Aoyama-dori (west to east), Gaienmae station
(Aoyama-dori listings are continued in the Aoyama 1-chome/Akasaka guide.)
Open 11:30am-2, 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Kiiro is a comfortable local izakaya with very good food and sake. The sake list showcases well-chosen craft sake from small breweries around the country, and it includes a good number of special...
Open 11:30am-2, 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Good modern Chinese cooking - their clay-pot tofu, cashew chicken and fried pork belly are especially recommended. If you're in a celebratory mood, the menu offers some luxurious special dishes like...
Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 5-11:30pm (LO) daily.
First-rate grilled chicken and great home-made tofu. They have a small sake list, but their monthly sake picks are usually worth checking out, as are the daily specials on the food menu. Seating is...
Open 5-11:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO; Sat -8). Closed Sundays.
This neighborhood mom-and-pop shop serves some of the best Balinese food in town. Their Gado Gado is outstanding - fresh-tasting vegetables in a powerful, distinctively flavored peanut sauce that's...
Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO; Sat -8). Closed Sundays.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
In addition to burgers and hot dogs, the popular New York-based chain is known for their frozen-custard "concrete" desserts and eponymous shakes. This branch features ample terrace seating...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-11pm daily.
This spacious cafe offers typical cafe fare (pastas, sandwiches) during the day, along with fresh-baked breads and pastries from their in-store bakery. In the evening the menu widens to include...
Open 11am-11pm daily.
Gaien-Nishi-dori (south to north)
Open 9am-9pm. Closed Sundays.
This friendly neighborhood liquor shop offers a well-chosen selection of sake and shochu, including some unusual seasonal and limited-edition sakes.
Open 9am-9pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 5pm-12:30am (LO; Sat, Sun -11:30) daily.
This very hip late-night dining bar near Gaienmae might be the best place in the neighborhood for sake after 11pm. The kitchen specializes in organ-meat dishes, and a glance at the menu reveals a...
Open 5pm-12:30am (LO; Sat, Sun -11:30) daily.
Open 6-11:30pm daily.
An Italian restaurant with a good craft-beer selection is a nice find, but if you're not hungry you can come just for the beer. The ten taps dispense an assortment of Japanese, US and European craft...
Open 6-11:30pm daily.
Jingumae 2-chome
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-8:30pm (LO) daily.
Having conquered the worlds of music and fashion, "A Bathing Ape" founder Nigo has turned his attention to curry rice. The small Curry Up shop on the northern edge of Harajuku was designed by...
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-8:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 4-10pm. Closed Mon, Tue.
Run by a local bakery, this tiny (4.5-mat) neighborhood bar serves five beers on tap along with three kinds of sake, Talisker whiskey and gourmet coffee. The rotating beer roster features Japanese...
Open 4-10pm. Closed Mon, Tue.
Open 4-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Inexpensive sashimi and other fish dishes, offering good quality for the price. There's an assortment of premium sake brands as well as shochu to drink. (Formerly called Higashi-no-17.) Cash only.
Open 4-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Open 8pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
This tiny, funky ten-seat bar run by Guam native Jamie Skye attracts a mostly local crowd, both Japanese and foreign. Music ranges from String Cheese Incident to Style Council to Scandinavian jazz.
Open 8pm-2am. Closed Sundays.
Open 8pm-1am. Closed Sundays.
This comfortable sofa-furnished lounge attracts a Japanese hipster crowd and features jazzy DJs and occasional live performances; there's also a tiny art gallery and chill space upstairs. The hidden...
Open 8pm-1am. Closed Sundays.
Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10:30pm (LO). Closed Thursdays.
Skillful Italian cooking in a casual but comfortable trattoria setting. Main courses include game in season, and the finest small-farm-raised meats and regional seafood year-round. There's a good...
Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10:30pm (LO). Closed Thursdays.
Open 3-9:30pm. Closed Sundays.
This small neighborhood shop stocks a good selection of wines from around the world, sold at very reasonable prices.
Open 3-9:30pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 6pm-1am (Sun 3-10pm). Closed Mondays.
More suited to chilling out than carousing, this quiet neighborhood bar plays prog-rock and is furnished with bookcases overflowing with poetry books, with an emphasis on the Beat era. Decorated in...
Open 6pm-1am (Sun 3-10pm). Closed Mondays.
Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Well-prepared Hungarian food and an excellent selection of around 40-50 Hungarian wines, mostly under Y10,000 and mostly served by the glass. The dining space has an old-fashioned European air about...
Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Sendagaya
Open 9am-9pm daily.
Espresso beverages, teas, salads and other light cafe fare. Prices are a bit higher than average, but the dining area is stylish and spacious. Located inside the Ron Herman store.
Open 9am-9pm daily.
Open 11:30am-2, 5-11pm (LO) daily.
This branch of Galali offers a big selection of shochu, mostly the kokuto (sugarcane) variety, and excellent food to go with it. The rustic interior is intimate and comfortable, although the...
Open 11:30am-2, 5-11pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-11pm. Closed Sundays.
This curry specialist has a relaxed, cafe-style atmosphere and is popular with local residents.
Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-11pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 11:30am-7pm (Sat, Sun -6pm). Closed Mondays.
Convenient to nearby baseball, soccer and rugby stadia, this unpretentious neighborhood counter-shop serves good, old-fashioned European-style Japanese curries in meat and seafood variations. ...
Open 11:30am-7pm (Sat, Sun -6pm). Closed Mondays.
Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm. Closed Mondays.
A friendly Japanese-style steakhouse. The decor and menu are pretty old-school (they've been here since 1979), but the steaks are good, and fairly reasonable in price.
Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm. Closed Mondays.
Kita-Sando
Open 8am-7pm daily.
Grilled-cheese "melt" sandwiches are the specialty of the house here, and the Blue-Cheese Melt is especially recommended. It's got just enough blue cheese in the blend to give it some bite, but not...
Open 8am-7pm daily.
Open 11am-8pm daily.
A very pleasant garden-style cafe with decent food and drink.
Open 11am-8pm daily.
Open 8:30am-6pm daily.
Serious espresso is served at this tiny neighborhood kiosk, and the friendly staff are happy to talk coffee all day long. A single espresso is Y150 while a large cafe latte is Y420; they also do...
Open 8:30am-6pm daily.
Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO) daily.
This cozy American-style gourmet diner serves one of the few lamb burgers in town, and they do a terrific job. With minimal dressing on the burger, it's all about the very flavorful meat,...
Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
This is the kind of unpretentious neighborhood trattoria that we love, serving good grilled meats and nice pastas, with some reasonably priced wines. Budget around Y6,000-8,000 for food and drink at...
Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
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