Date night in Shinjuku?
These are my favourite options.
If you want to start something quite casual with a fun vibe… Most people have heard of the Golden Gai District but I think that Piss Alley is better. I know- it sounds delicious right?
It’s an area full of little alleyways with lots of little nook-type eateries. All street food.
It gets really busy but it’s worth waiting outside of the place you have your eyes on until a seat opens up.
PISS ALLEY
新宿区西新宿1-2-8
1-2-8 NISHI-SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU-KU
Or if you need a break from Japanese food…
800 DEGREES PIZZERIA
If you’re close to the station at lunchtime I recommend 800 Degrees Pizzeria. It’s bright and light and casual and easy. I can imagine it is manic on the weekend so it’s probably best to be waiting at the door when it opens at 11am for lunch.
It’s possible to choose your own toppings or one of the combinations listed on the menu.
GROUND FLOOR, NEWOMAN DEPARTMENT STORE
5 -24-55 SENDAGAYA, SHIBUYA
渋谷区千駄ヶ谷5-24-55
OPEN: 11am-11pm
WEBSITE
Directly around the opposite side of the same building as 800 degrees Pizzeria is the Newoman Food Hall – which I only recently discovered. There are so many beautiful eateries inside and (unlike the Food Hall in Ebisu that I found to be so disappointing) it has a range of different types of food and it’s just such a beautiful use of space.
The hall is made up of lots of separate restaurants: an Oyster Bar, High-end Sushi, Butcher & Beer counter, Bakery & Restaurant and a stunning restaurant called “Tavern S” at the back.
The entire hall is open until 4am and is completely non-smoking until 11pm.
The Tavern on S next to the murals has free wifi.
NEWOMAN FOOD HALL
新宿区新宿4-1-6
4-1-6 SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU
OPEN EVERYDAY 7AM-4AM
DEPARTMENT STORE WEBSITE
There is also a lovely, stylish izakaya in Shinjuku called Kichiri Mollis. It feels special but isn’t crazy expensive.
Kichiri is a chain of restaurants so, if you’re a fan, you can keep an eye out for them all over Japan. I would call the food ‘Japanese fusion’. The menu is in English.
The restaurant’s interior is minimal, chic and futuristic. I love it!
I recommend making a booking (especially if there are more than 2 of you.) Please note that tables are only available for 2 hour seatings – and last orders to be placed 30 mins prior to those 2 hours coming to an end.
Once you enter the restaurant, shoes go in a locker and you hang on to your key….
then you’ll be shown to your table….
After you’ve placed your order, your waiter will bring you an “otoshi” which is a tiny appetizer of the day. It’s probably best to think of this as a compulsory “table charge.” (This is standard practice in Japanese Izakaya Pubs)
The menu has so many options and their seasonal specials are also full of table theatrics.
There are also course menu options. There are other Kichiri’s all over Tokyo. For example: Ebisu, Ikebukuro, Ginza & Shibuya.
KICHIRI MOLLIS
新宿3-26-13新宿中村屋ビル6F
6th FLOOR, SHINJUKU NAKAMURAYA BUILDING, 3-26-13 SHINJUKU
OPEN EVERYDAY (EXCEPT AROUND THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD)
LUNCH: 11AM-3PM
AFTERNOON TEA: 3PM-5PM
DINNER: 5PM – MIDNIGHT
WEBSITE
Or do you want to have Sukiyaki or Shabu- Shabu?
This is a hot pot place called Nabezo Shinjuku Sanchome and …oh…my god……it gets busy busy busy!!!
They do take reservations but you’ll need to make sure you’re prompt as they will cancel your booking if you’re more than 1o minutes late. You can choose from a variety of nabe (hot pots) and the most popular are sukiyaki or shabu shabu.
We chose sukiyaki. It was 2400 yen per person for all you can eat meat and vegetables (from the self-serve buffet) for 100 minutes.
The menus here are in English (and so are cooking instructions!)
If you love this spot, make sure you check out their website below as they have lots of other branches all over Tokyo.
NABEZO SHINJUKU SANCHOME
新宿 3-30-11 新宿高野第二ビル8F
8F SHINJUKU TAKANO DAINI BUILDING, 3-30-11 SHINJUKU
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30AM-3PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5PM-11PM
OPEN ON WEEKENDS 11:30-11PM
WEBSITE
I’m crazy for this place. Please note that Robot Restaurant is currently closed ( since April 2020) with no notice as to when it will reopen.
And before or after Robot Restaurant, go here!! There is an amusement centre called GAO (it’s right next to the famous Robot Restaurant.) I recommend this place solely for it’s Mario Cart Game. The machine takes a picture of your face so you “become” any of the Mario Bros Characters. 1 play is 200 yen and if you put the money in at the same time you can play against the person next to you.
