In this entry we will find the restaurants in which we have eaten in Japan. More or less recommended in case they guide future visitors.
Content:
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Tokyo
Rokurinsha (六厘舍)
A small (very small) ramen restaurant. It is located on Tokyo Ramen Street in the basement of Tokyo Central Station, just up some stairs. You will recognize it by the permanent tail. The estimated waiting time at that point in the queue is marked on the floor. Trust me it’s worth the wait.
As soon as you enter you have a machine in Japanese (luckily with photos) in which you mark what you want, put in the yen and it takes out a piece of paper that you hand over to a boy and he serves you. On the tables you have a jug of cold water that they change for you.
As a curiosity, if you want they give you a paper bib so you don’t get dirty.
Address: Japan, 〒100-0005 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 1 Chome−9−1 東京駅一番街 B1 東京ラーメンストリート内
Hours: every day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Website: http://www.rokurinsha.com/
Coco Curry House
It is a chain of Japanese curry restaurants found all over Japan. Here we can eat curry in the traditional Japanese style. It is cheap and rich.
Highly recommended. We ate in Tokyo, Nara and Osaka and they were all equally good.
Website: https://www.ichibanya.co.jp/english/
Karayama Shinbashi (からやま 新橋店)
This is a small restaurant that serves tori no karaage (から揚げ), Japanese fried chicken that is delicious. We discovered it in 2016 and on our 2018 trip we ate there again.
Next to the door you have your machine to make the choice and you give the piece of paper to the boy who attends. It is so small that it only has a bar. The chicken was delicious and very cheap and they put it on a menu with a miso soup, a bowl of rice and shredded cabbage.
Address: Japan, 〒105-0004 Tokyo, Minato City, Shinbashi, 2 Chome−16−1 ニュー新橋ビル 1F.
How to get there: It is located in the southern part of the square in front of Shinbashi station, leaving through the Hibiya exit.
Hours: Every day from 10.30 to 22.30.
Website: http://karayama.com/shinbashi/
Yoshinoya (吉野家)
It is a chain that specializes in gyūdon, a bowl of rice with braised meat cut into very thin strips. It is very cheap and very good, with dishes starting at ¥387 (€2.91).
It was founded nothing more and nothing less than in 1899 and they are all over Japan.
Website: https://www.yoshinoya.com/
Gusto Cafe (ガスト)
It is another chain that we find all over Japan. It is not the cheapest place to eat but it has a lot of variety, from Japanese food to pizzas.
The best thing about this chain is that, paying 200 yen (€1.55) you have an open bar of non-alcoholic drinks. For summer dehydration it is really good.
Website: https://www.skylark.co.jp/gusto/
Hidakaya Ramen (日高屋 新宿東口店)
It’s a small ramen restaurant mainly, although it also has something else like rice. Good and cheap in the heart of Shinjuku: 600 yen for the menu (€4.71).
Address: Japan, 〒160-0022 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Shinjuku, 3 Chome−21−1 清水館ビル.
How to get there: 2-3 minutes walk north from the East exit of JR Shinjuku station, towards Kabukicho.
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday from 10:00 to 24:00.
Totobee
Permanently closed
A small sushi place near the old Tsukiji market. It is located in a basement and the sushi is delicious and, since it is not touristy, like most of the restaurants around the market, it is quite cheap. Menu only in Japanese but with photos and employees who only speak Japanese.
It is the most delicious sushi I have ever tasted.
Address: since it doesn’t appear on google maps, we can be guided because it is next to a Spanish restaurant called Brochetería Sol Sevilla located at 〒104-0045 Tokyo, Chuo City, Tsukiji, 2 Chome−14−3 天羽ビル.
How to get there: 100 m walk from the northwest of the entrance of Tsukiji Hongwan-ji temple.
Opening hours: I haven’t found the opening hours but I have to say that it closes on Sundays, since I was able to check it the last time I went.
Mos Burger
It is a chain of hamburger restaurants that are all over Japan, McDonald’s type. It is cheap and they are very good although they are a bit small for a Westerner to see.
Website: https://www.mos.jp/
Sukiya
Another chain that we found all over Japan. This time specializing in gyudon and grilled eel, although you can find many more things. The eel is very good and they have quite affordable menus.
