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Best Local Restaurants in Asakusa: Where to Enjoy Classic Japanese Comfort Food

Best Local Restaurants in Asakusa: Where to Enjoy Classic Japanese Comfort Food

About 4 min read

Asakusa is packed with delicious food! From monjayaki and hitsumabushi to tempura and fugu cuisine, we’ve put together a list of must-try gourmet dishes you shouldn’t miss.

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【Yoshikami Western Restaurant】
Enjoy classic Western-style dishes at a long-established restaurant with over 70 years of history

Tucked away on a back street off Asakusa’s central entertainment district, the “Rokku Broadway,” Yoshikami Western Restaurant has been serving the same beloved flavors since it first opened in 1951, and remains one of Asakusa’s most popular yoshoku (Japanese-style Western) restaurants.
Classic dishes such as omurice, steak, and stew are prepared to suit the Japanese palate. It’s even said that the flavors pair well with sake! The building, unchanged since its reconstruction in 1960, has a warm, nostalgic feel—perfect for experiencing the atmosphere of a traditional Western-style diner from days gone by.

洋食屋ヨシカミ

©Torako/ PIXTA

Restaurant website: https://www.yoshikami.co.jp/info01.html

【Sansada】
Edomae tempura fried generously in sesame oil

If you want to enjoy tempura in Asakusa, why not visit the long-established Sansada? Founded in Tempo 8 (1837) during the Edo period, Sansada has carried on its tempura tradition for over 180 years and continues to be loved by visitors to Asakusa.
Sansada’s tempura is made in the classic “Edomae tempura” style, fried in fragrant sesame oil. You can savor the rich aroma of sesame oil along with the light, crispy texture that defines this traditional taste.

【三定】ごま油をたっぷり使った「江戸前天ぷら」

Restaurant website: http://tempura-sansada.co.jp/

【Torafugu-tei】
How to fully enjoy the luxury delicacy “fugu”

The luxury ingredient fugu (pufferfish) has long been considered a feast reserved for special occasions. From fugu hot pot “tecchiri” to thinly sliced fugu sashimi “tessa,” this article introduces the best ways to enjoy delicious fugu dishes. If you’re looking to try fugu in Asakusa, why not visit Torafugu-tei, which uses premium domestically sourced torafugu delivered directly from the producers?

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How to eat fugu (pufferfish) cuisine | Savor a full course from Tessa (fugu sashimi) to tecchiri (fugu hotpot)

Fugu (pufferfish) is a luxurious ingredient enjoyed in Japan for special occasions. There is an established order of dishes for fugu cuisine, as well as specific techniques to enjoy this remarkable delicacy. To learn the smart way to eat fugu cuisine, we visited Torafugu-tei, a restaurant renowned for its masterful dishes using domestic torafugu (tiger pufferfish) sourced directly from the point of production.

Restaurant website: https://www.torafugu.co.jp/shop/#12

【Shinjuku Saboten Tonkatsu】
Enjoy freshly fried tonkatsu with the aroma of freshly ground sesame

At Shinjuku Saboten Tonkatsu in Asakusa, you can enjoy tonkatsu paired with their signature ground-sesame sauce. This article introduces proper tonkatsu etiquette, including how to grind the sesame seeds and prepare the sauce.
Read the detailed eating guide here

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“Tonkatsu” (breaded and fried pork cutlet) is a beloved dish throughout Japan. There are actually a great variety of ways to enjoy this classic favorite. We were particularly fascinated by a specialty restaurant that serves tonkatsu with a surigoma (ground sesame) sauce, and we’ve asked about their recommended methods to enjoy this dish.

Restaurant website: https://shinjuku-saboten.com/shop/list/

【Marugame Seimen】
Endless ways to enjoy “kama-age udon”

Marugame Seimen’s signature dish, kama-age udon, features freshly boiled, chewy udon noodles enjoyed by dipping them directly into hot broth. Did you know that by adding tempura toppings and condiments, you can enjoy countless variations? This article introduces the many ways to savor kama-age udon.

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Kama-age udon is a dish of freshly-boiled udon noodles dipped in dashi broth. It is a local dish of Kagawa, a prefecture on the island of Shikoku. This dish offers limitless variations by adding aromatic condiments and toppings to suit your taste. To learn more about the smart way to enjoy kama-age udon, we visited Marugame Seimen, a renowned restaurant which is practically synonymous with this iconic dish.

Restaurant website: https://stores.marugame.com/111286

【Kiyoken】
Yokohama’s soul food “Shiumai Bento” can also be enjoyed in Asakusa!

A favorite for location shoots and one of Japan’s most iconic local bento meals, the Shiumai Bento. In fact, you can enjoy it not only in its birthplace of Yokohama, but also in Asakusa. In this article, we speak with Kiyoken PR representative Akane Yamamoto for an in-depth look at the beloved Shiumai Bento.

