Jimbocho
Open 11am-3, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily.
According to legend, curry is most popular in the old-book town of Jimbocho because customers can eat their curry-rice with a spoon in one hand and an open book in the other, voraciously eating and...
Open 11am-3, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO; Mon, Sat lunch only) daily.
Run by a veteran of the esteemed Fire House burger shop in Hongo, Folk Burgers offers one of the best selections of craft beers among Tokyo's gourmet burger shops. The burgers are solid and...
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO; Mon, Sat lunch only) daily.
Open 3-11pm (LO; Sat, Sun 2-11) daily.
This lively sake-izakaya chain offers a selection of 40 different craft sake at surprisingly cheap prices - they start at Y280, and even premium brands like Aramasa start at just Y314 per serving. ...
Open 3-11pm (LO; Sat, Sun 2-11) daily.
Open 11am-8pm daily.
The intensely flavorful miso ramen, made by blending three types of miso, is the recommended bowl at this hole-in-the-wall shop.
Open 11am-8pm daily.
Open 11:30am-3, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.
A few musty bookstores away from Jimbocho crossing, R Sri Lanka is an oasis of calm. Enter through the tinted glass doors and you're struck by the high ceilings, the palm fronds, and the giant...
Open 11:30am-3, 6-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10:15pm (LO; Sa, Su -9:30) daily.
This big, lively dumpling emporium serves eight different varieties of gyoza, along with Chinese noodles and assorted stir-fry dishes. Your gyoza comes either a la carte, in a set meal with rice and...
Open 11am-10:15pm (LO; Sa, Su -9:30) daily.
Open 5-10:45pm (LO; Sun 3-10:15) daily.
The mood at Mister Happy is festive, to say the least. The floor staff are relentlessly cheerful, telling jokes, leading toasts and pulling small pranks on unsuspecting customers. But this is more...
Open 5-10:45pm (LO; Sun 3-10:15) daily.
Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO; Sun 11-8). Closed Saturdays.
While some soup-curry shops affect a hip-cafe vibe, and others go all out with exotic "ethnic" decor, Audrey seems to be going for a Showa-era kissaten theme. The exterior of the shop looks almost...
Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO; Sun 11-8). Closed Saturdays.
Open 5:30pm-1am (Sat 5-12). Closed Sundays.
This original branch of the pioneering Belgian beer bar chain is spread out over three very narrow floors, with cozy seating niches. There's a small food menu and a very good selection of beers.
Open 5:30pm-1am (Sat 5-12). Closed Sundays.
Open 11am-2, 5pm-midnight daily.
If you like Okinawan food and enjoy trying new craft beers, this casual basement izakaya is well worth a visit. Along with a selection of well-prepared Okinawan fare you can choose from nine...
Open 11am-2, 5pm-midnight daily.
Open 11:30am-1:30, 5-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Somewhat less expensive than the average Tokyo microbrew bar, US pints here are priced at just Y900 and glasses at Y600. (There's also a Y300 table charge.) You can choose from thirty different...
Open 11:30am-1:30, 5-11pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Open 11:30-2:30, 5pm-1am (LO; Sat. to 9pm). Closed Sundays and holidays.
The dishes here are good and spicy, there's a pretty wide menu, and the late-night hours are convenient. Budget around Y2000 at dinnertime.
Open 11:30-2:30, 5pm-1am (LO; Sat. to 9pm). Closed Sundays and holidays.
Open 11am-3, 5-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Indian curries and garlic cheese nan from the owners of nearby Thai restaurant Maenam no Hotori. Budget around Y2500 at dinnertime.
Open 11am-3, 5-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays.
Open 11am-10pm daily.
The curry sauce here is scrumptious, with a natural fruit sweetness, well-balanced spices and complex flavors. There aren't many mixed-ingredient options, but the shrimp, clam and chicken was quite...
Open 11am-10pm daily.
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
This long-running (since 1982) European-style Japanese curry shop remains popular with its loyal patrons, but the curries seem to lack some of the complexity and originality of its newer competitors....
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-5, 7-11pm. Closed Sun, 1st, 3rd Sat.
With its bright yellow door and sunny, brasserie-like interior, Big Boy has an atmosphere that's the complete opposite of old-fashioned jazz kissas. The management plays jazz both new and old, and...
Open 11am-5, 7-11pm. Closed Sun, 1st, 3rd Sat.
Open 10am-9pm (Sun -8pm) daily.
Don't worry about being the only person working at the Paperback Cafe - you'll generally find laptops in use at every table, giving the place a busy, productive atmosphere. The cafe is spread out...
Open 10am-9pm (Sun -8pm) daily.
Open 7:30am-8pm (Sat, Sun 9-7) daily.
