A small venue with only 11 seats, you can try traditional Japanese dishes called kappo - a cuisine where small dishes are served at a time, usually raw fish and seafood. What makes this cuisine unique is that presentation of the food is just as big as how it tastes. With a full meal and some drinks (usually expected) you’re looking to spend anywhere from 5000-9000 Yen (50-90 USD), which is relatively cheap for this type of food!

Photo Credit: Tabelog

Location: 4 Chome-13-16 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061

Hours: Closed Sundays, 11:30am - 1pm, 5-10:30pm

Review: Michelin Guide

Reservations: Not required but available. Check here for more info: https://gurunavi.com/en/ge6s400/rst/

How to get there: A 4 minute walk from Higashi Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Asakusa Line

 

Word of advice: go early. Shuko Takigiya is the last of the new izakaya entrants based in Shinjuku but they've been popular among salary-men for a long time before. The food here mirrors its traditional, rustic decor; dishes served are simple but delicious. No fanciful plating to be found here. And customers will be happy to know that they've got an extensive sake menu to accompany their food as well as beers, umeshu (plum liquor) and shochu (a distilled spirit made from fermented barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, rice and the like).

Summary Credit: Michelin

Photo Credit: Michelin

Location: 7-11 Arakicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0007

Hours: Closed Sundays, 5pm - Midnight

Reviews: Michelin Guide

Reservations: Not required but available, Check here for details: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/4g50hbfm0000/

How to get there: A 4 minute walk from Yotsuya-Sanchome Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

 

To break into the world of sake, start here. With their excellent selection of Japanese sake with their delicious daily food specials like vinegar mackerel, pear with mullet roe, sushi, tempura and their signature ochazuke (rice with tea and trimmings), you won’t leave here dissatisfied. It helps that their drink menu is in English (although their daily food specials are not), so it helps to smooth your process at an izakaya.

Photo Credit: Timeout Tokyo

Location: 1-33-15 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Hours: 5pm - 11:45pm

Reviews: Michelin Guide

Reservations: Required, Check here for details: https://gurunavi.com/en/ge3f600/rst/

How to get there: A 1 minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station

 

If you’re around the Kanda Jimbocho area, your nose will probably guide you to Kyoeido curry. Specializing in Sumatran curry, this comfortable and cozy restaurant definitely deserves a Bib Gourmand. They only have the Sumatran Curry on their menu but you can get it with chicken, pork, prawn, beef or tongue. You can easily enjoy a meal for under 1500 Yen here.

Photo Credit: Timeout Tokyo

Location: 1-6, Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda City Tokyo 101-0051

Hours: Closed Sunday, 11am - 8pm

Reviews: Michelin Guide

Reservations: Walk in only, expect a queue

Website: http://www.kyoueidoo.com/

How to get there: A 3 minute walk from Jimbocho Station Exit A5 on the Tokyo Metro Mita Line.

 

A new kid on the block, this ramen restaurant joined the ranks of being the few ramen restaurants to be awarded a Michelin star in 2019. They specialize in shio ramen, but also have a signature shoyu ramen as well. The shio ramen is a salt based ramen using two salts (Mongolian rock salt and Okinawan sea salt), red sea bream and hamaguri clams for their soup base. With this delicious soup base, they use truffle oil, mushroom sauce, bacon bits and inca berry sauce. The noodles are also handmade. For any ramen lovers, this ramen restaurant is a must.

*When talking about ramen, soba can be interchangeable with ramen. It does not mean it is actual soba (the buckwheat flower kind) but rather referring to chuka soba which is Chinese noodles.

Our review

On a quiet Monday afternoon, I went to check out Sobahouse Konjikihtototogisu in Shinjuku. This is a restaurant that I had been wanting to visit for a long time and I was not disappointed.

With wait times often topping two hours, and opening hours restricted to Mondays to Fridays I hadn’t managed to find time until….. Covid!

From arriving to getting my food I waited about 40 minutes. There were 7 people in front of me in the queue. 3 outside and 4 inside. The restaurant seats 10 people. 6 seats at the counter plus two small tables that can accommodate 2 people each. There was a nice atmosphere with soft jazz music playing. It was very quiet in the restaurant nobody was talking everybody was focused on their food.

I ordered the ‘recommended bowl’ Shio Soba at 950 yen. Bargain for a one Michelin star meal! Details of the ingredients in the picture. In addition to the ingredients mentioned I also discovered chopped basil in my dish (the green in the photo) and what I think was sun-dried tomato. Pork sweet and tender The soup had quite as strong but delicate fishy flavor. I could taste the truffle oil. It was full-flavored but not overpowering.

Overall I would say it was a light dish with an interesting fusion and balance of flavors.

I can definitely understand why it's received so many awards. Compared to other ramen I've eaten this was a very cleverly balanced bowl.

-Laura. founder of Hello! Tours

Photo Credit: Japan Travel

Location: 2-4-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022

Hours: Closed Saturday and Sunday, 11am - 3pm, 6:30pm -9:30pm

Reviews: Michelin Guide

Reservations: Walk in only, expect up to 2 hour queue

How to get there: A 10 minute walk from Shinjuku Station South East Exit on the JR Yamanote Line.

