15 Restaurants in Ikebukuro Recommended by Japanese Top Chefs Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Nov 08 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

Categories: Ikebukuro

15 Restaurants in Ikebukuro Recommended by Japanese Top Chefs

Ikebukuro is renowned for the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, where you can enjoy a variety of fascinating performances, as well as many unique otaku-themed shops. While you dive into Ikebukuro’s culture, you may also want to enjoy a meal in one of its many restaurants! Here is a list of 15 restaurants that were recommended by Japanese master chefs.

See full listings of restaurants found in and around Ikebukuro.

1. Zassouan

From the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station, walk 5 minutes and you'll find this small restaurant. Chef Koji Konda from Hikari Curry Udon, a fellow restaurant in the same area, commented: “It's an izakaya (Japanese pub) where you can enjoy many different dishes and a wide variety of ji-zake (Japanese local alcohol). I especially recommend their Hiroshima delicacies made with local ingredients, such as [Koiwashi] (anchovies).” As Chef Konda said, their flagship dish is actually the [Koiwashi no Tempura (680 JPY)]. Enjoy crispy fried tempura sprinkled with lemon juice. Also, don't miss the incredible ocean aroma of their [Tai Somen (950 JPY)] (red snapper and noodles with soup).

Zassouan

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 4,000 JPY
Address: 1F, Juni Bldg., 2-12-13, Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
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2. Teppanyaki Sakura

This place has been selected for 4 years in a row (most recently in 2018) as a reasonably-priced and tasty restaurant by a world-renowned gourmet guide. Chef Yoshinori Watanabe from Madoy, a popular teppanyaki (ingredients grilled on an iron griddle) restaurant in Yotsuya, described it as “a restaurant with a nice atmosphere and a classy chef. You can taste teppanyaki dishes made with premium products, such as foie gras and Kuroge Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef)”. A dish you should not miss is the [Premium Kuroge Wagyu A5 Sirloin Steak (4,400 JPY plus tax)]. The surface of the steak is grilled on the iron plate, while the sweet fat and umami (Japanese savory taste) of the meat stay inside, resulting in a melt-in-the-mouth delicacy.

Teppanyaki Sakura

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Monday
Average price: 7,000 JPY
Address: 3-29-7, Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
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3. Baniku Dining Asahi Shoten

Here, you can taste authentic southern Kyushu cuisine. A 2-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, the atmosphere inside is quiet, allowing you to enjoy your food and drinks in complete relaxation. This restaurant’s top product is horse meat. First, it is recommended to order their classic [Kumamoto Ba-sashi 5-kind Assortment (2,800 JPY)] - a sashimi platter that consists of lean meat, tategami (neck meat), futaego (lower belly), harami (skirt steak), and hatsu (heart). Also, the [Sakura Carpaccio (1,200 JPY)], made up of lean cuts of Kumamoto-raised horse meat arranged in a Western style, matches divinely with red wine.

Baniku Dining Asahi Shoten

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 4,000 JPY
Address: 5F, Meitoku Bldg., 1-35-2, Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

4. SALVA Ikebukuro Branch

This is a restaurant whose concept is a fusion of Western and Japanese cooking. Only a 1 minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, this easy-to-access restaurant offers modern private rooms designed with a mix of Western and Japanese styles, just like the food! The most popular item on their extensive menu is the [Limited to 5 Servings! Special Grill Plate (5-kind assortment of premium meat) (2,000 JPY)]. This fulfilling one-plate meal includes soft beef tenderloin, Sangen-ton (Sangen pork) loin, grilled Daisen-dori (Daisen chicken), raw chicken tsukune (meatballs), and beef sirloin diced steak.

SALVA Ikebukuro Branch

Open: [Weekdays] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
[Saturday, Sunday] 5:00 pm - 4:30 am
Closed: None
Average price: 2,980 JPY
Address: 7F, Sun Palace Bldg., 1-27-8, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

5. Asanoya Main Branch

Conveniently located a 1 minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, this restaurant is popular for its soba (buckwheat noodles) and traditional Japanese dishes. Here, you will find a rich variety of sake (Japanese alcohol), sold at reasonable prices, that can be paired with their amazing seasonal dishes. Complete the meal with some soba. Start by ordering the [5-kind Assortment (from 3,000 JPY)] of seasonal sashimi, and pair it with a good sake. As for soba, the most recommended (and addicting!) dish is the [Meibutsu Kamo Tsukune Seiro (1,350 JPY)]. The umami of the duck meat meatballs and the dashi (broth) make a great combination with the soba.

