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: 1,522
1402
Ogura: Classic Ginza Oden Counter
Tokyo · Izakaya
A long-running oden counter in Ginza's Honda Building, celebrated for its clear, soy-free dashi. Ogura offers a traditional experience centred on perfectly simmered ingredients and seasonal small plates in an intimate setting.
Book days aheadView details
1403
Gyutan Sumibiyaki Yoshiji Unagidani ten: Sendai-Style Grilled Beef Tongue
Osaka · Diner
Specialising in Sendai-style grilled beef tongue, this small restaurant in Osaka's Higashishinsaibashi district serves thick-cut gyūtan grilled over charcoal. It's a popular spot, known for its rich oxtail soup and late-night hours.
No bookingView details
1404
bi.ble: Farm-to-Table French in Hokkaido
Hokkaido · Bakery
In the scenic countryside of Biei, Hokkaido, bi.ble is a French restaurant and auberge built around an exceptional on-site boulangerie. Visitors come for the wood-fired breads and dishes that highlight the region's seasonal produce, served with wide…
Book days aheadView details
1405
Komagata Dojou Honten: Edo-Era Loach Hot Pot
Tokyo · Izakaya
A 200-year-old institution in Asakusa serving dozeu (loach) hot pot in a preserved Edo-period building. It's a unique chance to dine on a traditional Tokyo specialty in a historic tatami setting.
No tables in the next 2 monthsView details
1409
Waguri Senmon Saori: Exquisite Chestnut Mont-Blanc
Kyoto · Dessert Shop
A dessert specialist in Kyoto's Shimogyo ward, set in a renovated townhouse overlooking the Kamo River. Visitors come for the theatrical experience of seeing ultra-fine chestnut Mont-Blanc piped to order.
No tables in the next 2 monthsView details
1411
Tsukishima Monja Moheji Honten: Classic Monjayaki Cooked for You
Tokyo · Casual Dining
A popular spot in Tsukishima, the home of monjayaki, known for its rich fish dashi and fresh seafood. Staff cook the savoury pancakes at your table, making it a great introduction to the dish for visitors.
No tables in the next 2 monthsView details
1414
Kacto: American Brunch on the Kamo River
Kyoto · Café
In Kyoto, near Gion, Kacto serves classic American brunch on a traditional riverside terrace. It's a popular choice for its fluffy buttermilk pancakes, fried chicken, and scenic views of the Kamo River.
No tables in the next 2 monthsView details
1416
Lu-Gang: Taiwanese-Style Steamed Buns
Tokyo · Take-out / Takeaway
A popular takeout window in Setagaya known for its exceptional Taiwanese-style steamed buns (mantou). Visitors come for the famously light, fluffy, and slightly sweet dough, a recipe from a renowned shop in Taiwan.
No bookingView details
1418
Taizan Sheng Jian Ten: Shanghai-style Pan-fried Dumplings
Tokyo · Casual Dining
A small, bustling shop in Jiyugaoka famous for one thing: authentic Shanghai-style pan-fried soup dumplings (shengjian). Watch them being cooked on a large griddle and enjoy the contrast of a crispy base with a juicy, soup-filled interior.
No bookingView details
1419
Fuku Chan: Classic Yakisoba in a Retro Izakaya
Sumida, Tokyo · Izakaya
A tiny, Showa-era izakaya in Asakusa's underground arcade, famous for its signature yakisoba for just ¥400. It offers a nostalgic taste of old Tokyo and is known for its appearance in the film <em>Perfect Days</em>.
No bookingView details
1420
Gontaro Shijou honten: Classic Udon and Soba in Kyoto
Kyoto · Casual Dining
A long-standing restaurant in a traditional Kyoto townhouse, Gontaro Shijou honten (権太呂 四条本店) is known for its handmade udon and soba served in a deeply flavourful dashi broth. It's a calm, family-friendly choice near Nishiki Market.
No tables in the next 2 monthsView details
1421
Kure Haikara Shokudo: Authentic Navy Curry
Hiroshima · Diner
A themed restaurant in Kure serving authentic Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force curry. Visitors come for the unique "submarine curry" set, served on a military-style tray in a dining room designed to look like a submarine's interior.
No bookingView details
1423
Kamameshi Shizuka Oomiya ten: Traditional Pot-Cooked Rice
Nara · Casual Dining
Specialising in kamameshi, rice cooked to order in individual iron pots, this quiet restaurant in Nara offers a taste of a regional specialty. It's known for its fragrant rice with a perfectly toasted bottom crust (okoge).
Book days aheadView details
1425
Shanghai Ro Toshaumenkan: Authentic Sichuan Knife-Cut Noodles
Tokyo · Casual Dining
A small, counter-only noodle shop in Musashino, west Tokyo, specializing in authentic knife-cut noodles (刀削麺). Visitors come for the spectacle of noodles being shaved to order and served in huge, spicy Sichuan-style bowls at a great price.
No bookingView details