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
1227
Bunmeidou Sakan Ru Cafe: Griddled Pastel and Castella Tearoom
Kanagawa · Coffee Shop
The tearoom of the Bunmeido castella maker in Isezakicho, Yokohama, on the ground floor of the Bunmeido Building. People come for the pastel, a dorayaki skin griddled to order, served in a walnut-panelled room.
No bookingView details
1229
Pancake Mama Cafe VoiVoi: Made-to-Order Buttermilk Pancakes
Tokyo · Café
A cosy, family-friendly cafe in Sangenjaya known for its signature buttermilk pancakes. The batter is made to order for a uniquely tender and chewy texture, and the menu features both classic sweet stacks and a full range of savoury options.
Book days aheadView details
1230
Echire Patisserie au Beurre Jeiāru nagoya takashimaya ten: Pastries with French Butter
Aichi Prefecture · Pâtisserie
This takeaway-only patisserie in Nagoya's JR Takashimaya department store showcases France's famed Échiré butter. Visitors queue for its rich pastries, especially the Nagoya-exclusive 'Grand Choux Échiré', a perfect grab-and-go treat.
No bookingView details
1233
Tezukuri Hamburger Steak Kobo Toshi: Juicy, Hand-Kneaded Hamburgs
Hokkaido · Casual Dining
A celebrated Sapporo specialist in hand-kneaded hamburg steaks, served sizzling on an iron plate. Located in Chuo-ku, it's known for its incredibly juicy meat and an exceptionally generous farm-fresh salad.
No bookingView details
1234
Kobuchisawa Izutsuya: Aged Unagi in a Century-Old House
Yamanashi · Casual Dining
Specialising in aged unagi, Kobuchisawa Izutsuya (小淵沢 井筒屋) serves charcoal-grilled eel in a restored 100-year-old house in Kobuchisawa. The signature dish, served theatrically in a bamboo tube, offers a unique take on a Japanese classic.
Book days aheadView details
1235
Nick & Renée Toyonaka Honten: Premium Wagyu Burgers
Osaka · Casual Dining
A celebrated burger joint in Toyonaka, Osaka, known for its hefty American-style burgers made with 100% Kagoshima wagyu patties and thick, house-smoked bacon. Expect queues for these award-winning burgers.
No bookingView details
1236
Sukiyaki Kappou Hiyama: Classic Sukiyaki in a Historic Setting
Tokyo · Fine Dining
Experience traditional sukiyaki in a century-old townhouse in the Ningyocho district. Sukiyaki Kappou Hiyama (すき焼割烹 日山) offers a classic meal in all-private rooms, where uniformed staff cook premium wagyu beef at your table.
Book days aheadView details
1237
Sanchokuya Taka: A Sake-Pairing Seafood Omakase
Tokyo · Izakaya
A unique seafood izakaya in Shibuya's Maruyamacho district where the owner curates an omakase course designed to be paired with a vast selection of premium sake. It's a destination for serious sake enthusiasts.
Book months aheadView details
1238
Teuchi Soba Kanei: Artisanal, House-Milled Soba
Kyoto · Casual Dining
Experience artisanal, house-milled soba in a restored 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse. The meal is a ritual, complete with fresh wasabi you grate yourself, making it a destination for noodle purists in the Murasakino district.
Book days aheadView details
1241
Aoyama Ototo: Expertly Charcoal-Grilled Fish
Tokyo · Diner
In a stylish Jingumae basement, Aoyama Ototo (青山 おとと) serves exceptionally well-cooked fish. Go for the lunch sets or dinner omakase, centered on charcoal-grilled salmon and cod with crisp skin and a silky interior.
Book days aheadView details
1245
Scott (Shinkan): Classic Yoshoku with Historic Stews
Shizuoka · Steakhouse
A beloved yoshoku restaurant in Atami, famous for its generation-old beef and tongue stews. Visitors come for the deeply flavoured demiglace and classic Western-Japanese dishes served in a retro dining room.
No bookingView details
1247
Hallal Food Marhaba: Authentic Pakistani Cuisine
Fukuoka · Casual Dining
A tiny, highly-regarded Pakistani restaurant in Fukuoka's Hakomatsu district, serving a daily-rotating menu. It's a destination for its authentic, boldly spiced biryani and curries, with an attached halal grocery.
Book days aheadView details
1248
Ichin yoan: Vegetable-Forward Soba in a Traditional House
Nara · Casual Dining
A soba house in a renovated traditional home in Uda, Nara, celebrated for its vegetable-forward dishes. Visitors make the trip for the exceptional handmade soba, seasonal vegetable tempura, and the signature box-pressed vegetable sushi.
Book days aheadView details
1250
Hitokuchi Gyoza Tenya: Famed Bite-Sized Dumplings
Fukuoka · Izakaya
A tiny, acclaimed izakaya in Kurume, Fukuoka, celebrated for its signature 'hitokuchi' gyoza. Visitors come for the perfectly crispy-yet-juicy dumplings and the adventurous drink pairings, from natural wines to spiced shochu.
Book days aheadView details