Ash’s best Tokyo Restaurants including some hidden gems!
By Ashley Thredgold, Co-Founder of Tokyo Family Stays
After more than 20 years of eating my way around Tokyo, I’ve learned that the best meals aren’t always the most expensive ones. Some of my favorite restaurants are hidden away in department stores, down backstreets, or tucked into the basements of office buildings. Tokyo is a city where you can eat incredibly well—from ramen shops to Michelin-starred dessert counters!
Here are some of the best restaurants and hidden gems I recommend. Whether you’re a visitor or a long-term resident, I hope this list gives you a taste of what makes Tokyo’s food scene so special.
Key
📸 - Instagram famous
⭐- An Ash favorite
* - recommended items to eat/best dish
$ - Cheap eats
$$ - Reasonably priced
$$$ - More expensive/Good quality restaurant
$$$$ - Fine dining/High-end quality
Shinjuku & Nakano Area
Hakata Tenjin (Shinjuku East Exit)
Tonkotsu ramen, quick and cheap. Perfect after a night out. *Tonkatsu ramen ⭐$
Mambaken (Shinjuku)
Bold ramen flavors in a cozy setting. *Chashu loaded ramen ⭐$
Udon Shin (Shinjuku)
Hand-pulled udon paired with crispy tempura. Always a queue, always worth it. *Udon and Tempura 📸⭐$$
Robato Sho (Shinjuku)
A bustling izakaya with grilled skewers and lively atmosphere. 📸$$$
Tenkane Tempura (Nishi-Shinjuku)
Some of the best tempura in Tokyo at a very fair price. 📸$$$
Jyunteuchi Daruma Ramen
Nakano fujimicho near Fuji house Subtle yet soulful shoyu (soy-sauce) ramen with house-made hand-pulled noodles, crafted fresh per order. $
Tadaima Henshichi - Nakano Broadway
Oyster and fish-based ramen in one of Tokyo’s quirkiest neighborhoods. One of my personal favorites! *oyster/fish based Ramen 📸⭐$
Interested in trying these restaurants? We recommend staying at Samurai House, Koenji House, Fuji House or Minami Asagaya House.
Shibuya, Yoyogi, Omotesando Area
Mawashizushi Katsu (Shibuya Seibu Dept Store, 8F)
A lively sushi train with great quality for the price. Always busy, always fun 📸$$
Kaffir Lime (Omotesando)
Excellent Thai food with just the right kick. *green curry 📸⭐$$
Barbacoa (Omotesando + other locations)
Brazilian churrasco, all-you-can-eat grilled meats. Bring your appetite. 📸⭐$$$
Azuki to Koori (Yoyogi)
Michelin-star dessert chef making seasonal kakigori (shaved ice). A true gem. 📸⭐$$
I’m Donut? (Omotesando + other locations)
Instagram-famous donuts that are as tasty as they are photogenic. *Pistachio donut 📸⭐$$
Hobo Shinjuku (Yoyogi)
Not one restaurant but a whole cluster of fun dining spots, plus the famous Capybara café. *ribs ⭐$$$
Tonkatsu JP (Omotesando)
Crispy, juicy tonkatsu in a stylish setting. *Tonkatsu 📷$$
Ikura (Shibuya)
Comfort food done Tokyo-style. *creamy omurice 📸$$
Homozii (Shibuya)
Roast beef rice bowls—simple but delicious *roast beef beef bowl 📸$$
Yoyonam (Yoyogi Hachiman)
Cozy Vietnamese spot serving fresh Vietnamese food *Bahn Mi and noodle salad ⭐$$
Kinoshita (Yoyogi)
A neighborhood French bistro with consistently excellent cooking. One of those places you’ll go back to again and again. ⭐$$$
Regalo (Sangubashi/Yoyogi)
A real local favorite. Handmade pasta, warm atmosphere, and a true hidden gem for Italian in Tokyo.Italian *pasta ⭐$$$
Interested in trying these restaurants? We recommend staying at North Cottage, Pencil House orIvy House for ease of access!
