Sumibi Yakiniku Nakahara
Featuring tasting menus with wagyu beef – including interesting cuts like tongue and offal – this modern restaurant grills their meat over charcoal. The highlights of the meal included the beef tartare, wagyu katsu sando, and the gyudon. Service was impeccable and all the meats were super high quality. Splurge for the premium tasting menu, which comes with their famous beef tongue.

Shibuya Sushi Gotoku
We had an absolutely fantastic omakase at Shibuya Sushi Gotoku. It’s a very small and intimate space, with only seating for 8-10 people at the counter. The chef was skillful and it was a delight to watch him work. We were served a series of small plates before moving onto the sushi portion of the meal. All the sushi was fantastic, super fresh and very well curated. I especially loved the two uni courses that we were served. If you’re looking for an intimate omakase that won’t break the bank, this is the spot for you.

Tsukiji Outer Market
While Tsukiji Market has moved locations, the outer market with all the food and ingredient vendors still remains in their original location. Go in the early morning, before the crowds descend, and you can buy some amazing food ingredients and snacks. Start off with a delightful matcha from Matcha Stand Maruni and end your trip with a glorious chirashi bowl at Tsukijiro. Finish with a sweet Strawberry Daifuku at any of the dessert stalls. You will not be disappointed no matter which alleyway you walk down.

Toufuya Ukai
Located near the base of Tokyo Tower, Toufuya Ukai specializes in homemade tofu dishes, served in a traditionally Japanese-style setting. The private dining rooms feature gorgeous tatami mat floors and after dinner, you can take a stroll through their beautiful Japanese garden. We were served a set menu with small appetizers, followed by their signature Tosui Tofu, or tofu served in warm seasoned soy milk. Service was super attentive and it was a very unique experience.

Rakeru
Rakeru is a chain restaurant founded in 1963 and features a Western-influenced Japanese menu. Their most popular dish is Omurice, but they also serve other delicious dishes such as Doria, which is a baked rice gratin, and Hamburg steak, a meatloaf-like meat patty. I adore doria’s so that’s exactly where I had. It was absolutely delicious, gooey with cheese and super creamy. They are famous for their baked bread, which was warm and fluffy.

Crony
Crony is a 2-Michelin star restaurant that prides itself on a farm-to-table and sustainability approach to fine dining. Crony’s chef, Michihiro Haruta, blends together French, Scandinavian and North American techniques with local Japanese ingredients to create a delightful partnership of flavors. The restaurant’s name refers to ‘friends who will drink tea together always’, which refers to the circle of guests, staff, and local food producers. We had a phenomenal tasting menu here, with key highlights being Potato Souffle with Truffle, Nasturtium with Sea Urchin, Shimatanto beer Wagyu, and the Mango Egg Pudding. The meal started and ended with tea from Ootsuka Tea. The leaves were then brewed a second and third time to be used as ingredients in other parts of the meal. Service was absolutely impeccable and we had an amazing last meal in Tokyo.