Tokyo Food Guide | Local Secret Restaurants Revealed by My Japanese Friend

Tokyo has an abundance of delicious food - don’t just stick to Isomaru Suisan and Ichiran Ramen! A good friend of mine, who is Japanese and resides in Tokyo, always brings us to her favorite, often revisited, hidden gem restaurants each time we visit Tokyo. I have classified these restaurants by location for your convenience. Be sure to save these!

☕️ Coffee & Brunch:

1. Roppongi area:

   • Bricolage Bread & Co: An already planned visit to this bakery turned out to be right next to our hotel. A must-visit for sourdough lovers! Brunch is excellent, and you can even spot the Tokyo Tower from the outdoor seating. At night, it turns into a cozy tavern.

   • Common: Offers a superb brunch before 2 PM. The interior design is stunning, great for photos, but please be mindful of others. Their coffee and cakes are delicious.

2. Shibuya:

   • Fuglen Coffee: Ranked as the “world’s number one coffee” by the New York Times, with shops only in Norway and Tokyo. This one is the Tokyo outlet. It’s quite popular on Instagram. If you prefer a coffee with a high acidity level, give it a try.

3. Omotesando:

   • CW: A nice place to rest your feet while shopping around Omotesando. The polar bear design is adorable, and the staff is very nice!

🍴 Restaurants:

1. Shibuya

   • Chizushuya: A charcoal-grilled bird place, very delicious! Rare parts sell out quickly. A great place to grab a late-night meal and chat with friends.

2. Harajuku & Omotesando

   • Kaiten Sushi: This sushi restaurant’s Ginza location is a Michelin-rated restaurant and is often booked out. This location serves rotating sushi, which is superb! It’s a good spot if you’re shopping in the area, but be prepared for long lines during meal times, so arrive early.

   • Chun Shui Tang: A bubble tea shop from Taiwan, it has been popular for many years and is one of the earliest bubble tea shops in Tokyo. Bubble tea lovers should give it a try.

3. Shinjuku

   • Rikichi: A Japanese-style deep-fried skewer shop. Rather than order, sit at the counter and they’ll serve seasonal dishes until you say stop or request specific items. It’s a great spot for friends to chat and drink. It gets busy at meal times, and they only seat full parties.

   • There’s also a Korean Street nearby in Shinjuku. If you’re craving a change of taste and fancy Korean food, you might want to visit places like Chanchan or Life Liquor Factory.

4. Ebisu

   • Yoroniku: A BBQ restaurant, it’s incredibly hard to book! Choose set meals at different price points, averaging around $80 per person. The beef is absolutely delicious! Expect unexpected tastes and BBQ methods. Due to high demand, each table is limited to a 2-hour dining period.