Lane”: Omoide Yokocho:
Located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, a visit to Omoide Yokocho, or “Memory Lane”, is a must! The alleyways are filled with small bars and small food stalls serving food and drinks.
Expect to wait for stools at a counter, a smoky district from food cooking, and possibly sitting very close to other people in the cozy food stalls. It is all part of the Tokyo experience!
Overall, small plates of affordable street food and drinks are served in Omoide Yokocho! If you prefer a more “polished” environment and do not plan to eat here, we still recommend walking through this famous alley at night!
It may not be the best food in Tokyo, but it should be a memorable place to explore!
We visited in the evening and sat at the counter of a small, busy food stall. Our order of Japanese beer and sake was served with edamame while we waited for our food.
We had to order yakitori in Omoide Yokocho, which was cooked on a small grill in front of us! Everyone at the restaurant was friendly and the food was tasty!
Although it may be crowded, definitely stop by for a snack and drink in the evening! We loved finally experiencing Memory Lane, lined with stalls, so much character, and lit paper lanterns!
Visiting and eating at Omoide Yokocho was a must-do Tokyo experience for us, that we highly recommend!
Where to Eat: Ichiran Ramen Restaurant
We enjoyed every moment of our unique meal and experience at Ichiran Ramen, except the long line to get in of course!
The ramen chain is “voted No.1 in Japan and popular worldwide” as noted on their website!
Unfortunately, there was a line whenever we tried to eat at various locations, so just be prepared to wait! It is a casual, busy, restaurant that only serves Tonkotsu ramen, their specialty.
Also, there are Ichiran locations outside of Tokyo. However, we found the location we went to, “Ichiran Shinjuku Station Central East Exit” was so interesting and different!
At the Shinjuku location we visited, people were waiting in line outside, as well as having to wait on a staircase that led downstairs to the booths.
Despite the long wait, it really is a restaurant experience and food in Tokyo that should be tried! It was a tasty and memorable visit for us!
Of course, other locations will have a different interior. However, we were fascinated and enjoyed this foodie experience in the lower level of a building in Shinjuku.
What to Eat: Conveyor Belt Sushi
We ate at Kura Sushi, for our conveyor belt sushi experience! It is the second largest Japanese sushi restaurant chain in Japan.
TIP: the Kura Sushi Flagship Store Oshiage State (near Tokyo Skytree) – the world’s largest conveyor belt sushi restaurant (at the time of opening). Address: 1F,1-8-23, Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, 131-0045
Be sure not to leave Japan without trying conveyor belt sushi at least once! Not only is it relatively affordable sushi, but it was delicious and fun!
Other popular conveyor-belt sushi restaurants in Japan include:
- Sushiro: the largest conveyor belt sushi company in Japan
- Hama Sushi: popular Japanese chain, also has more than 500 outlets across Japan
Where to Eat: Tsukiji Outer Market
Although the Tsukiji fish auction moved to Toyosu,the Tsukiji Outer Market is still a must-visit when in Tokyo!
The Tsukiji Outer Market is an area by the former fish market complex where tuna auctions took place. Still, there are many food stalls that remain, with shops serving a variety of seafood, meat, street food, packaged food, desserts, and more!
Yes, it is a tourist trap but we would not have missed it! Vibrant, bustling, and delicious!
Our short-list of must-try food at Tsukiji Outer Market include:
- mixed seafood rice bowl (this was my favourite here – pictured above)
- sea urchin
- a variety of freshly grilled seafood and meat, such as:
- grilled unagi skewers
- grilled oysters
- grilled waygu beef
- tamago-yaki:
- sweet egg omelet dish on a stick – pictured below! This food stall always had a line up of people so we had to try it!
What to Eat: Sea Urchin
I love sea urchin! It is definitely not for everyone, but if you love seafood, give it a try!
We ate fresh sea urchin, straight from the spikey, hard shell, a few times during our trips to the local food markets in Japan! Food bliss!
What to Eat: Wagyu Beef
Outside of the country, authentic wagyu beef from Japan, is expensive, prized for the rich marbling! Therefore, be sure to try authentic Japanese wagyu if you enjoy eating beef!
TIP: Wagyu Beef versus Kobe Beef – Did you know that kobe beef is a special type of wagyu! Kobe beef must meet strict requirements, grading, and quality standards including the fact that the cattle must be from Kobe, Japan, born and raised in the Hyogo prefecture region.
All the markets we visited in Japan had wagyu beef! We tried kobe beef on skewers from a food stall which was freshly grilled after we ordered! Delicious!
There are also restaurants, including MICHELIN guide restaurants in Tokyo, that serve or specialize in wagyu beef!
Where to Eat: Toyosu Fish Market
The Toyosu Fish Market is one of the largest fish markets in the world!
