Minimalistic restaurant serving traditional tea by day and, by nightfall, turns into an upscale Kaiseki eatery, offering delicate art-like food. Maybe more of an Instagram spot but a pretty setting nonetheless.
The SG “Shingo Gokan” club has a well-deserved spot in the top 20 bars in Asia. Now a international institution, this wood-clad bar serves some of the best cocktails Tokyo has to offer.
Modern Japanese cuisine in a trendy, two-floor setting. Offers a variety of sushi, sashimi, grilled meats, and noodle dishes, with some items cooked on an open charcoal grill.
Cafe focused on Japanese baked goods, treats, and drinks. Simple in both design and concept, Kame is wonderful to visit for either a quick matcha or for a longer hangout. Very friendly and polite staff.
Minimalist dining room with concrete floors and light wood, serving a singular, artistic tasting menu. Each course arrives as a surprise, plated on bespoke ceramics from Scandinavian and Japanese artists.
Contemporary dining room serving Icelandic seafood, lamb, and creative sushi alongside grilled meats and vegetables. Backlit bar mixes cocktails while DJs spin and city lights flicker through tall windows.
Offers a variety of noodle bowls and salads, emphasizing fresh, organic ingredients. Also features a selection of local groceries and pantry staples in a relaxed, spacious setting.
Smoky yakitori counter where chicken skewers are grilled over binchotan charcoal. Ordering the omakase is standard – the meal traditionally ends with a bowl of the signature ramen.
Steampunk-styled pizzeria set to a constant soundtrack of The Beatles. The owner-chef makes every pie himself, serving only two classics from the wood-fired oven: Margherita and Marinara.
Refined basement restaurant for a precise, staff-led yakiniku experience with A5 Wagyu. Each course is cooked tableside – from delicate silk loin to rich sukiyaki with fresh truffle and raw egg.
Ultra-minimalist counter where the tasting menu is a marathon of nigiri – no appetizers. The chef prepares over two dozen pieces for just six guests, using a signature red vinegar shari.
Intimate counter restaurant serving a multi-course tonkatsu omakase from an open kitchen. Chefs present a sequence of rare pork cuts, explaining the origin and flavor of each piece as it’s served.
Meiji-era unagi specialist where queues form in a Japanese garden for a seat on the tatami floor. Each eel is prepared fresh after ordering – expect a 40-minute wait for the signature unaju.
Buzzy izakaya on Abbot Kinney where the open kitchen revolves around a binchotan charcoal grill. An in-house DJ spins vinyl for the lively downstairs bar; grab a seat on the quieter rooftop deck.
Serene eight-seat counter where the omakase follows the graceful rituals of Japanese tea ceremony. The chef serves seasonal sushi on vintage lacquerware, personally whisking matcha to conclude the meal.
Japanese noodle house serving up craft beer and cocktails. Expect a trendy crowd slurping ramen and eating buns in the neon light of this recently remodeled bar.
Plush dining room set inside a resort, marked by marble columns and inlaid floors. Multi-course tasting menu draws on Japanese, French, and Mexican techniques, with each plate landing in tightly choreographed sequence.
Inventive sushi spot with a lively, club-like vibe and a large aquarium glowing at its center. The menu skips overfished species like bluefin, focusing instead on thirty-plus creative rolls and a deep sake list.
All-you-can-eat Japanese barbecue centered on tabletop grills for cooking prime kalbi, marinated steak, and pork belly.
