With its bright yellow door and sunny, brasserie-like interior, Big Boy has an atmosphere that's the complete opposite of old-fashioned jazz kissas. The management plays jazz both new and old, and the sound system is optimized for piano music, so it's a special treat listening to music from piano trios here. With its bright yellow door and sunny, brasserie-like interior, Big Boy has an atmosphere that's the complete opposite of old-fashioned jazz kissas. The management plays jazz both new and old, and the sound system is optimized for piano music, so it's a special treat listening to music from piano trios here.

At lunchtime this is a popular spot for people working in the neighborhood to drop by for sandwiches and coffee (Y1100 including drink). Many jazz fans gather here during the day to trade jazz CDs and DVDs. When the clock turns to "bar time" (after 7pm) there's a Y1000 cover charge, and you can nibble on light snacks such as sausages and baked potatoes with blue cheese.

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Kanda Jimbocho 1-11. Open 11am-5, 7-11pm. Closed Sun, 1st, 3rd Sat.

Perusona serves top-quality European-style curries, and two- and three-ingredient combination curries are easy to order. We opted for eggplant, chicken and beef (Y1400) on a recent visit - the sauce was richly spiced and on the sweet side, while the beef was lean and very tender. The eggplant is a nice option, adding some balance to the ubiquitous meat ingredients. The spacious second-floor dining room is done up in classic kissaten style, with Brazilian easy-listening music in the background.

Kanda Jimbocho 1-28, Matsumoto Bldg 2F. Open 11:30am-4, 5:30-9pm (LO). Closed Sundays.

Coffee lovers as well as jazz fans will have good reason to try this charming little cafe - they grind the beans for each cup after they get an order, and the three original-blend coffees here (Y600) are excellent. The cafe occupies an old Showa-era house, with a wooden floor that creaks when you walk around. The volume of the music is relatively quiet, and listening to a lyrical trumpet solo by Clifford Brown around sunset evokes a magical, nostalgic feeling of old Tokyo. Coffee lovers as well as jazz fans will have good reason to try this charming little cafe - they grind the beans for each cup after they get an order, and the three original-blend coffees here (Y600) are excellent. The cafe occupies an old Showa-era house, with a wooden floor that creaks when you walk around. The volume of the music is relatively quiet, and listening to a lyrical trumpet solo by Clifford Brown around sunset evokes a magical, nostalgic feeling of old Tokyo.

Breakfast is served every morning from 7-11am - toast variations and tea or coffe or Chinese teas (Y600-). Unfortunately the only food served in the evening is cake, but as a plus they do have Japanese craft beers. The second floor is available for parties. Five minutes walk from exit A4 of Jimbocho station, on the small street one block behind the main road leading to Suidobashi station. [Show more] [Show less]

Kanda Jimbocho 2-24. Open 7am-9pm; Sat. noon-9pm; Sun. noon-6pm. Open every day.

The curry sauce here is scrumptious, with a natural fruit sweetness, well-balanced spices and complex flavors. The entrance is through a used bookstore - take the far right-hand aisle. The curry sauce here is scrumptious, with a natural fruit sweetness, well-balanced spices and complex flavors. There aren't many mixed-ingredient options, but the shrimp, clam and chicken was quite good, with plump shrimps and juicy, flavorful clams. It also came with button mushrooms, almonds and a sprig of watercress on top - a nice touch - plus umeboshi and a couple of sweet and delicious potatoes on the side.

The entrance is through a used bookstore - take the far right-hand aisle. Bondy gets extra points in our book for being open all afternoon. Prices average around Y1500, and take-out is available. [Show more] [Show less]

Kanda Jimbocho 2-3, Kosho Center 2F. Open 11am-10pm daily.

This famous, highly rated Japanese curry shops serves just four varieties - chicken, beef, vegetable and shrimp - plus combinations. Portions are large, and prices start at Y880.

Kanda Ogawamachi 3-10-6. Open 11am-10:30pm daily.

This original branch of the pioneering Belgian beer bar chain is spread out over three very narrow floors, with cozy seating niches. There's a small food menu and a very good selection of beers.

Kanda Ogawamachi 3-16-1. Open 5:30pm-2am (5:30-11pm Sat.). Closed Sundays and holidays.

Jusanya is a small neighborhood yakitoriya with above-average chicken and an unusual sake selection. The sake list isn't huge, but it's deeper than usual, with two or three varieties of some small kura. There's also a separate shochu list. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Kanda Ogawamachi 2-4. Open 11:30am-1:30, 5:30 to closing. Closed Sundays.

