Ranking
The best places to eat in Japan
An editorial ranking of restaurants, cafés and bars: grades from A+ to F, price range, and the Tabelog score where one exists.
Places ranked: 2,446
728
Saika: Inventive Sichuan Chinese in Kyoto
Kyoto · Fine Dining
A destination for modern Sichuan cuisine in Kyoto's Higashiyama district. Saika is a single-counter restaurant known for its signature abalone noodles and creative use of luxury ingredients, served with a view of a private garden.
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729
Aji Yuki: Referral-Only Seasonal Omakase
Tokyo · Fine Dining
In Tokyo's Minato district, Aji Yuki is an intimate, referral-only omakase counter from a chef trained at the legendary Kyo-Aji. It's sought after for its exacting seasonal dishes and signature rice finales served until you are full.
By referralView details
730
Sumiyaki Kinryusan: Legendary Charcoal-Grilled Yakiniku
Tokyo · Casual Dining
An almost mythical yakiniku restaurant in Shirokane, revered for its exceptionally thick, high-quality cuts of meat grilled over charcoal. Access is the main challenge; reservations are nearly impossible for newcomers to obtain.
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733
Komatsu Yasuke: Lunch-Only Omakase at a Hand-Served Sushi Counter
Ishikawa · Fine Dining
Komatsu Yasuke (小松 弥助) is Kazuo Morita's lunch-only sushi counter in Honmachi, Kanazawa, on the ground floor of the Kanazawa Chaya Bekkan. Go for nigiri placed straight into your palm and the famous unakyu hand roll.
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734
Shokudo Ogawa: Creative Small-Plate Omakase
Kyoto · Fine Dining
At a 12-seat counter in Kyoto's Shimogyo ward, a single chef serves a creative omakase of small plates. It's known for elevating simple, seasonal ingredients with masterful cooking and for a theatrical, intimate dining experience.
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736
YAKITORI Moe es: French-influenced Yakitori
Tokyo · Fine Dining
A high-end yakitori counter in Roppongi where a chef with a French culinary background applies precise fire control to create exceptionally textured skewers. The meal is famed for its memorable finishing chicken soba.
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737
Kusajiki Nakahigashi: Foraged Vegetable Kaiseki
Kyoto · Fine Dining
A unique kaiseki restaurant in Kyoto, near Ginkaku-ji Temple, where chef Hisao Nakahigashi builds his menu around wild herbs and vegetables he forages himself. Go for a singular taste of Kyoto's seasons, culminating in a dramatic kamado-cooked rice…
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739
Shimoyamitenae Izuru: Inventive Hokkaido-European Cuisine
Hokkaido · Fine Dining
An intimate six-seat counter in Sapporo serving a highly inventive, genre-defying tasting menu. The chef reworks Hokkaido's finest ingredients into unique dishes with a European sensibility.
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740
Sushi Shunbi Nishikawa: Omakase Sushi Counter at a Castle View
Aichi Prefecture · Fine Dining
An eight-seat omakase sushi counter in Nagoya's Hinokuchicho, on the 4th floor of the Espacio Nagoya Castle hotel, looking straight onto the illuminated Nagoya Castle. Known for its kettle-cooked wild kuruma prawn.
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741
Higashi Chaya Nakamura: Noto Seafood Kaiseki
Osaka · Fine Dining
A high-end kaiseki restaurant in Osaka's Kita Ward, specializing in exceptional seafood sourced directly from the Noto Peninsula. The experience is built around a counter tasting menu focused on masterful, restrained technique.
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742
Mumyo: Shinshu Mountain Cuisine, Bear and Clay-Pot Rice
Nagano · Fine Dining
Mumyo (無名) is a six-seat, chef-run Japanese restaurant in Chino, Nagano, three minutes from Chino Station. It serves an almost fish-free set menu of game, local chicken and foraged mountain produce.
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743
Jinsei: Intense, Edomae-style Omakase Sushi
Osaka · Fine Dining
A tiny, six-seat sushi counter in Osaka's Shinsaibashi district, famed for its intensely seasoned shari and a theatrical omakase that showcases exceptional tuna and knife work. For serious sushi lovers only.
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744
Sushi Karashima: Kyushu-Forward Edomae Sushi
Fukuoka · Fine Dining
A highly-regarded sushi bar in Fukuoka's Akasaka district, known for its Kyushu-focused omakase, rare seafood, and signature dishes like katsuobushi-topped tamago-kake-gohan. Ideal for purists seeking a distinctive regional take on Edomae sushi.
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745
Nama Horumon Dokoro Osamu Chan: Theatrical Horumon BBQ
Osaka · Casual Dining
An exclusive 8-seat counter in Sakai, Osaka, where the owner's theatrical grilling is as much a draw as the ultra-fresh horumon (offal) and premium beef. Access is typically by introduction from a regular customer only.
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746
Sumibi Yaki Yuji: Charcoal-Grilled Offal Specialist
Tokyo · Casual Dining
A legendary, smoke-filled yakiniku joint in Shibuya, famous for its exceptionally fresh offal grilled over binchotan charcoal. It's a loud, old-school experience prized by locals for its quality and value.
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748
Sushi Oohata: Masterfully Matched Rice and Fish
Osaka · Fine Dining
A tiny, highly-regarded sushi counter in Osaka's Dojima district, celebrated for its unique approach of matching multiple types of vinegared rice to each cut of fish. It's a destination for sushi connoisseurs who can secure a notoriously difficult…
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749
Kojitsu: Seasonal Counter Kappō with Hand-Cut Soba
Aichi Prefecture · Fine Dining
Kojitsu (好日) is a husband-and-wife kappō counter on the ground floor of the Royal Mansion Jushu in Nagoya's Ōzone area. It is known for freshly shaved dashi, hand-cut soba and a clay-pot rice finale.
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750
Tagetsu: Seasonal Kaiseki with Counter Theatre
Tokyo · Fine Dining
A highly regarded kaiseki restaurant in Kita-Aoyama, known for its theatrical counter service and generous, seasonal menus. Guests come for the ritualistic dashi tasting and the exceptional value of its multi-course lunch.
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