Ranking
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
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.
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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.
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Hyōgo · Casual Dining
Unaki (うな希) is a nine-seat eel counter in Tachibanacho, Amagasaki, near JR Tachibana Station. Live domestic eel is grilled to order in the Kansai style and served at prices well below most specialists.
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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.
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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.
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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>.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Osaka · Take-out / Takeaway
The flagship store of an Osaka institution, famous for its signature `butaman` pork buns. Located in Namba, it offers takeaway on the ground floor and a full-service restaurant upstairs for freshly steamed dim sum and set meals.
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