Donburi (rice bowls) are a beloved staple of Japanese cuisine, offering a great balance of flavors and textures with every bite. From fresh seafood and crispy tempura to savory grilled meats, these bowls showcase a variety of toppings, all served over a bed of fluffy rice.
In this article, we’ll introduce some of the best donburi restaurants Tokyo has to offer, highlighting their unique and satisfying bowls!
Fried shrimp and tonkatsu in one bowl in Shibuya: Ebiyama
When it comes to rice bowls, one of the most popular types is katsudon, a rice bowl topped with katsu (breaded and deep-fried cutlets) of some kind. “Ebiyama” in Shibuya ups the ante with their katsudon, layering huge deep-fried shrimp over tonkatsu in one rice bowl!
The restaurant’s signature dish, the “Ebiyama Special Bowl,” is a must-try for those who love their rice bowls with fried food heartiness and crispy, crunchy texture. It’s highlighted by four giant fried-shrimp that renders the bowl’s lid topping decorative.
At Ebiyama, they use a special technique of cooking beaten egg separately before placing it over the rice. This allows for the crispy coating of the ingredients to stay intact while soaking up the perfect amount of sauce. This sweet and savory sauce complements the tonkatsu and shrimp perfectly!
If you’re looking for a rice bowl that satisfies a big appetite, head to Ebiyama in Shibuya where you can indulge in both fried shrimp and tonkatsu at the same time!
The most luxurious seafood bowl in Tokyo: Moon in the sky Shibuya
You can’t talk about donburi without mentioning kaisendon, rice bowls topped with fresh seafood. “Moon in the sky Shibuya” in Shibuya serves one that is a true delight for seafood fans called the “Luxurious Crab Seafood Bowl” and it certainly lives up to its name!
This kaisendon features a generous serving of snow crab, tuna, sea urchin, and snapper. What makes the dish truly stand out is that the restaurant uses a milder vinegar rice than in typical Japanese seafood rice bowls, so that the flavor of each topping stands out more.
For a truly filling rice bowl loaded with seafood flavor, Moon in the sky Shibuya is a Shibuya’s go-to spot.
Wagyū roast beef in Akihabara: Roast Beef Ohno
“Roast Beef Ohno Akihabara” constantly has a line of customers waiting to get in, and one look at their signature dish will tell you why. This restaurant is famous for their “Kuroge Wagyu Roast Beef Don Set,” which features Kuroge wagyū (Japanese Black) beef.
Diners can choose between two types of sauce: the “Chaliapin Sauce,” which is made by seasoning grated onions with soy sauce, and other ingredients, and the “Yamawasabi Sauce” (Horseradish Sauce). You can’t go wrong with either, but the rich sweetness of the Chaliapin Sauce is the restaurant’s hallmark and pairs perfectly with the egg yolk.
A wagyu rice bowl in itself is a true luxury, getting to enjoy it as roast beef is a rare treat you can’t miss
Halal-friendly wagyu and tempura: Tempura Asakusa SAKURA
It can be challenging to find Halal-friendly options when traveling, but “Tempura Asakusa SAKURA” is a restaurant that not only accommodates Halal dietary needs but delivers a unique and delicious rice bowl. Here, you can customize your rice bowl with crispy vegetable and wagyu tempura, then enjoy it as an ochazuke (dashi poured over rice) dish!
At Tempura Asakusa SAKURA, the wagyu tempura is served separate from the rice bowl. This means you can top off your donburi with different types of tempura for a different combination of flavors. We recommend trying the tempura on its own first, then as a rice bowl. Douse it with the restaurant’s special seafood dashi-based broth to unlock a super rich and sweet flavor.
Finally, pour dashi over your remaining tempura and rice to finish. The sweet marbling of the wagyu melts into the broth, releasing a whole new level of flavor.
For halal-friendly donburi in the Tokyo area, look no further than Tempura Asakusa SAKURA!
Fresh tuna rice bowl right inside Ueno Station: Maguro Ichidai
For one of the most refreshing tuna rice bowls in Tokyo, head to “Tsukiji Uogashi Maguro Ichidai ecute Ueno” (hereinafter referred to as “Maguro Ichidai”), conveniently located right within Ueno Station. This restaurant is a tuna lover’s dream!
While they also serve delicious sushi, their rice bowl featuring ōtoro (fatty tuna), chūtoro (medium fatty tuna), akami (lean tuna), and negitoro (minced tuna with green onions) offers every flavor of tuna you can imagine.
Maguro Ichidai uses the highest-grade bluefin tuna in their “Bluefin Tuna Donburi Bowl of Rice” which is available during lunchtime from 10:00. What really makes this bowl stand out is that despite having so many ingredients mixed together, you can really enjoy the distinct flavor of each kind of tuna. It has just the right balance of lean and fatty meat, harmonized by a subtle sweetness.
For one of the best tuna rice bowls in Tokyo, you don’t even have to leave Ueno Station. Stop by Maguro Ichidai for an exquisite tuna feast!
Rice bowls are a Japanese classic that can deliver so many different types of flavors. Hopefully, this article will help you find the perfect donburi for you in Tokyo!
