It is a no-frills, yet elegant spacious and bright restaurant with a Japanese touch and it is pretty straightforward there is one item on the menu: Tonkatsu. Fried pork cuttles are served along with mountains of shredded cabbage and condiments. With different variations of meat to choose from, including fillet or roast the concept is easy to understand.

As Tonkyu is well known by locals for its great food, service, and value, it can get quite busy around lunch and dinner time. However, it is easy to get a table if you arrive after 1 pm, so a great place for late lunch. It is worth the wait should there be a queue though.

The Experience at Tonkyu

As you walk in, the waiters will guide you to your seat, offer you a delicious cup of tea (cold in the summer and hot in the winter) and let you browse through their options. They have great lunch sets and you can customize your order, more meat, bigger rice, toppings ect.

Before your fish of choice arrives, a small grinding bowl filled with sesame seeds is served. You can grind them to the consistency of your liking and once your food arrives add them either as sprinkles on top of the shredded cabbage or mix them in with the Tonkatsu sauce for both texture and flavor.

Once your food arrives, you will find perfectly breaded slices of pork, cooked to perfection with the center still being slightly translucent. This is exactly how it is meant to be, however, if you do prefer it a little more cocked you can let the waiter know when ordering.

What makes this Tonkatsu a Tokyo Favorite?

For one it’s the quality of the meat and then the coating. Perfectly crisp, yet not greasy at all. The sauce is sweet and rich and the shredded cabbage brings the perfect relief and will help with digestion.

Meals can also be customized, more rice, more meat and toppings and they have great seasonal dishes, like the Tonkatsu we ordered today which was compared to a juicy Daiginjo sake. Was it like a Daiginjo? It was certainly juicy, succulent, and aromatic, so we let the description pass.

Our Verdict?

This is one of our go-to places when our Tonkatsu cravings hit and with its location right inside Ueno station a great place to have on your list when traveling around Tokyo and Japan. With Ueno being a major Shinkansen hub, Tonkyu is perfect if you are looking for a bite to eat while waiting on your train or before heading to your hotel.

Definitely on the list of great places to eat in Tokyo!

Web

http://tonkyu.com/

Address

〒110-0005 Tokyo, Taito City, Ueno, 7 Chome−1−1 アトレ上野EAST 2階

Opening Hours

Suggest new hours

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“お酒と世界のおばんざい” or “Osake and World Obanzai” in English has a very interesting concept, trying to create a melting pot where food cultures from different parts of the world can be enjoyed. Soul food that gives you a sense of being home, reflecting the international staff and letting you escape to other countries with every meal, who would not want that?

Split into lunch and dinner service they are focusing on hand-made onigiri for lunch and fusion cuisine for dinner paired with a variety of beverages. This makes them a great spot if you are looking for a light lunch or if you need a taste from home away from home in the evening.

Osake and World Obanzai’s Dinner Service!

If you are coming for dinner, expect an international menu, based on local dishes from different parts of the world. And even better, not just the food, but also the drinks are international and have been carefully selected to give you the best possible experience.

What kind of dishes can you expect? All the dishes are created to reflect a specific country and cuisine. So you can, for example, find lamb sausage and couscous from Tunisia or Ema Datshi (simmered green pepper with vegetables) from Bhutan, along with classics such as Mac and Cheese from the US and much, much more.

And you will love the drink selection too. With everything from fine wines and beers, to cocktails from around the world, the beverages are perfectly matching the food. And just in case you really cannot see anything you fancy this time, come back next month as their menu is seasonal and changes every month.

Lunchtime

During the daytime, the restaurant becomes “おむすびと世界のごはん” or “Omusubi to Sekai no Rice”, a relaxing family-friendly cafe lounge that focuses on serving delicious hand-made rice balls. A healthy lunch, nutritious and of course tasty, along with a full cafe menu – just in case. So find yourself a seat on one of the comfortable sofas or nestle into a booth, relax and enjoy.

