One of the advantages of my kids going to an international school?
Sometimes, my hubby gets a public holiday off work and the kids still have school!
When that happens… this is where we run to….
These restaurants either don’t accept or aren’t really much fun for kiddies. This blog post is for the grown ups.
XEX Greenhills Roppongi is a great spot for dinner but the beautiful quality lunch and the reasonable lunch prices blow me away.
This place just feels so special. I would save it for a special occasion and dress up a little.
They have the entire menu on their website so take a look to see if it matches your tummy’s needs and budget.
I also love eating tempura here.
They have an italian restaurant, sushi & tempura restaurant and beautiful old-school lounge/bar.
The staff at XEX speak beautiful English so you’ll even be able to make reservations for yourself etc.
Please adhere to the Xex Atago Dress Code. No shorts or sleeveless shirts for men , for example (see website for more info.)
XEX ATAGO GREENHILLS
港区愛宕2-5-1 MORIタワー
MORI TOWER, 2-5-1 ATAGO, MINATO
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30-3:30PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5:30PM – 10:30PM (BAR OPEN UNTIL 4AM)
WEBSITE
This is one of the best kept secrets in Tokyo. The Ana Intercontinental Bar in Roppongi champagne bar has the most amazing free flow champagne and nibbles package. I’ve been 3 times now with girlfriends and it is top shelf champagne with beautiful nibbles. See the website below for their lunch courses.
ANA INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL TOKYO , THE CHAMPAGNE BAR
港区赤阪1-12-33
1-12-33 AKASAKA MINATO-KU
Tempura Meshi Kaneko Hannosuke is the most delicious tempura spot. Highly highly recommend. Order at the vending machine in the corner – and pass the ticket to the staff member. Service is fast. It’s the ideal high-quality express lunch ever! For this reason, this is a walk-in only restaurant.
Please note: this is a cash only restaurant.
Closest station is Roppongi Itchome Station (exit via Exit 3 and then walk for 1 minute.)
Budget for lunch and dinner here is approx 2000 yen per person.
TEMPURA MESHI KANEKO HANNOSUKE
港区赤坂1-12-32 アーク森ビル3F
3F, ARK MORI BUILDING, 1-12-32 AKASAKA, MINATO
OPEN 11AM-11PM (CLOSES AT 10PM ON WEEKENDS)
Wakanui next to Tokyo Tower is also one of my favourites. This will make you laugh as I am pescetarian and it’s actually a New Zealand steak spot BUT they have amazing fish options (and will cater to vegetarian options if you call a few days in advance.). The staff speak English.
It feels very special and is SUCH a reasonable lunch menu. You can have 4-5 courses for less than 3000 yen per person. I’ve been here a lot with other Mummies, for my birthday and for anniversary lunches too.
They also are , of course, open for dinner but you’ll find that the menu is a bit more lush -and so are the prices.
See the menu for yourself here.
We sent my in-laws here for a treat lunch when they were visiting Tokyo and they loved the quality and the value for money. Before you leave ask to have a look on the terrace to take in Tokyo Tower.
*If you live in Minato-ku, Wakanui Tokyo also offer home delivery. The meat delivery options are cooked sous vide to then be seared at home. Video instructions can be found on the Wakanui website here. Minimum spend for lunch is 2000 yen and for dinner 3500 yen in order to have meals delivered.
WAKANUI GRILL DINING BAR
港区芝公園3-4-30芝公園ビル32, 10F
10TH FLOOR, 32 SHIBA KOEN BUILDING, MINATO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 6PM-11PM
WEBSITE
My number one veggie-laden lunch spot at the moment is We are the Farm in Ebisu ( and the branch in Azabujuban too – there is another in Yoyogi that I’ve yet to sample.) Lunch is especially good value but the dinner is also amazing.
The lunch course at this Farm-to-Table restaurant includes soup & a kale side salad and you can choose your own main : a vegetable gratin, a “choose your own ingredients salad” or a grilled vegetable platter (see pictures below) for 1500 yen.
This place is popular so you’ll need to make a reservation (or just call to make sure that they have seats available.)
They also have beer made with Kale if you’re feeling game…. let me know if it’s any good?
