11 Best Restaurants in Tokyo, Japan

One of the culinary specialties of the Narita area is freshwater eel (unagi)—indeed, on the short stroll along Naritasan Omotesando, you'll see a number of places offering it. This one, close to Naritsan Shinsho-ji, is known for its chargrilled eel, slathered in a savory soy-based sauce and served over rice. Tradition says the dish is good at fighting fatigue, hence, it's particularly popular during the humid summer months. If you are a truly adventurous eater, try the eel-liver soup or the deep-fried eel bones. Takeout orders are an option.

This Australian-style café near Coredo Muromachi is a casual hangout serving potent espressos and milky flat whites. For a quick bite to eat, try a meat pie, or stop by for the money-saving breakfast, which features a coffee and toasted sandwich for ¥650.

Associated with the funky clothing shop just around the corner and part of an international chain, this bright, open café serves high-quality coffee, cakes, snacks, and gelato. It also has some Kitsuné-branded goods on hand.

At this all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant, offerings change with the season to highlight the freshest flavors the country has to offer. Options skew heavily toward Japanese favorites, and you can taste the quality in every bite. Weekends can get  busy, so it's best to come on a weekday at around opening time.

Open from 11 am to 11 pm, this ever-busy ramen joint, now an international chain with almost 30 locations in Tokyo alone, is an ideal quick stop on or after a night out. The classic ramen is the Shiromaru, which features a creamy pork-based stock, thin yet slightly firm noodles, and a topping of chashu (braised) pork slices. Other options include the Akamaru, which has a little red miso mixed in the soup, and side dishes such as gyoza dumplings.

Inside a 120-year-old former merchant house on the prominent Ichibangai shopping street, this casual eatery is good for a quick sit-down lunch or a to-go snack. It's known for its skewers of grilled, soy-basted dango (rice dumplings) and its indulgent parfaits, but it also serves bowls of more filling udon or imo soumen (thin, wheat-flour noodles thickened with local sweet potatoes).

By day, this pleasant café offers outdoor seating and brioche French toast with great coffee just minutes from Tokyo Midtown and the museums of the Roppongi Art Triangle. From 5 pm, the menu changes to more expensive grilled meats and pastas.

In addition to its elegant decor, plush sofas, and outdoor patio, the lobby lounge at the Palace Hotel also offers one of Tokyo's best afternoon tea experiences, featuring both Japanese and European sweets; an extensive menu of unique, high-end teas; and several set-price options for tea and/or sweets. In the evening, cocktails take center stage.

This microbrewery in Daikanyama produces a core lineup of six ales and lagers, as well as seasonal and limited releases, such as an 8% Belgian “gran cru,” Jazzberry made with raspberries and wine yeast, or a 6.5% hop-heavy IPA. But Spring Valley isn't just a place to drink—the menu also lists a good range of burgers, pizzas, and grilled meats, all with beer-pairing suggestions. If you're a fan of this place, note that it has a sister location in Kyoto.

This casual American chain is world-famous for its barbecued ribs. It also serves kid-size (and much larger) portions of burgers, chicken strips, and fried shrimp. The chain, which started in Miami in the 1970s, is dwindling in the U.S., but it's still going strong overseas. There's another branch in the Hanzomon area.

When you're looking for a break from all the ramen, tempura, and yakitori, this restaurant on the 45th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel serves a fusion of French and Japanese cuisines. The prix-fixe lunches include a three-course business lunch (¥6,500), and there are dinners with four and five courses (¥12,200 and ¥16,500). A plush brunch (¥9,500) is also available weekends and holidays. Best of all, the dining room overlooks a panorama of the Tokyo Sky Tree and Tokyo Tower, which is where the eatery gets its name.