Or if you happen to be in a hurry, have a look at their take-out options. This certainly is a real hidden gem here in Nihonbashi.

Our Conclusion?

Overall, the restaurant, whether during the day or nighttime, has a really nice atmosphere. It is spacious and the open kitchen creates a really homey feel, which totally ties in with their concept of promoting diversity and global community through international dishes.

Our recommendation, come for a light Japanese home-style lunch or treat yourself to an international evening eating a meal from your favorite country or one that you still have on your wish list until we can all travel safely again. This might just be the travel meal experience we all need until we get a chance to try the real thing.

Webpage

www.omskossk.com

Opening Hours

LUNCH: 11: 00-17: 00
DINNER: 18: 00-23: 00

Address

11-5 Nihonbashitomizawa-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

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Not so easy to find, as it is located on the 3rd floor of what looks more like an office building, a small sign lets you know you are at the right place. Take the stairs or ride the elevator up to level 3 (or the 2nd floor if you are not counting the ground floor) and there it is, a very clean and stylish coffee shop with plenty of space.

Settle in, either indoors, by finding yourself a table in the comfortably air-conditioned room, or, and that is our suggestion, head out to the terrace. And don’t worry, because of its location there is plenty of shade and often a pleasant cool breeze. Also, if you happen to pop in, in the colder months, they turn on the heaters to keep you warm

Great Coffee and Amazing Open Sandwiches!

Coffee will set you back 550Yen for a latte and they have plenty of food options to indulge yourself with. The avocado on sourdough, with pickled onions on top, just hit the spot and the Croque Monsieur will bring it home if you are looking for something a little dirtier. Both cost 770Yen each and there are of course also homemade sweet options as well as cookies and cakes. 

Our Verdict?

Alpha Beta Coffee Club is a great place to rest for a while, and grab a bite and a coffee in a chic environment minus the crowds. A little gem hidden that should be on any coffee lover’s list and definitely on our list of the best coffee shops in Jiyugaoka!

Web

https://www.abccoffee.co/

Address

〒152-0035 Tokyo, Meguro City, Jiyugaoka, 2 Chome−10−4 ミルシェ自由が丘 3F

Opening Hours

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Ok, it is not like you are overlooking the Seine in Paris or a historical Piazza in Rome. However, just being able to slurp a nice bowl of Ramen without having to worry was priceless.

Also to be able to enjoy the nice weather really made my day. Though, it is worth mentioning this terrace has a solid roof, so it is perfect for any weather (with some minor restrictions of course).

Ok, Enough About the Terrace, How About the Food?

Yes, the food was also great!

Starting from 700Yen for a bowl of Abura Soba, soupless Ramen with an oily sauce on the bottom, the price is pretty fair. However, as it was my first bowl for at least 3 months, I decided to go all out and order one of Menchintei’s upgraded bowls. Meaning my choice of Ramen was loaded with juicy “Chashu”, the Japanese braised pork belly used as a traditional Ramen topping. I ended up paying 1400Yen using the ticket machine. Which made ordering effortless, as you can see what you get from the pictures above the buttons.

As I handed over my ticket, I noticed plenty of hand sanitizers around, another plus. And within just a few minutes wait, my Ramen arrived and I headed outside.

Ramen Terrace Bliss

This might be a personal thing, or cultural, but eating outside just makes me happy. It somehow gives me that “holiday” feeling. Something we don’t often get here, with the Tokyo restaurant experience mainly happening indoors.

So let me tell you, outdoor Ramen is pretty awesome! Especially, when you get perfeclty cooked noodles, with just that little bit of a bite and meat that melts in your mouth. Make sure to add their siganture garlic sauce to lift that bowl of Ramen to yet another level. What a nice culinary experience.

This is one shop that should definitely be on your Ramen list and if you are in the Shinjuku/Yotsuya area there is really no excuse not to visit!

