Best Eats in Shibuya & Ebisu: 10 Must-Try Dishes and How to Enjoy Them

Teuchi soba are buckwheat noodles rolled and cut by hand. Having become popular from the Edo period (early 1600s to mid 1800s), you might say this is a traditional fast food of Japan! Do you know the authentic method to appreciate the delicate flavor of soba? Here’s a test of your knowledge: ten-seiro, cold buckwheat noodles served with tempura. We’ve asked a specialty restaurant about the authentic way to enjoy this dish, and you might be surprised!

Jajamen noodles are a specialty noodle dish of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Its origin is the Chinese dish jajangmyeon noodles, but the way to eat it is different. We asked a specialty restaurant how to eat jajamen noodles the Morioka way!

A towering mountain of whipped cream and fluffy, moist pancakes—that dreamy sight is enough to make anyone swoon! But after snapping that perfect, Instagram-worthy shot, you might find yourself thinking, “Wait… how do I even eat this?” You’re not alone. That’s why we asked the team at Eggs 'n Things to share their tips on how to enjoy these pancakes beautifully, whether you’re indulging solo or sharing with friends!

Taiwan mazesoba (Taiwan-style mixed noodles) is one of Nagoya’s soul foods. This soupless noodle dish features a signature topping of spicy minced meat, with seasonings including chili and garlic. Although the name includes “Taiwan”, the dish does not have roots in Taiwan, and actually originates from Nagoya. To find out about the unique way of eating this dish, we’ve asked the staff at Ganso Taiwan Mazesoba Hanabi, the birthplace of Taiwan mazesoba, to teach us the smart way to enjoy this local favorite!

Italian pizza is perfect for sharing with friends and family in a fun, lively setting. Recently, more and more restaurants are serving pizza in the traditional Italian style. This time, we visited the popular Tokyo Ebisu restaurant Antica Pizzeria Da Michele to learn how to enjoy pizza the smart, authentic Italian way—using a knife and fork!

Curry udon is a favorite dish throughout Japan, beloved by people of all ages. It’s commonly found on the menu at noodle houses and casual, inexpensive local dining spots. But, enjoying this ubiquitous dish is fraught with peril – beware the brightly-colored broth splashing and staining your clothes. This time, we visited a specialty restaurant, Curry Udon Senkichi, to learn the smart way to enjoy this classic without any mess.

Khao Man Gai is a classic dish in Thai cuisine. Tender, juicy boiled chicken is served over jasmine rice cooked in rich chicken broth, topped with a special sweet and savory sauce. This time, we visited Shibuya Khao Man Kai in Tokyo to learn how to enjoy Khao Man Gai the authentic Thai way.

Hugely popular among women, Chinese hot pot is a sizzling local dish from China. You enjoy it by adding your favorite ingredients—meat, seafood, vegetables, and more—into a bubbling pot of flavorful broth. This time, we visited the specialty restaurant Syaofeiyan to learn the proper way to enjoy authentic Chinese hot pot.

Takoyaki is an Osaka specialty. It is a staple street food always available at festivals and events in Japan. For this article, we went to the very popular takoyaki specialty restaurant TSUKIJI GINDACO and asked them how to enjoy piping hot takoyaki!

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.