What to Eat in Tokyo: 10 Must-Try Foods and Where to Find Them

Food is one of the best ways to get to know a city, and in Tokyo, it’s everywhere. In the quiet corners of a train station, on the streets of Asakusa, or behind a curtain in a tiny alley bar. Some meals are simple, like a combini egg sandwich, while others are more elaborate. But they all leave an impression.

Here are 10 dishes worth trying in Tokyo, and where you might find them.

Also read: 10 Fun Things to Do in Tokyo for First Time Travellers

1. Sushi (Tsukiji Outer Market / Toyosu)

A Japanese food list would be incomplete without sushi! Tokyo is the birthplace of Edo-style sushi with its delicate vinegared rice topped with pristine slices of fish. You can drop big yen at Michelin-starred counters like Sushi Saito, but for something more accessible (and less intimidating), Tsukiji Outer Market is a great option.

Stalls here serve everything from fatty tuna and sea urchin to tamago skewers and overflowing chirashi bowls. For a more modern experience, visit Toyosu Market, where you can eat sushi fresh off the auction floor.

Tripzilla Tip: Look for “aburi” sushi (lightly torched). Very buttery, very smoky, very satisfying.

Average price: ¥500–¥3000 (S$4.50–S$27)

2. Ramen (Shinjuku / Ikebukuro)

There’s hot soup, bouncy noodles and melt-in-your-mouth pork belly. No wonder ramen is the ultimate comfort food! In Tokyo, the options are endless.
Whether you like thick and creamy tonkotsu, soy-based shoyu, or spicy miso, you’ll find ramen to suit every craving and budget. Popular shops include Ichiran (for solo booth slurping), Ippudo, and Mutekiya in Ikebukuro (a long queue, but worth it).

Tripzilla Tip: Slurping loudly is not rude. It’s actually encouraged because it shows appreciation and cools down the noodles.

Average price: ¥800–¥1200 (S$7–S$11)

3. Tempura (Asakusa / Ginza)

Good tempura is about restraint. Each prawn, fish, or vegetable is lightly battered and fried just enough to lock in its natural flavour without it being greasy or soggy.

For a taste of tradition, try Tempura Daikokuya in Asakusa, a spot loved by locals for its generous tendon bowls (tempura over rice). If you’re looking to splurge, Tempura Kondo in Ginza offers a refined omakase version that might ruin all other fried food for you.

Expect crisp prawns, fluffy pumpkin, and maybe even a piece of tempura seaweed.

Average price: ¥1000–¥2000 (S$9–S$18)

4. Soufflé Pancakes (Harajuku / Shibuya)

If your sweet tooth’s calling, Tokyo’s soufflé pancakes are a must. Thick, fluffy, jiggly, and soft as a cloud, these Insta-famous pancakes are made with whipped egg whites and steamed to divine perfection. 
Try them at A Happy Pancake (Omotesando) or Flipper’s (Shibuya). The classic honey butter option is a safe bet, but seasonal toppings like matcha cream or strawberries make for an even better bite (and photo).

Just don’t shake the table. These pancakes wobble more than your willpower.

Average price: ¥1000–¥1400 (S$9–S$12.50)

Also read: Souvenirs to Buy in Tokyo: Sweet Snacks Worth Bringing Home From Japan

5. Monjayaki (Tsukishima)

Tokyo’s take on okonomiyaki, monjayaki, is a gooey, savoury pancake made with chopped fillings like cabbage, pork, squid, and mochi, all mixed into a thinner batter.
It’s cooked right on your table, and you eat it straight off the grill with a mini spatula. It’s not the prettiest dish, but it sure is delicious!

Head to Tsukishima Monja Street, where over 70 monjayaki restaurants line the road. Bring your appetite and maybe a napkin.

Average price: ¥1,000–¥1,500 (S$9–S$13.50)

6. Japanese Curry (Kanda / Akihabara)

Japanese curry is thick, mildly spiced, and deeply comforting. Unlike the spicier versions found elsewhere in Asia, this curry leans sweet and savoury, with a slow-cooked richness that feels more like a stew. The most familiar version is katsu curry, where a breaded pork cutlet sits atop steamed rice, all drenched in warm curry sauce.

