10 Japanese foods you must try on your next vacation to Tokyo! You can try sushi or ramen, but seriously there are many other dishes to try.
One of the true treasures of any trip to Tokyo is the food. Japanese cuisine is excellent and unique, combining centuries of tradition with modern innovation to give you a feast unlike any other. Tokyo is the commercial and cultural center of Japan, making it a great place to try some of the best food in Japan.
When in Tokyo, there are some kinds of food you absolutely have to try. While some of these foods have found their way outside the country, they are at their best in Tokyo. Check out our Tokyo must eat food guide!
1. Sushi
Sushi is one of the most well-known Japanese foods. It is one of the most popular foods among the Japanese. The term sushi actually describes a wide variety of foods, all made by combining a specific kind of Japanese rice with seafood or vegetables.
There is a lot of regional variation and sushi has evolved differently outside of Japan. In Japan, the most popular form of sushi is nigri sushi, where rice is compressed into a cylindrical shape and then raw fish is placed on top.
Nigri sushi is typically eaten with soy sauce and should be eaten in one bite, but slowly. Maki sushi is more similar to the roll kind of sushi many foreigners are used to. This is a good option for sushi beginners.
What are some of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Tsugu Sushimasa
- Irifune
- Ichibancho Teruya
- Masuda
- Sushi Hayakawa
- Sushi Hirose
- Kizushi
- Sushi Kuriyagawa
- Sushi Daizen
- Takesushi
2. Yakitori
Yakitori is grilled chicken skewers made from many different parts of the chicken. They are typically made to order, cooked over charcoal. They’re a very popular dish and can be found all over Japan at many restaurants, though there specialized restaurants called yakitori-ya.
Yakitori is popular festival food. It’s inexpensive and delicious, often enjoyed with a glass of beer.
There are several types of yakitori. Negima is one of the most popular and has pieces of leek between the chicken, Momo is made up of pieces of chicken thigh.
Tsukune are meatballs of minced chicken, egg, vegetables, and spices. Torikawa, or kawa, are strips of crispy fatty chicken skin. Tebasaki are chicken wings. Reba are chicken livers.
Nankotsu is cartilage taken from a chicken’s collar bone; it’s very crunchy. Yakitori restaurants also will sell non-chicken skewers, as well. You are meant to eat yakitori with your hands, either on the skewer or after being removed with chopsticks.
What are some of the best yakitori restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Imai
- Isehiro Kyobashi
- Uchida
- Edomasa
- Toriki
- Ginza Torishige
- Souten Minamiguchi
- Iguchi
- Ogawa
- Onitei
3. Ramen Noodles
Ramen is one of the most popular dishes in Japan over the past few decades. It’s cheap and widely available, making it a great option for those on a budget. Ramen is characterized by its soup base and how it’s flavored: shoyu (soy cause), shio (salt), miso (soybean paste), and tonkotsu (pork bone).
Most noodles are very similar and typically they are made of wheat. Some restaurants allow you to select a thickness and how done your noodles should be.
There are also a variety of toppings. Some of the most common are: chasu (slices of pork), mema (preserved bamboo shoots), negi (leeks or green onions), myahsi (cooked bean sprouts), tamago (eggs cooked in various ways), seaweed. Kamaboko (slices of steamed fish cake), corn, and butter.
Ramen is eaten using chopsticks. Chinese-style spoons are also often provided and it is also acceptable to drink soup right from the bowl by lifting it to your mouth. You should eat quickly, as the noodle do get soggy quickly. A slurping sound is made when eating and is not impolite and you can also leave the unfinished soup in the bowl.
Tsukemen is a very popular ramen dish that deserves special mention. The noodles are eaten after they are dipped in a bowl of soup or broth. The soup used here is often much more intense than is found in other forms of ramen.
This dish is not as well known outside of Japan, though it does have a following in Los Angeles. In Tokyo, it is incredibly popular.