WE ARE THE FARM
渋谷区恵比寿西2-8-10 ORIX恵比寿西ビル
ORIX EBISUNISHI BUILDING, 2-8-10 EBISUNISHI, SHIBUYA
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30-4PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5PM-11:30PM (UNTIL 11PM ON SUNDAYS)
If you’re looking for other things to do in Ebisu, see my post here.
I also love the We are the Farm in Azabu-Juban. I especially love their lunch salad buffet (although they might not like me visiting as I just keep eating and eating.)
If you get the chance, they sell the amazing cheese and tomato dish at all times of the day.
My husband and I go here for date nights often and, I know it sounds weird to say but, this simple marinated onion served with rock salt was to die for!
We both love their ‘Chunky Veg’ gratin and the plate of all the amazing Japanese varieties of mushrooms was one of my favourites.
The only negative thing I have to say about this place is that I haven’t found any yummy alcoholic drinks there yet – but I rarely have success with organic wine. Perhaps its those chemicals that make wine taste so yummy???!!!
WE ARE THE FARM AZABU
港区元麻布3-10-4
3 -10-4 MOTOAZABU, MINATO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM-3PM
WEEKDAY DINNERS: 6PM-11:30PM
WEEKEND DINNERS: 5PM-11:30PM
TABELOG WEBSITE
Within the T-Site Complex in Daikanyama, you’ll find Ivy Place. They do take reservations for bookings without children so you’re in luck for an adult lunch. They are well-known for their yummy pancakes and extensive wine list.
If you live in Japan you’ll understand just how hard a truly good salad is often hard to come by. But theirs is so yummy.
IVY PLACE
DAIKANYAMA T-SITE, 16-15 SARUGAKUCHO
猿楽町16-15, 代官山T-SITE
OPEN 7am-11pm (BREAKFAST 7am-10:45am, LUNCH 11:30am-3pm, DINNER 6pm-11pm)
(PANCAKES SERVED 7am-5pm)
IVY PLACE WEBSITE
At the base of Tokyo Tower is the most beautiful Tofu restaurant called Toufuya Ukai.
This is more of a special occasion kind of spot but is worth it for the walk through the gorgeous gardens and the restaurant itself is just so amazingly beautiful.
They are open to making changes for different dietary requirements (just because it’s a tofu restaurant doesn’t mean that it is vegetarian or vegan food) if you notify them one week in advance.
Lunch courses start from 5,940 yen on weekdays and 7,560 yen on weekends.
(Dinner courses start from 10,000 yen.)
They are used to international visitors so will walk you through where to take your shoes off.
One piece of advice is to inform the staff if you need to leave by a certain time – I’ve been stuck before – not because the service is bad. Just because it’s set up to be a dining experience.
Before dining, the staff walk you through the whole restaurant and site gardens. They also show you where their house-made age-dengaku (fried thin strips of tofu basted with miso paste.)
港区芝公園4-1-13
4 -4-13 SHIBAKOEN, MINATO-KU
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:45AM-3PM & 5PM-7:30PM
OPEN WEEKENDS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS 11:30AM-7:30PM
CLOSED 2 MONDAYS PER MONTH (SO CALL AHEAD)
WEBSITE
The new Hyatt Centric Ginza Hotel has a beautiful lunch spot called Namiki667 right in the middle of Ginza.
It is worth it for the food and the vibe. Weather permitting, I recommend sitting on the terrace. It feels totally ‘big city lovely.’
Hyatt Centric also host gluten free high tea ! Perfect if you are looking for gluten-free options in Ginza, Tokyo.
The lunch menu is here.
銀座6-6-7
6-6-7 GINZA
LUNCH: 11:30AM-2:30PM
WEBSITE
And then, in Ginza, there is a department store called Tokyo Midtown Hibiya.
It’s a large department store next to Hibiya Park. It’s a great place to grab lunch (or dinner.)
The Food Hall on the B1 floor is beautiful. You can also sit down and all eat different food from different restaurants so its great when you both feel like eating something completely different.
It feels really fancy in there! It’s so new and stylish!
There is a bakery, Vietnamese food, a meatball restaurant, a barbecue restaurant, a seafood & oyster restaurant, a vegan salad cafe to name a few options.
