North side
A friendly, cozy little restaurant with good home-style Nepalese dishes. In addition to the curry selection there's a tandoori mixed platter (featuring chicken, sausage, fish tikka and prawn) for around Y2000.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-11-7, Yokose Bldg. B1F. Open 11am-10:30pm daily.
Touan (Izakaya). 0422-29-7660
Creative tofu dishes and excellent grilled chicken are the specialties here, and they're especially proud of their tofu dumplings. The sake list is small but well-chosen, with seasonal specials. Around Y3500 for dinner with drinks.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-16-17, Westside Array B1F. Open 11:30am-2, 5-11:30pm (LO) daily.
A very relaxing place to enjoy Japanese curry - there's jazz on the stereo, art on the walls and cute knickknacks on the wooden shelves. Curries include a lot of vegetables and a nice rich roux, and are priced Y850-1000.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-18-15. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Home-style cooking, plus "Thai sukiyaki." Lunch served weekends only.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-2-10. Open 5-10pm (LO). Closed some Tuesdays.
This branch of JR's Atre shopping complex offers a sprawling, rather impressive food hall, on a par with Shinjuku department-store food floors.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-1-24. Open 10am-9pm daily.
Coffee, wireless internet access and good food from the popular Wired Cafe chain.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-1-24, Atre Kichijoji 2F. Open 10am-10pm daily.
You'll find high-quality fish at affordable prices (Y3000-5000 with a few drinks) at this popular mid-priced chain, but you may have to wait on line during peak hours.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-1-24, Atre Kichijoji B1F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Rikyu (Yoshoku). 0422-23-8141
Good charcoal-grilled beef tongue from this Sendai-based chain. You'll also find beef-tongue curries, stews, sausages and other yoshoku-style dishes, along with regional sake from Miyagi Prefecture. A set menu with grilled tongue, curry, oxtail soup and salad is Y1575.
[Go to branch review] Kichijoji Minamicho 1-1-24, Atre Kichijoji B1F. Open 11am-10:30pm (LO) daily.
Authentic Georgian and Russian food is prepared by native chefs in this unpretentious basement cafe. Georgian- and Russian-themed set menus (Y3000-3200 for lunch or dinner) are a good introduction to the kitchen's most popular dishes. Authentic Georgian and Russian food is prepared by native chefs in this unpretentious basement cafe. Georgian- and Russian-themed set menus (Y3000-3200 for lunch or dinner) are a good introduction to the kitchen's most popular dishes.
The excellent Geogian menu starts with the wonderfully named "herring in a fur coat," a layered construction of beets, potatoes, finely diced herring fillets, eggs and carrots. Other apps are a spicy ratatouille-style ajapsandali and refreshing, lightly pickled cabbage, followed by khachapuri, a flaky pie stuffed with cheese.
The main event is tabaka - a big helping of garlicky roast chicken with crisp skin and succulent, juicy meat. We also enjoyed the eggplant with walnut paste and the kharcho (spicy beef) soup, but perhaps the thick, syrupy Georgian coffee is an acquired taste.
There's also an extensive a la carte menu, and lots to drink (Georgian wines, Russian vodkas). Y1000-range lunch specials are served until 5pm. [Show more] [Show less] Kichijoji-Honcho 1-4-10, Nine Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-10pm (LO) daily.
There are several Thai restaurants in the neighborhood, but this sprawling shop stands out for its comfortably laid-back, ethnic-cafe atmosphere. There's a menu of Thai standards along with plenty of desserts and exotic drinks, all at very reasonable prices.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-17-12. Open noon-2:30, 5-10:20pm (LO) daily.
An interesting miso and miso soup restaurant, with seasonal dishes like kimchee nabe and several varieties of cabbage rolls. Many dishes are vegetarian.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-15-2. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Excellent Scandinavian cooking from the former chef of Gamlastan in Kichijoji. Lunch starts at Y1500; dinner averages around Y4000 with drinks. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Kichijoji Honcho 2-28-1, Shibata Bldg. 2F. Open 11:30am-2, 6-9:30pm. Closed Mondays.
The atmosphere at this hidden-away third-floor walkup is comfortable and homey, with big sofas and mismatched chairs and white concrete-block walls. A TV and stereo sit in one corner and an old-fashioned Tokyo-apartment-style kitchen takes up the back wall. There's even a small tatami corner. The atmosphere at this hidden-away third-floor walkup is comfortable and homey, with big sofas and mismatched chairs and white concrete-block walls. A TV and stereo sit in one corner and an old-fashioned Tokyo-apartment-style kitchen takes up the back wall. There's even a small tatami corner.
Inexpensive wines from Chile, Yamanashi, and points between dominate the drinks list, along with numerous flavored coffees and assorted cocktails. (There's a one-drink minimum at dinnertime.) The food menu is small, simple and wholesome - a multi-bean and meat curry, a tasty pasta with cabbage, sun-dried tomatoes and sardines - everything priced well under Y1000. Downstairs on the second floor is sister shop Il Cappetit, more of a coffee and dessert type of place, with pastries to take out. [Show more] [Show less] Kichijoji Honcho 2-8-2-3F. Open noon-11pm daily.
A ramen shop by day, at night Rakuraku turns into a dining bar with music, drinks, and an inexpensive food menu. Daytime noodle specialties are tonkotsu ramen and tsukemen. Earlier hours on Monday evenings.
Kichijoji-Honcho 2-8-9. Open 11:30am-4:30, 5:30pm-1am daily.
