Daidaiya serves up innovative fusion cuisine drawing on Korean, other Asian and Italian influences - their "modern" sushi variations are especially interesting. Smaller than most, the Ikebukuro branch is snazzily decorated and it offers views of Western Ikebukuro. Lunch is served till 4pm. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-1-25, Tobu Spice 13F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

A cut above the usual department-store Italian restaurant, with a very extensive menu. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-1-25, Tobu Spice 14F. Open 11am-9:45pm (LO; 9 holidays). Open every day.

The fish here is absolutely fresh, caught from big pools at the center of the wrap-around counter. Full-course dinners are Y5000-12,600, and lunches start at Y1260. Fugu is available in season. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-10-10, Spice 2 Bldg. B1F. Open 11am-4:30, 4:30-11pm daily.

Top-class conveyor-belt sushi; there are also private tatami rooms for full meals, including Kanazawa-style Kaga cuisine. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-10-8. Open 11am-11pm daily.

An inexpensive Thai noodle shop serving Thai and Vietnamese noodles, some curries, and "Thai-style pasta." [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-11-1, Metropolitan Plaza 7F. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Many varieties of paella (from Y3200 for a two-person portion), Spanish standards, and Spanish wines from Y1900 per bottle. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-11-1, Metropolitan Plaza 8F. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.

A modern izakaya with a creative food menu, an attractively stylish interior and reasonable prices. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-11-1, Metropolitan Plaza 8F. Open 11am-10pm (LO; lunch to 3pm) daily.

A good selection of wines at discount prices, plus some imported foods. [feedback]

Ikebukuro 2-68-5. Open 10am-9pm daily.

Very authentic Thai cooking served in a modest little shop. They also run a small Thai grocery store across the street. [feedback]

Ikebukuro 2-62-6. Open 4pm-3am (LO) daily.

From the owner of Al Flah supermarket, an authentic Pakistani restaurant popular with Pakistani customers. All meats are halal, and curries average Y800-900. [feedback]

Ikebukuro 2-63-6, Palace Garden Milano 1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

One of the early pioneers in Tokyo French cooking, they predate the wave of cheap bistros; prices start in the Y4,000-Y5,000 range (not including wine). [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-27-1. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Solid, authentic Italian food in a pleasant setting. There's also a casual "dining bar" called Shiori on the ground floor. [feedback]

Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-25-2. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO). Closed third Monday.

(formerly called Non La). Good food and service, and a lively atmosphere. Cheap lunch specials (Y680 including coffee). [feedback]

Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-7-10. Open noon-2:30, 6-10pm (LO) daily.

Vivo! Beer + Dining Bar serves a fair assortment of interesting beers from around the world as well as simple, inexpensive foods. Local brews include Yona Yona real ale (on draft) and Baird Beers from Numazu; they also carry lots of Belgian and German beers by the bottle. [feedback]

Higashi-Ikebukuro 1-4-3, B1F. Open 6pm-3am (LO) daily.

Each branch of this chain seems to have its own unique and interesting decor - here there's an illuminated walkway looking down onto the restaurant on the floor below, and tables are separated by lattice-like screens. The entertaining food menu includes good tofu, sashimi, and grilled chicken. [See branch review] [feedback]

Minami-Ikebukuro 1-21-2, Humax Pavilion 6F. Open 5-11:30pm (to 3:30am Fri, Sat) daily.

Spicy chicken wings, yakitori and Nagoya miso specialties. [feedback]

Minami-Ikebukuro 1-20-1, Yokota Bldg. Open 5-11pm (LO; 5am weekends) daily.

If you find yourself in Ikebukuro with a hankering for umeshu, look no further than Butazo, where giant pig lanterns hover luminously above the main dining space to add a dash of the bizarre to your dinner. Discover eighty kinds of umeshu and almost as many kinds of shochu as you nibble on tasty kushiyaki, miniature nabes and shabu-shabu, in addition to well-prepared izakaya standards. A couple of drinks and some substantial snacks will set you back about Y4000. No English. [feedback]

Minami-Ikebukuro 2-16-8, Fujihisa Bldg East #3, B1F. (proceed down the spiral staircase of the "Fantasy World" entrance, and Butazo is the middle restaurant) Open 5pm-4am daily.

A very stylish cafe on an Ikebukuro backstreet; they serve cocktails and a limited snack menu as well as coffee and tea. This is also headquarters for the hip toy company Roughtoyz. [feedback]

Minami-Ikebukuro 2-14-12. Open noon-10:30pm (LO) daily.

A dozen famous gyoza shops from around the country are gathered here in this unusual dumpling-centered theme park inside the very noisy Namja Town game center. The Banryu shop from Nagano offers a set of six tasty garlic gyoza and a glass of excellent microbrew beer (Shinano Brewery) for Y900. (Y300 separate admission to get into Namja Town.) [feedback]

Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-2, Sunshine City Alpa 2F. Open 10am-10pm daily.

A "market restaurant" with delicious grilled fish and meat and brick-oven-baked pizzas. [feedback]

Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-2, Sunshine City Alpa 3F. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.

Raw and cooked oysters, seafood cocktails, "pan roasts" and Cajun-style gumbo are the specialties of this popular chain. [See branch review] [feedback]

Higashi-Ikebukuro 3-1-2, Sunshine City Alpa 3F. Open 11am-10pm (LO; lunch to 4pm) daily.