Asanoya Main Branch

Open: [Weekdays, Day before National Holidays] 11:30 am - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 11:30 am - 10:30 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 3,000 JPY
Address: B1F, FLC Bldg., 1-22-2, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

6. Kawara CAFE & DINING Ikebukuro

This is a charming cafe&restaurant with the atmosphere of a grown-up hideaway, with windows from which you can admire the night view of Ikebukuro. The inside is stylish and decorated with colorful artwork, and the menu contains lots of creative dishes based on Japanese cuisine. Their top recommended dish is definitely the [Kawara Special!! Kawara Soba (1,380 JPY plus tax)]. It's a standard dish that's famous in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It consists of green tea soba topped with various ingredients, and is served on a kawara (roof tile). If you're after meat dishes, try the voluminous [Angus Beef Steak and Herb Breadcrumbed Cheese Grilled Chicken - Half & Half Assortment (1,980 JPY plus tax)]!

Kawara CAFE & DINING Ikebukuro

Open: Lunch 11:45 am - 5:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 10:30 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 10F, The SH one, 1-26-6, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

7. Oto Oto Ikebukuro Branch

Modern, stylish Japanese-style private rooms and seasonal Japanese cuisine are this restaurant's main features. There are rooms recommended for couples on a date, and even large rooms for up to 72 people, so they can fit any number of customers. In these rooms with Japanese contemporary designs, you can taste their [Seasonal Omakase Obanzai 3-kind Assortment (1,480 JPY)] or the [Seasonal Tempura 5-kind Assortment (1,280 JPY)], in which all the seasonal ingredients are carefully selected by the head chef. To finish off your meal, you may want to order the [Founder's Specialty: Oto Oto Donabe Tako Rice (1 serving from 1,100 JPY)], which consists of tender octopus boiled in an earthenware pot with home-polished fluffy brown rice.

Oto Oto Ikebukuro Branch

Open: [Monday - Thursday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 4:30 pm - 11:00 pm
[Friday, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm
[Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 4:30 pm, Dinner 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm
[Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Dinner 4:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,200 JPY
Address: 5F, MI Plaza, 1-19-5, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

8. Ki no Kawori Ikebukuro Branch

This is a casual Japanese-style izakaya that's famous for its nabe (hot pot) dishes and fresh fish. The inside is organized in private rooms that can seat varying group sizes, allowing you to enjoy food and drinks without ever noticing the presence of other customers. Their flagship dish is the [Motsu Nabe (1,780 JPY plus tax, minimum 2 servings)], which consists of super tender offal carefully prepared and stewed in a secret dashi. In addition to salt, which truly enhances the taste of the soup, you can choose to flavor the soup with shoyu (soy sauce) or Korean stew flavorings made with chili pepper. Another highly recommended item is the [Sashi Mori 5-kind Assortment (1,980 JPY plus tax)] - a sashimi platter made with fish personally selected by the owner at Tsukiji.

Ki no Kawori Ikebukuro Branch

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, 1:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:30 pm)
[Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, 1:00 pm - 5:00 am (Food L.O. 4:00 am, Drinks L.O. 4:30 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 980 JPY
Address: 3F, West Core, 1-39-1, Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

9. Ikebukuro Style

The metropolitan interior of this restaurant offers any kind of seating option, from chic table seats to modern Japanese tatami rooms. Their extensive menu mostly consists of meat dishes that you can have at convenient prices, which is something that only butcher-managed restaurants can offer. Their specialty, the [Hokkaido Lamb Spare Ribs (1,280 JPY)], will enchant you with its flawless lamb meat and special sauce combo! Another must-try is the umami-rich [Yonezawa Pork Loin Steak (880 JPY)].

Ikebukuro Style

Open: 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 2,980 JPY
Address: 5F, 1-36-4, Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

10. Nintama Yatai

In this easy-going and casual restaurant, you will be able to taste many different creative dishes based on Italian cuisine. The [Cheese Fondue (1,580 JPY)], whose deliciousness is strengthened by the white wine in it, has earned the title of "must-eat". You can enjoy shrimp, vegetables, and plenty of other ingredients, seasoning them with 3 different sauces: tomato, avocado, or plain. Alternatively, the [Tenshi no Ebi no Ajillo (950 JPY)], made with the umami-rich and sweet Angel Prawns from New Caledonia, is another delicious option, thanks to the spiciness of the black pepper added to it.