Website: https://www.sukiya.jp/en/
Sushi-Ro
It is a sushi chain, the kind that passes the dishes around the tables through a belt. The one in Ueno was highly recommended to us. It is very good and well priced, although, in this place specifically, the wait for a table can go up to an hour. Worth.
Address: Japan, 〒110-0005 Tokyo, Taito City, Ueno, 6 Chome−9−9 オリエンタルビル B1.
How to get there: About a three-minute walk south of JR Ueno Station.
Hours: every day from 11:00 to 19:50.
Website: https://www.akindo-sushiro.co.jp/
Haneda Sushiko (羽田寿司幸)
Sushi restaurant located in Terminal 1 of Haneda Airport (before security checks). It’s very good and, for being in an airport, it’s not expensive.
Address: Japan, 〒144-0041 Tokyo, Ota City, Hanedakuko, 3 Chome−3−2 第1旅客ターミナル ガレリア 3F 羽田空港.
How to get there: it is located on the 3rd floor of terminal 1 of the airport.
Hours: every day from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Narita
Ton Ton Tei
Tiny tonkatsu restaurant in the city of Narita. A very nice place with spectacular meat and cheap, although somewhat difficult to reach.
Address: 411-1 Tsuchiya, Narita, Chiba 286-0021.
How to get there: We can get there by taking the bus that leads to Aeon Mall Narita that leaves from outside the JR Narita station. We got off next to the door of the shopping center and walked southeast for about 10 minutes. The price of the bus is 210¥ (€1.60).
We can also walk about 10 minutes from the Peace Pagoda of the Narita San Shinso-ji temple, leaving through the back door of the enclosure.
Hours: every day from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Utsunomiya
Utsunomiya Gyoza Kan
It is a chain of gyoza restaurants, the Japanese dumplings, originally from Utsunomiya. It has many varieties. Very cheap and delicious.
Address: 3 Chome-3-3 Ekimae Dori, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-0964, Japan.
Hours: every day from 11:00 to 21:30.
Website: https://www.gyozakan.jp/
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Kamakura
Lotus Ramen (ラーメンとカレーの店 蓮)
Tiny mainly ramen restaurant, although they also have fried rice (delicious) and curry. It is run by a quite old lady who is very nice and pleasant.
It is one of the most delicious ramen I have ever tasted.
Address: 1 Chome-8-40 Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa 248-0005, Japan.
Opening hours: every day from 11:00 to 21:00.
Website: https://kamakuraren.com/
Kyoto
Ramen Miyako (らぁ〜めん京 祇園本店)
Small ramen joint located between the Yasaka Shrine and the Chion-in Temple. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the richest ramen I’ve ever tasted.
Normally you have to wait for a table because it is usually full. Worth.
Address: 303 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan.
How to get there: 2-minute walk north of the Nishiromon gate of Yasaka Shrine. Right in front of the Gion bus stop (祇園).
Opening hours: every day from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Website: http://ramen-miyako.com/about/index.html
Ajinotentoku Shijo Kiyamachi (味の天徳 四条木屋町店)
This tiny restaurant with an unpronounceable name is the place with the best noodles I’ve ever tried. It is found hidden in an alley in Pontocho. The place consists of 10 stools around a bar where a serious and meticulous young man attends.
Discovered by chance, among hundreds of restaurants full of tourists, in this one there were only locals eating. Delicious and cheap.
We choose our food from a machine by the door, insert the money and give the ticket that comes out to the boy.
Address: 455 Shincho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto.
How to get there: Just a 2-minute walk north of exit 1-A at Kawaramachi Train Station on the Hankyu-Kyoto Line.
Opening hours: Every day from 12:00 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 2:00.
Kyoto Tower Sando B1 Food Hall
Located on the ground floor of the Kyoto Tower are a series of small restaurants serving a variety of cuisine. They are reasonably priced and offer everything from fried chicken to wagyu burgers and delicious ramen.
Address: on the B1 floor of Kyoto Tower.
Opening hours: 11:00 to 23:00.
Website: https://www.kyoto-tower-sando.jp/shop/guide
Osaka
Ajinoya honten (味乃家 本店)
It is a place specialized in okonomiyaki, the Japanese pizza. I guess because of the situation, it’s not too cheap but it’s very good.