Ebisu/Meguro/Daikanyama Area
Afuri Ramen (Ebisu + other locations)
Famous for its refreshing yuzu shio ramen. Light, fragrant, and unforgettable. ⭐$$
Picpic Picica (Ebisu)
Picpic Picica (Ebisu) – Pizza worth crossing the city for! 📸⭐$$$
Falò (Daikanyama)
A counter-style grill where meats and vegetables are cooked over flame right in front of you. ⭐$$$
Spring Valley Brewery (Daikanyama)
Craft beer paired with great burgers in a relaxed space. ⭐$$
Ginza Steak (Ebisu)
Superb wagyu beef, best enjoyed at lunch for better value. ⭐$$$$
Marks Table (Meguro)
Italian-Californian fusion with an excellent course menu and a standout brunch ⭐$$$
Interested in trying these restaurants? We recommend staying at Meguro Family House (1 month or more) or Riverside Nakameguro for ease of access
Tokyo, Kanda, Hanzomon & Yurakucho area
Elios Italian (Hanzomon)
Classic, family-style Italian. This is a family favourite or ours!. *Any of the pastas ⭐$$$
DevilCraft (Kanda, Gotanda + other locations)
Chicago-style deep-dish pizza with an excellent craft beer lineup. *Chicago style pizza craft beer ⭐$$$
Chez Olivier (Kudanminami)
Refined French cuisine, one of Tokyo’s best-kept secrets. ⭐$$$$
Andy's Shin Hinomoto (Yurakucho)
A Tokyo institution, run by Andy for decades. Seafood izakaya with a loyal following among locals and expats alike ⭐$$
Edokko Zushi Minamiguchi Ten Aya (Kanda)
Straightforward, no-frills sushi that hits the spot.⭐$$
Ginza Area
The Apollo (Ginza)
Stylish Greek dining in the heart of Ginza. *Lamb shoulder & Saganaki cheese ⭐$$$
Bar Sherlock (Ginza)
A cocktail bar with a detective theme. Inventive drinks and a fun Ginza vibe. 📸⭐$$
Roppongi & Azabu Area
Gonpachi (Nishi Azabu)
Known worldwide as the “Kill Bill” restaurant, but still a solid izakaya experience. ⭐$$$
Goryonsan (Nishi Azabu) (Direct link)
Yakitori at its smoky, succulent best. 📸$$
Interested in trying these restaurants? We recommend staying at Mita Hillside Villa!
Ikebukuro Area
Himokawa Kiryu (Minami-Ikebukuro)
Home of extra-wide Himokawa udon noodles, a real specialty. *Udon 📸$$
Shinagawa & Haneda Area
Sanyo Shokudo (Ota, Tokyo Bay)
Fresh seafood and fantastic value. Worth the trip if you’re near Haneda. 📸$$
Interested in trying these restaurants? We recommend staying at Kamata House for ease of access (NEW house!! opening soon)
Nakacho Area (Koto-ku)
Amarosa (Nakacho)
Classic multi-course dining with an old-school touch. ⭐$$$
Tonkatsu Marushichi (Monzen-nakacho)
Pork cutlet rice bowls that will keep you coming back 📸$$
Interested in trying these restaurants? We recommend staying at Asakusa Bell Condo for ease of access
Final Thoughts
Tokyo’s dining scene is endless—you could live here for decades (like I have) and still only scratch the surface. From a late-night bowl of tonkotsu ramen in Shinjuku to a refined French degustation in Kudanshita, there’s always something new to discover.
If you’re staying with us at Tokyo Family Stays, ask me for directions or recommendations. I’m always happy to point guests toward a great meal—whether that’s a Michelin-starred experience or a humble neighborhood noodle shop.
You can also check me out on Tripadvisor - The Eating Ashman