Glitch is the kind of coffee roastery and cafe that you'd expect to find in an up-and-coming warehouse district or a trendy residential neighborhood rather than here in business-oriented Jimbocho. ...
Open 7:30am-8pm (Sat, Sun 9-7) daily.
Open 11am-10:30pm daily.
This famous, highly rated Japanese curry shops serves just four varieties - chicken, beef, vegetable and shrimp - plus combinations. Portions are large, and prices start at Y880.
Open 11am-10:30pm daily.
Ogawamachi
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -8:30pm) daily.
A dozen varieties of coconut-based, vegetable-filled, Thai-inspired, Japanese-style curries are on offer here, with 25 optional toppings, including baked cheese. The attractively decorated space is...
Open 11am-9:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -8:30pm) daily.
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-8pm. Closed Sundays, 3rd Sat.
While the relatively unspicy curry udon noodles are the main seller here, the kitchen also turns out several other hot and cold varieties such as spicy natto, Chinese-style tantanmen, and ume-kitsune...
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-8pm. Closed Sundays, 3rd Sat.
Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30 to closing. Closed Sundays.
Jusanya is a small neighborhood yakitoriya with above-average chicken and an unusual sake selection. The sake list isn't huge, but it's deeper than usual, with two or three varieties of some small...
Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30 to closing. Closed Sundays.
Open 5-8:30pm (LO). Closed weekends.
This long-established sake retailer runs a standing sake bar a few nights a week, and it's well worth a visit if you can catch them when they're open. The formidable collection of sake is served in...
Open 5-8:30pm (LO). Closed weekends.
Open 11am-3pm (Sat -2pm), 5:30-8pm. Closed Sundays.
Tantanmen is a direct descendant of Chinese dandanmein. This dish of Sichuan origin is spicy, and a traditional bowl will have plenty of chili oil, Sichuan peppercorn, and minced pork. You can find...
Open 11am-3pm (Sat -2pm), 5:30-8pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 10am-10pm daily.
This friendly standing bar showcases twenty different sakes from Toshimaya Brewery, a western-Tokyo kura with a distinguished 400-year history. Sake is served in 30ml, 60ml and 100ml sizes, so it's...
Open 10am-10pm daily.
Open 11:30am-11pm daily.
Run by a popular chain of fish specialty restaurants and bistros, this mini-brewpub in the Kanda Square complex serves craft beers along with a decent selection of sake and some wine by the glass. ...
Open 11:30am-11pm daily.
Awajicho
Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO; Sun -9) daily.
This member of the Delirium Cafe group of Belgian beer bars is distinguished by their spacious outdoor terrace seating. They serve a line-up of craft beers from their Tokyo-based Rio Brewing as well...
Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO; Sun -9) daily.
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9pm) daily.
More than forty craft sakes from small breweries around the country are offered here for your delectation, with most priced at around Y500-700 per 90ml serving. The food menu offers appetizing...
Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9pm) daily.
Open 11am-10:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9:30) daily.
We were intrigued by the menu categories at this after-work izakaya - charcoal-grilled meats, charcoal-grilled small fish and charcoal-grilled big fish - all of them prepared over top-grade bincho...
Open 11am-10:30pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9:30) daily.
Open 11:30am-8pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Probably Tokyo's most famous soba shop, located in a beautiful antique Japanese house with woodblock prints on the wall.
Open 11:30am-8pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Open 11am-11pm (Sat, Sun -9pm) daily.
Serving one of Tokyo's best bowls of miso ramen, Tsujida is popular with serious noodle connoisseurs and other ramen fans.
Open 11am-11pm (Sat, Sun -9pm) daily.
Open 11:30am-2, 4-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.
Anko-nabe is the specialty here, since 1830. (Anko served Sept to April). Budget Y3000 at lunch, Y8000 at dinnertime. (Closed Saturdays in the summer.)
Open 11:30am-2, 4-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.
Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays and holidays.
This long-established shop serves yabu- (rough-) style soba noodles made from a 5-1 mix of buckwheat to wheat flour, plus egg yolks.
Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays and holidays.
Open 11:30am-8pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.
One of Tokyo's culinary landmarks, they've been serving the same excellent chicken nabe for nearly 120 years. The chicken is slow-cooked over an old-fashioned charcoal burner in front of you...
Open 11:30am-8pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.
Open 6pm-2am (Sat -midnight). Closed Sundays.
This late-night bar serves four beers on tap and many more by the bottle, with an unusual selection mostly from Belgium, Germany and the UK. The food menu features pizzas, salads and tapas-style...
Open 6pm-2am (Sat -midnight). Closed Sundays.
Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-10pm (LO) daily.
Stylish Singaporean cuisine from the former manager of Hainan Jeefan Shokudo in Azabu-Juban.
Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-2, 5-11:30pm (Sat 3-11:30). Closed Sundays.