Address: 〒542-0076 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nanba, 1 Chome−7−16 現代こいさんビル2F.
How to get there: 1 minute walk from exit 14 of Namba metro station.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 21:00. Closed on Monday.
Website: http://www.namba-ajinoya.com/
Yukari Tensan (ゆかり 天三店)
It is a place specialized in okonomiyaki. It is very Japanese and they make you take off your shoes before entering. It’s not very cheap but it’s delicious and they make the okonomiyaki right at your table.
The best okonomiyaki I’ve ever had.
Address: 3 Chome-1-12 Tenjinbashi, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0041.
How to get there: 3 minutes north of JR Ōsakatemmangū Station and Minami-morimachi Subway Station.
We can also walk 6 minutes from the Osaka Temmangu temple, to the north also by a shotengai.
Opening hours: every day from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Kobegyu Wanomiya Dotonbori Honten
It is a tepanyaki restaurant specializing in Kobe beef located in Dotonbori. Of course it is expensive, but it is worth it to treat yourself from time to time.
The cook will give you advice on how to eat it, and it is spectacular even the vegetables.
Address: 1-5-2, Dotombori, Chuo, Osaka 542-0071.
How to get there: It is located on the main street of Dotonbori, where we find all the restaurants, about 100 meters east of the Glico sign.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Closed on Monday.
Nagoya
Rich miso ramen Sakaeya (濃厚味噌らーめん さかえ屋)
It is a small ramen place. It wasn’t touristy at all, so everything was in Japanese and quite cheap and tasty.
Address: 4 Chome-15-14 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008.
How to get there: 4-minute walk southeast from Sakae subway station.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sundays from 11.30 to 20.00.
Website: https://sakaeya.owst.jp/
Sekai no Yamachan Ikeshita-ten (世界の山ちゃん 女子大店)
It is an izakaya type food chain that is all over Japan although it is originally from Nagoya. It is famous for its fried chicken wings.
It’s excessively expensive for a fry-up, but it’s tasty.
Address: 4 Chome-13-24 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008.
How to get there: 3 minutes southeast of the Sakae subway station.
Opening hours: from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Ichiran Nagoya Nishiki (一蘭 名古屋錦店)
Chain of ramen restaurants that are all over Japan and I even saw one on my trip to New York. The tonkotsu ramen is spectacular and has the peculiarity that it is eaten in a kind of booth, alone. The subject is very antisocial.
You sit down and mark the box on a piece of paper, the broth, the noodles, the toppings, etc… A blind rises in a small window in which there is someone whose only hands you can see, you give them the piece of paper, and in a minute you put your ramen on and close the window.
Address: Japan, 〒460-0003 Aichi, Nagoya, Naka Ward, Nishiki, 3 Chome−22−7, Ark, ２F.
How to get there: 3-minute walk west of Sakae Subway Station Exit #8.
Opening hours: every day from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Website: https://ichiran.com/shop/chubu/nagoya-nishiki/
Nigiri No Tokube @ Oasis 21 (にぎりの徳兵衛 オアシス２１店)
Conveyor belt sushi restaurant located in the Oasis 21 shopping mall in the Sakae district. It’s very good but it’s a bit expensive.
Address: 1 Chome-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 461-0005.
How to get there: It is located on the ground floor of the Oasis 21 shopping center in the Sakae district.
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 20:00.
Website: https://www.nigirinotokubei.com/
Kii-Katsuura
Mehari Sushi Nidaime (めはり寿司二代目)
A small restaurant specializing in tuna sushi, although with a few more things. It is run by a quite old and very serious man, who only speaks Japanese, but has a menu in English.
It must be said that the tuna was to cry. It is very cool as it disembarks at the dock that is just 100 meters away. And it is that Kii-Katsuura is the tuna mecca of Japan.
Address: Japan, 〒649-5335 Wakayama, Higashimuro District, Nachikatsuura, Tsukiji, 2 Chome−２−6.
How to get there: A two-minute walk north from JR Kii-Katsuura Station.
Opening hours: Every day from 11:00 to 21:00.
Here we leave a map with the locations of all the restaurants:
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