Bicke (Beer bar). 0422-21-8775
This specialty beer bar features craft beers from around the world along with a rotating selection of Japanese microbrews. The food is fancier-than-average bar fare - fried chicken, Caesar salads, spareribs, a risotto of the day. There are several tables and a large counter bar, and the room is dominated by a big-screen TV.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-13-7, Grandale Bldg 3F. Open 5pm-midnight (from 1pm weekends). Closed Wednesdays.
Lunch Y1,800-6,000, dinner Y3,000-15,000.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-13-7, Grandale Bldg 4F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-9pm daily.
This branch of the famous Ogikubo honten serves classic Tokyo-style ramen in a shoyu soup that's made with dried sardines. The wonton-men is especially recommended.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-14-1. Open 11am-9pm. Closed Wednesdays.
One of the best of the tonkatsu chains, Kyoto-based Katsukura offers nice side dishes like yuba (tofu-skin) croquettes and excellent Kyoto-style pickles. And they're open all afternoon if you need a late lunch.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-3-1, Tokyu Dept. Store 9F. Open 11am-9:30pm (LO) daily.
Kichijoji Honcho 2-3-1, Tokyu Dept. Store 9F. Open 11am-3, 5-9pm (LO) daily.
A cute little cafe with snappy decor, free wifi and a simple, inexpensive food and drink menu.
Good, all-you-can-eat kushiage from this very popular Osaka-based chain. Pick your own skewers of fish, meat and vegetables from the counter and deep-fry them yourself at your table. Y2500 for two hours. There are also inexpensive all-you-can-drink plans to go with your meal.
Kichijoji Honcho 1-11-30, Daiya Palace Kichijoji 2F. Open 4-11pm daily.
Jazz nightly from 7pm, from Y1500. Check their
schedule for live events.
Kichijoji Honcho 1-11-31, Ishikawa Bldg. B1F. Open 7pm- daily.
Spicy chicken wings and yakitori; one of four Toriyoshi branches in the neighborhood.
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.
This small specialty bar offers the biggest selection of rums in Tokyo, with more than 400 varieties. They also stock 100 kinds of bourbon.
Ryukyu (Okinawan). 0422-21-6015
Mainly a place to drop in for an after-work drink of Okinawan awamori, they also have a full menu. The Okinawan soba is made from nice, roughly cut noodles and served in a peppery soup along with tasty stir-fried vegetables. Some of the other dishes can be a bit oily. The interior could best be described as "tropical kitsch," featuring seashell lamps and seashell beaded curtains.
Kichijoji Honcho 1-29-5, Sun Square 1F. (on a side street a few blocks behind Yodobashi Camera) Open 5pm-midnight daily.
Excellent, spicy Thai and Laotian food. Dinners Y2,500-5,000. [See
FULL REVIEW.]
Kichijoji Honcho 1-32-9, Motohashi Bldg. #202. Open 11:30am-2, 5-10pm (LO) daily.
South side
Healthy Japanese food with some vegetarian meals, and jazz on the sound system (it's named after Thelonious Monk, not the Buddhist variety).
Gotenyama 1-2-4. (southwest of the station) Open 11:30am-10pm (LO). Closed Wednesdays.
Spicy chicken wings are the specialty, but they have every other kind of chicken dish as well, from yakitori to chicken sashimi.
Set up to handle the overflow from the nearby main branch.
Holic (Beer bar). 0422-49-6638
An unpretentious basement bar stocking an excellent selection of craft beers from Japan (particularly Baird and Hitachino Nest) and around the world.
Nabe stews and other izakaya fare, served with sake or beer.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-4-1. Open 5-10:45pm (LO) daily.
Calico (Cat cafe). 0422-29-8353
One of Tokyo's largest cat cafes, with 28 felines to hang out with. Y900 for one hour; soft drinks are Y100-200.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-5-7, Yuki Bldg 4F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.
Thirty varieties of fantastic thin-crusted pizzas are ready to eat in or take out. The pizza makers trained in Naples, and they use a wood-burning pizza oven.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-17-1, Purejiru Bldg B1F. Open 11:30am-3:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.
A Kichijoji institution, more popular for its music, drinks and casually hip atmosphere than for the not-very-authentic Thai food.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-15-14, B1F. Open 5:30pm-12:30am (LO) daily.
Toneri (Izakaya). 0422-46-2818
Seasonal izakaya fare and gourmet oden, plus very impressive lists of shochu and sake.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-17-10, F&W Bldg. B1F. Open 5:30-11:30pm (LO) daily.
Inexpensive Vietnamese dishes.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-8-5, B1F. (downstairs from Tom Yum 2.) Open noon-3, 5-10pm (LO) daily.
Iseya (Yakitori). 0422-43-2806
The legendary yakitori shop at the entrance to Inokashira Park has been here forever (well, since 1928 anyway). It's an easy choice for a cold beer and some sticks of their popular grilled chicken after a day in the park.
Kichijoji Minamicho 1-15-8. Open noon-10pm daily.
The newest and fanciest Kichijoji branch of this excellent yakitoriya, at the entrance to Inokashira Park.
Popular with members of the African expat community, African Continent serves West African food and hosts regular concert nights. Menu suggestions include yam and fish soup, moimoi (tofu made from black eyed peas) and suiya (grilled mutton).
Kichijoji Minamicho 2-13-4, Unius Office One B103. Open 7pm-2am. Closed Mondays.