Taking over the space formerly occupied by the Awajicho branch of Craft Beer Market, this budget-friendly bar offers over a dozen craft beers on tap along with kiln-baked pizza and small snacks,...
Open 11:30am-2, 5-11:30pm (Sat 3-11:30). Closed Sundays.
Ochanomizu
Ringer Hut - Japanese regional: Ochanomizu
Open 10:30am-10pm daily.
This budget chain serves two kinds of Nagasaki-style noodles - sara-udon (crisp fried ramen noodles topped with vegetables, pork and seafood in a thick sauce), and Nagasaki champon (similar to the...
Open 10:30am-10pm daily.
Open 11am-9:30pm (Sun -7pm). Closed Mondays.
This casual, very lively tasting bar offers more than 100 types of sake along with a small menu of sake-compatible snacks. All sake is served in tiny 45ml glasses, so you can try several different...
Open 11am-9:30pm (Sun -7pm). Closed Mondays.
Open 11:30-2, 4:30-10pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9:30) daily.
Sake fans can choose from more than fifty different labels here, most of them served in smaller, 90ml pours so that you can try a few different types at one sitting. The food menu features creative,...
Open 11:30-2, 4:30-10pm (LO; Sat, Sun -9:30) daily.
Suidobashi
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Located in the bustling food court in the southwest corner of Tokyo Dome City, this kiosk-style branch of the popular craft-beer bar chain serves twenty varieties of domestic and imported craft beers...
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
Taiwanese dim sum, spicy ramen bowls and rice dishes are served with craft beers at this kiosk inside Tokyo Dome City's popular food court. Five taps dispense a rotating selection of freshly brewed...
Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
The well-stocked salad bar is the main draw here, including all the beets and baby corn you could possibly want.
Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Open 6-9pm (LO) daily.
Deux Mil serves solid, modern French cuisine in a pretty dining room. The atmosphere is quiet but not stuffy. And sometimes that's exactly what you're looking for, whether you're having a low-key...
Open 6-9pm (LO) daily.
Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
OK tonkatsu, fried shrimp, and "Western-style" beef dishes in an eccentric, oddly appealing junk-shop atmosphere.
Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Open 3-11:30pm daily.
Super-fresh seafood from the Noto Peninsula, north of Kanazawa, is the specialty at Notomi. To go with the seafood, there's a decent selection of a dozen or so well-known sake from around the...
Open 3-11:30pm daily.
Open 11am-6pm (or until they run out). Closed Sundays.
This is the second outlet of the excellent Takadanobaba sandwich shop, and unlike the original branch, this one has indoor counter seating as well as a few chairs out on the sidewalk. Sandwiches are...
Open 11am-6pm (or until they run out). Closed Sundays.
Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays.
This famous Japanese curry joint is known for their dirt-cheap prices and extremely unpretentious setting. The flagship tonkatsu curry is Y550, while wiener and croquette curries are Y500 each. If...
Open 11am-8pm. Closed Sundays.
Open 11:45am-2:30, 5-11pm (LO) daily.
A branch of Tokyo's best budget Taiwanese chain.
Open 11:45am-2:30, 5-11pm (LO) daily.
Korakuen, Hongo
Open 11am-11pm daily.
Yes, it's a theme restaurant located inside an amusement park, but don't let that put you off - the Southern-style shrimp dishes and baby-back ribs are tasty, the atmosphere is lively, and prices are...
Open 11am-11pm daily.
Open 11am-3, 5-11pm. Closed Tuesdays.
This trendy ramen and tsukemen shop is outfitted with a "research laboratory" in the back where the chefs experiment with innovative techniques and combinations of ingredients. Some notable results...
Open 11am-3, 5-11pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Open 11am-10pm (LO; Sun. 7pm) daily.
A pioneer of Tokyo's gourmet hamburger scene, this charmingly rustic little shop offers more than a dozen burgers to choose from, with variations like apple-mozzarella, mushroom-mozzarella and...
Open 11am-10pm (LO; Sun. 7pm) daily.
Open 5-11:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
This rather large (60-seat) basement beer bar serves twelve taps of craft beers, including some interesting imports. Prices start at Y930 for pints and Y630 for half pints. Tasting flights are...
Open 5-11:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays.
Kasuga, Hakusan
Open 11am-1:30am. Closed Mondays.
Nagano-style ramen is the specialty here, served in a triple-barreled soup flavored with pork, chicken and various fish.
Open 11am-1:30am. Closed Mondays.
Open 3-11:30pm. Closed Sundays.
This cozy cafe bar is furnished with European and Japanese antiques and heavy-duty lights used for shooting movies; the ambience seems almost like that of a private detective's office in a Raymond...
Open 3-11:30pm. Closed Sundays.
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