If you’re like me, then the one thing worrying you most about visiting Tokyo is the extremely intimidating language barrier. Japanese can look like such an intimidating language to read speak and listen to. Rest-assured, as many people in Japan do actually speak English, which is great news for us tourists.
However, what about the confusing Japanese writing that us foreigners admire and love to look at, but don’t understand a single thing? Well, as far as food menus are concerned, there are many restaurants that actually provide English written menus. Meaning that you can fully understand what you are about to order!
So, let’s get into the very best restaurants in Tokyo that provide English menus!
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This article is based on the information provided by Gurunavi
1. Tofutei, Meguro
If you are wanting a true Japanese meal in a traditional setting while still being able to receive an English menu, then Tofutei is the very best option. Seriously, it’s a no-brainer.
Located in the 4.5 star rated ‘Hotel Gajeon’, you can find one of Tokyo’s most traditional looking eating experiences, which is also very welcoming to tourists. Within the hotel is a garden area that holds Tofutei itself.
The restaurant has a very traditional Japanese architecture that leaves its visitors in awe. There are many private rooms inside so that you can eat with your friends and family in complete privacy! Once inside these rooms, you can expect a classic Japanese-styled sitting where you are on the floor with your legs crossed. It’s comfier than it sounds, don’t worry!
In terms of food, Tofutei is one of the leading Kaiseki restaurants in the whole city. Kaiseki is one of the finest multi-course meals you can get in the world, and the Japanese are very passionate about it.
When eating at Tofutei, not only can you expect to receive an English menu after asking for one, but the staff also speak fairly good English! Making this trip a definite must-do on your list.
Opening Times:
Sat-Sun
11:30 AM – 8:30 PM
Mon-Fri
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
5:30 PM – 2:30
Prices: $25-275
Address: 1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro City, Tokyo 153-0064, Japan
Cuisine: Kaiseki
To View The Menu, Click Here.
2. Mo-Mo-Paradise, Kabukicho
Located on the 8th floor of the Humax Pavillion in Kabukicho stands a restaurant known for providing one of Japan’s all-time-favourite cuisines. Shabu-shabu & Sukiyaki. They are both very similar dishes, with two very different tastes and textures.
If you’re unsure of what Shabu-shabu & Sukiyaki is, it’s actually quite simple…
Shabu-shabu is a dish that provides you with a pot of hot seaweed soup or boiling water to start with. Then, you can add green veg and mushrooms as you please, to get the flavour brewing. Once you are happy with the flavour, the raw wagyu beef comes out that you will then pick up and prepare yourself using chopsticks and the hotpot itself! This provides for some real fine cuisine with a lot of flavours.
Sukiyaki alternatively is a very similar dish. However, the cooking method consists of a pan with soy sauce, sugar, veg and mushrooms to get the flavour started. Then, the wagyu beef is added and slowly simmered in the pan along with the other contents mentioned before. Once the wagyu is cooked, it is then dipped in a bowl of raw egg to finish the texture and flavour that is so famous in Japanese tradition!
For first-timers, it would probably be best to go with a Sukiyaki dish as everything is mainly prepared for you by the staff. However, if you are like me and like the sound of Shabu-shabu even more, then check this video out on how to eat it properly.
What makes Mo-Mo-Paradise so special, is the fact that it is fairly affordable, all while being a highly-rated buffet! Yep, eat as much wagyu and veg as you like. There are 3 different buffet menus which vary in price. For the more expensive menu, you can expect a much finer and higher quality of meat. Each of these buffet menus come in either Shabu-shabu or Sukiyaki form.
There is a 100-minute time limit on your buffet where you can eat delicious wagyu until you collapse! Not literally, I hope!
When the different vegetables, mushrooms and meat selections come out, there are tags with both English and Japanese writing; making it extremely easy for English tourists to eat here. The staff also speak decent English, so visiting here should not be a worry at all.
Opening Times:
Everyday
11:30am-8pm
Prices: $30-$70
Address: Tokyo, Shinjuku City, Kabukichō, 1-chōme−20−1 Humax Pavilion 新宿 8F
Cuisine: Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki
To View The Menu, Click Here.
3. Tora-fugu Tei Akasakaten, Akasaka
Fugu is a very luxurious dish that has an acquired taste and desire. The dish consists of pufferfish which is only really popular in Japan. This is due to the sheer skill that is needed to prepare these dishes. If a Fugu dish is not prepared by a highly skilled professional chef, then it could be extremely dangerous.
But, worry not! If you are someone desperately wanting to try one of the most luxurious and unique seafood dishes in the world, then Tora-fugu Tei is the place you should check out.