 

Nakiryu Ramen in Otsuka, Tokyo - the second ever ramen restaurant to be awarded a Michelin Star - is a very affordable option to enjoy a tasty bowl of ramen.

The menu is actually one of the cheapest Michelin Star restaurants in the world costing only 850 Yen (about 8 USD) for their cheapest option - their specialty tantanmen. Tantanmen is a Japanese take on it’s Chinese counterpart - dandanmen made from Szechuan pepper and chili for a kick. The Japanese Tantanmen has less of a kick but is packed with flavors for a more subtle, umami bursting taste. You can add different toppings to it for an extra cost - something that should not be overlooked.

Their mouth melting braised chashu pork and soy sauce dipped eggs are just few of their delicious toppings that should be included in the ramen experience. Their other dish - shoyu ramen is also another option that is regarded as one of the best shoyu ramens in Tokyo.

Location: 2-34-4 Minamiotsuka, Toshima City, Tokyo 170-0005

Hours: Closed Tuesday and Monday night. 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 9pm

Reviews: Michelin Guide

Reservations: Walk in only, expect up to 2 hour queue

Website: http://www12.plala.or.jp/nakiryu/

How to get there: A 7 minute walk from Otsuka Station South Exit on the JR Yamanote Line.

 

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

One of the most lavish neighborhoods in the country, Ginza is known for its upscale shopping district. With this in mind, eating in Ginza means that it comes with some of the best food but the priciest tags. It’s also right next to the world famous Tuskiji Fish market, so their sushi and seafood restaurants have the freshest seafood coming in.

Some foods that Ginza is known for:

• The high end sushi restaurants

• Japanese dumplings

• Traditional Japanese cuisines and hot pots

• Upscale cafes

Photo Credit: Culture Trip

How to get there

The Ginza Station can be accessed on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya, Ginza and Marunouchi Line.

 

Taito-ku, Tokyo

Asakusa is known for it’s famous Sensoji Temple. In fact, it’s one of the number one destinations in Tokyo for both foreign and domestic travelers. Aside from it’s rich culture, Asakusa is known to have some of the best traditional and old foods around as well. To complete your Asakusa trip, make sure to eat at some of it’s local delicious eateries.

We’ll break it down for you with a list of foods and/or restaurants to look out for in the area:

• Hoppy Street features dozens of izakayas lined up to eat yakitori and drink Japanese alcohol.

• Magurobito is a famous standing sushi restaurant. Only fits about 8 customers at once!

• Kamiya Bar is the oldest bar in Japan. Make sure to try their signature Denki Bran.

• Tempura at Daikokuya (opened 1887).

• Umezono for traditional Japanese desserts.

• Asakusa is famous for many udon/soba restaurants and Monja/Okonomiyaki restaurants.

• Ningyoyaki from Nakamise Shopping Street.

Photo Credit: JW Magazine

How to get there

The area is accessible from the Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Asakusa and Ginza Lines.

 

Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Often times in Japan, the train station has some of the best food in town. Underneath Tokyo Station, there are hundreds of restaurants to choose from, but one special corner is dedicated to just ramen on Ramen Street. So, whether you are leaving Tokyo for your next destination, just arriving or passing through, who wouldn’t want a hearty bowl of ramen to amp you up.

Ramen Street has 8 of some of the best ramen shops in Japan under one roof. So, naturally you can expect longer queues, but for a very rewarding trade: delicious ramen. All the ramen shops are delicious, but one ramen shop has a particularly longer line - Rokurinsha. Rokurinsha is known for their tsukemen or dipping noodles. The noodles and broth comes separately, and you dip the noodles into the broth for a heavenly ramen experience.

While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the following:

• Tokyo Kitchen Street right next to Ramen Street. Kitchen Street features famous regional foods throughout Japan on one street

• Character Street is also nearby that features some of Japans most beloved animation characters

Photo Credit: Tokyo Cheapo

How to get there

Located right underneath Tokyo Station on the basement level floor. Take the Yaesu South Exit for the easiest access.

 

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

The Tsukiji Fish Market consists of a few blocks with narrow alleys lined up with wholesale and retail shops a long with restaurants and food stands. Within these shops, you can find fresh seafood, produce, delicious seafood and even kitchen items like knives. A visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market can include a sushi breakfast or lunch as the restaurants and shops are typically opened at 5am and opened until a little past noon. Most of the seafood sold here comes directly from the Toyosu Fish Market, making it one of the best places to enjoy fresh seafood in Tokyo.

The Tsukiji Fish Market opened up in 1935 when it replaced a different fish market in Nihonbashi that was destroyed in the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923. This market was the largest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world until it moved in 2018 to the Toyosu Fish Market which is where the current fish market is located. Although it relocated, most of the shops and stores remain in Tsukiji, making it a unique place to visit for seafood.

While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the following:

• Lots of food stalls selling fresh seafood such as fried octopus, skewered fish and fried clams

• The nearby Namiyoke Shrine that looks after the area

• Many shops selling goods such as knives and kitchen tools

• Counter style sushi restaurants

Photo Credit: Japan Guide

How to get there

A 1 minute walk from the Tsukiji Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or a 1 minute walk from the Tsukijishijo Station on the Tokyo Metro Toei Oedo Line.