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“Ekiben” are very familiar to the Japanese people. Its history can be traced back about 140 years, and a uniquely Japanese culture rarely seen elsewhere. Ekiben are also unique to their own local specialties and tastes. Taiwanese writer Riichi Chang spoke with the PR manager of Kiyoken, Akane Yamamoto. Yamamoto mentions that the Yokohama unique “Shumai Bento” is considered to be the perfect example for the Ekiben.

Restaurant website: https://kiyoken.com/shop/matsuya_asakusa.html

【Tsukishima Meibutsu Monjayaki Daruma】
Born in Asakusa! Let’s learn how to enjoy “monjayaki”

Monjayaki is said to have originated in Asakusa during the Edo period. When making it right in front of a hot griddle, many people feel a bit unsure about how to cook it properly. In the article below, a monjayaki specialty restaurant explains the basic way to enjoy monjayaki—be sure to check it out!
Read the detailed eating guide here

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Monjayaki, a dish of griddle-fried batter and fillings, is a favorite dish in Tokyo’s historic downtown region of Shitamachi. While it’s hardly an uncommon dish, you might still be unsure of what to do if you find yourself in front of the griddle! We’ve asked a monjayaki specialty restaurant for some tips on how to enjoy this unique dish.

Restaurant website: https://monjadaruma.com/shop/asakusa.php

【Hitsumabushi Bincho】
Enjoy “hitsumabushi” in four different ways

Hitsumabushi is a dish of rice topped with finely chopped grilled eel served in a wooden tub. Originally a local specialty from Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, it can of course also be enjoyed in Asakusa. Unlike the eastern Japan style, where eel is steamed before grilling, this restaurant features the western Japan “jiyaki” method, in which the eel is grilled without steaming. You can enjoy it as-is, with condiments, or in several other ways—for a total of four different styles.
Read the detailed eating guide here

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Hitsumabushi – eel grilled with a sweet-and-savory sauce, then chopped and served atop steamed rice – is a local dish of Nagoya, Aichi prefecture. Classic accompaniments include aromatic condiments and dashi broth. While the dish resembles unajuu (grilled eel atop steamed rice in a juubako serving box), the style of enjoying hitsumabushi is a little different, and has become a tradition at specialty restaurants.

Restaurant website: https://hitsumabushi.co.jp/

【Gindaco Highball Sakaba
Casually enjoy “takoyaki” with a drink!

Takoyaki is one of Japan’s classic street foods. At Gindaco Highball Sakaba, you can casually enjoy takoyaki along with alcoholic drinks! At the Gindaco Highball Sakaba on Asakusa’s Hoppy Street, you can savor delicious food while also soaking in Japan’s retro atmosphere.

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Did you know that there are pubs dedicated to enjoying Japan’s iconic street food of Takoyaki (a ball-shaped octopus dumpling) alongside liquor? The beverage of choice to accompany Takoyaki is a whisky soda “highball” – this beloved combination is popular throughout Japan. For this article, we’ve visited Gindaco Highball Sakaba to learn the smart way to enjoy this delicious pairing! Gindaco Highball Sakaba’s locations are mostly centered on the greater Tokyo area, with expansions including Shizuoka and Fukuoka.

Restaurant website: https://shops.alwayssaisei.co.jp/detail/1010879/

【Kushikatsu Tanaka】
Enjoy the crispy texture of freshly fried “kushikatsu”

Kushikatsu Tanaka is a popular spot where you can enjoy Osaka-style kushikatsu skewers and a wide variety of side dishes. Of course, you can also enjoy kushikatsu in Asakusa. With so many menu items, it’s easy to feel unsure about what to order. In the article below, we introduce how to best enjoy kushikatsu at this popular izakaya.
Read the detailed eating guide here

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Kushikatsu is one of the most popular foods in Osaka. It is a perfect accompaniment to alcoholic beverages, made by coating meat, seafood or other ingredients in a light batter and deep frying them. In this installment, we visited the popular restaurant Kushikatsu Tanaka, known all over Japan, to find out how to enjoy the classic kushikatsu!

Restaurant website: https://kushi-tanaka.com/restaurant/detail/oshiage

【Tenya】
Enjoy hearty and affordable “tendon” rice bowls!

If you’re looking to enjoy a generously topped tendon (tempura rice bowl) at a reasonable price, Tenya is highly recommended! Not only can you enjoy Tenya’s tempura at great value, but you can also customize your bowl with extra toppings for a variety of tasty arrangements.
Read the detailed eating guide here

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“Tendon,” a rice bowl topped with freshly fried tempura such as shrimp and vegetables, is said to have originated in Edo-period Tokyo and has long been loved as one of Japan’s true soul foods. This time, we visited the popular restaurant **Tendon Tenya**, known for serving delicious and hearty tendon at reasonable prices, to learn about their recommended ways to enjoy it. With just one extra menu item, you might discover an entirely new world of tendon!

Restaurant website: https://www.tenya.co.jp/sp/shop/tokyo/taitou/asakusa.html

*The information is based on the time of reporting or creation, and may differ from the current situation.

text: goodiefoodie編集部

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Home What To Eat Best Local Restaurants in Asakusa: Where to Enjoy Classic Japanese Comfort Food