The area around Shinjuku Station, which boasts the world’s highest passenger traffic, is one of Tokyo’s most competitive districts for restaurants. Among the diverse array of establishments, “TAKAMARU FRESH FISH SHOP” is consistently recommended by locals as the place to indulge in fresh seafood to your heart’s content. Jewel-like sashimi sourced daily from Japan’s largest fish market Toyosu Market The…
Located in Shinjuku’s Kabukichō, one of Japan’s most famous entertainment districts, is the long-established restaurant “Suzuya Shinjukuhonten” (referred to hereafter as “Suzuya”), beloved by many. This restaurant is famous for turning one of Japan’s most popular dishes, tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet), into a unique ochazuke (a dish where green tea or dashi is poured over rice). “とんかつ茶づけ,” Tonkatsu Chazuke 1,690…
Ueno, with its plethora of eateries where you can enjoy alcoholic beverages even during the day, is bustling with people day and night. The scene of strangers sitting shoulder to shoulder on outdoor seats and sharing drinks can be considered a symbolic sight of this neighborhood. For an authentic experience of casually enjoying a meal with alcohol at a Japanese…
Lumine EST Shinjuku, a shopping mall directly connected to Shinjuku Station, houses numerous dining establishments. Among them, “Ochobohan” is one that stands out with its abundant selection of sweets with a focus on matcha! Signature dishes at Ochobohan are all about matcha Matcha used at Ochobohan is sourced from “Fujii Chaen,” a tea plantation in the renowned matcha-producing region of…
Spanning oceans and captivating diners of all nationalities, Japan’s tonkatsu is a culinary marvel. In Japan’s more renowned tonkatsu eateries, it’s not uncommon for the majority of patrons to be international travelers, united in their fascination with this crispy, deep-fried pork cutlet. Among these, “Butagumi Shokudou,” nestled in the cosmopolitan Roppongi district of Tokyo, emerges as a standout destination, earning…
Situated in Roppongi, Tokyo, “#uni Seafood” is renowned for its seafood dishes, particularly those featuring uni (Japanese for “sea urchin”) and oysters, sourced directly from suppliers and offered at reasonable prices. Irresistibly rich! “Fresh Sea Urchin Cream Spaghetti” One of the restaurant’s signature dishes, the “Fresh Sea Urchin Cream Spaghetti,” is a striking pasta generously topped with sea urchin. “生ウニのクリームパスタ,”…
In Roppongi, Tokyo, you can fully immerse yourself in the Okinawan vibe at the tavern and restaurant “Okinawa Dining Ryūka Roppongi” (hereunder referred to as “Ryūka Roppongi”). Here, you can savor Okinawan dishes like Okinawa soba and gōyā chanpurū, an Okinawan stir fry dish made with bitter melon. Shisa, an Okinawan guardian deity Soup that soothes the soul! Homemade sōki…
Japanese cutlet dishes, known as “katsu,” are widely recognized today even overseas. As of 2023, among international visitors to Japan, there is a growing popularity for gyūkatsu, or Japanese beef cutlet. Located in Akihabara, “Gyūkatsu Ichinisan (hereinafter, Ichinisan)” is a popular restaurant with lines forming even before opening. It’s not uncommon to see the line waiting to get in composed…
Established in 1972, “Sekai-ichi no Kaki fry to Sakana Wabu,” (referred to hereafter as “Wabu”) a popular restaurant in Shinjuku, is famous for its generous servings of kaki fry (deep-fried oysters) and other fried dishes. It’s known for having long lines during lunchtime, attracting many visitors every day. A super-sized portion! The “Fried Assortment Set Meal” at Wabu. Wabu offers…
No matter how adventurous your appetite may be to try out new gourmet cuisine when traveling abroad, there eventually comes a time when you find yourself craving some comfort food. For many people, that comfort comes from the familiar crunch and flavor of fried food. If you find yourself needing to scratch that itch in Japan, the country’s world of…