The Best Tasting Menus in Tokyo
The Best Tasting Menu’s in Tokyo
If you’re looking for restaurants in Tokyo with a great tasting menu in Tokyo look no further! We have compiled a list of 7 of the best “omakase” or recommended by the chef menu’s in Tokyo! These tasting menu’s are recommended by the chef, which is always a good choice as it’s usually a chef’s specialty. Especially in a place like Tokyo you can be sure that the chef takes forever to hone and perfect their cooking skills. If anything is recommended by the chef, then you know it’s going to be AMAZING. In this blog post we introduce some of our personal favorites!
Tasty Experiences in Tokyo
First of all a warning: this post will make you hungry! Check out some delectable food experiences in Tokyo here. One of the most memorable part of your amazing Japan trip will be the 3 delicious meals you will have every day, after all.
What Is An Omakase Menu?
The word Omakase [お任せ] literally means “I leave it to your care” It is a vote of confidence between the client and the chef who is responsible for choosing all the prepared recipes. The word Omakase comes from the verb makaseru [任せる], which means to trust. This is a big part of Japanese culture. It’s never just about trust, but means for the chef: responsibility, burden, duty, deadline, trust and task.
In a lot of Western countries the phrase “customer is king” is used a lot. This is taken to a whole other level in Japan. Here they use the phrase “Okyakusama wa kamisama desu”. Meaning the honoured customer is considered a God. So now you understand the level of responsibility the chef is dealing with when offering his best. This mentality is why Japanese restaurants run by Japanese chefs can guarantee excellence to all guests.
The 7 Best Omakase Menus In Tokyo
So now on with the list. The 7 best bargain tasting menus in Tokyo for under 10,000 yen as recommended by the chef.
1. Restaurant name: Aelu
Location: Yoyogi-Uehara
Courses: For the price of 6,000 to 8,000 yen you receive a full 6 course dinner
Price: 6,000 – 8,000 yen
With a homely decor and a cosy atmosphere, the Aelu tasting menu is pure perfection. Courses range between 6,000 and 8,000 yen and list Japanese inspired French food. If you want to splurge and enjoy absolute Instagram worthy food then Aelu in Yohogi Uehara is a great bet. The courses are innovative with flavor combinations you probably have never seen before. You can definitely notice the craftmanship and painstaking agony that has gone into these delectable morsels to create absolute perfection.
Some examples of the mouth watering dishes that may be served on the tasting menu are an amuse of Sawara (鰆/サワラ) or Spanish mackerel covered with some red shizo powder roasted rack of lamb seasoned with sansho and slightly grilled cherry tomatoes. Melt in your mouth Amadai (あまだい) (甘鯛) or tile fish cooked served with olive oil drizzled on it and topped with sea foam. Homemade Italian ice cream with matcha mouse topped with blueberries and ending this wondrous tasting menu with Mignardises are just a selection from the range of delectable delights you might find at this quaint eatery in the heart of Yoyogi-Uehara.
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2. Restaurant name: Nakameguro Iguchi Agaru Azabujuban (中目黒いぐち 上ル )
Location: Ebisu
Courses: A multi course tasting menu with 23 items
Price: from 5,480 yen
Normally a tempura dish is served as a side dish in most Izakaya‘s or soba restaurants. This stylish sister of the Ichigu Nakameguro restaurant located in Azabujuban specializes in tempura. Walk into this modern minimalist eatery and take place behind the counter for a foodies journey where tempura is the star of the show.
On this journey you will get to try succulent shrimp. Followed by sweet potato and chicken tempura. Every single course is hand delivered to you over the counter by the chef. The tasting menu has surprising twists with dishes such as a foie gras croquette. Watch the chef do his work while working your way through 23 tasty items all fried to perfection.
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3. Restaurant name: Nakameguro Iguchi Honten
Location: Kami Meguro
Courses: A multi course tasting menu with 23 items
Price: from 5,480 yen
This minimalist restaurant deep in the heart of Nakameguro recommends setting aside three hours to truly be able to appreciate this yakitori tasting menu. The dishes are tasty, but light. You will not have any difficulty finishing these hand made skewers.
Starting off you will get to try appetizers such as liver pate and foie gras. Even Italian Caciocavallo cheese is among these appetizers. Popular favorites such as crispy chicken thigh and chicken breast with wasabi are served on skewers when you are ready for the the main course.
4. Restaurant name: Gracia Gastrobar de Barcelona
Location: Hiroo
Courses: A 5 course tapas menu or a 7 course dinner (9,000 yen)
Price: dinner from 6,000 yen (lunch from 3,500 yen)
Newly opened Gracia Gastrobar is located in Shibuya’s Eat, Play Work building. Chef Jerome Quilbeuf who worked for Michelin 3 start restaurant SANT PAU in Spain, prepares the most wonderful tapas. With popular favorites such as cured Iberico ham, seafood paella, but also more surprising dishes like oyster ceviche.
Definitely one of the best, if not the best, contemporary tapas restaurant in Tokyo, according to us.
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5. Restaurant name: Ginza Katsumi
Location: Ginza
Courses: At least a 9 course recommended menu
Price: dinner from 5,000 – 12,000 yen (lunch from 2,800 yen)
Tonkatsu is a staple in every Japanese household. If you want to try Michelin-worthy tonkatsu, then Katsumi in Ginza is the place to be. At dinner time, the best wines are paired with each dish that elevate each course to a unique level of excellence. This unique experience offers various flavors and textures of pork such as the Yonezawa buta Ichiban Sodachi brand. This is one of the most tender, flavorful varieties of pork you can try while you are staying in Japan.
6. Restaurant name: Sushi M
Location: Aoyama
Courses: Omakase Edomae lunch with 10 pieces of sushi, grilled fish and dessert
Price: from 8,800 yen
If you go to the center of fancy neighborhood Aoyama, you can find the Sushi M restaurant. A place to see and be seen. Visited by socialites and the mega-rich. Twice a week this illustrious restaurant has a special Edomae lunch at a discounted rate for 8,800 yen instead of the usual 22,000 yen. So if you want to experience one of the best sushi restaurants in Tokyo, then reserve a spot on Fridays and Saturdays to enjoy their Edomae lunch. For 8,800 yen you receive 10 mouth watering pieces of sushi, a grilled fish and even dessert!
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7. Restaurant name: Sushi Tokyo Ten Shibuya
Location: Shibuya
Courses: 19-item course sushi tasting menu
Price: from 7,700 yen (lunch 3,850)
During an 80 minutes tasting menu you will experience incredible quality sushi for a bargain price. Included in the menu are all time favorites such as uni (sea urchin), crab and abalone. The chefs also speak moderate English so even if you don’t speak Japanese you can still enjoy these incredible nigiri sushi.
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