This restaurant not only has its own highly trained fugu chefs, but also its own production area where they catch fresh pufferfish and tiger blowfish every day exclusively!
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri
5pm-8pm
Sat-Sun
4pm-8pm
Price: Around $65 PP
Address: 3-6-17, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0052
Cuisine: Fugu
To View The Menu, Click Here.
4. KAGAYA Ginza Ten, Ginza
KAGAYA Ginza Ten is another Kaiseki cuisine based restaurant located in the area of Ginza. However, this restaurant is definitely more affordable than the previously mentioned ‘Tofutei’.
This doesn’t mean that the food is significantly worse though, however. Of course, it will not be as high quality as the food and service found at Tofutei. But, for people looking for a genuine Kaiseki experience with amazing tasting food, this low-cost option is perfect!
And, just like all the other restaurants listed on here; English speaking staff and menus are available should you need them!
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri:
Lunch: 11am-3:30pm
Dinner: 5:30pm-10pm
Sat & Sun:
11am-9:30pm
Prices: $25-50
Address: 5-8-17, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061
Cuisine: Kaiseki
To View The Menu, Click Here.
5. ROKUKAKUTEI Ginza Ten, Ginza
ROKUKAKUTEI Ginza Ten is a highly rated restaurant that provides delicious Japanese meat and veg fried skewers. A meal that is very popular in Japan, and especially in Tokyo.
Due to the skewers being flavour packed mini pieces of food, there are only really two menu options to go for! One of them being the smaller portion size of 18 items, and the other being a larger set of 24 skewers. So, plenty enough to eat!
A key thing to note about this restaurant is that the food is very high in quality, so it can be very expensive…
The restaurant is very well known for its polite English speaking staff that are always on hand to ensure that your dining experience is the best it can possibly be.
Opening Times:
Lunch:
12pm-3pm
Dinner:
5pm-8pm
Prices: $95-135
Address: 104-0061, 4th Floor, Kojun Building DINING & STORES
6-8-7, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Cuisine: Japanese breaded skewers
To View The Menu, Click Here.
6. Sushimasa, Ginza
Yep, another restaurant in Ginza! Starting to see a trend? Well, Sushimasa is a mid-end sushi restaurant, very well known in Tokyo for great sushi that is affordable. Usually in Tokyo, if you want great sushi, you’ll have to pay a high price. Sushimasa didn’t want this to be the case though!
Now, of course; it’s not the cheapest sushi in all of Tokyo (and, if I were you, I would highly recommend staying away from anywhere that charges really cheap prices for sushi…), but, for the quality you are getting, the price is almost unmatched!
Sushimasa in Ginza provides for a delicious and pleasant eating experience for all sushi lovers, whether you are trying sushi for the first time or have eaten it your whole life! The English menu along with the English speaking staff really makes this a tourist-friendly restaurant.
Opening Times:
Lunch:
11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner:
5pm-10pm
Prices: $15-90
Address: B1 Kotakudo Ginza Biru (Bldg.) 5-14-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Cuisine: Sushi
To View The Menu, Click Here.
7.TORAJI Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Ten, Ikebukuro
Yeah…this one’s a mouthful! However, it is well worth knowing how to pronounce the name once you realise what is on offer at this yakiniku BBQ restaurant. From Wagyu beef, salted tongue, lobster, ramen, ribs and so much more; this is the place to go for meat lovers, who just can’t decide what they want to eat!
Now, if you do know what you want, then feel free to order a full portion of exactly that. But, if you don’t know what you want, then go for one of the multi-item courses that give you a large range of different food. You can’t go wrong really! This may sound like it would be an expensive meal, but the prices are actually very fairly priced, in my opinion.
English menus are yet again available, and the staff also speak decent English, so there’s no excuse to visit this place on your travels to Tokyo!
Opening Times:
Mon-Fri
Lunch:
11:30am-3pm
Dinner:
4:30pm-8pm
Sat-Sun
12pm-8pm
Prices: $10-120
Address: 170-0014 6F Lumi Yale Building, 1-17-7 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Cuisine: Yakiniku
To View The Menu, Click Here.
8. Dancing Crab Kurabu Tokyo, Shinjuku
As you can probably tell by now, Shinjuku is a goldmine for tourists wanting to eat high-quality food, without having to know any Japanese at all. Let’s be real though, unless you seriously hate seafood, you’re most likely going to end up eating it in Japan! After all, it is one of the worlds leading hubs for fresh exotic fish that you can’t really get anywhere else. Not as high in quality anyway!
