Open from 11am-11pm daily, this Tokyo outlet of a popular Oregon breakfast restaurant is popular for their gourmet pancakes, which come in variations like Banana-Chocolate Chip with Raspberry Jam, and Roast Mushrooms, Scallions and Cheddar Cheese. They also offer original breakfast dishes like Slappy Benedict (with sauteed spinach, prosciutto, pureed roast garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes) and Vegetable Scramble (squash, leeks, kale and blue cheese). Gourmet pancakes are the big draw at this popular Oregon-based breakfast restaurant, where they come in interesting variations like Banana-Chocolate Chip with Raspberry Jam; and Roast Mushrooms, Scallions and Cheddar Cheese. In fact you're encouraged to devise your own custom combination of sweet or savory ingredients, ten optional toppings (lemon-curd, whipped-cream), and choice of batter (buttermilk, whole-grain or peanut-butter).

If you're not in a pancake mood, they also put together original concoctions like their Slappy Benedict (with sauteed spinach, prosciutto, pureed roast garlic, sun-dried tomatoes) and Vegetable Scramble (squash, leeks, kale, blue cheese), plus more meaty choices like the Slider Plate (spicy mini-burgers) and country-fried steak.

The Pork-belly Benedict comes in a decent-sized double-muffin configuration, along with a generous helping of roast potatoes. The flavorful pork-belly confit is complemented by tart cider-marinated cabbage strips and a creamy Hollandaise sauce livened up with bacon fat. The potatoes are properly roasted, resulting in crisp skins and soft centers.

Slappy Cakes' blintzes make a nice dessert after a savory main - they're filled with tangy, custard-like lemon-cream cheese, dusted with powdered sugar, and buried under a seasonal fruit topping (ours was a sweet blueberry jam). The drinks menu offers assorted brunch-friendly cocktails - Apple Toddy, Lavender Fizz, Marypolitan - as well as wines and amber ale from Oregon. Espresso is churned out by serious-looking Italian-made machinery.

The decor has an updated American-diner feel to it - spacious counter, Formica-top tables and a handful of large booths equipped with pancake griddles. The soundtrack is mainly 1940s vocal jazz (Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra) with a bit of R&B thrown in.

Because of its department-store location the restaurant doesn't open until 11am, but breakfast is served all day from then until 10pm. [Show more] [Show less]

Shinjuku 3-38-1, Lumine EST Shinjuku 7F. Open 11am-10pm (LO) daily.

Beacon's popular Sunday brunch menu includes dishes like Eggs Florentine with crisp prosciutto; three-egg omelette of the day; Scottish "Loche Fyne" organic smoked salmon and bagel; Australian sirloin steak with eggs; and vanilla custard almond French toast. Very filling brunch platters are priced Y2600-3300, and include toast or croissants, fresh fruit and coffee.

Shibuya 1-2-5. Open 11:30am-3, 6-10pm (LO) daily.

The former chef from the New York Grill (Park Hyatt) has teamed up with veterans from the Oak Door (Grand Hyatt) to create a glitzy new dining destination in central Aoyama. The spacious dining room has an open kitchen and comfortable booths looking out over the Aoyama-dori fashion parade; there's also terrace seating in the bar area.

Kita-Aoyama 3-11-7, AO Building 5F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-10:30pm (LO) daily.

Sunday brunch is served from 9am to noon and includes an appetizer and main course, champagne, coffee and dessert for Y1,900, along with fresh bread and pastries from the popular bakery downstairs. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Minami-Aoyama 5-1-26. Open 8am-9pm (LO) daily.

The Westin's spacious lobby restaurant is known for their lavish lunch and weekend brunch buffets, plus a breakfast spread (Y3600) from 6:30-10:30am. Weekend brunch is served Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, noon-4pm, and is Y5500 per person. Some outdoor seating is available.

Meguro-ku, Mita 1-4-1, Westin Hotel 1F. Open 6:30am-11:30pm daily.

Excellent Hawaiian seafood with intriguing Asian influences - there's plenty of Pacific Rim cuisine in Tokyo, but somehow Roy's manages to stay unique. There's also a decent selection of New World wines to go with the food, and a popular weekend brunch (Y3500, or Y7000 with champagne and wine open bar).

