A Culinary Tour of Tokyo, Japan

Steeped in tradition, yet hip and modern with a stunning skyline, the vibrant metropolis that is Tokyo is so exotic it will blow your mind away. Its obsession with food and perfection has earned it many awards. Tokyo was named culinary capital of the world by Michelin Guide in November 2008 when its Tokyo Guide awarded the city with a total of 227 stars, more than any other city in the world. With such accolades, you can be assured of a fabulous meal with impeccable service when dining at any one of these restaurants. But there is more to the dining scene than Michelin-starred restaurants. Tokyo is dotted with a myriad of restaurants with different price ranges, at every street corner.

Eating Japanese food can be daunting if you are not familiar with the food. Fortunately, there is usually a display of the food at the window in most Japanese restaurants, so you have an idea of what you will be getting. With an open mind and the willingness to try the amazing array of foods offered in Tokyo, you just may be pleasantly surprised!

Sushi/Sashimi
Sushi is raw fish rolled with rice and almost always wrapped in dried seaweed, while sashimi is raw fish cut in thin slivers, served with rice separately.

You cannot find fresher sushi or sashimi than at the Tsukiji fish market. This is the wholesale fish market that springs into action when it starts auctioning off its seafood. The market has become very popular with both foreign and Japanese tourists, so check the website for details before visiting. The outer market (jogai-shijo) is lined with food vendors selling all kinds of food, from raw fish to fried fish cake, to grilled unagi (eel) to ramen noodles.

Sushi-Dai
Tsukiji Fish Market
Telephone: 03-3547-6797
Subway station: Tsukiji

Daiwa Sushi
Fish-market sushi bar.
Building 6, 5-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku
Telephone: 03-3547-6807.

Yakitori, Tonkatsu, Tempura
Not a fan of raw fish? No problem. There are plenty of restaurants serving Yakitori (grill meat on a skewer), tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) or Tempura (vegetables that are battered and deep fried, served with a dipping soy-type sauce).

Maisen Tonkatsu
4-8-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Telephone: 03-3470-0071.

Tonki
1-1-2 Shimo Meguro
Telephone: 03-3491-9928
Subway station: Meguro

Noodles
These ubiquitous noodles restaurants can be found at every street corner, and in and around train stations. Like their Chinese cousin, there are many varieties. Soba are buckwheat noodles, served hot or cold, udon are thicker noodles. Then there's ramen (served in different types of broth) and somen (cold summer noodles). These quick meals are fairly inexpensive, and on a cold winter day, noodle soups are downright comforting.

Kyushu Jangara Ramen
1-13-21 Jingu-mae, 2nd floor,
Shibuya-ku; telephone: 03-3779-3660;
Subway station: Harajuku.

Kanda Yabu Soba
2-10 Awajicho, Chiyoda-ku
Telephone: 03 3251 0187
www.yabusoba.net

To round up your culinary tour of Tokyo, head to the basement of some flagship department stores (Matsuya and Mitsukoshi in the Ginza area, Takashimaya Times Square in Shinjuku). There are food courts and grocery stores, where you can sample all kinds of goodies, from delectable concoctions like green tea ice cream and yummy desserts made with red beans (also known as azuki beans). Have a blast!