Our Favorite Eats in Tokyo
I have to say, before Japan, nothing came close to the food we loved most. But now? Japanese cuisine has absolutely earned a tie for first place. And the wild part—we don’t even eat seafood or sushi. It was still one of the most incredible food experiences of our lives. These are the places we’re still thinking about. If you only have time for a few meals, make them these.
Bistro Gaburi
A surprising basement full of flavorful food. This was actually our first meal when we arrived in Tokyo—and we didn’t know most restaurants close in the afternoon, running on a two-shift schedule. Luckily, Bistro Gaburi was open.
We ordered a small wagyu steak and a pizza. Sounds basic, but both were incredible. The wagyu was melt-in-your-mouth good, and the pizza? Honestly one of the tastiest we’ve had, and we’ve had a lot of great pizzas (a lot!). The ingredients were fresh and flavourful, this was our intro into how food in Japan is high in quality.
Tonkatsu Aoki Daimon
This is the kind of breaded pork cutlet that makes you close your eyes after the first bite. Crispy, juicy, not greasy. We went back twice—enough said.
It’s cash only (at least when we visited), and you’ll order from a vending machine at the entrance. You can choose how much fat you want on your pork—from lean to a bit fattier. We always went lean, and it was still unbelievably juicy and tender. The meal includes rice, miso soup, and shredded cabbage. Simple, but done with absolute perfection.
Hashigo Ginza Hon-ten
This random ramen spot in Ginza was so good, we turned it into a regular stop. The broth is rich, the noodles are spot on, and there’s zero pretension—just incredible ramen, I mean, you eat at a bar with locals.
There are a few versions on the menu, and every one we tried was excellent. For toppings, you can choose from tender pork or even katsu—both were delicious.
GOKU BURGER
A surprise hit. Japanese beef in burger form, served with gloves so you don’t ruin your hands. Crispy outside, juicy inside. You’ll dream about it.
We’re not really burger people, but this one had rave reviews and honestly lived up to the hype. Every part of the burger was full of flavour. You get gloves, a tray, and dipping sauce—so you can eat it messy and not care. It’s that kind of satisfying.
Harajuku Gyozarou
Probably the best gyoza you’ll ever have. No fuss, no filler—just golden-bottomed dumplings that disappear way too fast. Go early or be ready to wait.
This spot looks a little run-down from the outside, but don’t let that fool you. The line speaks for itself. The owner guides you to a table when it opens, and if you’re lucky, you’ll sit near the kitchen and watch the magic happen. The menu is super simple—just gyoza and a few side items—but you really don’t need anything else. It’s that good.
HACHI
A wagyu beef spot where each bite makes you question all your past food decisions. It’s cozy, flavourful, and worth every yen.
We found this place by accident, just wandering around looking for dinner. It’s tucked away and easy to miss, but it turned out to be one of our favourite meals in Tokyo. We had a five-course wagyu dinner: tartare, grilled steak, hot pot, even dipped in egg yolk. It was delicious!
800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria (NEWoMan)
When you’re craving pizza, this place gets it right. Crispy wood-fired crust, quality toppings, and located inside a sleek Shinjuku shopping center.
It might look like a basic station pizzeria, but it’s legit. You can choose from preset options or build your own. We made our own combos and they were excellent—the pickled mushrooms were weirdly the best part. Super flavourful!
Flipper’s
Fluffy, jiggly soufflé pancakes that are somehow still light and not overly sweet. You get three pancakes, and don’t share them, you will eat all three of them. You can choose your toppings, we loved fresh berries.
Godiva
If you’re walking by and craving something sweet, don’t get the chocolate bar or milkshake, get the pancake. Specifically, the banana chocolate pancake. It’s loaded with fresh bananas and custard cream, all wrapped in a warm, chocolate crepe. Ridiculously indulgent in the best way.
Yes, Even 7-Eleven Has Incredible Food
Believe it or not, some of the best bites in Tokyo come in plastic packaging. Japanese convenience stores: 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart—are next-level.