Roppongi 6-10-1, Roppongi Hills Westwalk 511c. Open 11am-3, 5:30-10:30pm (LO) daily.

The Grand Hyatt's spacious brasserie restaurant has a dramatic open kitchen and outdoor terrace seating. The popular weekend brunch (Y6300+10%) is served from 11:30am-3pm, and comes with a glass of champagne, a choice of main course and a big buffet with eggs cooked to order, French toast, smoked salmon, Parma ham and numerous salads and desserts. The main course options include substantial fare like Australian beef fillet; roast duck breast with duck confit; roast guineau fowl and sauteed scallops. If you're an early riser and in the mood for something more breakfasty, lavish Western- and Japanese-style breakfasts are served 7-10:30am for Y3700. The Grand Hyatt's spacious brasserie restaurant has a dramatic open kitchen and outdoor terrace seating. The popular weekend brunch (Y6300+10%) is served from 11:30am-3pm, and comes with a glass of champagne, a choice of main course and a big buffet with eggs cooked to order, French toast, smoked salmon, Parma ham and numerous salads and desserts. The main course options include substantial fare like Australian beef fillet; roast duck breast with duck confit; roast guineau fowl and sauteed scallops.

If you're an early riser and in the mood for something more breakfasty, lavish Western- and Japanese-style breakfasts are served 7-10:30am for Y3700. [Show more] [Show less]

Roppongi 6-10-3, Grand Hyatt 2F. Open 6:30am-10pm (LO) daily.

The weekend brunch menu at 37 offers hearty breakfast items and meatier fare like roast beef sandwiches and good Australian Angus steaks (Y1900 for 120g; Y2800 for 200g). The All American Breakfast (Y1300) includes eggs any style and thick slabs of bacon, sauteed mushrooms and terrific banana bread, while the Kids' Plate (Y1000) is quite substantial in size, with both a burger and a nice helping of macaroni bolognese, plus juice and ice cream. Drinks include Toshi's IPA microbrew beer on tap. The spacious dining area is bright and cheerful, with an outdoor terrace for warm-weather use.

Roppongi 6-15-1, Keyakizaka-dori 2F. Open 11am-2:30, 5:30-10:30pm (LO) daily.

It's hard finding a good breakfast in Tokyo outside of the international hotels, but this Roppongi Hills cafe delivers the goods. The breakfast/brunch menu is a mix of European and international influences - freshly made souffles, French-style omelettes, croissants, custom-made salads and buttermilk pancakes. The afternoon/evening menus are a mix of French bistro and international fare - pork rillettes, duck confit, beef-cheek pot-au-feu, falafel croquettes, roast beetroot with goat cheese. Beverages include fancy cocktails, fruit smoothies, and moderately priced wines. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Roppongi 6-15-1, Keyakizaka-dori 1F. Open 7am-10pm (LO) daily.

This "American brasserie" serves an a la carte brunch menu from 11:30 to 5pm every Saturday and Sunday, including Eggs Benedict and other breakfast dishes.Superb, inventive American cuisine from noted Tokyo chef Ian Tozer, built around a deceptively casual menu - rotisserie chicken, grilled meats and fish, substantial salads, and a few regional specialties. All this plus a great boutique wine list, popular all-day brunch on weekends, a smoke-free dining room, and patio seating during the warmer months, in this "modern American brasserie". [Show more] [Show less]

Roppongi 6-6-9, Piramide Bldg. 1F. Open 11am-2, 6-10:30pm (LO) daily.

The staff and clientele are a melting pot of nationalities, but the food is all-American. The brunch menu features classics like Eggs Benedict, country-style pancakes, and steak and eggs (Y2200, Y1700, Y2400), and the food can be washed down with a bottomless cup of coffee (Y600). This bustling American eatery brings the buzz of weekend brunch in Manhattan to Tokyo. The interior, simply decorated with black-and-white photos of New York and slim cab-yellow lamps, makes use of the large windows at the front of the restaurant to create an open feel; in the warmer months, customers spill out onto the deck to dine al fresco.