On a weekend, you’ll see many couples with a glass of champagne and a plate full of meat and vegetables.
I also got this Quiche Lorraine to go.
TOKYO HIBIYA MIDTOWN FOOD HALL
千代田区有楽町1-1-2 B1F
B1 FLOOR, 1 -1-２ YURAKUCHO, CHIYODA
SHOPS OPEN 11AM-9PM
RESTAURANTS OPEN 11AM-11PM
WEBSITE
Another fabulous spot in Hibiya Midtown for lunch (or afternoon late meal) or dinner I love Tempura Tentora on the second floor. It’s the perfect mix of a fancy and a casual meal. It’s also a wine and sake bar so the drinks menu is extensive ( by the bottle or buy the glass.)
I love the Yasai Tendon ( vegetable tempura on rice) and the sashimi of the day. You can eat a lot of yummy food here and your lunch will still stay around 2000 yen , approx.
They do have an English menu.
They do accept most major credit cards.
The restaurant is non-smoking.
Please note that all seating is bar stool seating.
TEMPURA TENTORA
有楽町 1-1-2 東京ミッドタウン日比谷 2F
2F TOKYO MIDTOWN HIBIYA, 1-1-2 YURAKUCHO
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11AM-4PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 4PM-10PM (LAST ORDER 9PM)
I love this little lunch spot called Kinka in Shibuya. It’s about 5 minutes walk from the crossing and is very close to Hotel Koe and the Disney store.
It’s small and modern and friendly. They have an English menu and this plate of sushi below cost me 990 yen!!
If completely raw sushi creeps you out, they also have a blow-torched version which is also really yummy.
Reservations are possible.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
They just opened another Kinka in Roppongi but I’ve yet to check it out.
KINKA SUSHI BAR IZAKAYA
渋谷区宇田川町3-10 いちごフェスタ渋谷 2F
2F ICHIGO FESTA SHIBUYA BUILDING, 3-10 UDAGAWA-CHO, SHIBUYA
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-4PM (UNTIL 5PM ON WEEKENDS)
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-MIDNIGHT (UNTIL 11PM ON SUNDAYS)
WEBSITE
TEN SOSO, ROPPONGI HILLS, PREMIUM FOOD HALL
I love this spot for lunch. The restaurant only seats 22 and is much more reasonable at lunch. I love watching the tempura prepared right in front of me. This is such a beautiful restaurant and the staff are so friendly.
They do have an English menu.
For lunch, expect to pay around 2500 yen per person for a set lunch (it’s soooo yummy!!!) and around 10,000 yen per person for dinner. They do accept credit cards and the entire restaurant is non-smoking.
TEN SOU-SOU ROPPONGI HILLS
港区六本木6-10-1 六本木ヒルズ ウエストウォーク5F
5F WEST WALK, ROPPONGI HILLS, 6-10-1 ROPPONGI, MINATO
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM-11PM
CLOSED WEDNESDAYS
WEBSITE
Another izakaya pub that is VERY casual and reasonably priced is Uoshin – which is located close to Tokyo Midtown Department Store.
You will knock elbows with the locals and can also try lots of different types of food.
Ask about their nomihodai (all you can drink) and food course which costs 5000 yen per person for a few hours. The course is pre-determined by the chef so if you’d rather have a say – maybe go for just normal a la carte instead.
I recommend ordering the assorted tempura, a sashimi platter, a lemon sour ( sake mixed with lemon soft drink) and crab croquettes. Soooo yummy.
The place gets REALLY hot so have a thin layer on underneath. Also wear easy on and off shoes incase your seats are on the tatami (although you can specify when you book.)
The restaurant is surrounded by red, blue and white lanterns. You can’t miss it.
Warning: the restaurant is not smoke free. There is a smoking and non-smoking section but…. smoke doesn’t exactly stay where it is told to, right?
UOSHIN NOGIZAKA
港区赤坂9-6-32
9 -6-32 AKASAKA, MINATO-KU
WEEKDAY LUNCH 11:30AM – 2PM
WEEKDAY DINNER 5PM – MIDNIGHT
WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 4PM – 11PM
UOSHIN NOGIZAKA
