Tokyo Food-Restaurants

Tokyo Food-Restaurants information

Fine Dining

Fine Dining Chez Pierre *** 1-23-10 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3475-1400 Superb French cuisine served by extraordinarily well-presented waiters. Pierre came to Japan years ago and has created a classic French menu with a Japanese twist. The day's meat and fish are brought to you on wooden platters for inspection. Pretty pricey, but nothing about the food or the service can be faulted. From Nogizaka Station, take exit five. Ukai Toriyama *** Minami Asakawa-machi 3426, Hachioji-shi Tel: +81 (0)4-2661-0739 The top pick for a uniquely Japanese experience. On the outer reaches of Tokyo, Ukai-toriyama is a whole compound of tiny bamboo teahouses set in idyllic surroundings amid trees and carp-filled ponds next to a river. Each group dines in their own private teahouse, served by a kimono-clad waitress and a chef who transports his grill and charcoal from hut to hut. The menu is fixed, generally consisting of a starter, a salad, and fish, followed by steak. Rice and soup accompany the meal and fruit is provided for dessert. If you only want to splash out once, this is the place to do it. Take the train from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi station on the Keio line (about 50 minutes). The bus from the restaurant will meet you there (three buses run each hour). Traditional Inakaya Nishi *** 4-10-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-5775-1012 Inakaya is a theatrical experience of a restaurant. Meaning "country shop", it recreates a traditional rural eatery, albeit at big city prices. Created to resemble an old wooden barn, staff greet you with shouts of welcome and bellow your order to the chefs. Customers sit around a counter within which a huge variety of raw ingredients (meat, fish, fresh vegetables) are displayed. If you like the look of something, point to it and the chef will cook it on the grill in front of you. Tiny crabs grilled whole are a delicacy and surprisingly tasty once you get used to them. Follow Gaien-East Road from the Roppongi intersection police box (next to Tokyo Mitsubishi bank) to Nogizaka and take the second road to your right. Seryna *** (Lunchtime specials:*) 3-12-2 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3402-1051 Well-known for beef shabu-shabu, Seryna is a Westerner-friendly option with multi-lingual menus. Large platters of beef, vegetable and noodles are provided for you to boil in the cauldron of broth that bubbles in the centre of your table. Sesame and a soy-based sauce are provided for dipping and at the end of the meal, you drink the soup created by boiling all the ingredients. Lunchtime specials are fantastic value, evening meals will cost rather more. From Roppongi station, follow the road to Tokyo Tower and take the first road on the left. Shichirinya Shizuku ** 7-8-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3408-6044 Intimate, low-lit restaurant serving yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers) and various small plates of fish, meat and vegetables which you grill over a small stove in the centre of the table. All the tables are in private little compartments separated by bamboo and wooden screens, making this a very cosy and appealing spot for a meal. From Oedo line Roppongi station, take exit 7. There's another branch, simply called "Shichirinya", just along the road. Okonomiyaki Utajaya ** 2-11-13 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3541-7583 A good spot to try okonomiyaki, the delicious Japanese-style pancake made with cabbage and any assortment of meat, fish or vegetables, beloved of most foreign visitors to Japan. Order the filling you want and staff will bring a mixture to be cooked on the hotplate on your table (the idea is to cook it yourself but staff are willing to help out if you're not confident in your ability to do so). Various fried noodle dishes, or yaki soba, are also available.

Sushi

Sushizanmai **-*** 4-11-9 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3541-1117 In the midst of the fishy paradise that is Tsukiji fish market, Sushizanmai is just one of numerous sushi restaurants serving up the freshest offerings imaginable. Open 24 hours a day, the place teems with customers at practically any time, though you won't usually have to wait too long for a table. For the best experience sit up at the counter and watch the chefs in action, skilfully slicing up portions of tuna and sea bream. The menu has an incredible choice of sushi and sashimi on offer, all of it probably the freshest and best quality you're ever likely to taste. Heirokuzushi ** 5-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3498-3968 This conveyor belt sushi restaurant is easy to locate and can be combined with shopping at the Oriental Bazaar and a visit to the Meiji Shrine. Sit at the counter and plates of sushi will rotate on a conveyor belt in front of you. Plates are colour coded, and one colour corresponds to a certain price - look on the wall for the price coding. A cheaper option, this shouldn't come to more than JPY3000 per head all in. From Omotesando station, walk down the hill towards the Meiji shrine and it will be in your left.

