Located in central Tokyo, Roppongi is best known for its vibrant nightlife featuring numerous bars, nightclubs, restaurants and entertainment joints. However, a visit to this commercial district is not limited to after the sun sets, as it is the hot spot for international cuisine in Tokyo. In fact, Roppongi is a popular place where foreigners hang out. Inject some fun and excitement into your travels to hunt for good food in Roppongi together with your travel mates. This article will guide you to 8 highly recommended restaurants in the vibrant district, which you can easily access via the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line.
1. Osobanokouga
In a gourmet paradise like Tokyo, it is of little surprise that you will find numerous restaurants listed under the Michelin guide. If you wish to visit one in Roppongi, but do not wish to break the bank for the meal, visit Osobanokouga (おそばの甲賀). Featured in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2015 edition as Bib Gourmand Restaurant, Osobanokouga is a compact 17-seat restaurant, specialising in soba dishes. The restaurant mills its own buckwheat flour with seeds bought directly from local farms.
Although Osobanokouga’s soba noodles are so famous it has attracted a huge following amongst both locals and foreigners, there is no intention to move to a bigger shop space. The owner believes it is better to keep it small so that customers will be able to enjoy the freshly cooked dishes quickly and receive intimate, warm service. Do note that kids aged below 7 years old are not allowed into the restaurant. A lunch soba set with tempura served by the side is reasonably priced around 13 USD. Certainly a great deal you wouldn’t want to miss in a Michelin bib gourmand restaurant like Osobanokouga!
Osobanokouga (おそばの甲賀)
Address: 2-14-5 Nishiazabu, Minato Ward, Tokyo
Price: from 1,000 JPY (9 USD).
Opening Hours: 11.30am - 3pm, and 5pm - 9.30pm. Last order 30 minutes before closing. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Access: 8-minute walk from Roppongi Station exit 2.
Contact: +81 3-3797-6860 (for inquiry only); +81 50-5589-7211 (for reservation only).
2. Menya Musashi Koshou
Japanese ramen is one of the must-haves when you visit the country. There is no lack of ramen shops in Roppongi but finding one that stands out takes time. Menya Musashi Koshou (麺屋武蔵 虎嘯), easily recognisable by its striking tiger logo and old wooden entrance, draws the crowd with its specialty thick noodles in fish stock based broth mixed with soy sauce. The ramen broth may be dark in colour but it does not feel overly thick. In fact, it has a light and refreshing taste, unlike the usual fatty broth commonly associated with ramen. The best part of the deal? Not only do you get to choose the amount of noodles you wish to slurp down, you get four huge slices of tender pork in the delish bowl of ramen!
Menya Musashi Koshou (麺屋武蔵 虎嘯)
Address: 4-12-6, Roppongi, Minato Ward
Price: from 1,000 JPY (9 USD).
Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm daily.
Access: 2-minute walk from Roppongi Station exit 4A.
Contact: +81-3-3497-0634.
3. Matsurokuya
If you want to enjoy a fancy meal without hitting your wallet too hard, Matsurokuya (御曹司 松六家) will be the ideal choice for you. During lunch time, Matsurokuya offers a superior quality (A5-rank) Kurogewagyu beef lunch set at an unbelievable price of 1,500 JPY (13.50 USD)! Get there early to avoid disappointment as this popular traditional restaurant offers only 40 lunch sets daily. Travel back in time to the bygone era as you enter the restaurant into a private room in tatami style.
Taste the premium quality Japanese beef on its own first, before eating it alongside the condiments such as vegetables, furikake, tofu and pickles. As you eat the fragrant rice, you will come to another layer of beef beneath. Thereafter, the staff will serve you with additional bowl of rice and a pot of green tea, so that you can complete your meal by pouring the hot tea over the rice in an ochazuke style. End your fabulous meal with a traditional Japanese dessert. The entire dining experience from the moment you join the queue outside the restaurant is one that you will certainly not regret.
Matsurokuya (御曹司 松六家)
Address: Arakawa Building 1F, 4-10-2, Roppongi, Minato Ward
Price: from 1,500 JPY (13.50 USD).
Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm daily.
Access: 2-minute walk from Roppongi Station exit 4A.
Contact: +81 3-3796-3369.
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4. Tsuru-tontan
Mention Japanese noodles and most will immediately think of ramen. Udon, the thick version of noodles made from wheat flour, is usually out of the limelight. However, that does not mean that they are not worth your attention. Just a short walk from Roppongi Station, you will find Tsuru-tontan (つるとんたん 六本木店), a chain of noodle specialty restaurants serving authentic Kansai-style udon noodles that is very popular with both locals and foreigners.
Slurp down a bowl of smooth udon noodles with unique firmness at Tsuru-tontan, made from dough hand-kneaded by the skillful noodle master. Enjoy the best udon noodles with your favourite ingredients, such as spicy cod roe, vegetables, curry and so on in a modern yet cosy restaurant. The best part of dining at Tsuru-tontan has to be its long opening hours, so you can get your udon fix any time you fancy!
Tsuru-tontan (つるとんたん 六本木店)
Address: 3-14-12, Roppongi, Minato Ward
Price: from 1,000 JPY (9 USD).
Opening Hours: 11am - 8am the next morning daily. Last order at 7.30am.
Access: 5-minute walk from Roppongi Station exit 3.
Contact: +81-3-5786-2626.
