10 Must-Have Culinary Experiences in Tokyo

There are many reasons to visit Tokyo, but the food is up there right at the top of the list. Recently on Electrify Mag, where I contribute as a Travel Editor, I featured my pick of the very best culinary experiences to have in the city. Here’s a little peek…

Regarded by many as one of the world’s epi-centres of dining, Tokyo is a mecca for food lovers, many of who fly into Japan’s capital with the sole intent of eating their way around the city. From the freshest sushi in the largest fish market in the world to the atmospheric izakayas lining the tiny backstreets, here’s our pick on the best culinary experiences to have in Tokyo.

1. Best sushi in the world

If you think you’ve had good sushi, it’s nothing compared to what awaits you in Japan. With over 5,000 sushi restaurants in Tokyo, sushi isn’t just a favourite cuisine; it’s a way of life. From tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurants in the Tsukiji Fish Market to conveyer belt sushi trains, there’s as much variety in sushi as there is in the number of sushi restaurants scattered across the city. The popular Umegaoka Sushi no Midori in posh Ginza is a favourite with locals who happily queue in anticipation of a generous yet reasonably priced sushi set of exceptional freshness.

Umegaoka Sushi no Midori, 7-10-8 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0061

2. Wagyu steak with the best views in Tokyo

For an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates Tokyo in all of its magnificence, reserve a table at Salvatore Cuomo Bros. La Griglia at XEX Atago Green Hills. Located on the 42^nd floor of the Mori Tower in Minato-ku, the spectacular views of the glittering Tokyo skyline with Mt. Fuji in the distance will almost be as impressive as the meal itself. Almost. Expertly fusing Japanese and Italian ingredients, a meal here won’t be one easily forgotten.

To sample the best that Salvatore Cuomo Bros. La Griglia has to offer, we recommend ordering the full tasting course. Settle in with a glass of Moet champagne before ordering an appetizer plate (the yellowtail tuna is to die for). As a second course, the homemade tagliolini with fresh sea urchin and tomato sauce is perfectly delicate and the Okinawan wagyu beef fillet with truffle sauce and wasabi as a main is melt-in-your-mouth, next level perfection. The dessert sampler of orange sorbet, tiramisu and yuzu coulis is the perfect palate cleanser to finish with as you linger over the sparkling city views below.

Salvatore Cuomo Bros. La Griglia, XEX Atago Green Hills, 2-5-1 Atago Minato, Tokyo 105-6290

3. Slurp Tokyo’s distinctive Tsukemen ramen

In Japan, each region (and indeed, each shop) has its own distinctive take on the country’s most popular fast food, ramen, and Tsukemen ramen is Tokyo’s specialty. For a bowl of this unique variety, head to one of Tokyo’s most popular ramen eateries, Rokurinsha, which can actually be found inside Tokyo station in the famed ‘Ramen Street’. This is not any ordinary bowl of noodles. The broth, rich, thick and distinctively fishy flavoured, is served in a separate bowl to the firm, thick noodles, which are at a cooler temperature compared to standard ramen. Dip, slurp, repeat. Our tip is to line up before 11am before the queue grows enormously (it’s that popular) with the lunch rush.

Rokurinsha, Tokyo Station Ichibangai B1, Tokyo Ramen Street 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0005

Head on over to Electrify Mag to read the rest, which includes the Tsukiji fish market, cosy, dark izakayas and gyoza in all its glory!

Have you been to Tokyo? Share your favourite foodie experiences in the comments below!