That little rice-and-seaweed triangle, onigiri? Game-changer. Freshly made, perfectly seasoned, and never dry. Even the packaged bread (especially the melon pan or milk bread) tastes like it came from a real bakery. Sandwiches are fluffy, pasta isn’t soggy, even the fried chicken is so tasty!
Why is convenience store food so good? Japan has sky-high standards for freshness and presentation. Even budget food is expected to be clean, consistent, and well-balanced.
Where to Eat by Neighborhood
Now let’s break it down by neighborhood. Tokyo’s huge, but here’s where to find great meals in the areas you’re probably visiting anyway. As I mention before, we didn’t have time to eat in every one, but we did some research (read the review comments or just recommendation) and saved them, and we are now sharing it with you.
As for reviews, while Google Maps reviews are handy for tourists, many people in Japan primarily use other review platforms, especially Tabelog. Tabelog is the go-to platform for nearly every local food lover in Japan. It’s Japan’s version of Yelp, with over 800,000 listed restaurants and 75 million reviews. Even though the app and site are mostly in Japanese, the star ratings and map view can still give you a good sense if the restaurant is worth it or not.
Shibuya
- Flipper’s Shibuya – Airy pancakes that melt in your mouth.
- HACHI – Best steak experience we’ve had in our life! What a treat to have happened upon such an unassuming place, almost secret place. Order the A5 Wagyu set and thank us later!
- Pork Vindaloo Taberu Fuku-Daitoryo – Excellent Japanese curry in intense flavors.
- Hirokiya Shibuya – Great wagyu courses priced well.
- Nikuya Yokocho Udagawacho – All-you-can-eat yakiniku (grilled meat) if you’re hungry.
Harajuku
- Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience – Elegant, slow, beautiful teahouse
- GODIVA Laboratory Harajuku – Chocolate banana pancakes worth the search.
- Harajuku Gyozarou – Cozy gyoza place with amazing flavor.
- GOKU BURGER – Quality burgers and fun gloves included.
- Cafe Chairo – Beautiful sweets and pastel vibes.
Ginza
- Hashigo Ginza Hon-ten – Best ramen ever!
- Ginza Hachigou – Michelin-starred ramen. Simple space, but the flavors are next level.
- Godaime Hanayama Udon Ginza – Hand-pulled udon noodles in a beautiful setting.
- Ginza Steak Ginza Honten – Wagyu tasting course. Definitely on the pricier side, but if you’re going to splurge, do it here.
- Pizzeria Bar Trico – Craving a break from Japanese food? This place serves wood-fired pizzas that hit the spot.
- Sushi no Midori – Popular sushi chain known for fresh fish and reasonable prices.
Asakusa & Skytree Area
- Asakusa Menchi – crispy, savory meat patties we couldn’t resist
- Sekine – pillowy buns stuffed with juicy meat
- Benitsuru Pancake – melt-in-your-mouth souffle-style pancakes
- Pizzeria Osteria Capo – Italian when you want a break from Japanese
- Kobe Beef Daia – high-end Kobe beef if you’re splurging
- Cafe Capyba – yes, you can drink coffee and play with capybaras here. Just reserve ahead—they fill up quickly
Shinjuku
- 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria NEWoMan – you wouldn’t say this, but this was amazing pizza with even more amazing toppings
- Nabezo Shinjuku Sanchome Store – great bbq
Tokyo Station & Marunouchi
- Shiba KOSO Honten – Upscale Wagyu tasting menu
- Tonkatsu Aoki Daimon – Affordable, tasty tonkatsu—we went back twice!
- Ramen Thank Daimon – Cozy ramen that’s satisfying and easy
- Bistro Gaburi – A suprising basement full of flavourful food, we ate Wagyu and pizza here, both delicios.
You can also hop on food tours they do around Tokyo, if you want to taste a bit of everything!
Check out our full Tokyo itinerary blog for even more recommendations and day to day guide through Tokyo.
Until next eat, be mesmerized 💛