Nintama Yatai

Open: [Monday] 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Tuesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 5:00 am (L.O. 4:00 am)
Closed: None
Average price: 3,000 JPY
Address: B1F, Kado Bldg., 1-35-1, Nishi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

11. Bistro VOIRDEAUX

This is a bistro offering reasonably-priced wine and delicious dishes. Chef Eisuke Niisato, from the popular izakaya "Ajisai Sakagura Eisuke" in Itabashi, commented: “The dishes are all quite elaborate, yet affordable, and there is a rich selection of wines”. The menu is constantly changing according to the premium ingredients available on that day. For example, one of the recommendations on a random day was the [Okayama Wagyu Grill (1,980 JPY for 100g)] - a lean meat delicacy whose incredible umani spread out in your mouth as soon as you took a bite. Their [Quiche Lorraine (680 JPY)], with its crispy yet firm dough, is a classic.

Bistro VOIRDEAUX

Open: [Saturday] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 12:00 am
[Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 1:30 pm), Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Tuesday - Thursday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:30 pm)
[Friday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
[Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am
Closed: Monday *If it's a national holiday, it will be open, and the following Tuesday will be closed instead.
Average price: [Dinner] 4,800 JPY / [Lunch] 1,780 JPY
Address: 1F, Saito Bldg., 2-10-3, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (Map)

12. Le Hibou

This is a casual and cozy French and Italian restaurant that feels like a hideout for adults. Chef Takuya Akiyama from Iroha, a neighboring Japanese restaurant in Ikebukuro, said that here, “you can enjoy authentic dishes at reasonable prices, as well as a rich line up of wines”. Part of the charm of this place lies in the opportunity for fussy gourmands to pick their favorite ingredients from the showcase and have them cooked as they like. If you order à-la-carte, don't miss the [Special Beef Tongue Stew (2,000 JPY)]! It is an explosion of umami and tenderness in a carefully stewed gyu-tan (beef tongue).

Le Hibou

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 6:00 pm - 4:00 am (L.O. 3:00 am)
[Sunday] 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 12:00 am)
Closed: None
Average price: 4,500 JPY
Address: 1F, Tokiwa Bldg., 2-40-4, Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

13. Kin no Italian

This is an Italian restaurant that operates on the concept of offering “3-star food at an affordable cost”. Its low prices for dishes made with first-class ingredients are what's making it gather popularity. One dish that you absolutely have to try is the [Kin no Gyu Fillet and Foie Gras Rossini-style (1,680 JPY plus tax)]. It's a luxurious beef fillet dish comprised of premium products like foie gras and truffle sauce, but it's so cheap! The [Kin no Watari-gani Pasta (790 JPY plus tax)], made with a whole Japanese blue crab, is also recommended.

Kin no Italian

Open: [Weekdays, Day before National Holidays] 4:30 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 10:45 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:15 pm)
[Saturday, National Holidays] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 4:30 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 10:45 pm, Drinks L.O. 11:15 pm)
[Sunday] Lunch 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm (Food L.O. 10:00 pm, Drinks L.O. 10:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Address: 1F, Toyo Kogyo No. 2 Bldg., 1-15-5, Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

14. Ikebukuro Saigon Restaurant

In an area like Ikebukuro, which is full of ethnic restaurants, this particular place has been offering Vietnamese cuisine for over 20 years. Chef Motoki Iwamura from the popular Spanish restaurant, Tabi Bar GIFT Kichijoji, recommended to “try it with friends when you're looking for something delicious to eat”. A classic item on their menu that you should definitely try is the [Seafood Okonomiyaki (1,480 JPY)] (Japanese savory pancake). The large amount of vegetables inside the thin batter that's made with rice flour, turmeric, and green beans make this a super healthy dish. A great option to accompany beer is the [Amiami Fried Harumaki (980 JPY)] - a crispy spring roll characterized by the net pattern on its wrap!

Ikebukuro Saigon Restaurant

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 800 JPY
Address: 3F, Torikoma No. 1 Bldg., 1-7-10, Higashi Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

15. Landooz

Standing in a back alley of Ikebukuro, this izakaya offers a Western-style space away from the hustle and bustle of the area. Chef Naoki Shinjo from Ikebukuro Style commented: “I strongly recommend this place, as the menu is always new and the prices are amazing”. In its old-school wooden interior that has a warm and cozy atmosphere, there are tables, as well as loft seats and private rooms. Their specialty is the [Landooz Soft Tongue Stew (2 servings for 1,390 JPY)] - a voluminous dish with carefully stewed tongue meat. Another popular one is the [Landooz Shiokara Kimo Chahan (680 JPY)] that will whet your appetite with its aroma of the ocean.

Landooz

Open: 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Address: 2F, 2-18-4, Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Considered as Tokyo's representative shopping district, Ikebukuro is a place that many people cross through every day. So it makes sense that apart from the 15 restaurants included here, there are actually many great restaurants selling not just Japanese food, but gourmet from all over the world, that crowd the area. While walking around the city, why not take a trip around the world with your tastebuds?

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.