You’ll see from the pictures below that I was not so good at getting my face in the frame when the picture was taken. My sister , however? A pro!You might want to know ahead of time, this is NOT a non-smoking venue. I’ve been there at 11:30AM (coz I’m a party gangsta) and a man was smoking up a storm right behind us.This game centre is 9 minutes walk from the JR Shinjuku South Entrance.
新宿区歌舞伎町1-6-8
1-6-8 KABUCHI-CHO, SHINJUKU
OPEN 10AM-MIDNIGHT
Another idea is to go just a few corners away and see the Giant Godzilla in Shinjuku. He can be seen from the intersection with the Don Quijote Shinjuku East Exit Head Office Store on the corner. The statue is well lit at night too.
This intersection is 9 minutes walk from the JR Shinjuku Station South Entrance.
DON QUIJOTE SHINJUKU EAST EXIT HEAD OFFICE STORE
新宿区歌舞伎町1-16-15
1-16-5 KABUKICHO, SHINJUKU
And if you’re in this part of Shinjuku and want to get a healthy snack, there is a little fruit & vegetable stand not far from the station ( on the Godzilla side of Shinjuku Station. )
It is called Hyakkaen ( if you enter Hyakkaen into google maps it will take you right there.)
Fruit is famously expensive in Japan but it is also sooooooo good and this is a cheap way to sample it. Depending on the season, the fruits offered varies but I have purchased pineapple on a stick or a ‘kebab’ of gorgeous strawberries for only 200 yen. It is washed and ready to eat.
It’s also a great way to sample new fruits too.
This stand only accepts cash.
*Note: Walking and eating is frowned upon in Japan so the polite thing to do is to buy the food, stand and eat it next to or in front of the shop and then throw the rubbish/wrappers/sticks in the bin outside the store.
HYAKKAEN, SHINJUKU (百果園 新宿店)
新宿区新宿3-24-5
3-24-5 SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR：12:30PM – 10PM
Then, why not wander along to take a picture at the Shinjuku LOVE sculpture? You may have already seen one of these famous pop art monuments, designed by Robert Indiana in the 1970s, in New York, Philadelphia, Jakarta, Neuss-Holzeim, Valencia or London ( to name a few.) Tokyo has two LOVE Sculptures. This large one in Shinjuku and a very small version on a roundabout in Chiba. The statue is just near the Shinjuku I-Land tower (search ” Love Statue Shinjuku” on google maps for an exact location) just 10 minutes walk from Shinjuku Station.
If you’re looking to try some okonomiyaki for dinner ( also open for lunch too, actually) then I recommend wandering into the very casual but always bustling pub/restaurant Kotegaeshi. It is only 5 minutes walk from the east exit of Shinjuku Station.
Okonomiyaki is like a Japanese omelette and you choose the fillings such as meats or seafood or vegetables.
An adult lunch will be approximately 1000-2000 yen and dinner more like 2000 yen.
Other popular options to eat include yakisoba, which is noodles cooked on the hot plate in front of you.
Foods cooked in front of you are really good for fussy eaters as you can say no to an ingredient before it is added.
This restaurant is very casual.
You will be sitting next to students who are chilling after university or business teams heading out for a meal after work.
These kinds of meals are meant to be shared but you can order your own if you prefer.
This restaurant does accept credit cards.
They do have an English menu.
Please note that this restaurant is not a non-smoking restaurant.
KOTEGAESHI SHINJUKU
新宿区新宿3-21-9 新宿ダッキープラザビル3Ｆ
3F DUCKY PLAZA BUILDING, 2-21-9 SHINJUKU, SHINJUKU-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM – 4AM ( CLOSES 11PM ON SUNDAYS)
KOTEGAESHI WEBSITE
If you are looking for a healthy and hearty lunch or dinner, in between Odakyu & Keio Department Stores is one of Tokyo’s several Mr Farmer restaurants.
There are lots of vegetarian and sometimes vegan options here too.
They do not accept reservations but on weekends it is best to check first as they are sometimes booked out for a wedding or private function.
They do accept credit cards.
The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
They also serve breakfast.
If you’re looking for a completely vegan restaurant in Shinjuku,I recommend Viringuito. The cuisine is Spanish & this family-run restaurant is entirely vegan. If arriving by train, Akebonobashi Station is just 170 metres from the restaurant itself ( or 30 mins walk from Shinjuku Station if you like to walk to dinner.)
They are open from 8AM-10PM ( last orders at 9pm.). This restaurant is also very accommodating with food allergies. This restaurant has free wifi and also accepts most major credit cards.
VIRINGUITO
5-3 ACE BUILDING, KATAMACHI, SHINJUKU
OPEN 8AM-10PM
VIRINGUITO VEGAN RESTAURANT INSTAGRAM