Kanda is one of Tokyo’s most beloved curry districts, with dozens of shops serving their own house blends. Some recipes have been passed down for generations, with subtle differences in spice, sweetness, and texture. If you’re short on time, CoCo Ichibanya in Akihabara is a solid choice. It’s a casual chain where you can customise everything from heat level to toppings and rice portion.

It’s the same chain you might have seen in Singapore, but trying it in Japan with local rice, regional toppings (and the mere fact that you’re in Tokyo) makes it taste different (in the best way possible).

Whether you’re eating it on a rainy afternoon or grabbing a quick meal before your next stop, curry in Tokyo rarely disappoints.

Average price: ¥700–¥1000 (S$6.30–S$9)

Also read: How to Spend a Rainy Day in Tokyo: The Best Things to Do Indoors

7. Melonpan Ice Cream (Asakusa)

Melonpan is a sweet bun with a soft, airy interior and a lightly crisp cookie crust. There’s no actual melon involved. Instead, the name comes from the crisscross pattern on top, which resembles the rind of a cantaloupe. On its own, it’s already a delightful snack. But slice it open and add a scoop of ice cream? You get something even better.

The bun is warm and just out of the oven, which makes the contrast with the cold vanilla ice cream extra satisfying. For something more traditional, Asakusa Kagetsudo offers a larger version with a comforting homemade feel.

Average price: ¥400–¥600 (S$3.60–S$5.40)

8. Yakitori (Omoide Yokocho / Ebisu Yokocho)

There’s something deeply comforting about sitting down with a plate of yakitori  (grilled chicken skewers) after a long day. Whether it’s thigh, wing, or liver, each piece is slow-cooked over charcoal until smoky and tender, then seasoned simply with salt or glazed with a savoury tare sauce.

You’ll find some of the most atmospheric yakitori spots in Omoide Yokocho near Shinjuku Station, or Ebisu Yokocho, where tiny open-air bars serve up skewers alongside cold drinks and light chatter.

Average price: ¥100–¥250 (S$0.90–S$2.30) per skewer

Also read: 6 Must-Visit Izakayas in Tokyo

9. Tamago Sando (FamilyMart / Lawson / 7-Eleven)

It sounds simple, but tamago sando (the humble Japanese egg sandwich) is one of the most comforting bites you can find in Tokyo. Made with fluffy shokupan (Japanese milk bread) and a soft, creamy egg salad filling, it’s incredibly satisfying in its simplicity.

You’ll find it in every 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, or Lawson, usually sitting quietly next to the tuna and ham sandwiches. It makes for a perfect travel snack, whether you’re catching a train or winding down after a day of walking. For something so modest, it leaves a lasting impression.

Average price: ¥250–¥350 (S$2.30–S$3.10)

10. Karaage (FamilyMart / Lawson / 7-Eleven)

It might come as a surprise, but some of the tastiest fried chicken in Tokyo can be found at your nearest convenience store. Known as karaage, these bite-sized pieces of Japanese fried chicken are crisp on the outside, tender inside, and full of flavour.

Each store has its own take. Famichiki from FamilyMart is one of the most popular. It’s juicy and piping hot, handed to you in a small paper pouch. Lawson’s L-Chiki has a slightly spicier edge, while 7-Eleven often offers rotating seasonal flavours like yuzu or black pepper.

Karaage always hits the spot, whether you’re between train rides or just in need of a quick snack to keep you going.

Average price: ¥180–¥250 (S$1.60–S$2.30)

Also read: teamLab Planets Tokyo Guide: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Final Thoughts

Some of the best meals in Tokyo aren’t about the food alone. It’s also the people you meet along the way.

Near our Airbnb in Asakusa, my friends and I found a small ramen shop run by an ojisan who greeted us with a really wholesome warmth. We ended up going back for breakfast the next morning. He wasn’t fluent in English, and our Japanese wasn’t great either, but we tried our best to talk anyway. Somewhere in the middle of that exchange, he even said he’d take us on as ramen apprentices (we were very tempted). Even though we were all stumbling over our words (sometimes even having to resort to animated gestures), it made that shared desire to connect all the more heartwarming.

His ramen was already good, but talking to him somehow made it even better.

Food in Tokyo is like that. You might not always remember the names of the shops or the exact flavour of the broth, but you do remember how it made you feel.