Oct 26, 2024 By Paula Miller
The capital of Japan is indeed a true gastronomic capital where one can find literally everything when it comes to food. Depending on your tastes, you might be in the mood for some sushi, ramen, or some street foodall of which can be easily found in the city. Tokyo, for instance, has both Michelin-starred restaurants and street-side food vendors to suit the high-end and low-end palates. This guide focuses on culinary destinations in Tokyo and some foods that you should not miss in your trip to this amazing city.
Sushi lovers literally cannot afford to miss the fish markets of Tokyo including Tsukiji and Toyosu. Although the wholesale fish auction at Tsukiji has ceased, it is a lively food market where guests can try delicious sushi in many stances and eateries. Toyosu Market is the new wholesale market and a much more clean experience especially when it comes to the seafood. Some tourist visit the market early in the morning for the tuna auctions, later moving to nearby restaurants for sushi breakfast. This place offers the best sushi one can ever imagine, and therefore should be on any travelers list.
Ramen is very popular in Tokyo and there are millions of shops or restaurants serving different type of Ramen originated from different areas of the country. Whether you like your ramen tonkotsu which is a rich pork based broth, shoyu which is a light soy sauce based ramen or some spicy miso ramen, Tokyo has all kinds of ramen. There are many ramen shops, which are famous among people such as Ichiran and Ippudo; people have to wait for their turn for a long time but the ramen they serve is delicious. There are some hidden treasures, for example, Rokurinsha in Tokyo station which is well known for serving tsukemen. Ramen is the best kind of food for a comfort food, especially after walking around the city all day.
Lightly battered and fried seafood or vegetables known as tempura is also a dish you should not miss. Most tempura restaurants including the Tempura Tsunahachi in Shinjuku offer delicious tempura meals prepared from seasonal foods. For a more relaxing meal you should try an izakaya, its a Japanese pub where you will be able to taste yakitori which is chicken on a skewer grilled and served with salt or tare sauce. Yakitori is best washed down with a cold beer and that is probably why it is so popular with the locals after work. These dishes give a sneak peek of the Japanese traditional foods and at the same time, the food tastes great.
Ginza is an area that is famous for shopping and the best restaurants and cafes. Ginza is famous for its Michelin star restaurants which makes the dining experience more refined. Food lovers interested in sushi can go to Sukiyabashi Jiro that was featured in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Other gourmet restaurants, for example, LAtelier de Jol Robuchon offers innovative French influenced Japanese cuisine. Ginza is well suited for people whod like to enjoy a great meal in a restaurant accompanied by great service.
Shibuya and Shinjuku are two popular districts with many and affordable eating places. In Shibuya, there are restaurants that range from eating noodles to going to cafes. Shinjuku on the other hand has more izakayas. Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) is a small food village in Shinjuku where you are able to dine in small stalls, with delicious barbecued skewers, noodles, and snacks. These are the kind of neighborhoods that are perfect for the traveler who is looking for something tasty and easy in an exciting environment.
Street foods are easily found here, and the best thing to try is the Japanese cuisine sold around the Senso-ji Temple. On Nakamise Street, tourists can taste local sweets like taiyaki: fish-shaped pastry with sweet red bean paste, melonpan: sweet bread, and senbei: rice crackers that are prepared on the spot. Street food in Asakusa lets you taste traditional dishes while enjoying a walk through one of Tokyos oldest districts.
Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese meal made up of several courses where meals focus on the use of seasonal food and creativity in presentation and taste. Eating at a kaiseki restaurant gives the diner a full experience of nature and seasonality of food in every dish served. Some of the leading kaiseki restaurants, for instance, Ryugin, offer a classy dining setting with much emphasis on Japaneseness. A kaiseki dinner may be enjoyed on specials occasions or by those who would like to have a better insight into the Japanese food.
If you want to make your eating experience quite exciting, then try eating sushi in kaiten-zushi, or the conveyor belt sushi restaurants. In these restaurants dishes are on circular platforms which circle around the place so that people can choose the food they want to eat. Mentioned are Sushiro and Genki Sushi, which are two of the most famous quick-service sushi restaurants. Kaiten-zushi is a perfect way to taste different plates without visiting an exquisite sushi restaurant.
Understanding cultural etiquette while eating is essential to have a good time eating out in Tokyo. Before eating it is polite to say itadakimasu and after eating one must say gochisousama deshita. Tipping is not done in Japan as this is not a culture of the country since good service is expected from the servers. When eating with chopsticks do not put it in the bowl of rice in an upright position as this is a symbol of burial. Sticking to these basic etiquette rules is a sign of respect to the Japanese culture and the people.
The majority of fine dining restaurants in Tokyo take reservation and this applies to most restaurants that are Michelin starred. One way to get around not getting a table is to use an application such as OpenTable or Pocket concierge. It is always possible that a restaurant will only accept reservations in Japanese, so having an app with language translation is useful. It also helps reduce last minute rushes for the restaurant business to fill up since you have booked early enough especially during weekends or peak business seasons.
The food in Tokyo is varied and lively for all sorts of tourists. If you are eating sushi at the Tsukiji Market, ramen at Shibuya or street food at Asakusa, your taste buds are in for a memorable treat. From gourmet restaurants to food trucks, and from food tours to street food, Tokyo will allow you to discover its flavours at your own rhythm. You will be able to create great memories when traveling through foods if you plan way ahead, know the local culture, and accept the different meals. Read this guide to learn where to eat in Tokyo and savor every meal you have in the Japanese capital.
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