KEY2

Best restaurants in Tokyo

Counters, dining rooms and neighbourhood favourites, chosen for the way they actually eat — not for how loudly they market.

Narisawa
KEY2 Pick

Contemporary Japanese • $$$$

Narisawa

A satoyama-inspired tasting menu in Minami-Aoyama that plates Japan's forests and coastline course by course.

Best for: Special Occasion

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Den

Contemporary Japanese • $$$$

Den

A playful two-Michelin-star kitchen in Jingumae, famous for its Dentucky fried chicken course.

Best for: Date Night

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Ginza Kojyu

Kaiseki • $$$$

Ginza Kojyu

A three-Michelin-star kaiseki counter behind an unmarked Ginza door, seasonal and reservation-only.

Best for: Special Occasion

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Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu

Izakaya • $$

Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu

The lantern-lit izakaya that inspired the Kill Bill duel scene, still serving robata skewers late.

Best for: Group Dinner

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Ichiran Shibuya

Ramen • $

Ichiran Shibuya

A solo-booth tonkotsu ramen chain outlet steps from Shibuya Crossing, ordering done by vending machine.

Best for: Solo Dining

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Sushi Dai

Sushi • $$

Sushi Dai

The famously long-queued sushi counter that followed the fish market from Tsukiji to Toyosu.

Best for: First Timers

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Tonki

Tonkatsu • $$

Tonki

A Meguro tonkatsu institution since 1939, pork fried to order at a worn wooden counter.

Best for: Casual Dinner

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Tsuta

Ramen • $$

Tsuta

The first ramen shop ever awarded a Michelin star, now a small Sugamo counter serving soy-shio broth.

Best for: First Timers

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