Shibuya is known as the center of youth culture in Japan, and many of today's trends in Japan originated in this city. Due to being at the cutting edge of trends in Japan, Shibuya is bustling with young people every day. Also, that city has an artistic and musical side. It is home to many art museums and live music venues, which attract large crowds daily.
In recent years, Shibuya has become the setting for various anime series such as "Jujutsu Kaisen," drawing many anime fans who want to see the locations featured in the shows.
Therefore shibuya is popular with a wide range of people and is always crowded with many people coming and going. With so many people gathering in Shibuya, there are also numerous restaurants and eateries. In this article, I would like to introduce some recommended restaurants and izakaya pubs in Shibuya.
The Restaurant Scene in Shibuya
Shibuya is considered a "battleground" for restaurants, with over 4,000 establishments densely packed in a small area. While many new restaurants open every month, many others close due to the intense competition. The restaurants that continue to operate in Shibuya have undoubtedly proven their quality to win this fierce competition.
In Shibuya, you can enjoy a wide variety of Japanese and Western fusion cuisines. There are also all types of eateries, from fast food to restaurants, izakaya pubs, and bars. Personally, I recommend enjoying a lively dinner at an izakaya pub.
Known as the "city that never sleeps," Shibuya is bustling even late at night. As a result, there are many restaurants open 24 hours a day, allowing you to enjoy delicious food anytime.
Recommended Sushi Restaurants
SUSHI TOKYO TEN
Source: Tabelog
The unique feature of this restaurant is that the menu offers only an "omakase" (chef's choice) option. Omakase is a traditional Japanese way of ordering, where the customer leaves everything up to the chef. The best sushi changes daily based on the season. With omakase, you can enjoy the most delicious sushi of the day, selected by chefs who are experts in sushi.
Another feature of this restaurant is that small dishes and sushi are served alternately. By savoring various seasonal ingredients one by one, you can experience a level of satisfaction that you wouldn't expect from visiting just one restaurant.
This restaurant offers exquisite sushi made with meticulously selected ingredients and the refined skills of the chefs, creating an unforgettable taste. If you're interested in traditional Japanese sushi, this is a must-visit place. Please come and try it.
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- Address: Shibuya Stream 3F, 3-21-3 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: Open daily
- Phone: 03-6427-5076
- Hours: 11:00 - 15:00 (L.O. 14:00) 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 21:30)
- Website: https://sushitokyo-ten.com/
KINKA sushi bar izakaya
Source: Tabelog
This restaurant offers sushi that has evolved uniquely in Canada and has been re-imported to Japan, providing a different twist on traditional Japanese sushi. Therefore, it is recommended for those who may find traditional Japanese sushi a bit challenging.
My recommendation from the menu is the seared sushi. This sushi features seasonal fish topped with KINKA's special sauce and seared. Both the rice and the fish are fluffy and melt in your mouth the moment you take a bite.
The other menu items are also delicious, and I always tend to order too much. Additionally, the colorfully arranged sushi and beautifully patterned plates make the dishes visually appealing, providing a delightful experience for both the eyes and the palate.
The interior of this restaurant is also attractive. The large decorative angler fish and warm, indirect lighting create an atmosphere like a hidden retreat at the bottom of the sea.
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- Address: 2F Ichigo Fiesta Shibuya, 3-10 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: Irregular holidays, Obon holiday(commemorating ancestors period), and New Year's holidays
- Phone: 050-5592-6582
- Hours: 11:30 - 14:30 (L.O. 14:00)
17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
- Website: https://kinkasushibarizakaya.com/jp/
Reasonably Priced "Sushi no Midori"
Source: Tabelog
This restaurant is known as "Shibuya's No. 1 for Cost Performance" and offers authentic sushi at reasonable prices. You can enjoy a set with over 10 pieces of sushi and a steamed rice dish starting from 1,600 yen, or a set with four rolled sushi starting from 500 yen.
The recommended menu item at this restaurant is the "Original Anago" (conger eel). The fish is three times the length of regular sushi and is impressively large when served. However, the deliciousness of the eel, which is grilled with sauce, makes the large size disappear in an instant.
Other recommended seafood dishes include a steamed rice dish generously topped with salmon roe and sea urchin, grilled oysters, and crab meat salad.