What are some of the best ramen restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Tsuta Ramen
- Ramen Jiro
- Ichiran Ramen
- Rokurinsha
- Ginza Kagari
- Menya Musashi
- Kyushu Jangara Ramen
- Daishi Ramen
- Sora-no-iro Ramen
- Menya Itto
4. Okonomiyaki
This popular dish consists of batter, cabbage, and a variety of ingredients. It is focused on being customized to one’s tastes and is sometimes translated into English as ‘As-you-like-it-pancakes”. Some typical fillings include octopus, yam, kimchi, shrimp, and pork.
- Naniwa
- Okonomiyaki Kiji Shinagawa
- Konamon
- Okonomiyaki Fukutake
- Koinobori
- Sonia
- USHIO
- Matsunami
- Suzume no Oyado
- KATANA
5. Soba Noodles
Soba needles are made of buckwheat flour. They are about as thick as spaghetti. Soba noodles are served in many ways, both hot and cold.
You can find soba noodle dishes all over Japan. The most basic soba dish is mori soba, which is cold soba noodles are eaten with a dipping sauce. New Year’s Eve is the only time you can find Toshikoshi Soba, a symbol of long life. There are many regional variations on soba dishes.
What are some of the best soba noodle restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Kanda Yabu Soba
- Yuan Yamori
- Sasuga
- Kanda Matsuya
- Ueno Yabu Soba
6. Japanese Curry
This popular dish was originally imported from India. Curry powder is mixed into a sauce then combined with rice, potatoes, carrots, onions, and meat (usually pork or beef). It is a simple dish but a delicious one.
What are some of the best Japanese Curry restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Bondy
- Yoshida Curry
- Ethiopia
- Hongokutei
- Kyoeido
- Kirakutei
- Yakuzen Curry Jinenjo
- Manten
- Shinjuku Nakamuraya Manna
- Kyobashiya Curry
- Curry Kusamakura
- Minoringo
7. Tempura
Tempura are lightly battered, deep-fried vegetables and seafood. It’s a popular dish both inside and outside of Japan.
It can be food as a main dish or a side dish at many restaurants or even as a topping for ramen or soba noodles. Popular tempura dishes include ebi (shrimp), sakana (fish), nasu (eggplant), kinoko (mushrooms), kabocha (pumpkin), satsumaimo (sweet potato), and kakiage )patty made of seafood and vegetables).
What are some of the best tempura restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Tempura Shinjuku Tsunahachi
- Funabashiya
- Yatsudeya
- Tempura Hisago
- Yamato
8. Unagi
Unagi is a freshwater eel and has rich, fatty flavor. It is often grilled and served in many different ways. The most popular style of unagi is kabayanki, where ungai filets are grilled and basted in a sweet and savory sauce.
It’s usually accompanied by a container sansho (Japanese pepper), which has an astringent flavor that helps balance the fatty taste of the unagi; use this sparingly, however.
What are some of the best unagi restaurants in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Asakusa Unatetsu
- Ohitsuzen Tanbo
- Nodaiwa
- Shinjuku Unatetsu
- Obana
- Izuei
- Chikuyotei
- Unatoto
- Yatsumeya Nishimura
- Hitsumabushi Bincho
9. Wagashi
Wagashi are Japanese sweets made with a variety of ingredients, including sweet azuki bean paste, rice cake (mochi), rice flower, Japanese agar, sesame paste, and chestnuts.
They are very popular and often enjoyed with green tea. There are a variety of wagashi to be found and they look very different, from delicate namagashi to chewy skewered dango.
What are some of the best wagashi shops in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Echigoya Wakasa
- Usagiya
- Ikkouan
- Sasama
- Murasakino Wakuden
- Gunrindo
- Sougetsu
- Kuriyakashi Kurogi
- Kuuya
- Chimoto
10. Fukagawa Meshi
Fukagawa Meshi is a bowl of rice that is topped with clams and Japanese long onions that were cooked in miso. Traditionally, this was a meal that fishermen ate before casting off. These days, it’s a culinary staple and greatly enjoyed throughout Japan.
What are some of the best fukagawa meshi shops in Tokyo? Here’s our list:
- Fukagawajuku Tomioka Hachiman branch
- Zentokoro Tempura Katayama
- Choju-an Kyosho
- Monzen Chaya
