Update-date: Dec 27 2023
Most international tourists who visit Japan will wish to sample traditional Japanese food. However, understanding the specifics of each meal may be surprisingly difficult. In such cases, the convenience of a foreigner-friendly restaurant is vital. As a result, the selection tends to incline toward places that provide English support and menus in English. The focus of this article is on Japanese cuisine restaurants like Monjayaki, Tempura, or Izakaya. These restaurants not only serve as a portal to the rich tapestry of Japanese culinary pleasures but also ensure that international guests have a smooth eating experience.
1. Okonomiyaki Monjayaki Asakusa Tsurujiro
Savoring okonomiyaki and monjayaki with carefully selected ingredients in a luxurious ambiance.
Just a 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station, Asakusa Tsurujiro is a bustling eatery in the traditional downtown area, offering okonomiyaki and monja-yaki. The restaurant's charming appearance evokes the ambiance of a traditional Japanese inn, and true to that impression, it provides a wide range of deep and flavorful dishes. With menus available in English, Korean, and Chinese, along with instructional videos in English on how to cook monja-yaki and okonomiyaki, the restaurant caters to international visitors.
In the realm of okonomiyaki, you can savor unique dishes like the "Toro Tamago Buta Negi Yaki," topped with a hot spring egg, or the "Nimi Yaki," a half-and-half combination. For monjayaki, they use a broth simmered with whole chicken and vegetables for three days. The menu extends to teppanyaki, a la carte dishes, and kaiseki cuisine, offering a diverse array of enticing dishes.
Okonomiyaki Monjayaki Asakusa Tsurujiro
Open: [Weekdays, Saturdays, Days before holidays] Lunch 11:30-15:00 (last order 14:30) / Dinner 17:00-22:00 (last order 21:00) [Sundays, Holidays] Hours 11:30-21:00 (last order 20:00)
Closed: Tuesdays
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 980 JPY
Access: A three minute walk from the number 1 exit of Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station. Head straight toward Asakusa Public Hall, on the right.
Address: 1-20-8 Asakusa , Taito-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details
Closed: Tuesdays
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 980 JPY
Access: A three minute walk from the number 1 exit of Tokyo Metro Asakusa Station. Head straight toward Asakusa Public Hall, on the right.
Address: 1-20-8 Asakusa , Taito-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details
2. Nurukan Sato
Savoring okonomiyaki and monjayaki with carefully selected ingredients in a luxurious ambiance.
Nurukan Sato, nestled in a quiet alley despite being in the bustling nightlife district of Roppongi, is a place where adults can enjoy the night in tranquility. The restaurant offers a counter where you can enjoy the cooking right in front of you, as well as private rooms with a traditional Japanese ambiance that are useful for entertaining guests. There are two types of seating options: sunken kotatsu style and table style.
What you must try here is Japanese sake. They constantly have over 100 varieties of local sake from all over Japan. The extensive selection of sake, including the lukewarm sake (nurukan) that is also in the restaurant's name, as well as hot sake, lukewarm sake, room temperature, and chilled sake, allows you to appreciate the changing flavors at different temperatures. Additionally, the menu features excellent dishes perfect for sake pairing. Enjoy carefully selected delicacies from all over the country, including rare treats and charcoal-grilled seasonal vegetables.
Nurukan Sato
Open: [Weekday, Saturday, public holiday] Dinner 17:00 to 23:30 (last order 22:30) [Weekday, Saturday, public holiday] Lunch 11:30 to 14:00 (last order 13:30)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: Two minute walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Roppongi Station/ Five minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Roppongi Station
Address: Roppongi Business Apartments 1F, 7-17-12 Roppongi , Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 900 JPY
Access: Two minute walk from Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line Roppongi Station/ Five minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Roppongi Station
Address: Roppongi Business Apartments 1F, 7-17-12 Roppongi , Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
3. XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS / tempura & sushi An
A wonderland of Japanese cuisine with Edo-style sushi and tempura counter.
Located on the top floor of Atago Green Hills Mori Tower, near Tokyo Tower, at an altitude of 180 m on the 42nd floor, tempura & sushi An offers a sophisticated space where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Tokyo, including Tokyo Skytree, Toranomon Hills, and Roppongi Hills. The stunning scenery of Tokyo unfolds before you in this elegant setting.
