10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Tokyo

Tokyo is famous as Japan’s gourmet food capital, where you can enjoy the best flavors from around the world. This vibrant city has everything, from high-end palaces of gastronomy to famous Chinese restaurants and Indian places.

If you’re looking for traditional Japanese cuisine, how about some exquisite sushi or sukiyaki? For some downtown foodie adventures, you can try some of the cheap but tasty Japanese traditional pubs (izakaya) in Kichijoji. From fine cuisine to popular local food, check out our guide to some of the most highly recommended restaurants in Tokyo.

1. Ginza Kyubey

A proud history of sushi

Good for: Couples, Food, Luxury

Ginza Kyubey is a famous Edo-style sushi restaurant with a long history. It’s one of the go-to places for authentic sushi in Tokyo. If you visit around 11 am to make a reservation, you’ll usually be seated as soon as a table is available.

Prices at Ginza Kyubey are surprisingly reasonable, even if you order the omakase (chef’s recommendation) course. A la carte options are available as well. Ginza Kyubey is a 5-minute walk from Shimbashi Station on the JR and Tokyo Metro Ginza Line. Besides its main restaurant in Ginza, you can find several branches throughout the city, including Hotel Okura and Hotel New Otani.

Location: 8-7-6 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 11.30 am to 2 pm then from 5 pm to 10 pm (Closed Sunday and Monday)

Phone: +81 (0)3-3571-6523

2. Kichijojikko Izakaya Toriton

Izakaya serving great chicken and pork

Good for: Families, Food

Kichijojikko Izakaya Toriton is a Japanese-style bar that mainly serves meat skewers, chicken, and pork dishes. Located in the restaurant heartland of Kichijoj, it’s a popular place among locals looking to enjoy delicious food at reasonable prices. The menu also features 50 types of drinks.

Kichijojikko Izakaya Toriton’s private house-style interior creates a relaxing, nostalgic atmosphere that allows for lively conversation. It’s a Japanese-style bar with comforting and delicious food matched by friendly hospitality within a minute’s walk from Kichijoji Station Park Exit of JR Chuo Line.

Location: B1F Inokashira Building, 1-4-1 Kichijoji Minamicho, Musashino City, Tokyo 180-0003, Japan

Open: Sunday–Thursday from 5 pm to 3 am, Friday–Saturday from 5 pm to 5 am

Phone: +81 (0)50-5272-1023

3. Yakitori Alley

The place to go for traditional yakitori

Good for: Food, Nightlife, Budget

For a nice change from the bustling pace of Ginza’s shopping district, head for Yakitori Alley under the JR train tracks off Harumi-Dori. The many small yakitori stalls are housed in tiny old shops in old buildings that are slowly being renovated into more trendy outlets.

Friday night is the best time to go to spend time with local Tokyoites, drink some well-priced beer and sake, and enjoy the succulent yakitori. It’s a cool local experience and the grilled chicken sticks are delicious.

4. Monja Kura

A traditional Japanese culinary experience

Good for: Families, Food

Monja Kura specializes in Japanese pan-grilled batter dishes (monjayaki), one of Tokyo’s signature local foods. The restaurant is always crowded, so it’s best to arrive early. A must-try is the Kura Special Monja, which comes with 10 different toppings, excellent for sharing with a group. For a rich and buttery flavor, opt for the cream monja, which uses béchamel sauce.

You’ll be cooking the monjayaki yourself, but it’s quite easy. Firstly, place fresh ingredients on a griddle and chop them using a metal spatula. Once they’re cooked, make a ring and pour the batter into the middle. Feel free to ask the helpful restaurant staff any questions. Monja Kura is 3 minutes from Tsukishima Station.

Location: 3-9-9 Tsukishima, Chuo Ward, Tokyo 104-0052, Japan

Open: Daily from 11 am to 11 pm

Phone: +81 (0)3-3531-5020

5. Kanda Matsuya

Popular stop for Edo-style soba

Good for: Couples, Families, Food, Budget

Founded in 1884, Kanda Matsuya is a famous Edo-style soba noodle restaurant that was frequented by popular novelist Shotaro Ikenami. It occupies an officially designated historical. There are always people waiting to be seated, but customers are asked to share tables so the turnover is pretty quick.

Enjoy specialty sesame soba noodles and side dishes like a local by pairing them with some Japanese sake. Kanda Matsuya is 5 minutes from the East Exit of Kanda Station on the JR line and the Denkigai Exit of Akihabara Station on the JR Line and about 1 minute from Awajicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Ogawamachi Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line.