Web

https://menchintei.jp/shop/yotsuya/

Opening Hours

Address

〒160-0004 Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Yotsuya, 4−8 店舗棟１F ライオンズ四谷タワーゲート

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Located near Yamanoto lines Okubo Stations south exit, it is easy to find. A rather small shop with about 10 counter seats it is cozy and comfortable. And the best part, in this small space, you get to see how the Ramen is made right in front of you! It might be a little distracting, but well…

Aburasoba Chigo Ramen is also a bit unusual as they have a variety of other dishes including a homemade curry and meats such as steak on the menu. Which as an added bonus comes in English and with plenty of pictures. So even if you are not entirely sure what to order, there won’t be any crazy surprises.

The food

I ordered the spicy oily ramen for 700¥ and added a poached egg for another 100¥. Which makes this place really affordable. And not just that, it was delicious!

The addition of more salady toppings, such as diced raw onion and green leaves helped to make it feel lighter and although it was the spicy variation, it did not blow my head off. Though, if that is what you are looking for, there is plenty of condiments including chilly to add. Ramen is great like that.

So this should definitely be on your list of must-eats, especially if you find yourself in the area. However, you may get there and have to wait for a little due to its smaller size. It is definitely worth it, but just in case you do not have time for that, there is another ramen shop close by selling the best spiciest ramen in Tokyo.

Web

Don’t have a site

Address

1 Chome-24-16 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073

Opening hours

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And it must have been because of the widely spread Coronavirus fear because, for the first time, there was no line in front of this popular Ramen place. I cannot say I minded, as it was nice to head straight in and see what they had to offer. As already expected I found the so typical ticket vending machine, sporting English labeles. Always nice.

They have a wide variety, with either yuzu or then spicy as their main flavor and although I love anything yuzu, it was some spicy Tsukemen I was after this time. With two sizes available I got a small size, which at 1350Yen, was definitely on the higher end. But I also must confess, it was the highest-priced item, with a normal bowl of their Ramen setting you back around 900Yen.

What I loved about Afuri Ramen, is you can customize your Ramen! Choose your meat, amount of oil ect it’s really a nice touch. Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend the Pork over the chicken. I mean if you already go for Ramen than make it count. Lots of time to be healthy afterward…

Fun fact: As I was watching my Ramen being made, I surprisingly realized that all the chefs here were women. Although this has not much to do with anything, it is still something I noticed.

And then the food arrived, it definitely looked the part and especially the Tsukemen sesame dipping sauce was amazing. With the Pork just perfectly seasoned and its gelatine texture just melting in my mouth, I can see why Afuri Ramen in Harajuku is such a popular place. I do say, if you are hungry, get the larger size. For me, someone who almost never finishes a bowl it was just perfect. But if you are a big eater, you may be left a little peckish.

Obsessed nor not?

I get the hype! I will definitely come back for there yuzu Ramen.

Also, I am curious about their “Rainbow Vegan Ramen”, as it just looked so delicious! And with locations all over Tokyo, it is sure on my emergency Ramen list, should the craving arise…

Web

https://afuri.com/

Address

〒151-0051 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Sendagaya, 3 Chome−63−1 グランデフォレスタ原宿 1F

Opening Hours

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To be honest it’s modern storefront did not appeal to us at first. Somehow small, almost dingy places just have more of that ramen feel. But we were totally wrong as Rāmen Bario completely wowed us with its tasty fare!

So it comes at no surprise that there is always a queue. The good news, it moves fast and you can wait inside, if you are in the front and watch the guys do their magic. And they are friendly too! We love that!

You get your tickets for your choice of ramen at the machine inside, buttons are in Japanese but they give you an English menu with correlating number if you need it. They also don’t give you an actual ticket, but a small piece of plastic, the color will show them what you ordered.

We got the Tsukemen and they are served with a good spoonful of chili, so be careful it’s spicy! But the biggest surprise was the pasta-like ramen noodles! A bit crazy but they totally worked. And the broth was the best we had in a long time! Rich, creamy with tons of flavor. Chunks of meat and bean sprouts, altogether pretty sensational! We absolutely loved it, a real contender for 2020’s best Ramen we think..

Also at 890¥, it is a bargain, with the huge portions served and they play cool music that just adds to the vibe. We will definitely come back here again or visit their Nihonbashi branch. Their Hawaii location is just a bit too far out of the way..

Web

http://www.bario.co.jp/

Address

1 Chome-21-1 Nishishinbashi, Minato City, Tokyo 105-0003

Opening Hours

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What makes this place great? Well first, the staff here is amazingly friendly and on top of that, the menu is in English too. Also, they have different sizes and a great selection of other foods as well as Sake!

We were surprised that you don’t get a ticket at a machine near the door! But at Kuro’obi – Rishiri Konbu Ramen, you order after being seated. We guess it’s because it has quite a big menu also including Gyoza and such, as well as a good selection of sake and other beverages.

We ordered the salt ramen and loved it! And it was great to be able to get a small size, which set us down 600¥, with the regular being at 850¥. We added an egg for 100¥ as it is a must and loved the portion we got! Perfectly sized, so we did not feel like we were going to explode any minute…

Really a great Ramen place, but be careful, there will be a queue. The good news is, it is fast and well worth it! Another entry for our best Tokyo Ramen!

Web

Nope

Address

〒105-0003 Tokyo, Minato City, Nishishinbashi, 1 Chome−20−11 安藤ビル １F

Opening Hours

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It’s a small shop, 6 ppl max. So there might be a little wait and if you are in a big group, this might not work. But it’s great if you are by yourself! Well and to be honest, ramen is probably that one dish, you won’t really have a long conversation while eating it. Just the nature of it, as it’s best eaten fast, makes it a solo dinners best friend.

Now we also warn you, if you are in a hurry this is not the place for you. The chef here really takes her time preparing each bowl one by one. And you can taste the attention to detail. But it also means you will wait about 15 min for your bowl of choice. 

Nevertheless, we think it’s worth it! And actually, it was nice not being rushed. 

We got a ticket from the Machine outside (some English on the Buttons) and ordered the special spice ramen for 980¥. The most expensive item. But it just looked so good! And the promise of Middle Eastern spice-infused ramen just sounded so delicious! And the added extra umami from the roasted tomatoes was amazing.

To be honest, every bowl that came out looked the part. Decorated with coriander or meat that she hand blow torched. Yes, you heard right…

So if you are looking for a different take on this pretty straight-forward dish, then SHAKA Ramen is the place you want to check out! Which is also why it made it to our Best Ramen in Tokyo list!

Web

No

Address

1 Chome-32-15 Shinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0022

Opening Hours

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Located between Harajuku and Omotesando Station and just s short stroll from Shibuya is this small ice cream cafe. It only serves Sesame Ice Cream, either light or dark and in different levels of intensities. They even do a tasting tray for 1100¥. But of course, you can buy them by the scoop. You get 2 for 550¥ and we love that they do both, eat-in and take away!

The other highlight on the menu, but for eat-in only is their sesame covered ice cream Tempura. Think fried mars bar Japanese style and you get close! We ordered two, sure why not? But to be honest, it was too much. If you do want to try more mix the Tempura with a simple one and you will have the right amount ????

Why is it sooo good? We just love that slight savory salty flavor, just the right balance, and the rich taste of Sesame almost reminds us of middle eastern tahini….

So visit GOMAYA KUKI to cool down in the summertime or for a special wintery treat! Either way, we think you will love it.

For more great places to eat close by, check out our “Best lunch place in Shibuya“.

Web

http://gomayakuki.jp/

Address

〒150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya City, Jingūmae, 4-chōme−26−22, 原宿Hビル 1F

Opening Hours

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