In this vibrant atmosphere with a view of Tokyo's cityscape, you can savor tempura dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients. The menu changes monthly, allowing you to enjoy the flavors of the season. The counter seats have a fryer right in front, so you can enjoy freshly fried tempura in its hot and crispy state—a delightful feature. It's an ideal place for special occasions, dates, or casual business entertainment.
XEX ATAGO GREEN HILLS / tempura & sushi An
Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) Lunch time (Monday-Friday): junior high school students and above, (Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays): Elementary school students and above / Dinner 5:30 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) Dinner time (Monday-Friday): Junior high school students and above, (Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays): Elementary school students and above
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Exit A5 of Onarimon Station on the Toei Mita Line, 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Address: 42F, MORI Tower, 2-5-1, Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 15,000 JPY / [Lunch] 5,000 JPY
Access: 4-minute walk from Exit A5 of Onarimon Station on the Toei Mita Line, 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kamiyacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
Address: 42F, MORI Tower, 2-5-1, Atago, Minato-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
4. Shabuzen Kagurazaka Branch
Savoring the finest Japanese black wagyu with shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, enjoying an elegant moment.
Shabuzen Kagurazaka stands along Kagurazaka Street, offering a specialized dining experience where you can enjoy carefully selected Japanese black wagyu in shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. The restaurant's interior exudes a traditional Japanese ambiance, providing a serene space for a relaxed dining experience. In addition to regular table seating, the restaurant also offers sunken kotatsu-style private rooms, suitable for entertaining guests or celebrating special occasions, creating an atmosphere appreciated even by international guests.
The restaurant's highlight is the premium Japanese black wagyu with exquisite marbling sourced from various regions across Japan, available for all-you-can-eat dining. Moreover, they offer seasonal courses and specialty dishes crafted with abundant seasonal ingredients. The extensive variety of drinks complements the cuisine, and there are also plans that include all-you-can-drink options with the courses.
Shabuzen Kagurazaka Branch
Open: Lunch 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Iidabashi Station on Tokyo Metro Lines, 5-minute walk from Ushigome-kagurazaka Station on the Toei Oedo Line
Address: B1F, Kagurazaka Center Bldg., 3-5, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 1-minute walk from Iidabashi Station on Tokyo Metro Lines, 5-minute walk from Ushigome-kagurazaka Station on the Toei Oedo Line
Address: B1F, Kagurazaka Center Bldg., 3-5, Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
5. Zanshin
A Japanese-style sports bar just 3 minutes on foot from Ikebukuro Station, offering original dishes with a theme of Kendo.
Just a 3-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, Zanshin is a unique restaurant themed around "kendo." The interior is adorned with helmets and bamboo swords, allowing guests to immerse themselves in ancient Japanese culture—a feature that is sure to delight visitors from abroad. The walls are equipped with TV monitors, adding to the unique atmosphere where you can enjoy a meal while watching sports broadcasts. Additionally, during celebrations, you can have a toast with masu cups.
The signature dish, "Zanshin Kabuto-yaki," features high-quality beef from the renowned brand "Hoshizora no Kuroushi (meaning Black cattle of the starlit sky)" in Shikisai, Hokkaido. This dish offers a perfect balance of juicy and firm lean meat with rich flavor and succulent fat. The menu also includes horse sashimi, Yonezawa pork loin, and a wide variety of fresh seafood, adding a colorful touch to the table. The drink selection features various kinds of sake, including Zanshin's original labeled local sake and a variety of shochu.
Zanshin
Open: [Weekdays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm / [Monday - Thursday] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm) / [Saturday] Dinner 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 12:00 am) / [Friday, Day Before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: From Ikebukuro Station, take the East Exit, it's a 3-minute walk / After exiting the East Exit, head to the 3rd floor of Actiole
Address: 3F, Actiole Minami-Ikebukuro, 2-26-10, Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Closed: Sunday, National Holidays
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Access: From Ikebukuro Station, take the East Exit, it's a 3-minute walk / After exiting the East Exit, head to the 3rd floor of Actiole
Address: 3F, Actiole Minami-Ikebukuro, 2-26-10, Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Map
More Details Reservation
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.
