Tokyo Food Guide For First Time Visitors!
There are so many food options in Tokyo, so how on earth do you figure out what to eat if you’ve never been to Japan before? Well, here is a list of tourist friendly places to eat in Tokyo that you shouldn’t miss!
Ichiran
Ichiran is popular with tourist and locals alike for delicious ramen. With locations all across Tokyo, Ichiran has a unique dining concept where everyone gets their own individual seating booth. You order your meal on the vending machine out the front of the restaurant and staff serve you from behind the booths so you never have to interact with anyone.
The ramen at Ichiran is also very customisable - you get a little card after ordering where you tick off your preferences, meaning you always get the perfect bowl of ramen for your tastebuds!
The best part about Ichiran is it’s known to be open until the early hours of the morning, sometimes even 24/7! So it’s a great place to eat in Tokyo if you’re looking for a midnight meal.
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Gyukatsu Motomura
Gyukatsu Motomura is a restaurant chain in Tokyo which is dedicated to serving gyukatsu. So what is gyukatsu? Well, it’s a beef cutlet that is flash fried and cut into slices - you finish grilling each individual piece on a hot stone barbecue at your table!
Gyukatsu Motomura has various gyukatsu sets which come with rice, cabbage, miso soup and side dishes. You order according to how many cutlets you want - 1 cutlet, 1.5 cutlets or 2 cutlets. There is no reservation system as it’s walk in only, so be prepared for some lines if you visit at peak lunch and dinner periods!
Kura Sushi
Kura sushi is one of Tokyo’s most popular sushi restaurants, known for its sushi train! You can take plates off the rotating conveyer belt, or order on the iPad at your table and get your sushi delivered straight to your seat via the express train!
Kura sushi has a large variety of sushi dishes, from raw sashimi to cooked nigiri and everything in between. Best of all, everything here is cheap, so you can eat as much as you like without breaking the bank! Once you are finished with your sushi plates, slide them down the chute at your table for your chance to win little prizes - 5 plates equals one chance to win a prize.
Mos Burger
Mos Burger is Japan’s answer to fast food burgers. The crowd favourite at Mos Burger is the teriyaki beef burger, which comes with a teriyaki glazed hamburger patty, lettuce and Japanese mayo. Mos Burger is a great option for first time visitors to Tokyo to experience Japanese fast food!
Yakiniku Like
If you like barbecue, Yakiniku Like is a must visit place to eat in Tokyo! Similar to Ichiran ramen restaurants, Yakiniku Like has individual booths complete with your own bbq grill. Order a bbq set on the iPad at your table - there are plenty of cheap and tasty meal sets to choose from. Make sure to try the complimentary dipping sauces with your grilled meat!
Tendon Tenya
The menu here at Tendon Tenya is mainly tempura, and is an affordable option for tourists visiting Tokyo. The two main meals served here are tempura bowls with rice, or tempura and a side of udon noodles. For the price, Tendon Tenya is quite filling option and great for vegetarians!
Ippudo
Even though Ippudo is a worldwide restaurant chain, the branches in Tokyo taste better in our opinion! Ippudo locations in Tokyo serve many types of ramen - we’ve tried them all and it’s hard to choose a favourite. Make sure to get some of their famous Hakata style gyoza, these are definitely worth trying!
Convenience Stores - Family Mart, 7/11 and Lawson
Convenience stores in Japan are NOT like convenience stores anywhere else in the world! Food from Japan convenience stores is tasty, fresh and cheap, making it great for first time visitors to Tokyo. There’s a convenience store on almost every block in central Tokyo, so you won’t have to go far to find one.
There are 3 main convenience stores in Tokyo - Family Mart, 7/11 and Lawson. Each convenience chain serves slightly different foods, but all are delicious. Our top picks for what to eat would be the sushi rolls, egg sandwich, cold noodle salads and the souffle puddings!