4 Best Restaurants in Tsukiji, Tokyo

Takeno Shokudo is a neighborhood restaurant that does nothing but the freshest and the best—big portions of it, at very reasonable prices. Sushi and sashimi are the staples, but there's also a wonderful tendon bowl with shrimp and eel tempura on rice. À la carte prices are not posted because they vary with the costs that morning in the Toyosu Market. Reservations can only be made for large parties, or if you plan to dine before 6:30 pm.

In an area that teems with sushi bars, this one maintains its reputation as one of the best. Tsukiji Edo-Gin drapes generous slabs of fish over the vinegared rice rather than perching them demurely on top. The centerpiece of the main room is a huge tank where the day's ingredients swim about until required; it doesn't get any fresher than this. Set menus here are reasonable, especially for lunch, but a big appetite for specialties like sea urchin and otoro tuna can put a dent in your budget. One affordable way to do dinner is to sit at the counter and order the Edo nigiri set, where the chef serves his choice of sushi for a set price.

Tucked away in a side street, this friendly café takes its name from the little "turret" trucks that used to cart produce around the old Tsukiji Market. The owner, Kawasaki-san, serves a powerful espresso in ceramic sake cups but also creates Instagramable latte art, all for similar prices to the far less enjoyable Starbucks on the corner.

Not far from Tsukiji, Tsukishima (Moon Island) is a large man-made island known as the birthplace of delicious monjayaki: a thin batter is mixed with shredded cabbage and other ingredients, fried on a griddle built into the table, and eaten directly from the grill with metal spatulas. The main street in Tsukishima is filled with dozens of monjayaki establishments, but Yumeya is one of the best, an obvious fact when you spot the line of waiting patrons. Tried-and-true monjayaki eaters make it themselves at the table, but it can be a tricky endeavor—you need to form a ring of dry ingredients on the grill and pour the batter into the middle. If you're not feeling confident, servers can also make it for you at your table.