Location: 1-13 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo 101-0041, Japan

Open: Monday–Friday from 11 am to 8 pm, Saturday from 11 am to 7 pm (closed on Sundays)

Phone: +81 (0)3-3251-1556

6. Anmitsu Mihashi

Traditional Japanese desserts

Good for: Couples, Families, Food

Do you always have room for dessert? If so, check out Anmitsu Mihashi to try anmitsu, a Japanese traditional dessert of cubed agar jelly, fruits, and red bean paste. The sweets are made with quality ingredients, such as red bean paste made only with beans from Tokachi in Hokkaido, and agar jelly made with Gelidiaceae seaweed that’s picked from the coast of Izu Island in Shizuoka.

Everything at Anmitsu Mihashiis delicious and good value for money, which explains its popularity. Since its first shop opened in front of Ueno Park in 1948, the brand has expanded across Tokyo. Anmitsu Mihashi in PARCO_ya Ueno Mall is popular because the waiting time is shorter than at the flagship store.

Location: 3rd Floor, Parco_ya, 3-24-6 Ueno, Taito Ward, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan

Open: Daily from 10 am to 8 pm

Phone: +81 (0)3-5846-0384

7. Fureika

Acclaimed Chinese cuisine

Good for: Food, Luxury

Fureika is a famous Michelin-starred restaurant in Azabu Juban. Standouts include the Peking duck, prepared by chefs from China, as well as the Shanghai hairy crab (only available in autumn). While it’s an exclusive kind of place, Fureika offers an affordable lunch menu that consists of noodles, dim sum and Peking duck.

You can enjoy your meal while listening to live performances of Chinese instruments like erhu and zither. Fureika is a must-visit if you fancy some authentic Chinese food in Tokyo. The restaurant is just a short walk from Azabu-juban Station.

Location: 3-7-5 Higashiazabu, Minato Ward, Tokyo 106-0044, Japan

Open: Daily from 11.30 am to 3 pm and from 5.30 pm to 10 pm

Phone: +81 (0)3-5561-7788

8. Gyūnabe Yonekyū

Incredibly sukiyaki made with high quality beef

Good for: Couples, Food

Gyunabe Yonekyuis a Japanese hotpot (sukiyaki) restaurant in Asakusa with over 100 years of history. Japanese poet, Kotaro Takamura described the restaurant’s energetic atmosphere in one of his works. Since 1886 customers have been welcomed by a staff beating a taiko drum in the entrance hall.

Sukiyaki involves briefly cooking beef in a sweet soup stock (warishita) with soy sauce and sugar before dipping it in raw egg. Gyunabe Yonekyu offers good quality wagyu beef, such as Omi beef, at affordable prices. With reasonable pricing and a setting where you can really feel the history of Asakusa, it’s no surprise that Gyunabe Yonekyu is popular with tourists.

Location: 2-17-10 Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan

Open: Thursday–Tuesday from noon to 9 pm (Closed Wednesday)

Phone: +81 (0)3-3841-6416

9. Ginza Nair’s Restaurant

Japan’s oldest Indian Restaurant

Good for: Food, Budget

Ginza Nair’s Restaurant is the oldest Indian restaurant in Japan. The restaurant’s specialty is the spicy Murugi Lunch, which comes with mashed potatos, boiled cabbage and chicken thigh curry that’s simmered for 7 hours. Most customers order this famous dish, especially at lunchtime. The staff helps remove the bone while explaining how to eat it.

Ginza Nair’s Restaurant is always crowded but has a quick turnover. It’s also known for the friendly service, so it’s the kind of place where you can enjoy a casual meal in Tokyo. Located very close to the Kabuki-za Theatre, it’s within a 1-minute walk from Higashi-ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.

Location: 4-10-7 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Open: Monday, Wednesday–Saturday from 11.30 am to 9.30 pm, Sunday from 11.30 am to 8.30 pm (Closed Tuesday)

Phone: +81 (0)3-3541-8246

10. Shiseido Parlour

Sophisticated vibe with elegant and delicious Japanese-Western cuisine

Good for: Food, Luxury

Shiseido Parlour was established in Ginza in 1902 as a cafe serving ice cream soda and parfaits, before establishing a restaurant in 1928. It became known as a pioneer of yoshoku (Japanese-style western) cuisine, which was quite rare in those days.

Shiseido Parlour offers dishes that stick to traditional flavors and methods such as omelet rice (omurice) and meat croquettes. All are plated in an elegant, classy style that matches the restaurant decor. This is somewhere you go to treat yourself. It’s a 7-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Station and a 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Shimbashi Station.

Location: 8 Chome-8-3 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan

Open: Tuesday–Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm, Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm (Closed Monday)

Phone: +81 (0)3-5537-6241

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