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5. Budoushu Shokudo Sakura
For a hearty meal comprising of Italian pasta and pizza with a Japanese twist, make your way to the popular Italian fusion restaurant - Budoushu Shokudo Sakura (ぶどう酒食堂さくら). The modern and spacious restaurant serves as a cafe and restaurant in the day and turns into a chic wine bar in the evening. Feel free to chill out and relax at Budoushu Shokudo Sakura till late, and take your pick from over 1,000 types of wine here.
Fresh local seafood and vegetables are sourced directly from local farmers. In addition, you may also watch the skillful chef bake your delicious Neapolitan pizza in the open firewood kitchen. The homemade pasta made with 100% high-quality semolina powder tastes so flavourful, with a rich moist texture, that you are bound to return for more. During happy hours (11.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays and 11.30am to 3pm on weekends and public holidays), enjoy a glass of house wine at an affordable price of 370 JPY (3.40 USD) only!
Budoushu Shokudo Sakura (ぶどう酒食堂さくら)
Address: Roppongi Building 1F, 6-1-12 Roppongi, Minato Ward
Price: from 1,000 JPY (9 USD).
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 11.30am - 1am the next morning; Friday, Saturday and eve of public holiday: 11.30am - 4am the next morning; Sunday, Monday and public holiday: 11.30am - 11.30pm. Last order 1 hour before closing.
Access: right behind Roppongi Station.
Contact: +81 3-5786-3939.
6. Suzunami
Tucked in the basement of the large Tokyo Midtown is a traditional Japanese restaurant - Suzunami (鈴波 東京ミッドタウン店), specialising in fish dishes. The secret to Suzunami’s awesome fish meals has to be its signature Gyokai Mirin Kasu (魚介味醂粕), cooked with a traditional Daiwa-ya style originating from Nagoya. Mirin kasu is the residue from fermenting steamed premium Niigata rice with rice malt and mirin, a sweet alcoholic liquid commonly used in Japanese cooking.
Try the Suzunami Set, which consists of a chunky piece of grilled fish served with a big bowl of pork radish broth. Do not be quick to dismiss it as just another ordinary looking fish set like other restaurants. The grilled fish here is fresh and tasty, with a complex mix of sweetness and subtle alcoholic aroma lingering in your mouth as you tuck into the meal. At the end of the wonderful meal, cleanse your palate with a shot of Ume-kazu vinegar mixed with plum juice to complete the nutritious meal.
Suzunami (鈴波 東京ミッドタウン店)
Address: Tokyo Midtown B1F, 9-7-3 Akasaka, Minato Ward
Price: from 1,000 JPY (9 USD).
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 11am - 3.30pm & 4.30pm - 9pm; Saturday, Sunday and public holiday: 11am - 9pm. Last order 30 minutes before closing. Closed on days when Tokyo Midtown is closed.
Access: directly connected to Roppongi Station.
Contact: +81 3-5413-0335.
7. Joumon
There are plenty of izakayas (Japanese bars) catering to the lively night scene in Roppongi. However, if you only have time to chill at one, look no further than Joumon (ジョウモン 六本木店). Often crowded with both locals and foreigners, Joumon offers a great variety of food and alcoholic options. Its skewered chicken, or yakitori, grilled over charcoal fire, is tasty and complements your sake or cocktail very well. Despite the crowd, the service here is quick and attentive. Furthermore, food and drinks are priced affordably at Joumon. Highly recommended to make a reservation before heading down to Joumon so you are assured of a table when you arrive.
Joumon (ジョウモン 六本木店)
Address: 5-9-17 Roppongi, Minato Ward
Price: from 5,000 JPY (44.90 USD).
Opening Hours: 6pm - 5am daily.
Access: 3-minute walk from Roppongi Station exit 3.
Contact: +81 3-3405-2585.
8. Rigoletto Bar & Grill
Last but not least, if you want to wind down after dinner at a cool place in Roppongi with splendid views of Tokyo Tower, Rigoletto Bar & Grill is the place to go. Despite the large size of the 164-seat bar, the bartenders at Rigoletto make it a point to remember and greet regular customers by their names. Its warm and friendly service is certainly a great draw to party goers, and the affordable prices starting from 500 JPY (4.50 USD) make the bar an even more attractive hangout, for both locals and foreigners alike.
Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine with an extensive tapas list at this casual dining joint, alongside a wide range of other Western favourites such as salad, pasta, pizzas and burgers. On weekdays, families with children under the age of six are welcomed from 1pm to 6pm. On weekends and public holidays, children are welcomed at all times. You can even book a private room for a cosy gathering away from the lively crowd if you wish. Rigoletto Bar & Grill is definitely a fun family-friendly place to check out with your loved ones!
Rigoletto Bar & Grill
Address: 5F West Walk Roppongi Hills, 6-10-1, Roppongi, Minato Ward
Price: from 1,000 JPY (9 USD).
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday & eve of Public Holiday: 11am - 4am (Last order 3.15am for food, 3.30am for drinks); Sunday & Public Holiday: 11am - 11pm (Last order 10.15pm for food, 10.30pm for drinks).
Access: 5-minute walk from Roppongi Station exit 3.
Contact: +81 3-6438-0071.
Myriad of mouth-watering cuisines to indulge in
It is extremely difficult to go on a diet in Tokyo, particularly when you are in a hot spot for international cuisines like Roppongi. The expat-friendly Roppongi offers such a wide variety of mouth-watering cuisines, you will be spoilt for choice on what to eat. Make your way to the above-mentioned restaurants first, to taste the best in the area, before you continue your search for hidden gourmet places. Enjoy the gourmand exploration!
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