International Food in Tokyo
Being a world-class city you’d expect Tokyo to have anything that New York or London would, and it certainly does! The only qualifying point is how much money you want to speed. For if you want GOOD international food in Tokyo you’ll need to spend a few bucks indeed. As the entry level French & Italian will leave you feeling betrayed if not sick.
Mexican
Mexican cuisine white not considered as a delicacy, it is however international. Until Chipotle goes international and opens up shops in Japan you’re going to have to suffice with the domestics, and you won’t be pleased. You should avoid Mexican food altogether in Japan, that is unless you have no problem with ketchup salsa… We didn’t think so.
Best Mexican Food in Tokyo
La Jolla
Koyasu Bldg. 2F, Hiroo 5-16-3, Shibuya-ku
03 3442 1865
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Italian
The Japanese take on Italian food is truly disappointing (that is if you’ve ever had real Italian food or quasi Italian in the West)
You’ll notice straight away the difference in marinara sauce, the bedrock of most Italian cuisine. Watery alfredo sauces, (although Alfredo isn’t an authentic Italian dish), poor seasoning blends, poor cheese quality (cheese and dairy is a premium in Japan, so if you want real mozzarella be prepared to pay for it)
The source of this is most likely traced to the fact that all Italian restaurants in Japan have Japanese, not Italian cooks.
This isn’t to say that there are no decent Italian eateries in Tokyo, there certainly are, but be prepared to spend $30 per person.
As a closing note, we feel it is our duty to inform you that pizza in Japan (whether it is at Dominos or elsewhere) is a total disappointment, and should not be eaten!
Best Italian Food in Tokyo
Ristorante Hamasaki
Sun Light Hill Aoyama 4-11-13 Minami-Aoyama Minato-ku - Tokyo, Japan 107-0062
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Indian
The one thing that Tokyo and Japan seems to do right in the international arena is authentic Indian cuisine. This is due to the fact that Indian restaurants in Japan always have Indian cooks.
Excellent curries, masalas, nan, anything you want, they have it, and not at unreasonable prices either. Anywhere between 800-1500 yen per person for excellent authentic Indian cooking.
Best Indian Food in Tokyo
Samrat
セノビル7F ３丁目-１８-４ Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-0022, Japan
03-3355-1771
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French (pastry)
Continuing on with the things the Japanese do right are French and Italian pastry, desert and baking, rivaling the best patisseries in Italy and France, we kid you not.
The Japanese indeed have a penchant for the French Bakery, from baguette and croissant to fruit tart, all members are accounted for. And then over in the Italian department with Tiramisu as a staple desert in many restaurants.
For a culture with no bread and sugar deserts in its diet they sure are making up for the past 1000 years of dearth with an omnipresence of bakeries. You’ll be able to find these bakeries at nearly any Train station of size.
Best Pastry in Tokyo
Sadaharu Aoki Paris: Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo MidTown Galleria B1, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-5413-7112
www.sadaharuaoki.com
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