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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
The style here is robatayaki, a dining experience that segues into pure theater. Inside a large U-shape counter, two cooks in traditional garb sit on cushions behind a grill, with a cornucopia of food spread out in front of them: fresh vegetables, seafood, and skewers of beef and chicken. You point to what you want, and your server shouts out the order. The cook in back plucks your selection up out of the pit, prepares it, and hands it across on an 8-foot wooden paddle. Inakaya is open from 5 pm and fills up fast after 7. If you can't get a seat here, there is another branch, Inakaya West, on the other side of Roppongi Crossing.
3--14--17 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Entertaining service
- Fresh ingredients grilled just right
- Fun, lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | Minato-ku |
Smoky, noisy, and cluttered, Ganchan is exactly what the Japanese expect of their yakitori joints—restaurants that specialize in bits of charcoal-broiled chicken and vegetables. The counter here seats barely 15, and you have to squeeze to get to the chairs in back. Festival masks, paper kites, lanterns, and greeting cards from celebrity patrons adorn the walls. The cooks yell at each other, fan the grill, and serve up enormous schooners of beer. Try the tsukune (balls of minced chicken) and the fresh asparagus wrapped in bacon. Otherwise opt for a mixed eight-skewer set that also comes with several small side dishes. The place stays open until 1:30 am (midnight on Sunday).
6–8–23 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Eclectic decor
- Cozy, down-to-earth atmosphere
- Fills up on weekends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
For his Michelin-starred contemporary French creations, chef de cuisine Shintaro Miyazaki sources the finest Japanese beef, poultry, seafood, and vegetables from around the country. Served on the 45th floor of the Ritz-Carlton, the resulting prix-fixe lunch courses (from ¥5,800) come with a choice of four or five dishes from a changing monthly menu. For dinner there are chef's tasting menus, which are paired with wine selected by the hotel's sommelier. The dining room, decorated in soft beige, white, and black, and crowned with a city skyline view, provides the appropriate tony setting.
9–7–1 Akasaka, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 107-6245, Japan
Known For
- Classy atmosphere
- Stunning views
- Delightful tasting menus
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$ | Roppongi |
No surprise that eggs are the thing at this convenient diner on the first basement floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. Eggs are organic and available every which way, including in egg tarts, eggs benedict, pancakes, and a fried breakfast.
6–10–1 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106–0032, Japan
Known For
- Portuguese-style egg tarts
- Pancakes
- Good breakfast sets
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$$ | Minato-ku |
Every so often, even on foreign shores, you've got to have a burger. When the urge strikes, the Swiss-and-bacon special at Homework's is an incomparably better choice than anything you can get at one of the global chains. Hamburgers come in three sizes on white or wheat buns, with a variety of toppings. You also find hot teriyaki chicken sandwiches, pastrami sandwiches, and vegetarian options like a soybean veggie burger or a grilled eggplant sandwich. With its hardwood banquettes and French doors open to the street in good weather, Homework's is a pleasant place to linger over lunch. There is also a branch in Hiro.
1–5–8 Azabu Juban, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0045, Japan
Known For
- Burgers you can sink your teeth into
- Hearty deli sandwiches
- Relaxed atmosphere
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Minato-ku |
Open from 11 am to 11 pm, this ever-busy ramen joint, now an international chain with almost 30 locations in Tokyo alone, is an ideal quick stop on or after a night out. The classic ramen is the Shiromaru, which features a creamy pork-based stock, thin yet slightly firm noodles, and a topping of chashu pork slices. Other options include the Akamaru, which has a little red miso mixed in the soup, and side dishes such as gyoza dumplings.
4–9–11 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Shiromaru ramen
- Late hours
- Gyoza (dumplings)
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$ | Minato-ku |
Serving both ramen and tsukemen (noodles with the broth on the side for dipping), this sleek ramen shop is a great stop for a quick and hearty bowl of noodles. The shop's specialty is their fusion broths; a hearty chicken/pork or lighter seafood stock from dried bonito and sardines.
4-12-6 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Quick and affordable meals
- Ramen in a hip, modern interior
- Rich, flavorful bowls of noodles
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$$ | Minato-ku |
The concept of brunch is fairly new in Tokyo but thankfully it's starting to take off. By day, this pleasant café offers outdoor seating and brioche French toast with great coffee just minutes from Tokyo Midtown and the art museums of the “Roppongi Art Triangle.” From 5 pm, the menu changes to more expensive grilled meats and pastas.
4–2–35 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Brioche French toast
- Terrace seating
- Brunch sets
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
In a neighborhood thick with Korean-barbecue joints, Sankoen stands out as the best of the lot. Korean barbecue is a smoky affair; you cook your own food, usually thin slices of beef and vegetables, on a gas grill at your table. The karubi (brisket), which is accompanied by a great salad, is the best choice on the menu. If you like kimchi (spicy pickled cabbage), Sankoen's is considered by some to be the best in town. Customers from all over agree, including those from the South Korean embassy a few blocks away. And they line up at all hours (from 11:30 am to midnight) to get in.
1–8–7 Azabu Juban, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0045, Japan
Known For
- Excellent cuts of meat to grill at your table
- Cozy, simple interior
- Fills up quickly at dinnertime
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed., Reservations not accepted
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
Diners here need a dose of luck—there are only seven counter seats and reservations fill up fast (ask your hotel concierge to make a reservation for you). You also need a full wallet, as high-end sushi comes at a pretty price. But for the few that manage to cross those two hurdles, Sushiso Masa gives a sublime experience. The interior is unpretentious, putting the focus squarely on the gorgeous presentations for each course. But what really sets this apart from other upscale sushi spots is the extreme quality of the cuts of fish, and the garnishes that use incredibly rare ingredients, such as zha cai (pickled stem of the mustard plant).
4–1–15 Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0031, Japan
Known For
- Impeccable attention to detail
- Extremely high-quality, fresh fish with rare garnishes
- Focus on service as well as the food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch, Reservations essential
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$$$ | Minato-ku |
This casual American chain is world-famous for its barbecued ribs. It also serves kid-size (and much larger) portions of burgers, chicken strips, and fried shrimp. The chain, which started in Miami in the 1970s, is dwindling in the U.S., but it's still going strong overseas. There's another branch in the Hanzomon area.
5–4–20 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- A taste of the States
- Large portions of barbecued ribs
- Friendly service
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$$$$ | Minato-ku |
When you're looking for a break from all the ramen, tempura, and yakitori, this restaurant on the 45th floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel serves a mix of international flavors that range from American to Southeast Asian to Mediterranean. The prix-fixe lunches include a three-course business lunch (¥6,500), and there are dinners with four and five courses, including one that focuses on produce from Hokkaido (¥13,000). A plush brunch (¥9,500) is also available weekends and holidays. Best of all, the dining room overlooks a panorama of the Tokyo Sky Tree and Tokyo Tower, which is where the eatery gets its name.
9–7–1 Akasaka, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 107-6245, Japan
Known For
- Views over Tokyo
- Sophisticated fusion dishes
- Luxurious weekend brunches
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$ | Minato-ku |
For a quick caffeine break, Verve serves up single-origin beans from around the world in fashionable, but laidback surrounds. They also have herb teas, sandwiches, and sweet treats like carrot cake and vegan cookies.
5-16-8 Roppongi, Tokyo, Tokyo-to, 106-0032, Japan
Known For
- Carrot cake
- Light bites like sandwiches
- Single-origin coffee
