5 Authentic local restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine while staying in Tokyo Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jul 23 2024

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

5 Authentic local restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine while staying in Tokyo

From Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, Tokyo is a metropolis where delicious foods from all over Japan gather. That is why you can find many traditional local foods in Tokyo that you would normally have to go local to savor. Therefore, we are going to introduce a number of restaurants featuring local cuisine from distant areas that are difficult to visit due to travel schedules. All of them are authentic and local people would be proud of them.

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Tokyo.

1. Hitsumabushi Nagoya Binchou/Tokyo Marunouchi Building

"Hitsu-Mabushi" a bowl of eel served on top of rice. You will be amazed at the unique way to enjoy it!

Hitsumabushi Nagoya Binchou/Tokyo Marunouchi Building, located in a perfect location near the red brick Tokyo Station, offers Nagoya's specialty "Hitsumabushi" - a bowl of "eel rice" topped with finely chopped grilled eel kabayaki and served with different flavors of condiments, dashi (soup stock) and other ingredients. The eel is grilled over binchotan charcoal to make the skin crispy, while the meat is soft and juicy. The special sauce goes perfectly with the eel.

Five authentic local restaurants where you can enjoy local cuisine while staying in Tokyo

Another reason for its popularity is its convenient location, just a 2-minute walk from Tokyo Station. This restaurant is composed mainly of warm and relaxed table seating, and private rooms for 2 to 10 people are also available. Seats by the window with a view of Tokyo Station right in front of you are especially recommended for foreign customers. You can enjoy local cuisine that inherits the taste of the Nagoya restaurant in Tokyo.

Hitsumabushi Nagoya Bincho Maru Bldg. branch

Open: Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:00 pm)/ Lunch 11:00 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 3,000 JPY
Access: Short walk from from Marunouchi South Exit of [Tokyo Station] of JR Lines and Shinkansen. It is on the 6th floor of Marunouchi Bldg.
Address: 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Map
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2. Hakatamizutaki to Sumibiyakitori Bijindori

This restaurant is proud of its Mizutaki with rich soup and charcoal grilled chicken which are Hakata, Fukuoka's famous foods.

"Hakatamizutaki to Sumibiyakitori Bijindori" is a restaurant where you can enjoy "Hakata Mizutaki," a hot pot dish from Hakata, Fukuoka, using "Kinso-dori" - a brand of chicken. The outstanding chicken and vegetables served in the rich soup, made by boiling chicken bones for 9 hours to condense the flavor and essence of the chicken. Do not forget to try the charcoal-grilled yakitori, a simple dish that brings out the best of the ingredients.

The interior of the restaurant has a modern atmosphere with a Japanese theme. There are counter seats and table seats that can be separated from other seats by a blind.　Private rooms for 6 to 12 persons are also available in a relaxed Japanese atmosphere. Shoes are asked to removed to enter the room, but the kotatsu-style table with a sunken hole in the floor allows customers to stretch out their legs and relax, so even foreigners who do not like to sit on tatami can use the room with ease.

Kenko Bishoku Hakata Mizutaki to Sumibi Yakitori Bijindori

Open: [Sundays & Holidays] Hours: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm[Weekdays] Lunch 12:00 am - 2:30 pm [Monday - Saturday] Hours: 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY
Access: 2 minute walk from Ebisu Station via all lines
Address: Five Annex 2F, 1-3-10 Ebisu Nisi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Map
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3. Shimagohan Kokoro Hokkori Okinawa Meshi

Local ingredients are the key to flavor. Enjoy authentic Okinawan cuisine with casual a la carte dishes.

Shimagohan Kokoro Hokkori Okinawa Meshi, located in Kasai, Rinkai District, is a restaurant where you can enjoy authentic Okinawan cuisine made with Okinawan ingredients. The menu includes a variety of typical dishes such as "Goya Chanpuru", which is a mixture of tofu and bitter melon. A variety of course menus are also available, making it easy for foreigners to enjoy local tropical dishes.

The restaurant is mainly composed of casual counter seating that evokes the image of a tropical region and table seating that is ideal for groups. The sunken kotatsu-style tatami rooms, where you can take off your shoes and stretch out your legs, are also popular. In addition, a private tatami room for up to six persons is available. Let's enjoy the taste and atmosphere of this restaurant - which is said to remind Okinawan people of their hometown every time they visit.

Shimagohan Kokoro Hokkori Okinawa Meshi

Open: [Weekdays,Saturday,National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm [Weekdays,Saturday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 00:00 am [Sunday, National Holidays] Dinner 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm

Closed: None
Average price: [Lunch] 830 JPY
Access: 3 minutes by foot from Nishi-Kasai station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai line
Address: 6-18-3 B1F Nishikasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo Map
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4. Kaga Namafu Kappo Kagurazaka MAEDA

Kagurazaka Maeda, tucked away in Kagurazaka Street, is a luxuriously designed Japanese restaurant housed in a traditional building. Its tatami room with 'yukimi-shoji' sliding doors offers serene views of maple trees. The counter, crafted from a single wooden board, and walls adorned with fresh flowers create a noble ambiance. The restaurant serves traditional Kaga Kaiseki, a multi-course meal featuring Kaga-Namafu (raw wheat gluten), paired with rare sake, shochu, champagne, or wine, offering a remarkable culinary journey.

Kaga Namafu Kappo Kagurazaka MAEDA

Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm) / [Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 4:00 pm (L.O. 3:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 4,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Iidabashi Station on the JR Chuo Line and Sobu Line / 3-minute walk from Exit B3 of the Tokyo Metro Iidabashi Station
Address: 3-6, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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5. Dohtonbori Okachimachi Branch

Dohtonbori Okachimachi Branch, living up to its slogan "delicious and healthy," offers a diverse menu showcasing Japan's regional food culture. From okonomiyaki, Hiroshimayaki, modernyaki, monjayaki, to teppanyaki, the restaurant uses a balanced variety of ingredients, focusing on health. Essential vegetables for okonomiyaki are sourced from reliable domestic producers. Its interactive dining, where guests can grill their food, adds to its appeal. Additionally, it offers all-you-can-eat and drink courses, providing a fun-filled experience centered around the teppan grill.

Dohtonbori Okachimachi Branch

Open: 11:00 am - 10:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Okachimachi Station South Exit. 8-minutes walk from Ueno Station Shinobazu Exit.
Address: 5-20-3, Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Map

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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.