Apparently, people have noted that the auction at the former Tsukiji Fish Market was more interesting than the new and larger Toyosu Market complex. However, despite the mixed reviews, as a sushi lover and foodie, we had to see the tuna auction for ourselves!
In fact, I entered the Toyosu Market tuna auction lottery and was one of the few raffle winners! I was ecsatic to win two tickets to view the auction from the special deck on the lower floor!
Only a limited number of people are allowed onto the lower viewing deck each morning and had to be there by 5:30 a.m.! It was worth it!
We even stayed overnight at the nearby beautiful Mitsui Garden Hotel Toyosu Premier (read our hotel review here) to ensure we were close by for the early morning auction!
*Be sure to check back for our more detailed article on our visit to the Toyosu Market, auction, and sushi meal after the auction!
Also, it is important to note that Toyosu Market is open to the public. And entering the lottery for the auction is not necessary.
Visitors can still view the tuna auction (from a higher floor) and explore the large complex which has several buildings.
Be sure to also check out and eat at the Toyosu Market restaurants! Despite the lines, we waited! My husband and I really enjoyed our omakase sushi after the tuna auction! That was a must-do for us during our visit to Toyosu Market, and apparently for a lot of people as well!
Overall, although the Tsukiji Outer Market does have a more lively outdoor atmosphere, visiting the Toyosu Market and auction was a bucket-list adventure for me!
Is it worth visiting Toyosu Market? For me, absolutely! However, note that is is located in a rather remote district, especially compared to more popular areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya. We planned around it, also visiting teamLab Planets, to make the most of our stay in Toyosu!
Check Viator here for guided Toyosu Market tours with an experienced or government-licensed guide as you explore food in Tokyo and the Tsukiji and Toyosu Markets! We loved visiting and eating at both markets!
- Tour: Tsukiji Food & Toyosu Market with Government-Licensed Guide
- Tour: Tuna Auction & Tokyo Toyosu Fish Market Tour
Where to Eat: Harajuku – Takeshita Street
Checking out the famous street known for fashion, style, and shopping? Be sure to also take a break and enjoy some street snacks! Must eat food here are crepes!
TIP: Our Tokyo 6-hour Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide walked us through Harajuku! We highly recommend this private tour you can customize! We booked two of these tours, one in Tokyo and one tour in Kyoto!
Some famous Harajuku Foods you will likely see include:
- crepes: Marion Crepes, Santa Monica Crepes, Com Crepe
- cotton candy: giant, colourful rainbow cotton candy at Totti Candy Factory
- “tornado potato”: curly, fried potato on a long stick
Since we had limited time in Harajuku, the one dessert we chose to indulge in had to be crepes!
Our recommendation: Marion Crepes, established in 1976
- Marion Crepes store on Takeshita Street opened in 1977, the same location as today
- there are about eighty stores throughout Japan now
- We ordered “Banana Chocolate Vanilla Ice Cream Whipped Cream” (600 yen) -delicious!
- website: https://www.marion.co.jp/
Worried about missing out? You may want to consider a guided tour of the area or one that included Harajuku like this Tokyo 6-hour Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide we booked (check back for our full review and article)!
Food in Tokyo: What & Where to Eat in Tokyo – Conclusion
For first time visitors like us, we hope we helped fellow tourists with our food in Tokyo must-try list! Be sure to try to knock off this short list of foodie essential eats!
Enjoy all the delicious food in Tokyo and Japan! We hope to return soon to explore more!
Happy travels!
Popular Tokyo Tours
For popular tours, explore the Viator Tokyo tours below with hundreds of positive reviews:
Accommodations & Hotels: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto
Be sure to check out our reviews and articles on the fabulous hotels and ryokan we stayed at during our first trip to Japan:
- Tokyo
- Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Premier Grand on Club Floor (4-star hotel) – our review here
- Mitsui Garden Hotel Toyosu (4-star hotel) – our review here
- Osaka
- Cross Hotel Osaka on Cross Floor (4-star hotel) – our review here
- Kyoto
- Toshiharu Ryokan (traditional, beautiful Japanese ryokan/inn) – our review here
- The Celestine Hotel Gion (4-star hotel) – review coming soon!
For other accommodations in Tokyo, explore Booking.com here, or enter the dates on the map below to explore options.
Booking.comThe views and opinions expressed in this article are from personal experience(s). Our content and this article is informational only, not facts, and cannot be construed as professional advice. We always give our honest opinions on topics, experiences or products, made in good faith. Any product or service claims, made by the product or service, should be verified with the manufacturer or provider in question. There may be potential errors on our website, for example due to changes and unintentional mistakes. Thank you.
For more articles, be sure to take a look at Nurture Happiness Today‘s other features on travel, food, and inspiration for happiness:
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- Nurture Happiness Today FOODIE
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