Dancing Crab Kurabu is no exception to the trend of high-end seafood dining in Tokyo. With many amazing reviews, this restaurant is very well known in the Shinjuku area and for good reason! They are well known for their crab & seafood dishes, however, if you are not feeling this there are other meat options available, such as fried chicken.
With both English speaking staff and an English menu, this takes a spot on this list without any hesitation!
Opening Times:
Lunch:
11:30am-3:30pm
Dinner:
5pm-11:30pm
Prices: $10-170
Address: 2F Shinjuku NOWA Bldg. 3-37-12 Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku Tokyo
Cuisine: Seafood
To View The Menu, Click Here.
9. To The Herbs Akuashiteiodaibaten, Odaiba
Okay, maybe you’re feeling a bit homesick and you’re missing the food that you’d eat back home. Worry not, this next restaurant is for you.
For the best Italian food in Odaiba and possibly even Tokyo, ‘To The Herbs’ is your go-to. From carbonara, freshly-made pizzas, tagliatelli and much more; anyone can enjoy the familiar deliciousness of this highly-rated Italian cuisine.
A bonus to this restaurant is that it is right next to TeamLab Borderless. This attraction is very popular in Tokyo, so expect the restaurant to be busy, but all for the right reasons!
With English speaking staff and menus, this is a very popular food choice for tourists in Tokyo.
Opening Times:
11am-8pm
Prices: $10-50
Address: 135-0091, 1-7-1 Daiba , Minato-ku, Tokyo
Cuisine: Italian
To View The Menu, Click Here.
10. Oono, Yotsuya
Next on the list, we have another authentic Japanese dining experience that is Kaiseki. Oono is located about a 1-minute walk away from Yotsuya station, so is very easy to access.
Eating here is a true compliment to traditional Japanese cuisine and you won’t be disappointed. With homegrown vegetables and being well known as an amazing tea house, you can expect nothing but the best on your visit.
The best part? The restaurant only takes one group of 6 at a time. So, if you’re visiting with friends, you’ll get to enjoy the place to yourselves!
However, the food is so high in quality, that it can actually be very pricey, especially if you are travelling on a tight budget. But, if you don’t mind splashing the cash, rest assured you will receive one of the best Kaiseki dining experiences in all of Tokyo!
Opening Times:
11:30am-11pm
Prices: $125-220
Address: 3-6, Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0004
Cuisine: Kaiseki
To View The Menu, Click Here.
11. Kirishima Ryogoku Honten, Sumida
You’ve heard of sumo wrestlers, right? Yeah, they’re sort of a big deal in Japan. Well, how would you like to try a traditional hotpot that is made specifically for these sumo wrestlers?
These hotpots can contain anything from meat, fish, vegetables or better yet, all of these!
Kirishima Ryogoku Honten is one of Tokyo’s most famous sumo restaurants, and for good reason. These hotpots are authentic, traditional and to die for.
As you already know by now, you can expect an English menu as well as English speaking staff when visiting this establishment!
Opening Times:
11:30am-8pm
Prices: $10-45
Address: 2-13-7 Ryogoku, Sumida
Cuisine: Chanko (Sumo Hotpot)
To View The Menu, Click Here.
12. Ajanta, Chiyoda
Going back to familiar meals that we can find at home, a nice Indian curry would be on the list. Well, if that’s what you’re craving, then Ajanta may be the next dining spot for you to visit…
Ajanta is one of Tokyo’s best-rated Indian restaurants, and it has been since 1957. It’s a no brainer to visit here if you want some real authentic, tasty and spicy Indian cuisine. There are not too many options on the menu, but, this is made up for with the amazing taste of the food itself.
Opening Times:
10am-11pm
Prices: $15-30
Address: 3-11 Nibancho, Chiyoda 102-0084, Tokyo
Cuisine: Indian
To View The Menu, Click Here.
13. Fujiyama Bar Roppongi, Roppongi
And, finally, on our list, we have Fujiyama Bar Roppongi! This authentic style bar is both traditional and modern. While also providing both drinks and food that the locals love!
From champagnes to beers, the drink selection at this bar is fairly varied and priced also. The English speaking staff along with the menus that have English translation is extremely helpful for the many tourists that visit there.
In terms of food, it is mainly typical pub food that you will find in Japan. This includes items such as nuts, fries, chicken nuggets and more. It is fair to say that you are visiting this place for the drinks and atmosphere rather than the food. But, the option for a meal is there!
Opening Times:
7pm-3am
Prices: $2-30
Address: Yamato Building 3F,7-14-5, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Cuisine: Japanese Pub/Bar
To View The Menu, Click Here.