Good imported German beers, sausages and other German fare, from the management of German Farm Grill (in Shibuya). The three-story bar is warm and comfortable, especially the spacious third-floor area.

Kanda Surugadai 3-1. (on Hongo-dori a couple blocks north of Yasukuni-dori) Open 10:30am-11:30pm. Closed Sundays.

Probably Tokyo's most famous soba shop, located in a beautiful antique Japanese house with woodblock prints on the wall.

Kanda Awajicho 2-10. Open 11:30am-7:30pm (LO) daily.

One of Tokyo's culinary landmarks, they've been serving the same excellent chicken nabe for nearly 120 years. The chicken is slow-cooked over an old-fashioned charcoal burner in front of you while you relax with a cup of sake in your private tatami room. Dinner is around Y6,000 and reservations are highly recommended, although occasionally they might be able to squeeze you in if you're willing to wait.

Kanda Sudacho 1-15. Open 11:30am-8pm (LO). Closed Sundays and holidays.

The off-the shelf snack-bar decor here is perked up by a cozy counter bar with five seats and twelve taps dispensing some of Japan's best microbrew beers. The small menu includes a few good chicken dishes, including raw chicken with pungent wasabi, plus the usual sausages, potatoes, etc. One of the oldest Japanese microbrew bars, Kura Kura was located in Shimo-Kitazawa for ten years before their move to Kanda. No smoking.

Kajicho 1-4-6, Tokyo Kanda Bldg. 3F. Open 5-11:30pm. Closed Sundays.

Beers from around the world and convenient late-night hours.

Kanda Kajimachi 3-7-8. Open 6pm-1am (to 4am Fri, 12m Sat.). Closed Sundays.

Unlike most yoshokuya, the decor here won't make you sigh with nostalgia - the dining room is done up in a tasteful pastel color scheme from the current century. Chef Suzuki is a veteran of the famous Dom Pierre yoshoku establishment, and the menu also covers standards like hayashi rice and rice omelettes, and even offers tasting menus at Y5,000 and Y10,000. Loup de Mer proves that good yoshoku cuisine needn't be stuck in a time warp. Our lunchtime Hokkaido beef curry (Y1100) was accompanied by a very appetizing salad of head cheese and red-cabbage slivers. The hunks of beef were tender, lean and very flavorful, beautifully complemented by the curry sauce, rich but with a bracing tanginess. The soft but still slightly crunchy deep-red pickles were excellent, with an almost cherry-like flavor.

Unlike most yoshokuya, the decor here won't make you sigh with nostalgia - the dining room is done up in a tasteful pastel color scheme from the current century. Chef Suzuki is a veteran of the famous Dom Pierre yoshoku establishment, and the menu also covers standards like hayashi rice and rice omelettes, and even offers tasting menus at Y5,000 and Y10,000. [Show more] [Show less]

Uchi-Kanda 2-14-3. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-8:30pm (LO; -6 Sun). Closed Mondays.

A funky, art-filled basement bar serving Japanese craft beers, single-malt whiskies and an inexpensive food menu. There are five regular beers on draft (including Shiga-Kogen pale ale) plus a couple of guest taps and several more by the bottle.

Uchi-Kanda 3-13-10, Green Bldg B1F. Open 6pm-1am (Fri -4am) daily.

This large traditional coffeeshop plays classical music and specializes in European curries and espresso. Curries include scallops and several other seafood variations along with the usual beef, pork and chicken, but it's not as easy to put together your own combination as at some other places. This large traditional coffeeshop plays classical music and specializes in European curries and espresso. Curries include scallops and several other seafood variations along with the usual beef, pork and chicken, but it's not as easy to put together your own combination as at some other places.

We tried the mix of shrimp, asari clams and chicken, which had juicy shrimp and nice mushrooms, but the hot (karakuchi) version was just a little too fiery to let us appreciate the subtleties of the spices - we'd recommend sticking to the mild setting. The boiled potatoes were sweet and very tasty, but our smoked salmon and endive salad was overly ambitious. Curries are priced Y1100-1700. [Show more] [Show less]

Uchi-Kanda 3-6-14, 2F. Open 11am-10pm (Sat -8pm). Closed Sundays.

