Japanese

Sushi Ishiyama

3 Chome-3-6 Ginza, Japan· Visited June 2026

Sushi Ishiyama ended up on our list after a tip from a friend, and I'm really glad we went. In a city like Tokyo, where there are more sushi places than you could get through in a lifetime, a personal recommendation from someone you trust…

Kitchen Nankai Jinbocho

Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0051, Japan· €· Visited June 2026

A proper working-man's lunch in Tokyo: long line, fast pace and a dark, rich curry that does exactly what it should.

Sometimes you just want a really good plate of katsu curry, made by a place that has been doing it for a long time and knows exactly what it's doing. That's how I ended up at Kitchen Nankai in Jinbocho. The place is best known for exactly…

Sumibi Yakiniku Nakahara

〒102-0085 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Rokubancho, 4-3, ＧＥＭＳ市ヶ谷 ９F· Visited June 2026

Wagyu, charcoal and a seat at the bar. Yakiniku in Tokyo where every bite feels carefully considered.

Yakiniku is one of my favorite things to eat in Japan, and Tokyo has an incredible number of places to choose from. Sumibi Yakiniku Nakahara is on the ninth floor of the GEMS building in Ichigaya, Chiyoda, a little way from the most…

Sowado

1 Chome-12-15 Hiroo, Japan· Visited June 2026

Behind an anonymous facade in Tokyo hides one of those izakayas you keep talking about long afterwards. Sowado is a small place with great care, and an evening here truly left its mark. Tokyo is full of places that look like nothing from…

GINZA TONKATSU SAITO

7 Chome-14-14 Ginza, Japan· €€€· Visited June 2026

A basement restaurant in Ginza where several varieties of tonkatsu and fried vegetables delivered top quality all the way through.

We went to Ginza Tonkatsu Saito with a simple goal: to try their tonkatsu. It was full when we arrived, but instead of sending us away, they arranged a table for an hour later. We said yes, left for a while and came back. It was absolutely…

Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo Kanda Honten

Chiyoda City, Tokyo 101-0044, Japan· €€· Visited June 2026

Powerful miso ramen in Kanda where you choose the chili heat and tingling Sichuan pepper separately.

Sometimes the reason is simple. I love Sichuan pepper and that distinctive tingling, almost numbing sensation it gives, and that's exactly what Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo is known for. So the choice wasn't hard. When we got there, the…

Tonari Ramen

Stockholm, Sweden· €€· Visited May 2026

Tonari Ramen on Södermalm is a really nice spot for anyone who likes ramen. The restaurant has a relaxed and welcoming feel, and the staff is sharp, attentive, and friendly. The service flows well and the food arrives quickly, making for a…

MamaWolf

Stockholm, Sweden· €€· Visited May 2026

One of the better ramen restaurants in Sweden. It is a small and cozy place with fantastic ramen and a consistent quality that remains high every time. Lunch fills up quickly, so it's smart to be here right when they open. There are often…

Miyakodori

Stockholm, Sweden

Kushiage Bar Joukigen 居酒屋 串揚げバル じょうきげん

Tokyo, Japan· €€· Visited June 2026

A small, genuine izakaya serving kushiage, plenty of vegetable skewers and an owner who sets the tone.

Some of the best places in Tokyo aren't at street level. Kushiage Bar Joukigen is tucked away in a basement space in Shinjuku, the kind of place you could easily walk past if you didn't know what you were looking for. Good to know in…

West Gate Iron Plate

〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 8 Chome−2−11 ニュー銀座ビル 11号館, B1· €€· Visited June 2026

A small basement restaurant in Tokyo where the chef cooks okonomiyaki and dumplings on the griddle in front of you.

Getting to West Gate Iron Plate is almost a little expedition in itself. The restaurant is in a basement in Ginza, and there are no clear signs showing you where to go. The entrance is also a bit hidden, so it feels more like tracking down…

Mochi Buta Tonkatsu Taiyo

3 Chome-22-7 Koyama, Japan· €€· Visited June 2026

A small, cozy tonkatsu spot in Tokyo where the pork tenderloin is worth the wait in the queue.

Mochi Buta Tonkatsu Taiyo – the gem for tonkatsu in Shinagawa Tonkatsu is one of those Japanese dishes that's easy to make okay and hard to make really well, so when I found my way to Mochi Buta Tonkatsu Taiyo in the Koyama area of…