Tokyo’s Best Uni Sea Urchin Restaurants: A Menu Guide of the Most Amazing Places to Eat Japan’s Luxurious Seafood!

Uni, or sea urchin, is a luxurious rich and creamy delicacy that has become quite emblematic of Japanese seafood cuisine.

Tokyo is a fantastic area to sample all types of this briny yet sweet delight that has become popular internationally. This article aims to serve as a guide to six of the best restaurants in Tokyo to go to for delectable uni dishes!

Fresh uni prepared just the way you like it in Shinjuku: ITAMAE SUSHI

Uni is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in many different ways, and “Tokyo Sushi ITAMAE SUSHI Shinjuku Toho Bldg.” (referred to hereafter as “ITAMAE SUSHI”) is a restaurant that offers a style of savoring uni for everyone.

The restaurant offers a very convenient uni set of “Fresh Sea Urchin from Hadate,” which allows customers to prepare their uni according to their preference, or eat it in a number of different ways!

The uni in this dish is known for a strong sweetness but reduced fishiness in flavor, making it perfect for those just starting out on their sea urchin journey. One recommended method is to simply dip the uni in soy sauce, in order to fully appreciate the high quality and natural taste of this sea urchin.

Diners can also use the accompanying nori seaweed to make their own uni hand-roll style sushi!

You can also top off the rice with an ample helping of uni to created your very own sea urchin donburi (rice bowl).

If you’re looking for a fresh and inviting sushi restaurant that will allow you to enjoy uni in a number of different ways, ITAMAE SUSHI is a must-visit in Shinjuku!

Rich and creamy uni pasta in Roppongi: #uni Seafood

“#uni Seafood” in Roppongi provides the perfect dish to satisfy sea urchin and noodle lovers alike with their signature “Fresh Sea Urchin Cream Spaghetti!” Uni has found itself popularized as a luxurious ingredient for creamy pasta in Japan, and this spaghetti is a must-order for those who have never enjoyed uni in such a dish before.

The highlight of the Fresh Sea Urchin Cream Spaghetti is its delightfully creamy sauce infused with uni. The al dente, medium-thin spaghetti used in the dish are perfect for soaking it up to deliver loads of rich sea urchin flavor with every bite. A serving of large and juicy shrimp make this a seafood pasta you can’t pass up.

#uni Seafood is a great introduction to how deliciously sea urchin can be incorporated into other dishes, so if you’re in Roppongi be sure to stop by.

Uni and wagyu in Shibuya?! Yakiniku ZENIBA

Wagyū beef and uni may sound like a combination too good to be true, but the luxurious pairing has actually gained quite a bit of popularity in Japan. If you haven’t been lucky enough to have it back home, don’t worry, “Yakiniku ZENIBA” in Shibuya has you covered. While the restaurant is renowned for their premium A5-ranked Japanese wagyu, the way they deliciously pair it with uni makes Yakiniku ZENIBA a fantastic haven for sea urchin enthusiasts as well!

The restaurant’s signature “Namaiki Don” rice bowl features almost rare wagyu sirloin, topped with sea urchin and salmon roe.

Made with lightly seared Kuroge (Japanese Black) wagyu, the meat in the bowl has a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The creamy consistency and decadent sweetness of the uni adds a layer of flavor that enhances the richness of the entire dish.

Those seeking another creative combination of uni and wagyu can look to the “Wagyu sushi roll”, which wraps fresh uni and salmon roe in a sushi blanket of Kuroge wagyu.

Whether it’s in the form of sushi or a delicious rice bowl, Yakiniku ZENIBA in Shibuya is a fantastic place to try out the high quality combination of uni and wagyu!

Uni paradise in Roppongi: UNHIOLIC

Just a short walk from Roppongi Station, “UNIHOLIC” is a restaurant that certainly lives up to its name! With a full menu dedicated to creative uni cuisine, it’s no wonder they go through 10,000 sea urchins each month!

The restaurant uses an “UNI Level” ranking system of 1 to 5 based on just how much uni is featured in the dish. One of the impressive “level 4” dishes is a gorgeous presentation of broth-infused rice topped with premium uni and salmon roe.

Cooked in a traditional Japanese clay pot and mixed by staff at your table, each ingredient in the dish combines for a sublime creamy texture and a deeply satisfying umami flavor.

Another standout dish on the menu is the “UNI tempura.” As the name suggests, this item on the menu presents delicious uni as another Japanese classic, tempura. The uni is encased in shiso leaves and nori seaweed before being fried in a light and crispy tempura batter, letting you experience uni with an all new texture!

UNIHOLIC’s uni menu runs deep, with other items such as roast beef dipped in uni sauce, and grilled shrimp with uni miso seasoning. For a restaurant fully dedicated to uni cuisine, stop by UNIHOLIC in Roppongi!

A hands-on experience with uni sushi rolls in Harajuku: Gonpachi NORI-TEMAKI

“Gonpachi NORI-TEMAKI Harajuku” (hereafter referred to as “Gonpachi NORI-TEMAKI”) provides a fun and unique way to satisfy your sea urchin craving, and that’s with hand-rolled uni sushi! Customers receive a set of sushi toppings, rice, and lettuce when they order. Wrapping these in crispy nori seaweed, they can craft hand rolls themselves for an engaging sushi experience!

Along with a hand roll of uni on its own, Gonpachi NORI-TEMAKI also offers the “Sea Urchin & Prime Toro,” “Sea Urchin & Salmon Roe,” and “Sea Urchin & Stewed Beef” hand rolls, which allow you to enjoy the flavor of uni brought out even more by other delicious ingredients.

Whether it be sweet and spicy stewed beef, the popping sensation of salmon roe, or rich toro, you’re sure to be impressed with the taste of your own sushi handiwork.

Gonpachi NORI-TEMAKI is a fantastic way to enjoy uni with friends and family, making and dining on sushi hand rolls together in a lively experience. Be sure to swing by in Harajuku for a fun uni experience!

Luxurious but affordable uni ramen in Roppongi: Uohama Roppongi

Just when you thought you’d seen it all in terms in the world of uni dishes, “Uohama Roppongi” steps up to the plate and surprises with uni ramen! This affordable restaurant in Roppongi is open until 5:00 AM, making it a convenient for a late-night stop if needed.

One of the most eye-catching and impressive items on their menu is their aptly named “Rich Sea Urchin Ramen!” Combining uni and ramen is a special treat that sea urchin fans can’t pass up, and Uohama Roppongi provides the perfect chance.

A key point is the broth, which is rich with uni flavor, as well a house special soy sauce blend. The addition of milk also mildens the flavor, while adding to the creamy nature of the uni.

The flat, medium-thick noodles are good for soaking up the broth, ensuring you can enjoy the uni flavor in every bite. Tasty chāshū (Japan’s version of char siu), finely chopped onions, and thick bamboo shoots tie the meal together for a delicious uni ramen experience!

Ramen is a favorite of many travelers in Japan, and Uohama Roppongi gives them a chance to try it enriched by the luxurious taste of uni!

Uni has risen the ranks not just in Japan but around the world as a culinary seafood gem. Hopefully this guide will introduce you to some of the various ways to enjoy luxurious sea urchin cuisine in Tokyo.