A Half Japanese and Half English Foodie Passionate about Discovering Restaurants:
@tokyohalfie's Top 10 Restaurant Recommendations in Japan

"Steak Dining Vitis" is located down a side street in Nakameguro, and prepares some of the best wagyu in their fire-kiln grill. It is run by the Owner Chef Yuki, who has worked at renowned steak houses around town, including Aragawa and Gorio. If it’s your first visit to Vitis, I recommend their “Steak Course”, where Yuki-san presents his carefully selected meat at the start of the meal. The medium rare beef tongue "tan" has become their signature dish over the past few years, and requires reservation in advance. The best seats in the house are the ones closest to the entrance, as you get a nice view of the chefs cooking in the kitchen!

~All Uni’d Is Love~ This sea urchin specialty restaurant is a dream-come-true for uni maniacs. Everything from the appetisers to the desserts feature sea urchin, and their signature dish is their “uni map” that includes more than 12 types of the Japanese delicacy in one plate - as far as I'm aware, it's the only place in the country where you can try so many in a single serving. They now serve a shortened 5-course taster menu, so it’s worth making the trip out to Yotsuya if you’re as much of an uni fan as I am!

This starred tempura restaurant is tucked away in the residential neighbourhood of Nakameguro. The course encompasses not only their signature Tempura, but also all the essential elements of Japanese Kaiseki featuring seasonal delicacies, presented on beautiful dishware. You really do receive “Omotenashi” service here from the Owner Chef Ashiki and his wife - it is one of my favourite tempura spots in the city, and I make sure to visit every quarter.

Fusion seems to be one of the most popular genres these days, but the starred "Crony" is most definitely one of my favourites. The young Chef Haruta gained inspiration from his experience at a handful of starred restaurants around the world, from Copenhagen to San Francisco. Despite being located on the main road that connects Roppongi to Shibuya, the moment you walk into this underground restaurant you warp into a calm and ambient room. The staff here are careful and considerate, and each dish is creative and delicate. It is completely understated and surprisingly easy to book despite the immaculate quality of the food and service - a must try.

The restaurant is a 15-minute walk from the centre of Kamakura, the former capital of Japan from the 12th Century, which may be most well-known for its Big Buddha statue. As you enter their Japanese-style house, you are given comfortable slippers to wear, and the staff will take you to a long counter table. Their specialty is their “Yodaredori” steamed chicken in a spicy sauce that is subsequently used to dip dumplings and noodles. It is well worth making the trip outside of Tokyo for this special experience.

This Shinorian-style Italian restaurant, led by the young genius Chef Shinohara (who is still in his late twenties!), is hidden underground in Nishiazabu. Their 15-course Omakase dinner is prepared in the open kitchen that is surrounded by U-shaped counter seats - each dish is small, fun and innovative, and makes you eager to try the next. As the menu here changes monthly with seasonal ingredients, it’s my go-to spot when I have visitors from abroad!

This truly innovative fusion restaurant opened summer 2018, led by the talented German chef Thomas Frebel, alumni of the world-famous "Noma" in Copenhagen. The moment you walk through the minimalistic entrance tucked away in Iidabashi, you escape into a stunning Scandinavian world. The food here is creative and bold, and we were completely blown away by the originality of flavours invented by the talented chef and team of 30+ kitchen staff. Apparently they have a lab for experimenting with taste - hopefully we’ll get the chance to visit during our next meal here!

This starred contemporary French restaurant is located on a hill in Daikanyama. The name is derived from “recte” in Latin, which means “as is” – the Head Chef Naohisa strives to incorporate carefully selected seasonal ingredients in a way that does not alter the “essence of each ingredient”. One of the most impressionable dishes here for me was their meat, which was cooked in a special stone kiln. The lunches here are great value, with 3 options ranging from 5,000 yen. I took my mother here for her birthday and she loved it too!

There are a number of delicious Italian restaurants in Azabu-Juban, but Principio is one of my favourites. Hidden on the 2nd floor above a cheesecake shop, it is a cosy space with only 12 seats - the white wall is decorated with an antique-style window, and the room furnished with wooden tables and chairs. The warm ambience makes it the ideal spot for a romantic evening, or you could even hire the entire space out for a relaxed private dinner party. The freshly made pasta here and tender charcoal-grilled meat never disappoints– it’s no surprise it is continuously awarded 1 star!

This understated gem in Akasaka has one of the most “kosupaii” (good cost performance) lunches in the city, and it is surprisingly easy to get a reservation here. Their cheapest lunch costs around 5,000 yen per person for an experience that deserves to charge more - the presentation is fun and creative, playing with a spectrum of colours and flavours. What’s impressive here is that the “Special Course” menu uses ingredients that were sourced that very day. The setting is formal yet relaxing, and the waiters here are extremely attentive - it’s the perfect location for a special meal with a loved one.