Open Travel Guide
Restaurants in Tokyo

Best Restaurants in Tokyo 2026

How to eat well in Tokyo at every budget, and the local dishes you shouldn't leave without trying.

Tokyo has 40+ restaurants and places to eat covered in this guide, led by Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten, Narisawa and Den. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Tokyo is Japan's capital and one of the world's most dynamic megacities, where ancient temples and shrines coexist alongside gleaming skyscrapers and neon-lit streets. As the cultural, economic, and political heart of Japan, Tokyo offers an unmatched blend of tradition and state-of-the-art modernity across its diverse 23 special wards and surrounding cities.

Tokyo is the world's most Michelin-starred city, home to sushi counters, ramen shops, tempura specialists, and yakitori stalls that range from ¥500 street snacks to ¥60,000 omakase experiences. Edomae sushi, born in Tokyo Bay, remains the benchmark for the style worldwide, while the city's ramen scene spans rich tonkotsu, refined shoyu, and truffle-laced Michelin-starred bowls. Izakaya (Japanese gastropubs) form the backbone of everyday dining, serving small plates of yakitori, sashimi, and fried snacks alongside beer and sake in convivial, smoky settings. Department store basements, known as depachika, hold some of the city's best food shopping — rows of bento, wagashi, and prepared dishes from famous restaurants sold to commuters heading home. Tokyo's food scene rewards exploration at every price point, from a ¥300 conveyor-belt sushi plate to a three-Michelin-star tasting menu.

Top restaurants

Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.

Sushi (Edomae)

Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten

$$$$

Jiro Ono's legendary omakase sushi restaurant, subject of the documentary 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' and holder of three Michelin stars for decades. The 10-seat counter in Ginza serves a precisely choreographed sequence of nigiri. Now run by Jiro's son Yoshikazu Ono. Reservations are extremely difficult and typically require a hotel concierge or specialist service.

4-2-15 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061 (Tsukamoto Sogyo Bldg B1F)

Innovative Satoyama Japanese

Narisawa

$$$$

Chef Yoshihiro Narisawa's 2-Michelin-star restaurant is consistently ranked among the world's best, celebrating Japan's satoyama (countryside ecosystem) cuisine. Every dish tells a story of Japan's forests, rivers, and coastlines using hyper-seasonal Japanese ingredients presented with extraordinary artistry. The bread baked at tableside in embers is iconic.

2-6-15 Minami-Aoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062

Creative Japanese (Junk Food Japanese)

Den

$$$$

Chef Zaiyu Hasegawa's 2-Michelin-star restaurant brings wit and playfulness to kaiseki-inspired Japanese cuisine. Famous for the 'JFC' (Japan Fried Chicken) amuse-bouche served with a menu in a KFC-style box, and the carrot-shaped bowl filled with vegetable dashi. Den is creative, unpretentious, and deeply joyful — a rare combination at this level.

2-3-18 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Edomae Sushi

Sushi Saito

$$$$

Among Tokyo's most coveted sushi reservations, Saito is a 3-Michelin-star counter where chef Takashi Saito works with only the finest seasonal seafood. The restaurant serves a classical Edomae omakase with extraordinary attention to temperature, seasoning, and fish aging. Near-impossible to book without a connection or luxury hotel concierge assistance.

1-9-15 Nishiazabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0031

Tempura

Kondo

$$$

Chef Fumio Kondo is widely considered Japan's greatest living tempura master, operating this 1-Michelin-star restaurant in Ginza for decades. His signature item is a whole sweet potato (satoimo) that takes 40 minutes to cook to perfection in rapeseed oil. The seasonal vegetable and seafood tempura omakase is a masterclass in frying technique.

5-5-13 Ginza 9F, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061

Japanese Izakaya

Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu

$$$

A famous multi-floor izakaya with dramatic interior of soaring bamboo columns and wooden galleries, said to have inspired the Crazy 88 fight scene setting in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. Serves Japanese classics including soba, yakitori, robata grilled items, and sashimi in a spectacular theatrical setting. Lively and popular with foreigners.

1-13-11 Nishiazabu, Minato City, Tokyo 106-0031

Tonkotsu Ramen

Ichiran

$

The world-famous solo-dining ramen chain where each customer sits in an individual wooden booth separated by dividers, ordering through a paper form slid under the kitchen curtain. Ichiran serves Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen that you customize to your exact preferences for broth richness, spice level, noodle firmness, and toppings. A uniquely Japanese experience.

B1F, 1-22-7 Jinnan, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0041

Tsukemen (Dipping Ramen)

Fuunji

$

One of Tokyo's most acclaimed tsukemen (dipping noodle) restaurants, consistently ranked among the city's best ramen spots. Fuunji serves thick, chewy noodles alongside an intensely rich chicken and dashi-based dipping broth. The queue forms before opening and moves quickly. A must for serious ramen enthusiasts.

2-14-3 Yoyogi, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0053

Restaurants by cuisine

Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.

Conveyor Belt Sushi

Hakata Ramen

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen

Molecular Gastronomy

Omakase Sushi

Shoyu Ramen

Tempura

Tofu Kaiseki

Tonkotsu Ramen

Traditional Kaiseki

Tsukemen

Yakitori And Bar Snacks

Yuzu Shio Ramen

Street food

Local flavours at affordable prices.

Street food

Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers)

Find it at: Omoide Yokocho, Shinjuku; Yurakucho yakitori alley

Street food

Takoyaki (octopus balls)

Find it at: Street stalls and food halls citywide, especially Asakusa and Shibuya

Street food

Taiyaki (fish-shaped filled pastry)

Find it at: Naniwaya Sohonten in Azabu-Juban and stalls near Asakusa

Street food

Korokke (croquettes)

Find it at: Ameyoko Market butcher shops in Ueno

Street food

Crepes

Find it at: Harajuku Takeshita Street

Food markets

Where locals shop and graze.

Tsukiji Outer Market

Hours: Most stalls 5:00-14:00, closed some Wednesdays and Sundays

Ameyoko Market

Hours: Daily approximately 10:00-20:00

Depachika (Isetan Shinjuku / Mitsukoshi Ginza basements)

Hours: Daily approximately 10:00-20:00

Dining etiquette & tips

Navigate the local food scene confidently.

Tip

Tipping is not practiced in Japan and can cause confusion if attempted

Tip

Many ramen shops use ticket vending machines at the entrance — select and pay before sitting down

Tip

Cash is still preferred or required at many smaller restaurants, izakayas, and street stalls

Tip

Reservations are essential for popular sushi and kaiseki restaurants, often required months in advance

Tip

Conveyor-belt and chain restaurants are the most reliable option for walk-ins without reservations

Food budget guide

What to expect at different price points.

Level Price Description
Budget ¥1,000-2,000 per meal — ramen shops, gyudon chains, conveyor-belt sushi, street food Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants.
Mid-range $15-40/meal Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus.
Upscale $40+/meal Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences.