Ginza
Picks:
Splurge: Tateru Yoshino (French); Mizutani (sushi); Kyubei (sushi); Birdland (yakitori)
Japanese: Nagmine (vegetable kaiseki); Uogashi Senryo (seafood donburi); Ginza Kura-rin (Niigata)
Budget Japanese: Narotomi (soba); Hachinoya (curry)
Ethnic: Kyber (Indian tandoori); Gurgaon (Indian); Maori "hangi" at Arossa
Dessert: Four-course dessert menu at Miravile Impakt; pastries at Henri Charpentier
Beer: Belgian beers at Antwerp Six, Favori; microbrews at Bulldog, Ginza Kura-rin
More drinks: wines at Vin Picoeur; sake at Kuri and Hakobune (Ginza Chuo-dori)
This guide covers the area east of the Yamanote tracks from Ginza 1-chome down to just north of Shimbashi station.
Ginza 1-4 chome (north of Harumi-dori)
Simple, well-prepared Japanese standards, including grilled chicken, in a lively atmosphere. | |
Inexpensive pastas, cheap Italian wines, late-night hours. | |
Zest (Tex-Mex). 5524-3621 Good solid food from the Tex side of the Tex-Mex border, with colorful frozen and non-frozen margaritas. | |
Tropical fruits and vegetables and other Okinawan foodstuffs in a sprawling two-story market. Plus more kinds of Spam than you can shake a stick at.   Ginza 1-3-9. Open 10:30am-7:30pm daily. | |
This "Indian village restaurant" is a branch of the excellent Southern-Indian specialist Dhaba India in Kyobashi, and serves a good variety of Indian regional dishes. Set menus from Y2800. Cash only. [Go to branch review] Ginza 1-6-13, Ginza 106 Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10:15pm (LO) daily. | |
Yukku (Japanese regional). 3567-3388 Hokkaido regional cuisine, including crabmeat and salmon as well as some Ainu dishes. Budget around Y3500-4500 at dinnertime. Ginza 1-6-5, Landec #2 Ginza Bldg B1F. Open 11am-3, 5-10:30pm. Closed Sundays. | |
This famous kaiseki restaurant with a century-old history and rather austere dining areas is often ranked the best Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. Prix-fixe lunch is Y8400-21,000; dinner is Y26,250-47,250 (plus service charge). Reservations are required. The main branch is Ginza 8-chome has a much nicer setting, but they don't take reservations without an introduction. Ginza 1-11-2, Hotel Seiyo Ginza B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-8:30pm (LO) daily. Pizza from custom-made wood-burning ovens, from this upscale chain of Italian eateries. Ginza 1-13-8. (Ginza 1-chome station exit 10) Open 11:30am-3, 5-11:30pm (LO) daily. | |
This sister shop of the excellent Dhaba restaurant bill themselves as a tandoori specialist, and indeed the dishes from the tandoori oven here are far better than what you'll find at typical Indian restaurants. The prawns and shish kebab are outstanding, with interesting, complex spices. They also serve some unusual curries like a richly flavored mutton with black pepper, and mutton with salty mango pickles. There's a small wine list and a very refreshing fresh-lime soda and other soft drinks. Budget around Y5000 for ample food with a few drinks; lunch is Y1300-2600. Ginza 1-14-6. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-10:15pm (LO) daily. | |
The popular Shanghai via New York dumpling specialist in Ikebukuro now has a Ginza branch, with less emphasis on the dumplings and a wider menu. Lunch from Y1200, prix-fixe dinners from Y5250. Ginza 1-9-13, Ginza Yanagi-dori Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily. The third Tokyo restaurant from Lyon-based celeb-chef Paul Bocuse offers prix-fixe dinners from Y5500-9500. Wines are Y5000-250,000, with less scarily priced options by the glass or carafe. The impressively large dining room has a curved wall of windows overlooking Ginza to the south. | |
Upscale, sophisticated Thai cuisine in a fun, brightly colored setting. Budget around Y4500 for dinner, or Y1800 for the 20-item buffet lunch. Ginza 2-2-14, Marronnier Gate 10F. Open 11am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily. | |
This outpost of the popular Miravile restaurant in Komaba specializes in desserts - with an Y1890 three-course menu (starter dessert with tea, main platter of two desserts with tea, final dessert plus tea or coffee) and a Y2980 version that includes drinks. The decor is elegant and casual - boldly colored graphics on the walls, burnt-orange stools at a wide counter plus a few small tables along the wall. | |
Accessible Korean cuisine from the Chanto restaurant group, with spicy grilled specialties like dakkalbi (spicy chicken; Y1800), bulgogi (spicy beef; Y2000/Y3500), and a 10-item set menu for Y3500. Lunch is served until 4pm. Ginza 2-2-14, Marronnier Gate 11F. Open 11am-4, 5-10pm (LO) daily. | |
Refined Vietnamese classics from the chef behind the upscale Queen Alice restaurants. Try the desserts recommended by their "vegetable sommelier"! Budget around Y4000 for dinner. | |
This first Tokyo branch of a famous Nagoya shop prepares eel that's grilled over bincho charcoal and served with their own special Nagoya-style tamari sauce. Lunch and dinner sets are Y1900-3800; there are also other eel and side dish options and a better-than-average sake selection. | |
Simple, country-style food from Kyushu - dishes like lotus root stuffed with mustard, fish balls, oden and raw horsemeat. Lunch from Y800. Ginza 2-2-18. Open 11:30am-1:30pm, 5-10pm. Closed Sun., 1st & 3rd Sat. | |
Top-notch, creative Italian fare, beautifullly presented, from the very talented chef Luca Fantin. The main dining room is modern and stylish; there's also a popular bar-lounge area one level up (open noon-midnight), and a rooftop lounge with a great Tokyo view. Prix-fixed lunches are priced Y5,000-10,000; dinners are Y13,000-22,000. On Sundays they're open only for lunch.  Ginza 2-7-12, Ginza Tower 8F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
You'll find fresh hearth-grilled seafood and more than 100 kinds of sake from Japan's Hokuriku region at this country-style izakaya. English-speaking staff and English menus are available. Budget around Y5000 at dinnertime. Ginza-Nishi 2-2, Inz #2, 2F. Open 11:30am-1, 5-10:20pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Located downstairs from Kihachi's flagship restaurant, this more casual cafe is open all day, and offers pastas and simple meals as well as desserts and coffee. There's also a separate bar area. English menus are available. Ginza 2-2-6. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily. | |
One of the fancier branches of this reliable tofu and yuba restaurant, convenient for Ginza shoppers. Ginza 2-3-6, 5F. Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily. | |
Dazzle (International). 5159-0991 The immodestly named Dazzle is one of Tokyo's flashiest restaurants, with futuristic lighting and a theatrical entrance - the elevator deposits you in the middle of the kitchen, after which you take a second ride to the glitzy dining room. The food is entertainingly fusionesque, and is accompanied by wines from France, Italy, Spain, Australia, America and Japan, starting in the Y5000 range. Budget around Y6,000-9,000 per person before drinks. | |
This picturesque little Italian-style cafe-bar is worth noting for their late-night hours (till 2am Monday-Saturday); stop by for coffee, a glass of wine or a light Italian snack. Ginza 2-4-6, Ginza Velvia-kan 1F. Open 11am-11pm (LO) daily. | |
Ahill (Teppanyaki). 3562-8080 A branch of the famous "French teppanyaki" restaurant in Nishi-Azabu, specializing in domestic-beef steaks and other grilled meats along with an original curry-rice after your main course. Prix-fixe menus start at Y2000 for lunch and Y6000 at dinnertime. Ginza 2-4-6, Ginza Velvia-kan 8F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily. | |
 Arossa (New Zealand). 5524-1146 This New Zealand wine bar and restaurant is a branch of the popular Australian wine bar in Shibuya. The cellar offers more than 200 different New Zealand wines, and the kitchen focuses on grilled grass-fed lamb and beef as well as traditional Maori "hangi" dishes. Lunch from Y1000, prix-fixe dinner Y5000, plus a la carte. [Go to branch review] | |
Iconic (International). 3562-7500 Style-conscious "modern European" Ginza dining from Terrence Conran's second Tokyo restaurant; prix-fixe lunch from Y2500, dinner from Y8400. There's also a separate bar area up front. | |
The small, bistro-style ground-floor dining room serves a Y4,800 prix fixe dinner until 10pm (last order). There's also a second-floor wine bar with an a la carte snack menu available till 2am. Saturday lunch starts at Y1800.  Ginza 2-5-6. Open 5:30pm-2am (noon-midnight Sat.). Closed Sundays. | |
High-end Italian cuisine from Chef Shinji Harada, with mega-course, multi-hour prix-fixe menus for the adventurous gourmet. Budget Y15,000-25,000 for dinner. Ginza 2-6-5, Ginza Trecious Bldg 12F. Open 5:30-8:30pm (LO). Closed Sun, Mon. A more casual sister restaurant of the very upscale Aroma Fresca, with late-night hours and lunch service. Budget around Y6,000 for lunch and Y12,000 at dinnertime for food. Ginza 2-6-5, Ginza Trecious Bldg 12F. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30pm-1am (LO). Closed Sun. High-quality budget Italian, nice-size portions and a good wine selection at this flagship restaurant of the La Verde chain. Ginza 2-6-7, Meidi-ya Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily. | |
Traditional Japanese dining from the Osaka-based Zetton group. The basement Shiokara bar is open till 5am, and serves a startlingly large variety of its namesake food, shiokara. [Go to branch review] Ginza 2-7-7. (next to the back door of Itoh-ya.) Open 5pm-3am. Closed Sundays. Favori (Belgian rest/beer bar). 6226-6117 The 100-odd different beers in their serve-yourself refrigerator include several previously hard-to-find varieties. Mussels and other Belgian treats are on the food menu, and they're even open on Sundays. Ginza 2-10-5. Open 5:30pm-2am. Closed Sundays. | |
This popular shop is famous for their classic shoyu-style ramen. Ginza 2-13-13. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. Fantastic madeleines, magnificent financier pastries and laudable macarons from this Hyogo-based patisserie. There are also boutiques in Takashimaya, Matsuya, Isetan, Tobu, Seibu Ikebukuro, and LonLon (Kichijoji). Ginza 2-8-20. Open 10am-9pm daily. | |
Although it looks like an ordinary after-work salaryman hangout, Bulldog offers a nice selection of ten beers on tap, including three "guest taps" for local microbrews. US microbrews are also available (by the bottle). There's a wide assortment of bar snacks to go with your beer. Ginza 3-1, Ginza INZ #1, 2F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-11:15pm daily. | |
Standard-issue Thai curries in a convenient location. They do a lunchtime buffet for Y945. Ginza 3-1, Ginza INZ #1, 2F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily. | |
Houblon (Belgian rest/beer bar). 3564-1671 The multi-level complex comprises a Belgian restaurant on the top floor, a shot bar in the basement, and a Belgian beer specialist on the ground floor. They stock more than 300 beers by the bottle, plus five taps devoted to a rotating selection of guest beers. | |
Tapas, paellas, wines, and full-course meals with casual, bistro-style service. Ginza 3-2-12, 1/2F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. | |
Keke (Japanese/health food). 3563-1231 A natural-foods buffet with plenty of organic vegetable dishes. Lunch is Y2200, dinner Y3800. Ginza 3-3-1, Zoe Ginza 4F. Open 11am-2:30, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. Upscale Italian cooking from the Hiramatsu group at this Michelin two-star restaurant, with prix-fixe lunches Y5250 and dinners Y10,500-15,750. The cellar has 400 bottles of Italian and French wines, mostly ranging Y6,000-20,000. Ginza 3-3-1, Zoe Ginza 8F. Open 11:30am-1:30, 6-8:30pm (LO). Closed Mondays. Fancy Chinese-style Singaporean cuisine in a huge, elaborately decorated "supper club" style space that also showcases live music. This is the first Japan venture of Singapore celeb chef Sam Leong. Prix-fixe menus are Y4000-6000, plus Y3000 for an open bar; there are also plenty of a la carte choices. This charming little cafe is located in an old office building that's now filled with art galleries. Relax on comfortable sofas and listen to mellow lounge music on the stereo while you admire the cat-themed artwork on the walls. Browse through their collection of magazines and cat picture books while you sip on a cappucino (Y750) or cocktail. This charming little cafe is located in an old office building that's now filled with art galleries. Relax on comfortable sofas and listen to mellow lounge music on the stereo while you admire the cat-themed artwork on the walls. Browse through their collection of magazines and cat picture books while you sip on a cappucino (Y750) or cocktail.
If you're hungry there's a simple food menu - Caesar salads (Y1000), mixed sausages (Y800). The unpretentious decor is all cinderblocks and exposed pipes, with a silver and white color theme set off by lots of green plants. [Show more] [Show less] Ginza 3-3-12, Ginza Bldg 4F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO). Closed Mondays. | |
It's a trip back through time - this Ginza fixture (it opened in 1895) invented the strange Westernized dishes hayashi rice and omu-rice (rice omelette), and they still serve them the same way. Budget Y1500 for lunch or dinner. Guinness Stout is served, and it's a good match for the food. Ginza 3-5-16. Open 11:15am-2:15, 4:40-8:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Beige (French). 5159-5500 Master chef Alain Ducasse's joint venture with Chanel provides excellent modern French cuisine in a lovely setting. The food isn't quite as spectacular as the prices though - mains average Y8000-9000, with prix-fixe dinner menus from Y17,000. Lunches start at Y6000 (for a three-course vegetarian menu), and there are a few wines under Y10,000. There's also a popular afternoon tea set (Y2600) served from 2:30-4pm. | |
This upscale chain izakaya is known for their excellent grilled meats and vegetables and their well-chosen sake and shochu lists. The decor is sleek Japanese modern. Budget around Y6000-7000 per person with drinks. Ginza 3-5-4, Jujiya Bldg 3F. Open 11:30am-3, 5-11pm daily. | |
Very reasonably priced sushi and izakaya fare in this noisy, casual drinking spot. They're affiliated with the inexpensive Hounen Mansaku izakaya just downstairs. Ginza 3-8-4. Open 5-11:45pm daily. | |
The Hina chain is known for their good-quality, all-you-can-eat sushi meals, starting at around Y4200 per person. Ginza 4-1, Nishi-Ginza Dept. Store 2F. (near Sukiyabashi crossing) Open 11:30am-10:30pm daily. Competent Italian cooking without any surprises. Ginza 4-1-2, Nishi Ginza Dept. 2F. Open 11:30am-11pm (LO) daily. | |
Even before their move from the wilds of Asagaya, many yakitori connoisseurs considered Birdland to be THE standard for grilled chicken in Tokyo. The Y6000 prix-fixe menu includes multiple skewers followed by oyakodon (chicken and egg over rice). There's also a surprisingly good wine list, selected to go with the yakitori. Reservations required. Ginza 4-2-15, Tsukamoto Sozan Building B1F. Open 5-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays, Mondays. | |
A more conveniently located branch of the famous century-old unagi specialist in Higashi-Azabu. Full-course menus are Y4,500-10,500; unagi with rice from Y2100 Ginza 4-2-15, B1F. Open 11am-2, 5-8pm. Closed Sundays. | |
22 (pronounced 'two two') draws a laid-back gourmet crowd with its inviting, bar-like atmosphere, friendly service, and affordable modern bistro fare. Dishes are priced from Y600-1,000 and served tapas-style, on small plates for sharing. 22 (pronounced 'two two') draws a laid-back gourmet crowd with its inviting, bar-like atmosphere, friendly service, and affordable modern bistro fare.
Dishes are priced from Y600-1,000 and served tapas-style, on small plates for sharing. The house specialty, foie gras marinated in tamari soy sauce (Y1,000), is worth a try. The lightly fried eel (Y1,000), served with a thick Balsamic vinegar reduction, pairs nicely with a mineral-laced Chardonnay from Puligny-Montrachet.
Wines by the glass start at Y600. There's no list: all the bottles (Y2,500-) are displayed on a shelf behind the bar. Budget Y4,000-5,000 for food and drink. [Show more] [Show less] Ginza 4-3-12, Ginza Ito Bldg 2F. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
"French barbecue" is the specialty here - basically kushiyaki with French names. Charcoal-grilled pork and chicken parts on skewers are served alongside excellent pate, foie gras, and pot-au-feu (amusingly described as French oden). The respectable in-house French wine list is supplemented by the book-size menu from sister restaurant Aux Amis des Vins just around the corner. Wine prices range from budget-friendly to stratospheric, and the multi-course set dinners (Y2800/Y4000) are a good deal. Seating is at the counter, with one small table in the back. Ginza 4-3-4. Open 6pm-midnight. Closed Sundays. | |
A nice place to go when you're in the mood for a Y2,300 bowl of soup. Dinner from Y13,000, lunch around Y5,000. Ginza 4-5-5. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays. Excellent cooking from this veteran Italian restaurant - their lunches (starting at Y2,000) are an especially good value. Ginza 4-6-1. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily. Shabu-shabu and traditional Japanese meals; a good introduction to Japanese food for visitors from abroad. Dinner starts at around Y5,000 before drinks. Ginza 4-6-1. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily. | |
Gorgeous modern French cuisine (with subtle Japanese influences) from master chef Yoshino. This upscale Ginza location is his third and most deluxe branch in Tokyo. Prix-fixe lunch from Y4800, dinner from Y14,000. [Go to branch review]  Ginza 4-8-10, Pias Ginza 12F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays. Sardines are the specialty here but there's plenty more on the menu as well: a full selection of beef tongue dishes along with original creations like spicy sauteed zucchini and an eye-opening Okinawan-style stir-fried soba with mentaiko and kim chee. Ginza 4-8-7. Open 4:30-10:25pm (LO) daily. | |
Vegetable kaiseki is the unusual specialty at Nagamine, a relatively new restaurant in Ginza that's run by a long-established vegetable wholesaler based in nearby Tsukiji. With no meat or seafood to distract one's attention, the vegetables really stand on their own merits, and Nagamine showcases the most beautiful and most flavorful produce of the season. At Y5250, the vegetable menu offers a chance to experience a different take on kaiseki at a very reasonable price. [See FULL REVIEW.] Ginza 4-9-5, Ginsho Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-3, 5:30-11pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Higashi Ginza/Tsukiji/Shintomicho
Very much a neighborhood joint, Bardigo offers decent food, reasonably priced wines, and a nostalgic soundtrack of seventies rock - non-stop Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd. The food ranges from fairly ordinary quick-serve bar snacks to excellent mains like grilled free-range chicken and grilled Berkshire pork, both priced at well under Y1000. Shintomi 1-4-3. Open 6pm-1:30am (LO; Sat -10:30). Closed Sundays. | |
This tiny local bar is worth knowing about for its budget-friendly happy hour (6-8pm) and its good pizzas and other bar snacks. Most of the action is up front at the stand-up bar, but there are a couple of miniature seating areas in back for parties of 2-4 people. Shintomi 2-1-3. Open 6pm-4am. Closed weekends. | |
A friendly, relaxed bar with late-night hours, Bizarres draws a neighborhood crowd - both local residents and people who work at nearby ad agencies and other offices. The front room has a spacious (although sometimes smoky) bar area, while in back there's a lounge space furnished with sofas, comfortable chairs and a good sound system. The playlist seems to cover everything from hiphop and bossa nova to vocal jazz and bebop. Ginza 3-14-5. Open 7pm-4am (Sat -11pm). Closed Sundays. | |
A branch of the famous Hakata ramen chain, featuring thin, slightly chewy noodles in a pork-based broth ("red" or "white"), with or without extra chashu. You can add your own freshly grated garlic. The original Hachinoya opened in Kyushu in 1951, and moved to Ginza only a few years ago. Tasty beef, chicken and vegetable curries and hayashi rice are Y700 each, and there's a mega-large option for Y1600 that's 2.5 times ordinary size. For variety there's a crab croquette topping (Y250), Chinese pork bun with Pu-erh tea (Y550), and chocolate curry (Y980). The attractive counter-only basement shop is non-smoking. | |
Popular with Indian customers, Dharmasagara serves great South Indian cuisine, with especially good dosa and other breads and plenty of interesting vegetarian options. Lunch from Y1200, prix-fixe dinner from Y3150 or a la carte. Perched on the 47th floor above the Saint Luke's hospital complex, Restaurant Luke is as popular for its setting as it is for its cuisine. The gorgeous dining space boasts ten-meter ceilings and an impressive view out over Tokyo Bay. The food is traditional French; budget around Y9000 for dinner or Y2000 at lunchtime. In the summertime they set up a beer garden out on the terrace; beer-terrace prix-fixe menus are Y4500 (not including beer). Akashicho 8-1, Saint Luke's Garden 47F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-9:30pm (LO). Closed weekends. Sakou (Izakaya). 3297-2080 From the former management of the legendary sake bar Kohju, this tiny shop offers a good selection of sake and a food menu tailored to go with it. Budget around Y4000 for dinner and drinks. (No lunch on Sundays.) Irifune 3-1-5, SKM Ginza East Bldg. Open 11:30am-1, 5-10pm (LO). Closed Saturdays. This long-established unagi specialist (since 1894) serves excellent eel in a thick, somewhat spicy sauce. Prices are very reasonable: unaju (eel over rice) from Y2100, full-course menus Y4200-9450. Be prepared to wait awhile, as eels are prepared from scratch. They also have a branch in Matsuya Department Store in Ginza (03-3567-1378). Tsukiji 1-4-6. Open 11:30am-2, 5-8:30pm (LO) daily. | |
A huge, well-established sushi emporium offering good value for money. Tsukiji 4-5-1. Open 11am-9:30pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Almost literally a hole in the wall, this tiny shop in Tsukiji Outer Market is located behind an old store selling dried fish. People come here for the various donburi/chirashi dishes (from Y2500), featuring first-rate uni, ikura, and assorted fish of the day over rice. Tsukiji 4-10-14. Open 9am-10:30pm (LO) daily. | |
The second, larger conveyor-belt branch of the reliable Zanmai chain has very reasonable prices and easy ordering. Tsukiji 4-10-15. Open 7am-9pm daily. | |
Good value and convenient hours at this outer-market Tsukiji sushi shop. It's fairly spacious so there aren't long waiting lines, and there's an English menu if you need one. Nigiri set menus start at Y3000, or you can order by the piece. | |
Fresh fish, cheap prices, convenient hours at this well-known tuna specialist. | |
The small, main branch of a famous sushi-shop chain, actually located inside the market (in the outer section) and boasting the freshest fish selection. Tsukiji 4-13-9. Open 8am-1pm, 5-8pm. Closed Sundays, holidays. | |
One of the most popular shops in the Tsukiji inner market area, Daiwa specializes in toro, particularly tuna from the Aomori region. Set menus start at around Y3000. Cash only. Tsukiji-Shijo 5-2-1 #6. Open 5am-1pm. Closed Sun, some Wed. | |
This popular inner-market Tsukiji shop has great fish but long lines, as there are only thirteen seats. Budget around Y4500 for breakfast. Tsukiji-Shijo 5-2-1 #6. Open 5am-2pm. Closed Sun, some Wed. | |
This 150-year-old shop inside Tsukiji Market specializes in wild (non-farmed) fish, especially anago eel. They're also known for their excellent, thick and syrupy nitsume (sweet sauce) used on their anago and awabi. Set menus from around Y3500. There are only thirteen seats, so expect to wait at busy times. Tsukiji-Shijo 5-2-1 #8. Open 6am-2pm. Closed Sun, some Wed. | |
Late-night drinks and pan-Asian fun food from the Nagoya-based Zetton group. Mother Leaf brews aromatic teas from five varieties of Sri Lankan tea leaves in a peaceful, smoke-free atmosphere. | |
Top-class grilled beef and seafood at this Michelin-starred teppanyaki restaurant. The dining room is furnished with Art Deco lamps, Baccarat glassware and European antiques. Specialties include abalone and lobster, and premium beef from their own ranch. Prix-fixe lunches start at Y6830, dinners from Y16,800, wines from Y7000. Ginza 5-15-8. Open noon-2, 2-9pm (LO) daily.
Ginza 5-8 chome (south of Harumi-dori)
Thai ramen and Isan-style barbecue dishes. Ginza 5-1, Ginza 5, B1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily. Located high up in the Sony Building, this old-school spaghetti joint offers a nice view of Ginza's main drag to go with your noodles. Choose from some three dozen types of spaghetti, including Japanese-style variations like mentaiko and tuna-sansai; prices start at under Y1000. Cash only. Ginza 5-3-1, Sony Bldg. 6F. Open 11am-8pm (LO) daily. | |
Consistently good food and service from this old Ginza Italian standby. Lunch Y3,800-7,500, dinner Y12,000-15,000. Ginza 5-3-1, Sony Bldg. 7F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily. | |
Assorted seafood and vegetable delicacies on skewers. Ginza 5-5-8, Tokai Bldg. 3F. Open 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. A late-night hideaway bar in Ginza, with just twenty seats and a selection of around 25 Belgian beers. There's also a small snack menu. (They close at midnight on Saturdays.) Ginza 5-6-14, Ginza Bldg 3F. Open 5pm-2am. Closed Sundays. | |
With 450 varieties of world teas from 32 countries, Mariage Freres in Ginza offers the tea aficionado a rare combination of elegance, atmosphere and quality. Only the "finest harvests" are offered to complement an excellent selection of light meals and sinful desserts. Non-smoking. Ginza 5-6-6. Open noon-8pm. | |
Serving Ginza-area diners since 1981, this Pakistani Halal restaurant offers a wide choice of curries and grilled dishes at modest prices (around Y2500 at dinnertime). Ginza 5-8-13, Ginza Five Star Bldg 4F. Open 11am-3, 5-10pm daily. Rasa (Malaysian). 3289-1668 You can sample a wide selection of authentic Malaysian, Chinese-Malay and Singaporean dishes, including Chinese steamboat (a Hainanese version of shabu-shabu with lots of different seafood and meats). Seating is at small noodle-shop tables, but the decor is pleasant and modern. Budget around Y3500 at dinnertime. Ginza 5-8-13, Ginza Five Star Bldg 8F. Open 11am-2:30, 5-10pm (LO) daily. | |
Oshima (Japanese regional). 3574-8080 Nicely prepared kaga-ryori -- the seafood-based cuisine of Kanazawa, on the Sea of Japan coast. Lunch from Y1,800, dinner from Y2,800, and special Kaga kaiseki from Y6,500. Ginza 5-8-20, Ginza Core Bldg. 9F. Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily. Napa (Wine bar). 6253-7540 The food menu here is limited - a few pizzas and pastas, two or three grilled meats. The focus is on the wine list, with a big selection at every price level, not limited to Napa Valley. There are usually around ten wines by the glass. Ginza 5-9-1, Ginza Coty Bldg B1F. Open 6pm-3am (LO; Sat -10:30pm). Closed Sundays. Anago eel and warm sake are the specialties at this popular spot. Budget around Y6000-8000 for food and drink. No lunch on Saturdays. Gyuan (Steak house). 3542-0226 Kobe beef is the specialty at this casual Japanese-style steakhouse. Prix-fixe dinners start at Y4200; the Y9765 menu is built around a 150g Kobe beer tenderloin steak along with beef sashimi and tataki. Shabu-shabu and sukiyaki are also on offer, starting at Y5250 (for Tajima beef), and wines are priced Y3000-5000 per bottle. Ginza 6-13-6. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. Choose from a wide assortment of sherries (well over 100), along with Spanish tapas. [See FULL REVIEW.] Ginza 6-3-17, Yugen Bldg. 2/3F. Open 5:30-10pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
This popular Tokyo French cafe-bakery serves light snacks all day (quiche, omelettes, salade nicoise), plus more substantial prix-fixe lunches until 3pm (Y1260). Ginza 6-3-2, Gallery Center Bldg 1F. Open 9am-11pm daily. | |
Deluxe sushi for an appreciative international audience at this century-old shop. Budget around Y12,000 at lunch, Y15,000-20,000 at dinnertime. Ginza 6-3-8. Open 11:30am-9:45pm (LO) daily. Inexpensive pastas and Italian wines by the glass, with convenient late-night service. | |
Sliding open the door of Kuri feels like unearthing a secret treasure. Hidden on the second floor of a drab building in Ginza, this cozy bar seats a scant twelve, yet boasts a menu featuring over 100 varieties of sake. The modern Japanese decor deftly employs noren curtains, dark wood, and soft lights to create an intimate and inviting space. Sake bottles are attractively displayed behind the bar on a tall shelf set into the wall. There's room for six at the bar, with a handful of small tables on the other side of a slatted-wood partition. [See FULL REVIEW.] Ginza 6-4-15, Tony Bldg 2F. Open 5pm-2:30am (LO; 3am Fri, midnight Sat). Closed Sundays, 3rd Sat. | |
Watch the beautiful people stroll by at Ginza's Fugetsudo while enjoying a big chunk of kasutera and okawari ocha for under Y600. Don't leave without visiting the wagashi counter. Ginza 6-6-1. Open 11am-9:30pm daily. One of the world's best tempura shops, with prices to match. Lunch from Y7000, dinner from Y10,000. Ginza 6-6-5. Open 11:30am-9:30pm (LO) daily. Among the ranks of craft-sake specialty pubs in Tokyo, Musshu (the name means "sake dream") stands out for its balance of cozy atmosphere, good food, and decent prices. The eclectic food menu is creative and very seasonal, featuring premium meats like jidori (heirloom-breed chicken) and Iberico pork and lots of small-farm vegetables. Among the ranks of craft-sake specialty pubs in Tokyo, Musshu (the name means "sake dream") stands out for its balance of cozy atmosphere, good food, and decent prices. The eclectic food menu is creative and very seasonal, featuring premium meats like jidori (heirloom-breed chicken) and Iberico pork and lots of small-farm vegetables.
The attractive basement space includes a cozy counter area with tables off to one side, plus a number of private dining rooms. The sake list offers some forty varieties from small kura around the country, plus an assortment of plum, peach and yuzu liqueurs. Budget around Y5000-6000 for dinner and drinks. [Show more] [Show less] Ginza 6-7-6, La Paix Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-11:30pm (Fri -2am) daily. | |
Gourmet tonkatsu-based cuisine is the unusual concept at "Tonkatsu Kappo Katsuzen." Lunch from Y2800, dinner from Y8500. Ginza 6-8-7, Kojun Bldg 4F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. After branching out into charcoal-grilled meats, Chinese fusion and seafood, Cardenas has gone back to their California-inspired roots with this high-rise branch, a welcome addition to late-night Ginza dining. High-quality sushi at remarkably reasonable prices, especially for this neighborhood. There's often a bit of a wait to be seated, though. Ginza 7-108, Ginza Korida-dori 1F. Open 11am-2, 5-9:30pm (LO) daily. Swan Lake is one of Japan's best microbreweries, and their Tokyo outpost serves most of their beers (varying with the season) along with excellent regional cuisine and sakes from Niigata. Prix-fixe menus are Y6,000-12,000, plus a big a la carte menu. Ginza 7-16-21, Kumo Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5-11pm (LO). Closed weekends. | |
This smart, comfortable izakaya specializes in mushi-ryori. Although mushi-ryori translates rather flavorlessly as "steamed cooking", the food at Gonnosuke is far from bland. Full-course dinners beginning with seasonal appetizers and ending with wonderfully textured pera-pera udon - fresh noodles simmered in the broth used to steam your food - are available from Y4000. Seating is largely private room. No lunch on Saturdays. Ginza 7-2-22, B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-11:30pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Darie (Romanian). 3573-3630 Authentic and homey Eastern European cooking from Tokyo's very first Romanian restaurant. The Y3800 chef's special includes a three-part appetizer plate and three types of mains along with a few other courses; other dinners are Y2800-5800, while lunch starts at Y950. The small basement dining room is modest but cheery in an Old-World style. The Romanian wines mostly run Y4000/bottle, with several choices available by the glass or decanter. Ginza 7-8-5 B1F. Open 11:30am-3, 5-9:30pm (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Japanese cuisine in a pleasantly decorated modern setting, from an upscale soba shop. Ginza 7-8-7, Ginza Green, 4F. Open 11:30am-11pm daily. Very competent Italian cooking, good wines, and personable service in this branch of the upscale Il Pinolo chain. Ginza 7-8-7, Ginza Green, 9F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily. Good Turkish cooking from this Tokyo Turkish pioneer. Budget around Y4000 at dinnertime. Lunch is served on weekends. Ginza 7-2-saki, Ginza Corridor 1F. Open 5-11pm daily. | |
This well-regarded soba shop serves noodles made from 100% buckwheat, along with seasonal tempura dishes and regional sake. Ginza 8-18-6. Open 11:30am-3, 5-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays, 3rd Sat. | |
You'll find good Belgian food (including mussels and great frites), a nice selection of beers, and convenient late-night hours from this branch of the Belgian Beer Cafe chain (they also run Antwerp Central in Marunouchi). [Go to branch review] | |
Some of the best cooking in this part of town - magnificent French, Italian, Middle Eastern dishes from the former chef of Grape Gumbo. There's also a very nice wine selection, and a small bar area up front. Around Y4000 plus drinks. Ginza 8-6-19, Nodaya Bldg. B1F. Open 6pm-midnight (LO). Closed Sundays. | |
Some of the finest sushi in the land, from the inventors of gunkan-maki (the wrap-around technique for fish roe and similar sushi). Lunches start at Y4000 for a nigiri set menu, or Y8000 for omakase. Dinners from Y10,000, with a Y30,000 kaiseki sushi course that's quite a spectacle. Ginza 8-7-6. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm. Closed Sundays. | |
This legendary sushi counter has just ten seats, so be sure to book your place well in advance (in Japanese, please). Lunchtime can be easier to book than dinnertime. Set menus start at Y16,000; cash only. Ginza 8-7-7, Juno Bldg 9F. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5-9:30pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Taruhei (Japanese regional). 3571-4310 Regional fare from Yamagata Prefecture in this tiny hole-in-the-wall drinking spot. A full meal averages around Y4,000, not including drinks. Ginza 8-7-9. Open 5-10:30pm. Closed Sundays. The weekend buffet lunch is recommended. Ginza 8-8-5, Taiyo Bldg. 4F. Open 11:30am-11pm daily. Hearth-grilled seafood fresh from northern Honshu is the specialty at this attractive "slow-food" izakaya. Prix-fixe menus feature several types of grilled fish, sashimi and locally grown chicken and vegetables, and range from Y5500-12,000. The impressive sake cellar stocks some 500 varieties from 180 breweries in Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui. Seating is all in private rooms. Dinner averages around Y8000 for ample food and drink. Ginza 8-8-8, Ginza 888 Bldg 7F. Open 5-11:30pm. Closed Sundays. | |
Yosso (Kyushu). 3572-7686 Kakuni stewed pork, champon fried noodles, and other Chinese-influenced Nagasaki specialties make up the menu at this friendly and popular regional izakaya. Ginza 8-9-16, Nagasaki Center Bldg. B1F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-9pm daily.
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