We may receive a commission if you make purchases through affiliate links (at no extra cost to you). Read why our approach to travel is different.
Tokyo is an absolute mammoth of a city, and so is its food scene. Luckily for your wallet, you don’t have to fork out a fortune to taste some fantastic bite-sized Japanese food. During your Japanese adventure, make sure you leave some space to try out some hearty Tokyo street food.
When thinking of Japanese cuisine, the first thing which jumps to your mind will most likely be sushi. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Among the great street food you’ll find will be various kinds of skewers, pancakes, seafood snacks and sweet treats.
You’ll find most of Japan’s best street food at vendor stalls called yatai. They are most common at festivals, but you’ll sometimes also see them clustered around train stations. While strictly not “street food”, izakaya (small and informal bars) also serve street food and alcoholic drinks late into the night.
When tasting Tokyo’s street food, try to stay near the vendor’s seating area (if there is one), since eating while walking is generally discouraged in Japan. Joining a Tokyo street food tour is a great way to also get insights in the culinary scene of the Japanese capital.
Skip to...
Our top 7 recommendations for Tokyo street food
1. Takoyaki
Grilled balls of shredded octopus, called takoyaki, are a mainstay of the Tokyo street food scene. In the recipe, the octopus meat is mixed with batter and lightly grilled, then drizzled in mayonnaise and sweet brown sauce, before being sprinkled with seaweed flakes or bonito flakes.
The flavor of the octopus is not too strong, and you’ll often see this delicious snack being cooked right before your eyes. Takoyaki are mostly served in small boxes of six or eight balls.
Where to find takoyaki in Tokyo
You’ll know from our first-timers’ guide to Tokyo that Harajuku is one of the city’s best places to eat. On Takeshita Street you will find a number of takoyaki vendors. Having said that, they are one of the most common street snacks in Tokyo, and you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding them at any street food market.
2. Yakitori
Chicken skewers, known locally as yakitori, might sound a little uninteresting at first. The beauty of yakitori lies in the slightly salty and umami flavor of the seasoning. Made from soy sauce, dashi, vinegar and sugar, the tare sauce used to glaze the yakitori is one of the indisputable tastes of Japan.
Yakitori skewers are also popular at Tokyo’s izakaya, along with a beer or glass of sake. It’s a common sight throughout Japan to see office workers enjoying yakitori after clocking off at one of these cozy tavern-style bars. Look out for the characters 焼き鳥 on the red lanterns hung outside the izakaya.
Where to find yakitori in Tokyo
For a street with lots of open-air yatai vendors, though, head to the Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street. Situated underneath the mainline railway tracks, this shop has many clothing stores and a huge array of street food vendors vying for your custom. Yakitori skewers are just one of the many snacks that you’ll find here.
3. Okonomiyaki
Street food aside, okonomiyaki is hands down one of my favorite Japanese dishes. If you’ve never tried it before, be prepared for your mind to be blown.
Okonomiyaki is essentially a savory pancake of wheat flour and eggs, topped off with an infinite number of ingredient combinations (the name お好み焼き literally means “grilled how you like it”). On the okonomiyaki, you’ll often see seafood, cabbage, pork belly, egg and even mochi, topped off with mayonnaise, aonori, pickled ginger and a sweet Japanese rendition of Worcestershire sauce. The Hiroshima variety of okonomiyaki even works yakisoba noodles into the body of the pancake.
Where to find okonomiyaki in Tokyo
Okonomiyaki restaurants are scattered everywhere through Japan, but the best place to go in Tokyo for okonomiyaki on the street is Monja Street on Tsukishima.
4. Beef menchi-katsu
These breaded and deep-fried meat patties are one of the most common sights on your Tokyo street food tour. While often using beef, you will equally see pork menchi-katsu sold on the street too. As for the origin of the name, menchi is derived from the English loanword “minced”, and katsu means “cutlet”.
Alternatively, vegetarians will enjoy deep-fried sweet potato croquettes, which have the same irresistibly crispy outer panko breadcrumb coating.
Where to find beef menchi-katsu in Tokyo
If you find yourself out in western Tokyo, Kichijoji is one of the most famous places to find menchi-katsu. Otherwise, head to Asakusa Menchi, just behind the well-touristed Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.
5. Yakisoba
Yet another dish with ‘yaki’ in the name (meaning “cooked over direct heat”), yakisoba is a quick and satisfying dish enjoyed across Japan. Yakisoba is a particularly hearty and filling dish, suitable for any winter trip to Japan. Whenever you go, though, it would be a crime to visit Tokyo without sampling yakisoba.
You may know that soba noodles have buckwheat as the main ingredient, but yakisoba is normally made from wheat noodles, not “soba” buckwheat noodles. In fact, Japanese yakisoba is quite close to Chinese-style fried noodles. Chefs add accompaniments such as grilled meat, spring onions, seasonal vegetables or seafood to the noodles before stir-frying the mix in a sweet sauce.
Where to find yakisoba in Tokyo
Again, this is a dish that you will find almost everywhere. Head to Ebisu Yokocho, near Shibuya, where you’ll also find a wide selection of restaurants offering yakisoba.
6. Motsu-nikomi
For the slightly more adventurous eaters, enter motsu-nikomi. Motsu-nikomi is essentially Japanese tripe stew, served with vegetables, ginger, and a thick broth.
You will regularly find motsu-nikomi served in a warm bowl of ramen noodles. While ramen is technically not really street food, there is an endless choice of ramen restaurants across Japan featuring motsu-nikomi on the menu.
Where to find motsu-nikomi in Tokyo
Numata Hanare, nestled in the backstreets of Shinjuku, is a fantastic izakaya which serves motsu-nikomi. Together with other highlights of Tokyo street food, the dishes here make for an authentic Japanese eating experience.
7. Taiyaki
Because there is always space for something sweet, quirky and cute in Japanese cuisine, make sure you try taiyaki while in Tokyo.
Taiyaki are sweet cakes shaped like fish, which are made of custard, sweet cheese or sometimes red bean paste. While they may take the prize for the most misleading street food dish in Japan, the smooth texture and sweet flavor of taiyaki certainly make it a unique complement to other savory street food in Tokyo.
Where to find taiyaki in Tokyo
In particular, you’ll find taiyaki in the summer, and they appear at festivals around Japan, too. Again in Ebisu (Shibuya), Taiyaki Hiiragi is a specialist dessert stand that solely sells taiyaki.
Share This Article
Traveling soon? Subscribe to The Insight below and get exclusive access to our personalized travel advice community via WhatsApp so you can ask all your burning travel questions.
Looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance? SafetyWing has you covered.
And for your eSIM in every country, there is only one option we recommend: Airalo.
Read more of our best insights from around the world
- These are the Best Small Towns in Oregon for 2025
- 10 Unique Things to Do in Magical Dalat, Vietnam
- 7 Best Beaches in Mauritius To Find Your Own Piece of Paradise
- Phoenix Weekend Trips: 3 Budget-Friendly Getaway Ideas
- The Ultimate Insider 3-Day Hanoi Itinerary
- 3 Day Goa Itinerary: Ultimate Guide for 2025
