Foods in Tokyo

Next Stage Travel
Mar 6
8 min read

Ise Sueyoshi

Meal Type: Traditional Kaiseki Though we had the traditional, we were excited to see that this restaurant actively welcomes gluten free, vegan, vegetarian and Muslim meals. They also had a section on the reservation form to describe a dietary need that didn’t fit neatly in those categories. Phone: 03-6427-2314 Email: info.sueyoshi@gmail.com

Website: http://isesueyoshi.blog.fc2.com/ Address: 4-2-15 Nishiazabu, Mizuno Bldg. 3F, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031 (Note the 3rd floor )

Reservations: the Japanese website has the “reservation” button in English. This passes you to an English language reservation page.

Price: 22K Yen. Upcharge of 2K Yen for special meals: vegan, vegetarian, Muslim, gluten-free.

Notes: fabulous meal and one of the best sake pairings we’ve ever had. The chef is from Mie, which is kind of near Kyoto, and sources all of his ingredients from there. This is a tiny restaurant with 5 seats and 2 seatings per night. Reservations are a must. Every dish was a winner and 2 standouts were fish shabu shabu, the best tuna we’ve ever had, and some great desserts.

The vibe is very intimate and special.

Nôl

Meal Type: Michelin-starred innovative Japanese cuisine with an emphasis on connection to nature and sustainability.

Website: https://nol.jp/

Address: 日本橋馬喰町2-2-1 1F, 中央区, 東京都, JP, 103-0002

Reservations: on their site, in English

Notes: We have been fortunate to experience many wonderful high-end set meal food experiences. When choosing a Michelin-starred or similarly priced place, we hope for something that will surprise us and will accommodate food sensitivities with creativity. Nol did not disappoint. All the dishes were winners in overall taste, presentation, and flavor pairings. The big impression we got from this chef is the flavors tended to be subtle and the mix of flavors sometimes surprising and always well-matched. The strongest flavor served was a blue cheese ice cream (which was amazing). The best thing we learned was about a spice from the amber cork tree. The dried berries of this tree are the staple diet of Japanese deer, especially in the Hokkaido region, and the chef used the ground spice to flavor a venison dish. He brought the spice out to us and we asked if we could try it. It tastes like orange rind and juniper. When we asked if it was possible to buy it anywhere in the country, the chef said no, he has a friend forage and send it to him, but he prepared a little packet for me to take home as a present. At the end of the evening, we got a tour of the kitchen.

We went in February and there were a total of 4 people dining the whole evening, including the 2 of us. They said winter is very slow.

Lots of personal attention from the chef who explained many of the dishes himself as they were served.

宗胡 – Sougo Shojin Ryori

Meal Type: Shojin Ryori (vegetarian temple food)

3F Roppongi Green bldg. Roppongi6-1-8, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Website: https://www.sougo.tokyo/ Reservations: on their website, using OpenTable

We’ve had wonderful shojin ryori at a temple in Koya-san and so sought out shojin ryori in town. Sougo was ok. Not all of the flavors or combos hit, and it seemed a little expensive for what it was. However, if you are vegetarian or vegan I’d say it’s worth it (unless you are also gluten free, in which case I don’t think this is going to work.) The restaurant had a huge party of Europeans during lunch when we went. They were loud (like normal loud for Europe and the USA but seems very out of place in Japan).

まんてん鮨　日比谷 Manten Sushi Hibiya Okuroji

Meal Type: Sushi

Address: 東京都千代田区内幸町1-7-1G24 100-0011 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Uchisaiwaichō, 1-chōme−7−１日比谷OKUROJI G24

Reservations: through their site for any of their three restaurants. When the reservation form came up, Google translate would not work on my computer, so I used my phone to translate the computer screen.

All the reviews we read about this place describe it as “high-end sushi for medium price” and we found that to be true. This was EXCELLENT sushi and a great omakase experience. They also did a robust take out business, mostly featuring futomaki which is pictured in the bottom right photo.

The particular outlet of Manten that we went to is in an area with a lot of other restaurants, including an upscale Unagi (eel )restaurant (with viewing area--you can watch them kill the eel from outside the restaurant. Stools for kids to get to viewing height are provided.) There was also a store with curated local food and gifts, a nice umbrella store, an "indigo dying experience" shop, several bars and Japanese and non-Japanese restaurants.

It is part of the old train station and one side has been enclosed; the map of the enclosed area is on the right below and the WEBSITE has additional information. The other side features small restaurants off an open-air alley.

Tsukiji Market choices

We were staying in Asakusa, but still jet-lagged so waking early. This made a trip to Tsukiji for breakfast a great option, which we repeated. We’d been to Tsukiji on a trip many years ago, with our young children, and at that time the fish auction was located here too. The auction has relocated but many sellers remain. The effect is much less hectic; in the old days you would get mowed down by carts of fish shuttling to and fro. Now it is more like a regular outdoor market. There are big lines at some restaurants once the tourists arrive, but most shops have plenty of space and attention for you to try their freshly shaved bonito, and peruse the kitchenwares, pickled and fresh items.

Don–stuff on rice

You can order lots of foods “don” meaning on top of rice. In the fish market, your favorite fish is available “don” or as sashimi or grilled. We wanted some great fish-on-rice for breakfast so headed to Tsukiji market.