During brunch hours (from 9-4 on Saturdays and 10-4 on Sundays), the place is packed, and, between her frequent trips to Seoul, owner Suji Park can be seen flitting about the dining room, delivering orders and flashing a brilliant smile.

The staff and clientele are a melting pot of nationalities, but the food is all-American. The brunch menu features classics like Eggs Benedict, country-style pancakes, and steak and eggs (Y2200, Y1700, Y2400), and the food can be washed down with a bottomless cup of coffee (Y600).

Portions are enormous. The omelets are as big as your face, and eating the Jason Burger (Y1700) - stacked with bacon, cheese, and fried onions - requires careful strategy. The New York cheesecake topped with blueberry sauce is decadently dense, and should probably not be consumed by one person alone. Drinks are half price from 5-7 on weekdays during Happy Hour. [Show more] [Show less]

Azabudai 3-1-5. Open 11am-4, 6-10pm (LO) daily.

Bacon, sausages and beef brisket from the White Smoke's smoker are featured in their weekend breakfast dishes. The Classic American (Y2500) is a tour de force - eggs, bacon, sausage, roast tomato, pancakes, warm potato salad, and choice of beverage. Other popular items include Biscuits and Gravy (with eggs and bacon); Steak and Eggs (beef brisket, eggs, toast); Yogurt Pancakes (with fresh-fruit topping and bacon); and Texas Breakfast Burritos. Served both Saturday and Sunday, 9am-2pm. Billing itself as a traditional Texas smokehouse, White Smoke offers a good selection of Texas barbecue-style dishes - beef brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, turkey breast, pork chops, chicken and burgers. Owner-pitmaster Craig White was born in Texas, and learned his craft at Louie Mueller's BBQ in Taylor, Texas. A former engineer, he designed for himself a serious, 1.8-ton upright smoker that was custom-built in the US and shipped to Tokyo.

The premium-quality meats used here are all sourced from the US, and are cooked in a traditional "low and slow" style for up to fifteen hours. The slow cooking approach results in very tender and juicy meats - the brisket in particular is a favorite. Meats are complemented by a smoky, tomato-based barbecue sauce that's mild enough not to overpower the individual meat flavors.

The menu's side dishes, while traditionally inspired, are much fancier than what you'd find in a Texas BBQ joint. The cole slaw features diced apples, poppy seeds and a hint of anise, while the flaky, lard-infused buttermilk biscuits are served with a delicious molasses butter. Other side options include five mushrooms sauteed with a five-peppercorn mix; roast shallots with watercress; and a very tasty version of that old standby, pork and beans.

The wine list offers several good choices in the Y4000-7000 range, plus some special bottles for celebratory occasions. There are ten wines by the glass, plus a couple of excellent US microbrews from legendary breweries like Bear Republic and Southern Tier. The upstairs main dining room is spacious and comfortable; next to it is a small private dining room, and downstairs is the open kitchen area, flanked by a twelve-seat counter. Budget around Y5000-6000 for dinner with a few drinks; lunches start in the Y1000 range. [Show more] [Show less]

Moto-Azabu 3-11-2. Open 11:30am-3, 6-10:30pm (LO). Closed Tuesdays.

It's hard to miss brunch here no matter how late you were out the night before - weekend brunch is served until 6pm, and includes Danish specialties like the Fishplate (smoked eel, pickled herring, shrimps with dill and marinated salmon; Y2300 with one drink) as well as Eggs Benedict, quiche and kippers.

Roppongi 7-3-22. Open 11:30am-11pm (LO) daily.

It's not exactly brunch, but the popular Sunday Lunch service features a three-course prix-fixe menu for Y6800, or you can upgrade to Y8800 with four wines or Y9800 with free-flowing Champagne. Five choices each of starter and main include dishes like green-bean soup with tiger prawns; roast duck salad with beetroot and toasted hazelnuts; and a fantastic Middle-Eastern-influenced roast lamb with cous cous and eggplant puree. British celeb chef Gordon Ramsay's first restaurant in Japan serves the Conrad Tokyo luxury hotel in Shiodome. Prix-fixe menus of Ramsay's impressive modern French cuisine run Y15,500 at dinnertime (or Y21,350 with wines).

