Just so you know, Robot Restaurant has closed it’s doors ( April 2020) with no announcement of as to when business will resume at this stage.
As I write about here, I really quite like the tourist trap that is Robot Restaurant. It’s random and colourful and it makes me giggle.
I wr0te all about Robot Restaurant in detail here actually.
But it’s in Kabukicho which is red-light district (don’t worry, it’s still Japan so it’s not half as grubby as it sounds… it means you will see lots of tiny eateries, people handing out lots of vouchers for nightclubs or girls bars, pachinko parlors with smoke spilling out the doors ,.. and, if you’re lucky, you might see a rat taking a little walk across an alleyway like we did once late at night?…)
Either way, we find this area a bit more tricky to do dinner beforehand…
Incase you’re not entirely in the know you may not realize that Robot Restaurant isn’t actually a restaurant. You can grab some fast food in the holding area upstairs (fried chicken and fries and lots of booze etc.) and DON’T order the bento when you book the restaurant – ok? You’ve been warned. Its a sad little obento. Someone once told me that they need to offer it as part of the liquor licensing in Japan .. something about having to do with needing serve alcohol and still offer food, perhaps?
Other than that – they serve popcorn during the show – which tastes incredible if you’re properly liquored up for a full Robot Restaurant experience…
But if you want to eat somewhere beforehand of afterwards?
These are the spots that won’t leave you wandering around some sad and seedy little bars.
OMOIDE YOKOCHO (PISS ALLEY) – 5 MINS WALK FROM ROBOT RESTAURANT
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
THE NEWOMAN FOOD HALL – 9 MINS WALK FROM ROBOT RESTAURANT
I only recently discovered the Newoman Food Hall. 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
KICHIRI MOLLIS – 4 MINS WALK FROM ROBOT RESTAURANT
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
NABEZO SHINJUKU SANCHOME – 6 MINS WALK FROM THE ROBOT RESTAURANT
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
This is a branch of the Afuri ramen chain that specializes in spicy dishes.
AFURI KARAKURENAI SHINJUKU SUBNADE STORE
新宿区歌舞伎町1-2-2新宿サブナード1-5
1-5 SHINJUKU SUBNADE, 1-2-2 SHINJUKU, KABUCHI-CHO, SHINJUKU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
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.
GAO, KABUKI-CHO STORE
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
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.
Just an FYI: Personally, I don’t recommend taking children to the Robot Restaurant – teenagers would probably be fine. It’s not that the content of the show is racey or anything… its that the other clientele are often there for a boozy time. Especially for the late show – I’ve seen people being really sick and people on Bachelor parties etc. I know friends who have taken toddlers to the early show – personally? It’s double the cost of a kids ticket to Disneyland – take your kids to Disneyland instead.
I also wrote a post called Mari-Car and Robot Restaurant Equivalent for kiddies. Take a look here.