This restaurant is directly connected to Shibuya Station, making it highly accessible. Shibuya Station is a major transit hub, so you may find yourself passing through it often. Why not stop by for a delicious meal while you're there?
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- Address: Mark City East 4F, 1-12-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: January 1st
- Phone: 03-5458-0002
- Hours: Monday - Friday：11:00 - 15:00 (L.O. 14:30) / 17:00 - 21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
Saturday, Sunday, Holidays：11:00 - 21:00 (L.O. 20:30)
- Website: https://www.sushinomidori.co.jp/shops/shibuya/
Restaurants Serving Yakitori (Grilled Skewered Chicken) and Chicken Dishes
Jidoriya Tsukada
Source: Tabelog
This restaurant specializes in various jidori (native chicken) dishes, including charcoal-grilled jidori, fried chicken, sashimi, and yukke (raw chicken). Here, you can fully savor the sweetness and umami flavors of jidori that can only be brought out by this restaurant's dedication and expertise in working with these chickens.
I recommend trying the "Jidori Sashimi Assortment" at this restaurant. Jidori sashimi is a rare dish, so take this opportunity to give it a try. The assortment includes chicken liver, breast meat, and thigh meat, allowing you to compare the different flavors and textures.
This restaurant also offers a selection of Japanese sake and shochu that pair well with jidori dishes. While not listed on the menu, they have many other alcoholic beverages available, so it's recommended to ask the staff for suggestions.
The interior, featuring wood accents, creates a relaxing atmosphere. Why not forget the hustle and bustle of the city and leisurely enjoy the jidori dishes here?
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- Address: 3F Shibuya Iwasaki Building, 2-6-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: January 4th and 5th
- Phone: 03-5456-6277
- Hours: Weekdays 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
Weekends & Holidays 13:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
- Website: https://lp.tsukadanojo.jp/jidoriya/#link__menu
SAGOEMON Matsudai
Source: Tabelog
At this restaurant's dinner service, you can enjoy over 30 varieties of yakitori skewers, ranging from classics to unique creations. The unique offerings include skewers combining meat and vegetables, such as a pork belly roll with mozzarella cheese and tomato, a lettuce roll with pork belly, and a stuffed green pepper skewer. While I tend to get indigestion from eating too much meat, the vegetable-meat combinations here allow me to enjoy the meal until the end without discomfort.
This restaurant is also famous for its lunch menu, offering chicken dishes such as yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) bowls, oyako-don (chicken and egg rice bowls), and fried chicken sets. The cost performance is excellent, with yakitori skewers starting from 180 yen and lunch sets from 650 yen, making it a great option for chicken lovers to enjoy delicious chicken dishes at reasonable prices any time of day.
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- Address: 3F Dogenzaka Trowabiru, 2-6-12 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: December 31st and January 1st
- Phone: 050-5595-8621
- Hours: Sunday - Thursday 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. 22:30)
Friday, Saturday & Days before holidays 16:00 - 26:00 (L.O. 25:00)
- Website: https://goodspiral.jp/restaurant/matsudai/
Restaurants with Scenic Views of Shibuya
Japanese Restaurant "Shunsai"
Source: Official Website
"Shunsai" is located on the 25th floor, offering a view of Shibuya from 100 meters above ground. You can enjoy your meal while overlooking the city streets from the bright, sunlit interior during the day or take in the dazzling night views in the evening. Either way, it promises to be a wonderful experience.
In addition to the scenery, the food at this restaurant is exceptional. The Japanese cuisine, featuring specialties and regional dishes from across Japan, and Japanese wines pair exquisitely. The menu changes seasonally, but if the timing is right, I highly recommend trying the tempura. The light, crispy batter envelops the perfectly cooked ingredients, creating an exquisite flavor and texture.
Shibuya is a city that is constantly evolving, with construction projects happening somewhere at all times. Visiting this restaurant multiple times to observe the changing scenery can be a delightful experience.
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- Address: 25F Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu, 1-12-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: Sunday dinner (If Sunday is a holiday, closed on the final day's dinner service)
- Phone: 03-5457-0131
- Hours: 11:30 - 15:00 (L.O. 14:00) / 17:30 - 22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
- Website: https://www.tokyuhotels.co.jp/shibuya-e/restaurant/shunsai/63770/index.html
Shabu-Shabu Tsukada
Source: Tabelog
This restaurant allows you to enjoy a meal while taking in the scenery of Shibuya through large windows. The ingredients used here are carefully selected, allowing you to savor the natural flavors. The meat is juicy and tender, and the vegetables are incredibly fresh and flavorful, directly shipped from farms in Akita Prefecture.