Excellent, authentic Korean fare from the Chanto group (Daidaiya, Chanto), including an unusual menu of Korean robata-style meats and vegetables from the charcoal grill. [Go to branch review]

Kanda Sakumamachi 2-13-3, Y's Tower B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-11:30pm (LO) daily.

This "Gourmet New York dining" restaurant is inspired by the food market of the same name in Manhattan, and the menu focuses on casual American fare like pizzas and pastas (including macaroni and cheese!), some nice spicy gumbo, grilled burgers and barbecue ribs. They also serve breakfast (from 7am weekdays), with choices like NY bagels and French toast. The menu is designed by British chef Ian Tozer, the man behind Roti American brasserie in Roppongi.

Kanda Hanaokacho 1-9, Atre Vie Akihabara 2F. Open 7am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Bombay offers a pretty good selection of curries (14 in all) plus items from the tandoori oven. Curries start at around Y1000. Most seating is around a big central counter, with some table seating as well.

Kanda Hanaokacho 1-9, Atre Vie Akihabara 3F. Open 11am-9pm (LO) daily.

The specialty of the house here is maguro (tuna) fresh from Misaki Fish Market in Miura, served as sushi, sashimi, or broiled or stewed. There's also plenty of other good seafood, along with seasonal dishes, sake and shochu. Budget around Y5000 for dinner with drinks, Y1000 for lunch.

Kanda Hanaokacho 1-9, Atre Vie Akihabara 4F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

This upscale izakaya chain is known for their stylish decor and their creative, original approach to cooking, with unusual dishes like cheese and sea bream spring rolls, and Kyoto vegetable salad topped with steamed pork. Drinks include a good selection of premium sake and shochu.

Kanda Hanaokacho 1-9, Atre Vie Akihabara 5F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Very close to Akihabara station, this bustling bar from the ubiquitous Hub chain is a convenient place for a casual drink and snack after a day of electronics shopping or manga browsing. They have their own brand of real ale as well as whiskey tasting sets, with inexpensive pub fare like shepherd's pie, fish and chips and fried mushrooms.

Kanda Sakumacho 1-6-5, Akiba Trim 5F. Open 11am-midnight daily.

The menu here features Okinawan standards and gourmet Sangenton pork dishes, along with a big selection of awamori spirits, all at reasonable prices. The decor is island-rustic, with big windows looking onto the street.

Kanda Sakumacho 1-6-5, Akiba Trim 5F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Good-quality Szechuan cooking, with full-course dinners from Y4800 and lunches from Y1000. The modern decor is pleasant enough, but the air can get smoky.

Soto-Kanda 1-18-18, Akihabara Ekimae Plaza Bldg 6F. Open 11am-10pm (LO; lunch to 3pm) daily.

Good Japanese-style curries and nice side dishes; they also have take-out for their most popular curries. Lunch till 3pm.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akiba Ichi 2F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

Rice and beans - specifically okayu (rice gruel) paired with many different beans (lentils, green beans, soybeans, fava beans, etc.) is the healthy-sounding niche menu at Beanz Heaven, which is run by the Kayu Santin chain. Okayu is Y580.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akiba Ichi 2F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

You'll find many variations of chazuke (rice with tea poured over it) at the sit-down counter, and deli-style Japanese side dishes available from the take-out corner.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akiba Ichi 2F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

This small cafeteria-style shop serves simple Japanese meals built around miso soup; the specials board lists five soups of the day, with different ingredients (combinations like bamboo shoots and cheese or spinach and nori) and different types of miso.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akiba Ichi 2F. Open 11am-11pm daily.

A cozy counter bar with a big selection of shochu, plus one-cup sake from all over the country. For food they serve small, inexpensive side dishes including many Kyoto home-style items.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akiba Ichi 3F. Open 11am-2, 5-11pm daily.

You'll find high-quality skewered morsels that are deep-fried with a light touch here, and ordering is simple - just tell them when to stop. (Don't worry, you can specify in advance any ingredients you can't eat.) Some highlights are the crunchy prawns, the Berkshire pork and the large asparagus spears, and Momo no Shizuku sake from Kyoto stands up to the fried flavors. Budget around Y4000-4500 for a filling meal with drinks.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akiba Ichi 3F. Open 4-11pm daily.

A massive "food entertainment" space with five areas serving Japanese, French, Italian and Oriental cuisines (plus a bar area). Budget around Y4000 at dinnertime, Y1000 for lunch.

Soto-Kanda 4-14-1, Akihabara UDX 4F. Open 11am-3, 5-10pm (LO) daily.