Nick's Picks
in Tokyo

My take: Twenty beans on rotation in a tiny standing-room-only shop in Aoyama, tucked into a wooden building. You tell the barista what you like, they pick the bean and the brew method, and you taste through. No seats, no laptops, just coffee. One of the better coffee stops in Tokyo. After, walk over to Cat Street toward Harajuku, it's a quieter stretch with vintage shops and cafes.

My take: Specialty roaster in a small wooden two-story house in Nakameguro. Sit upstairs at the window and watch the Tokyo Metro trains roll past. Single origin pour overs, simple pastries, very calm in the morning. Walk the Meguro River canal after, the cherry blossoms in spring make this one of the best stretches in the city.

My take: Bakery and bistro in Tomigaya that opens at 8am for breakfast and pastries, then turns into a restaurant later. The Dutch pancake with bacon and brown butter is the standout. Coffee from a serious program. After brunch, walk over to Yoyogi Park which is just a few minutes away.

My take: Stopped here for lunch once and went back twice more. The rice and beef plates, gyoza, and crispy fried chicken are the best on the menu, but you really can't go wrong with anything here. The place is in a small Shinbashi alley, you basically have to know it's there. Shinbashi is the salaryman district, izakayas packed under the railway tracks if you want to keep going.

My take: One of the only anago specialty restaurants in Tokyo, in an old wooden building in Nihonbashi that has been there since 1953. Anago is saltwater eel, lighter and softer than unagi with a natural sweetness. Get the hako meshi with both grilled and simmered, and at the end pour the hot anago broth over whatever rice is left in the box. Don't skip that part. The historic Nihonbashi bridge is right there, it's the kilometer-zero marker for all of Japan's highways.

My take: Six counter seats in Ginza and nobody talks inside. Everyone just stares at the bowl. The broth is clear, built on chicken and duck with French technique behind it, and they do a ravioli version stuffed with truffle and foie gras. Get that one. One of the best bowls of ramen I had in Tokyo. Get there early, this place fills up fast. After, walk it off on Chuo-dori through Ginza.

My take: Tiny counter on a side street near Shinjuku Station where you can watch them roll, cut, and drop the noodles to order. The carbonara udon with parmesan, butter, egg, and bacon tempura sounds like it shouldn't exist. It's honestly one of the better things I ate in Tokyo. Go early for the shortest wait. Shinjuku Gyoen is a few minutes away if you want to digest, one of the best parks in the city.

My take: No reservations, mostly locals, and charcoal smoke out front before you even walk in. Counter wraps around the kitchen and the chefs grill Date-dori chicken from Fukushima over binchotan right in front of you. Get the chochin if it's available. Found this one while wandering around Nakameguro and we stayed for hours. About a three minute walk from Nakameguro Station, and the Koukashita area under the railway tracks has wine bars and record shops if you want to keep going.

My take: Counter seats on the ninth floor in Ichigaya where Chef Nakahara grills every cut in front of you and walks you through the whole cow. The wagyu tongue comes in three different cuts and is the one everyone talks about. Add the wagyu katsu sando if it's available. Best yakiniku I had in Tokyo. Book a few weeks out. Kagurazaka is about 10 minutes away with cocktail bars in the back alleys if you want to keep going.