Marukita Seafood #1 (and #2 is across the street)

Location: 4-chōme-9-5 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045

web address: tsukiji-marukita.com

phonte: +81 3-3543-5228

They have an outpost “1” and “2” directly across from each other in their small street. At 7:30 am, we were the first to take seats, but the place was half full on both sides by 7:45 and by 9 am the market had lines at many popular vendors. We both were craving uni. Dan picked uni and maguro tuna-don, and I had uni and hotate scallops, plus a serving of miso soup for each of us and (complementary) hot tea. The fish was superb, so sweet and fresh, which is what one hopes for in Tsukiji even though the actual fish auction is not located here anymore. We highly recommend this place, and that you get here before the tourists arrive. We made it a destination on our first day, figuring jet lag would have us up early anyway (which it did). Bonus: the subway is also much less crowded before 8 am. I also liked their miso soup.

Second don restaurant

We went back to compare the goods-for-price at a similar restaurant just across from Marukita down a small alley, with cute little private booths. Perhaps their fish would be just as good for less yen? No, the fish was pretty darn good, but not as good and the amount was less, so the smaller price was in line.

Marutake

Meal type: Tamago–egg– on a stick

Location: 4-chōme-10-10 Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045 (at the intersection of Namiyake-dori and the Tsukiji Market)

website: https://www.tsukiji-marutake.com/

There are several places selling tamago, the rolled egg dish. While many looked good, only one spot was serving it hot. For about $1 a stick, this tamago was a good deal. It was not only hot but just the right sweetness and with a nice dashi flavor. The lines for this place were long by 9am, but moved quickly.

Amazake

Meal type: drink Just around the corner from the tamago spot, Dan found amazake!

Not sure if this place is open year-round or only in winter when we visited, but we love amazake and were happy to see this vendor. 300 yen, or about $2 for a hot cup of brew. Amazake is not alcoholic but is made from leftover rice post-sake production. Sometimes sugar is added, and sometimes ginger and other flavorings. This one was rather plain, though sweet, and I was thrilled to find it on our cold morning. (photo above right) Generally, amazake can be found in 2 types: ones made from any old rice and ones made from the leftover mash from making sake. We prefer the latter, as it has a deeper flavor, but I enjoy both.

Asakusa Neighborhood

We stayed in Asakusa and two different hotels. (See our other pages for more info.)

Tentou

Meal Type: Ten-don aka tempura don)

Location: 1-chōme-41-1 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032

phone: +81 3-3841-5802

Open from 10:30 to 10 or 11 pm at night, this is a great choice if you are feeling like tempura. Asakusa has its own tempura style where they dip the finished tempura into a shoyu-based sauce. (Other types of tempura are usually served to you with a side sauce for you to dip on your own.)

This restaurant is apparently very well known as one of the best for this type of tempura, and often very busy. They recently expanded their hours to dinner time, and Google had not caught up with that news yet. Perhaps that’s why we had the place to ourselves for dinner on a Tuesday night.

All of the fish was prepared perfectly: shrimp; kakiage stuffed with scallops, shrimp, and fish; and whitefish. The eggplant was only ok but made me feel a little healthy. We recommend the Ten-don set which has a little of everything, paired with a beer. Our total bill was 59000 Yen, or $45, of which $9 was for 2 beers.

Okoge

Meal Type: Monjayaki restaurant)

Address: 〒111-0032 Tokyo, Taito City, Asakusa, 1 Chome−35−9 ザグローヴ

Monjayaki is a specialty of the Asakusa region. We happened into one and are glad we did. Manjoyaki is a bunch of cabbage, a very thin flour-based liquid (thinner than what is used for a pancake for example) and toppings of choice. The first item on the menu’s list is for a pork-based one, using ground pork, and we think the folks next to us had that. It looked good. We had fish roe which was a good choice. Use Google translate on the menu to see the available toppings, or just use the words you know because everything is available either as a standard item or as an extra topping. They serve okonomiyaki too, which is a dish we are familiar with and make at home. It was ok; we found the sauce they use not as good as the one we are used to. So we’d recommend sticking with the manjoyaki and other appetizers instead.

Naruto Taiyaki

Meal Type: dessert/snack of fish-shaped filled buns

Address: 1 Chome-28-1 Asakusa, 台東区 Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032 or: 〒101-0021 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Sotokanda, 6 Chome−3−6 大石ビル

or Website and other locations for this chain: https://www.taiyaki.co.jp/shop/

You can find taiyaki all over Japan, and we suggest you do! This spot in Asakusa made an excellent version with choices of fillings custard, sweet potato, and red bean (the standards). All were very hot, which was so nice in February to hold a hot fish. Compared to other taiyaki places, we think Naruto has the edge on the bun part. It’s just the right combination of toasted outside and soft inside. They are a chain, so you don’t need to limit yourself to the Asakusa location (or to Tokyo).

Fluffy Pancakes

Tik Tok made me try the fluffy pancakes at Flippers. The fluffy pancakes are good, but not worth waiting in line for and there are plenty of other places across Japan that serve this kind of souffle pancake. The toppings at Flippers sounded good but just weren’t amazing. The maple chicken and egg stack was especially disappointing.

If you must venture to Flippers because Tik Tok also convinced you, I recommend getting a sandwich to go –there was no line for this when we were there.

Misojyu

Meal Type: Breakfast