You can choose between shabu-shabu (thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in a pot) or sukiyaki (hot pot with a sweet soy sauce broth) at this restaurant. Both are delicious, but I personally recommend the sukiyaki. The moment it hits your mouth, the umami flavors of the meat and vegetables blend harmoniously with the sweetness of the broth, creating a blissful taste.
Since each person has their own individual pot, you can enjoy the dish at your own pace and customize the flavors to your liking.
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- Address: 12F Shibuya Scramble Square, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: Open daily
- Phone: 050-5456-2662
- Hours: Monday - Friday 11:00 - 15:00 (L.O. Food 14:00, Drinks 14:30) / 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. Food 21:30, Drinks 22:00)
Saturday, Sunday, Holidays 11:00 - 16:00 (L.O. Food 15:00, Drinks 15:30) / 17:00 - 23:00 (L.O. Food 21:30, Drinks 22:00)
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/shabushabutsukada.shibuya/
Recommended Izakaya Pubs for Dinner
Shibuya Niku-Yokocho (Chitose Kaikan)
Source: Official Website
Shibuya Niku-Yokocho, also known as the "meat theme park," is a collection of 28 meat-focused restaurants that attract around 500,000 visitors annually. Each of the 28 establishments offers its own unique meat dishes, ranging from yakiniku (grilled meat) and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) to meat sushi. In addition to Japanese cuisine, you can also enjoy Korean and Thai dishes here.
My recommended restaurant is "Ushiichi," where you can savor "nikusushi" – sushi with meat instead of fish on top of the rice. When you bite into it, the meat juices burst
Here is the continued translation:
My recommended restaurant is "Ushiichi," where you can savor "nikusushi" – sushi with meat instead of fish on top of the rice. When you bite into it, the meat juices burst into your mouth, filling it with an umami flavor.
While being at the forefront of trends in Shibuya, Niku-Yokocho has an atmosphere reminiscent of old Japan. You'll be warmly welcomed like family, with friendly communication flowing freely, even with strangers. I encourage you to immerse yourself and enjoy your meal as part of the local community.
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- Address: Chitose Kaikan 2F-3F, 13-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Website: https://nikuyokocho.jp/
- Closed days, operating hours, and phone numbers vary by shop, so please check the official website for details.
Shibuya Niku-Yokocho is also a stop on the Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour in Tokyo. This tour includes visits to Niku-Yokocho and two other restaurants, allowing you to experience Shibuya's nightlife. You can try local foods and drinks while mingling with locals at the same table, truly immersing yourself in Shibuya's nighttime culture.
Details on the tour: https://www.magical-trip.com/product/e97da2a4-a99c-4ec8-b2c2-e5e9ae25a8f6
Kaikaya
Source: Tabelog
At this restaurant, you can enjoy incredibly fresh seafood, thanks to its proximity to the ocean. While sushi, sashimi, and seafood rice bowls are often recommended for fish dishes in Japan, this restaurant also offers cooked fish dishes like simmered and grilled preparations with Japanese-style seasoning.
My recommendation is the Tuna Collar Spare Ribs. The juicy collar meat is infused with a Japanese-style seasoning, and each bite releases a burst of umami flavor.
This restaurant caters to foreign tourists, so the flavors are approachable even for those trying Japanese cuisine for the first time. Additionally, English menus and service are available, making it an accessible option for those not confident in Japanese.
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- Address: 23-7 Maruyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
- Closed: Wednesdays
- Phone: 03-3770-0878
- Hours: 17:00 - 22:30 (L.O. 21:30)
- Website: https://www.kaikaya.com/
As you can see, Shibuya, a hub for people from all walks of life, has a diverse range of restaurants catering to various needs. For those unsure of where to go or seeking recommendations from locals, joining a Shibuya izakaya and bar food tour is a great option.
The Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour in Tokyo, mentioned earlier, includes visits to two bars and Shibuya Niku-Yokocho. Interacting with locals while enjoying local cuisine can provide a deeper connection to Japanese culture.
Tour details: https://www.magical-trip.com/product/e97da2a4-a99c-4ec8-b2c2-e5e9ae25a8f6