International

Las Chicas ** 5-47-6 Jingumae, Aoyama dori Tel: +81 (0)3-3407-6865 A charming restaurant set around a courtyard filled with fairy lights, Las Chicas serves Western food with a hint of Japanese style. Pastas and salads are excellent as are the more classic meat and fish dishes. Las Chicas isn't too pricey and reservations aren't necessary. From Omotesando station exit B2, walk west on Aoyama-dori towards Shibuya. Take the third road on your right. Ebisu Beer Station * 4-20-3 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3442-5111 A cheap, fun option, the beer station is a huge sprawling hall, filled with a young student crowd. Japanese food such as yakitori, tofu and grilled fish is available, alongside Western staples such as chips, pasta concoctions and odd German sausages. The beer is served in iced mugs and the atmosphere is relaxed. From Ebisu station (Hibiya Line, Yamanote Line), follow the signs towards Ebisu Garden Palace, a giant complex of shops, attractions and offices. The beer garden is in the basement. Tony Roma's and Hard Rock Café ** 5-4-20 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3408-2748/7018 If you're after the familiar, you can't go wrong here. From Roppongi Station, follow the road to Tokyo Tower and take the second right. When you see a giant gorilla climbing the side of a square building, you've arrived. Tony Roma's is on the ground floor and the Hard Rock is upstairs. Burgers, fajitas, club sandwiches - it's comfort food heaven for Westerners. Reservations aren't usually necessary but there is a bar provided while you wait. Roppongi station: Hibiya Line

Thai

Mekong ** New Matsumoto Bldg B1, 3-26-5 Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3988-5688 Not much to look at but excellent standards of Thai food combined with super low lunchtime prices make Mekong a favourite with just about everyone. Prices are a bit higher in the evenings making it not as attractive a draw then. 5 minutes' walk west of Ikebukuro station: walk past Nishiguchi park and the restaurant is in the basement of the McDonalds building.

Bars

There is any number of places to drink in Tokyo. Shibuya, Omotesando and Shinjuku all have endless possibilities but Roppongi is famed for the choice and scope of nightlife options on offer. It's a popular hangout for expatriates and US military and has restaurants, bars, hostess clubs and strip joints in equal measure. Many of the bars are much of a muchness, none have the character of an Anglo-American pub and stainless steel is more likely than polished oak in the decor. If you aren't in a group you may find that the bars aren't as immediately welcoming as a snug European pub, the music is usually loud and drinking is enthusiastic rather than relaxed. However, if you get over your initial reservations and forget about having a quiet drink, you can easily have a good time in a Tokyo bar, and the atmosphere is usually friendly. The earnestness with which people attempt karaoke (should you go to such a bar) is refreshingly different to the drunken renditions of Westerners (although drunkenness is by no means left out of the equation here either). If you want to wean yourself into the hectic Tokyo bar scene here are a few favourite places easy to locate in the city. Once you've wetted your whistle at one of these though try some of the less international places - just look out for the vibrant splashes of neon. It's worthwhile to see the Japanese let their hair down for once. Paddy Foley's Roi Bldg B1, 5-5-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3423-2250 A traditional Irish pub located in the basement of the Roi Building in Roppongi. Pints of Guinness cost around JPY1000 and the crowd is generally friendly and cosmopolitan. From Roppongi station walk towards Tokyo Tower and the Roi building will be on your right. Canal Café 1-9 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3260-8068 A nice place for a quiet drink away from the more popular night life areas. There is an adequate wine list and it's never crowded. From Iidabashi Station (Yurakucho or Sobu line), look for the floating café in the moat. Gas Panic 2F-3F, 3-15-24 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3465-0633 How to describe Gas Panic? It's loud, it's crowded and it's full of Western guys and Japanese girls keen to go home with each other. Having said that, if you want to drink, listen to some music and people watch, why not? There is also a club nearby and any of the giant bouncers will be happy to tell you where it is. Drinks are from around JPY1000, although most evenings there's a Happy Hour until around eight. From Roppongi station (Hibiya Line), head towards Tokyo Tower. Gas Panic is in the third road on your left in a little cul-de-sac. Déjà vu 3-15-24 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: not available Déjà vu is the natural overspill for exuberant expats who can't get into either of the Gas Panics right next door. As fun as its Roppongi rivals the bar offers slightly more elbow room for drinkers, although on weekends it livens up considerably. Tokyo Sports Café 1F TSK CCC, 7-15-31 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3404-3675 Still in Roppongi this isn't Tokyo's only sports bar but it is certainly one of the best. Japanese love all sorts of sports so don't think that the entertainment is limited to horse racing and Sumo. Western sporting events, including action from American Baseball and the European soccer leagues are usually on offer. Ebisu Beer Station 4-20-3 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-3442-9731 Good for a cheap and cheerful boozy evening with a group of friends the Beer Station won't disappoint, although you may feel a bit lonely if you visit alone. The food is excellent and the beer is reasonably priced and very cold. From Ebisu station (Hibiya Line, Yamanote Line) follow the signs to Ebisu Garden Palace. Motown House 1 2F Com Roppongi, 3-11-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku Tel: +81 (0)3-5474-4605 Another Roppongi institution, Motown Bar plays not bad music, the crowd is friendly and it stays open all hours. From Roppongi Station (Hibiya Line) head towards