12 Popular Shinjuku Restaurants - Yakitori, Sushi & More

For the past 30 years, Yakitori Tori Ryori Toritatsu has offered fantastic retro-style yakitori in the heart of Tokyo. The restaurant uses exclusive Hyugadori chicken from Miyazaki prefecture as well as locally-raised poultry, both of which have a mildly sweet flavor and are lower in cholesterol than other varieties of chicken. Pork-based skewers are also available, such as their skewers of fresh asparagus wrapped in bacon, where the fat from the pork melts and infuses the asparagus, creating an exquisite flavor.

Lunch/ Dinner: 2,000 JPY

At Shinjuku restaurant Torishige, enjoy unusual and rare cuts of meat in an unpretentious environment. The chef’s speciality, Layered Tongue is a tender, fatty dish with a unique texture and delicious flavor that spreads as it is chewed. Other unusual cuts such as pork stomach, liver, and brain are either grilled or served incredibly fresh, sashimi style.

Dinner: 7,000 JPY

The Shinjuku location of Yakiniku Motoyama Shinjuku offers rare cuts of premium Japanese A5-wagyu beef. Their offerings include Kobe beef as well as beef from Miyazaki prefecture, which has a fine balance of marbling and lean meat, which gives the beef a rich yet refreshing flavor. Be sure to try their Assortment of Three Strictly Selected Cuts of Beef course, which includes choice top blade steak, chuck tender, and chuck rib.

Dinner: 4,000 JPY

Shinjuku is home not only to excellent Japanese food but also Chinese food. At Dumplings and Chinese Mamafufu, enjoy pan-fried gyoza potstickers just a stone’s throw from Shinjuku Station. Find both sui-gyoza (boiled dumplings) and age-gyoza (fried dumplings) made with tender Kagoshima black Berkshire pork and Chinese cabbage. Enjoy their gyoza with a side of fried Koshihikari rice, which is fried quickly over high heat for a light texture.

Dinner: 1,500 JPY / Lunch: 950 JPY

Indian and Nepalese cuisine are also prolific in the Shinjuku area, such as Sansar, which offers delectable home-style dishes. Their Tandoori Chicken is slow-roasted in an original sauce and served with a mint sauce that has a refreshing flavor. Enjoy it with pickled Gundruk made with dried daikon radish, fermented beans, and cauliflower leaves that are slightly salted and seasoned with spices for a superb tartness.

Dinner: 1,900 JPY / Lunch: 800 JPY

For a nice glass of wine and a delicious meal just one minute from JR Okubo station by foot, visit Tunisian restaurant Hannibal. Here you can experience a Tunisian-style atmosphere and well-known Tunisian dishes, such as steamed couscous, grilled lambchop, and the recommended house dish Cold Vichyssoise Soup with Feta Cheese. The flavors go excellently with the restaurant’s selection of wine.

Dinner: 4,000 JPY

No visit to Japan is complete without sushi. Find a deliciously fresh meal at the Shinjuku branch of Otaru Masazushi, which specializes in fish and seafood flown in direct each day from wholesalers in Otaru City of Hokkaido prefecture in northern Japan. Don’t miss their Otaru Fisherman-Style Squid Somen, a splendid combination of squid cut to resemble long, thin somen noodles, and a rich and elegant sauce of fresh sea urchin and egg yolk.

Dinner: 10,000 JPY / Lunch: 5,000 JPY

Dinner: 5,000 JPY / Lunch: 2,500 JPY

Japanese kappo cuisine is a traditional cooking style prepared by a highly-skilled chef using expert knife skills. Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima offers seasonal sushi in a range of different styles, including raw and sliced in sashimi, as soup, or grilled. Be sure to try their famous mackerel sushi, made with nihaizu (a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar), kelp, and citrus fruit juice for a refreshing aftertaste.

Dinner: 5,000 JPY / Lunch: 800 JPY

At Shinjuku restaurant Izakaya Umaimon, located in the lively Kabukicho area, find around 30 kinds of fresh seasonal seafood accompanied by a menu of limited-edition, seasonal sake. The reasonable prices and high standard of food at Umaimon is sure to bring a satisfied smile to customers.

Dinner: 4,000 JPY

The Shinjuku branch of Kakurega Izakaya Renma offers an excellent night view of the city, along with fresh and delicious Japanese food that is beautifully presented. Monthly changing house specials are created around seasonal produce. All ingredients come from trusted suppliers, and food is prepared in ways that make the most of the natural flavors of ingredients.

Dinner: 3,500 JPY / Lunch: 2,000 JPY

For an authentic robatayaki dining experience visit Shinjuku restaurant Robatayaki Zekkocho Teppen, offering fresh fish and vegetables sourced directly from farms in far-off Hokkaido and nearby Kamakura. Start with Zekkocho’s famous otoshi, an appetizer course made with that day’s recommended fish and vegetables, featuring up to ten unique dishes. Be sure to also try their chicken thighs, dried overnight and spice smoked to seal in the savoriness of the dish, using a blend of over ten different spices.

Dinner: 4,000 JPY

With its numerous five-star hotels and easy access to major train and metro lines, Shinjuku is a prime location to stay in for those visiting Japan. There’s a wide variety of food and dining options in the area, so if you’re wondering where to eat in Shinjuku, you needn’t travel far for an excellent meal. Browse Savor Japan’s full list of Shinjuku restaurants.