The a la carte menu features dishes like "oven-roasted pigeon wrapped in prosciutto with foie gras, confit of legs, mushroom ragout, prune puree and almond foam" (Y7800), and "Open ravioli of crab and mango in chilled melon, mint and champagne soup" (Y3400). There are over thirty wines by the glass (from Y1000), with a handful of bottles under Y10,000 and far more in the Y10,000-20,000 range.

The popular Sunday Lunch service features a three-course prix-fixe menu for Y6800, or you can upgrade to Y8800 with four wines or Y9800 with free-flowing Champagne. Five choices each of starter and main include dishes like green-bean soup with tiger prawns; roast duck salad with beetroot and toasted hazelnuts; and a fantastic Middle-Eastern-influenced roast lamb with cous cous and eggplant puree. [Show more] [Show less]

Higashi-Shimbashi 1-9-1, Conrad Tokyo Hotel 28F. Open 11:30am-2, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

The weekend brunch here is quite popular, with combination platters featuring rotisserie chicken plus various egg dishes. Brunch also comes with a glass of wine or other beverage.

Marunouchi 2-4-1, Marunouchi Bldg. 5F. Open 11am-3, 5-10pm (LO) daily.

Weekend brunch menus from 11:30am-2pm start at Y3900 for the Healthy Brunch, or Y4900 for the appetizer buffet plus one main dish and dessert.

Marunouchi 1-11-1, Pacific Century Place. Open 6:30-10:30am, 11:30-2:30, 5:30-10pm daily.

The popular Y6,600 Sunday "Champagne Brunch" at Trader Vic's features all the sparkling wine you can drink.

Kioicho 4-1, Hotel New Otani 4F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5pm-12:30am (LO) daily.

Weekend brunch at this bayside brewpub is served 11:30am-3pm.This bayside brewpub features some of the most exciting food in town - well-centered modern American cuisine drawing from European, middle Eastern and Asian influences.

Service is attentive but also personal. The stylishly decorated dining room features an ever-changing art collection, and it's positively cavernous (by Tokyo standards) and mostly tobacco-free. There's also an outdoor terrace looking out over a picturesquely urban canal, with heating in winter.

The Y980 sampler of four microbrew beers is a fun way to start off, but don't neglect the excellent wine list, which offers very good values at every price level. Dinner with drinks ranges from Y4,000-Y8,000 per person. [Show more] [Show less]

Higashi-Shinagawa 2-1-3, Bond Street. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm (LO) daily.

Weekend brunch (served 10am-4pm) offers omelets, pancakes, German sausages, barbecued spare ribs and interesting sandwiches.

Nakane 2-3-15. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5-11pm. Closed Mondays.

With its Francophile name and decor, this Ebisu hideaway has all the trappings of a French bistro, but it's one of the best places for dim sum in the city. Incongruous though this must seem, once you step through the heavy wooden door, there will be no mistaking the delicious aroma of authentic Hong-Kong style Chinese cuisine. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Ebisu-Nishi 1-19-6. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:20-10pm (LO) daily.

Nothing stimulates the appetite like the words "all-you-can-eat dim sum," and the Grand Hyatt's Chinaroom certainly succeeds in satisfying. Choose from a selection of thirty dim sum items plus desserts for a reasonable Y4200 (lunch only, until 2:30 on weekdays and 3:30 on weekends). The tasty morsels are served in pairs, so it's possible for a party of two to sample the entire menu. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Roppongi 6-10-3, Grand Hyatt 6F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 6-10pm daily.

Though some may think that good dim sum is synonymous with brightly lit, noisy dining rooms and plastic tablecloths, we've found that style and substance coexist harmoniously at Sense. The dim sum experience at this Michelin-starred Contemporary Cantonese restaurant is impeccably refined, yet far from staid or sterile. [See FULL REVIEW.]

Nihonbashi Muromachi 2-1-1, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo 38F. Open 11:30am-2:30, 5:30-10pm daily.