From iconic Japanese foods like ramen, sushi, and tempura to global cuisine, Tokyo Station boasts a dazzling array of dining options. It can be tough to choose where to eat with so many great choices.
In this article, we have carefully chosen 10 popular restaurants near Tokyo Station that we highly recommend, especially for those visiting from abroad. We’ve got a wide range of culinary delights for you to explore, from incredible ramen for enthusiasts, to fresh sushi and international cuisines.
1.Areas with Excellent Dining Spots Around Tokyo Station
The area around Tokyo Station is home to many top gourmet spots, such as Gransta Tokyo and Tokyo Station Ichibangai.
Gransta Tokyo is a shopping complex located inside Tokyo Station with a variety of dining options. Tokyo Station Ichibangai, which is directly connected to the Yaesu exit, has souvenir shops and restaurants, making it a convenient stop for both shopping and dining.
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2.Top 10 Recommended Foods at Tokyo Station
From ramen and sushi to Western cuisine and sweets, Tokyo Station is packed with a wide variety of restaurants and cafés, offering you a chance to indulge in a delicious meal between travel or business appointments. Here are 10 must-visit restaurants around the station.
2-1.Kaitenzushi Haneda Ichiba
Located in Gransta Tokyo, Kaitenzushi Haneda Ichiba is famous for serving ultra-fresh seafood delivered directly from fishing ports across Japan. To ensure peak freshness, the seafood is processed directly on the boat, which allows you to enjoy sushi as if you were dining right next to the sea.
With the latest tablet systems, ordering your dishes is incredibly easy and your chosen sushi will be delivered either via conveyor belt or directly to your table by the staff.The menu includes classics like tuna, sea bream, and squid, as well as seasonal selections.
Customer reviews frequently praise the incredible freshness of the tuna, the variety of choices, and the reasonable prices, with many noting the exceptional quality of the tuna in particular.
2-2.Kindai University Aquaculture Laboratory Hanare
Kindai University Aquaculture Laboratory Hanare, located in Gransta Tokyo, offers dishes made from fish grown using aquaculture techniques developed by Kindai University. The university’s fishery lab helps to reduce the strain on natural resources by raising fish from hatchlings to mature adults that can then breed again. They farm a variety of fish, which includes tuna, sea bream, and yellowtail.
The standout menu item here is the Kindai Tuna Sushi Barrel, which features a range of tuna cuts from fatty otoro to lean akami, allowing you to savor the best of Kindai’s tuna. Another popular choice is the Kindai Bara Chirashi Sushi, which features an assortment of different fish generously layered over rice.
The rice is also unique, as it’s a health-conscious variety developed under the supervision of Kindai University’s agricultural department.
2-3.Mizutaki Oden Shamon
Mizutaki Oden Shamon, located in Gransta Tokyo, is an oden specialty shop known for its unique chicken broth-based oden. Different from traditional oden, which uses a soy-flavored dashi broth, this version uses a rich chicken stock, resulting in a light yet flavorful base that enhances the natural taste of each ingredient.
Using a deeply savory chicken broth made from Tokyo Shamo chickens that are slow cooked, the flavor is fully extracted. You can enjoy a variety of ingredients like daikon radish, soft-boiled eggs, and seasonal vegetables. Pairing these dishes with carefully selected sake from around Japan makes for a perfect meal.
2-4.Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa
Unagi Yondaime is located in the Kurobei Yokocho area of Tokyo station, and is run by a long-established eel wholesaler with over 90 years of history. The restaurant’s eel dishes are crafted with meticulous attention to detail, from the selection of the eel to the grilling process and even the tableware used.
The freshly fileted eel is grilled to perfection and offers a plump, tender texture without any unwanted fishy odor. As the eel is carefully chosen by the expert wholesalers, it’s thick, fatty, and full of flavor. The skilled chefs grill the eel until it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Some menu items even serve an entire eel for a truly satisfying meal.
2-5.dancyu Shokudo
dancyu Shokudo, located in Gransta Yaekita, is a restaurant produced by the famous food magazine dancyu. The menu features seasonal dishes made with care and uses ingredients handpicked to reflect the passion of their producers.
Popular dishes include simple, home-style ones such as the ginger pork set and shumai set meals. The comforting, well-balanced flavors and nostalgic quality of the dishes make this a favorite for those seeking a hearty, wholesome meal.
2-6.Noodle House Laundry
Noodle House Laundry, which is also located in Gransta Yaekita, is a casual spot where you can enjoy a variety of Asian noodles alongside craft beers.
Beer lovers are in for a treat, as the shop offers 15 different craft beers at all times. The menu also features over 15 types of Asian noodle dishes, including Taiwan’s brothless Ganbanmen and Thai-style stir-fried noodles like Pad Thai, both of which are crowd favorites.
You can also take your food or beer to-go and enjoy it in the nearby Tokyo Station area.
2-7.Ankake Yakisoba Nankoku Shuka
Ankake Yakisoba Nankoku Shuka is a long-established Chinese restaurant that uses locally sourced Japanese ingredients and adapts its recipes to suit Japanese tastes.
Their signature dish is the Five-Topping Ankake Yakisoba, a satisfying stir-fried noodle dish packed with vegetables, meat, and seafood. Another specialty is their Shark Fin Soup with Crab Roe, which combines the rich umami of shark fin with the delicate sweetness of crab.
2-8.NIPPON RAMEN RIN TOKYO
NIPPON RAMEN RIN TOKYO is a ramen shop produced by the renowned Sapporo-based ramen restaurant Japanese Ramen Noodle Lab Q. The shop takes pride in serving sophisticated ramen with a deep, rich flavor and only using domestic ingredients.
The signature dish features a clear soy sauce broth made from a blend of chicken and pork, offering a delicate yet flavorful soup. The noodles are made with premium wheat and complement the broth perfectly. The soft-boiled eggs and expertly prepared chashu (braised pork) are also highlights of this refined bowl of ramen.
2-9.Kaminari Tokyo Honmaru
Kaminari Tokyo Honmaru, a direct branch of the famous Chukasoba Tomita ramen shop in Matsudo, Chiba, offers a robust take on Jiro-style ramen (a type of ramen known for its rich, hearty flavors).
The thick, chewy noodles are paired with a rich pork-bone broth, simmered for hours with back fat to create a creamy, indulgent soup. The Kaminari Soba, their signature dish, features this intensely flavorful broth and thick noodles, making it a must-try for ramen enthusiasts.
2-10.T’s Tantan
T’s Tantan offers authentic Chinese-style dishes made entirely from plant-based ingredients, with no animal products, dairy, or eggs. Their most popular dish, Tantanmen (spicy sesame noodles), is so rich and flavorful that you wouldn’t believe it’s vegan..
The menu also features a wide variety of other plant-based options, including soy meat and vegetable dishes, making it a great choice for health-conscious diners, people with allergies, and vegetarians alike.
Conclusion
Tokyo Station is an incredibly convenient hub for travelers, offering easy access to many of Japan’s major cities and tourist destinations via shinkansen and regular trains. Whether you’re passing through or stopping by, Tokyo Station’s diverse range of dining options that include traditional Japanese food like ramen, sushi and eel, as well as international dishes, is sure to please your palate.
Many restaurants inside Tokyo Station also offer takeout, allowing you to enjoy a quick but delicious meal even when you’re short on time.
*This article is based on information available as of October 2024.
